I am a high school flute player and i play quite well.(people say I play amazing but I think they're just being nice)
I have played for my church and at school concert as asolost but now people want to pay me to play at weddings, church function, and other bands and I am overwhelmed. I don't know what to charge per event and I don't know if I should even do it. A little help would be nice

My philosophy is that any gig is a good way to get your name out there, and thus get more gigs in the future. If you don't work, no one knows whether or not you can play. It's great to make money while you're playing, but early on, that doesn't always happen, so since you've got the opportunity, I'd say go for it if you're confident with your playing. They wouldn't be asking you to perform if they didn't like what you were doing. In other words, I say go for it if you feel you're ready! If you'll be sticking with music, you'll probably be doing gigs like this throughout your life, so why not get started now?

As for how much to charge, that's a delicate matter and should be set up (you might even consider drawing up a contract with whoever is hiring you) beforehand based on the going rate for musicians in the area, how long they expect you to play, and any unusual circumstances, etc. I've seen a large range of prices for weddings, but in the end I'd suggest that you start conservatively since you're still unexperienced in that circuit, and base your decision on how long they'll actually want you performing, distance (and thus travel expenses), any extra equipment or musicians you may need to find, whether they'll want you at the ceremony and reception or just one, etc. You might try asking what other performers in your area are asking for similar services, and then make a decision from there. Some of the best gigs I've gotten in this vein involved several hundred dollars for a couple hours of music, travel expenses (gas) covered and then some, and free food, but these were unusually good terms for the area. As you gain more experience, you can adjust your prices as the market allows.

ask them what their budget is, don't price yourself out too low or too high..remember, you are being paid a fee for your ability, not your time...

I don't mean to sound dense or anything...but why??
I don't play gigs, because I'm only an ameteur, but my fiance has a rock band that is pretty well-known in our area, and he plays gigs pretty regularly.
At my normal job, however, I like to think that I'm getting paid for my time, and my VALUE to the company.
So....why DON'T you get paid for your time?? You could be doing other things...

good question, when you are paid a fee to play a concert, wedding, church service, etc, the actual time you play does not reflect the actual time you are there

But what about the time you spent preparing the pieces, etc? Doesn't that count for anything?
I understand that a player's talent is really what's important; obviously, the better you are, the better you can expect to be paid (in most cases)...but I still think that time and effort should count for something.

If anyone could pick up a flute and perform on it in public with no prior practice or training, then playing a flute would be considered unskilled labor and would be paid accordingly. Since this is obviously not the case, it isn't unskilled labor and fair pay should reflect this.

the reason one should get a good fee for a gig is because one had to spend so much time preparing, problem is some think that getting $500 for a couple of hours is a lot of money, not so when you consider how much time went into it...

This is an interesting topic.
The pay scale I think ends up being a flexible thing. One cous say that we should charge for or practice, skill level and talent but then again if you ask for too much you end up not playing the gig. You have to be careful on one side that you over-value your worth but then again I have turned down gigs simply because they don't pay enough to make the travel expenses and other incidentals worthwhile. Sometimes you take a job for a friend. Sometimes you take a job for charity or becasue it's just good publicity.

well said Bilbo, young people starting out need to take whatever gigs they can, even if they suck, so that they can build up their resume with real experience, not merely a list of who they studied with...I have travelled quite a ways for a lousy gig only in it resulting in a really good gig a couple of years later with someone I worked with at that time...people who like you and your playing will remember you

So True Patrick.
Another point that you just made is that you really need to work well with others. Present an attractive presonality and appearence. Don't be annoying to them and prepare well for the job. In other words, NO gig Trolls allowed! so to speak. Think of each gig as a lead to others. Will all the people involved say that they would have you at another gig or would they say....ummmm, no thanks...because any person there may be a potential employer at some point. IN my town, the music industry is realtively small even if the town seem to be fair sized. Everybody knows everybody else.

well said (again), here are some rules for gigs I try to follow that might help those starting out;

always be early, bring something to read if you have to, but be early

know your part, preferably know the score

play in tune

don't comment on others playing, unless they ask you, and if they do so, be tactful...

dress nice

compliment others when you like their playing

follow these rules, be a nice guy, shut up and play, and all will go your way

All of these are very sensible, and I'm sure that they would help to benefit one to secure future gigs in the future. I still think that the fee you receive for the gig should reflect:

a.) your current level of ability
b.) the time you put into preparing the piece
c.) the time you actually spend at the event
d.) any traveling costs, etc.

it depends where you are in your career true, but I will not turn down a low paying gig if I feel it will benefit me later, lots of people make that mistake.

Another way to set a fee is to try to find out what other players charge in a similar situation by asking them.

Sometimes, like in the case of a church gig, if the organist is doing the hiring, they already have a price in mind.

Again, if you think that you are worth more than the person that's doing the hiring, you may not get the job.

It always burns me that people will spend tons of money on each and every wedding particular but when it comes to the music, they wil quibble about a $25 difference on the soloist.