Over the years, I've set certain limits on how much I charge and the distances that I'll travel without adding another charge for travel expenses. Essentially, if it's a regular job, one that I'll play more than once a month, and the distance is less than 50 miles each way, there will be no addional charge for travel expenses. This is regardless of whether it's a club job, dinner party, private party or corporate party--everyone gets charged the same.

If the job is more than 50 miles each direction, the contract I mail to the client has a specific paragraph related to travel expenses, such as: meals, gas, tolls, motel, etc.. I have traveled from Baltimore to Virginia Beach to play a wedding party, spent the night in a motel, and charged the party not only the actual travel expenses, but additionally, 50 percent more for the performance because travel time consumed an addtional day of my time. They were happy to pay the fees, including the additional entertainment fee and rebooked me for another party that fall in Delaware. The bottom line is "time is money." And, that's whether someone is fixing your car, delivering the mail or repairing your plumbing. Music is a business and it must be treated as such in order to make a living. Traveling to distant jobs is just part of the business.

Cheers,

Gary