Indeed, and my experience comes from being a musician. I'm in a jazz quartet, but both of my kids are in string quartets, one is a professional. One thing that

Indeed, and my experience comes from being a musician. I'm in a jazz quartet, but both of my kids are in string quartets, one is a professional. One thing that might make it hard to study is that the cost depends on the event and what's actually being delivered. Everybody charges a premium for weddings and corporate events. But those things also have to run absolutely like clockwork. On the other hand, the bands I'm in are also happy to charge a lower price for a "budget" wedding that isn't a $100000 Disney blowout. Everybody charges different if travel is involved. What most ensembles do is, first, book as many high-dollar gigs as possible. Then, fill in the holes in the schedule with lesser gigs. The best musicians in my locale will take a $50 gig if the alternative is staying home.