# Musical acts on tour receiving per diem pay. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 29, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-acts-on-tour-receiving-per-diem-pay/231806 "2004-02-29T23:28:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-acts-on-tour-receiving-per-diem-pay/231806/1 "2004-02-29T23:28:18Z")
Any one know the inside dope on when bands are on tour and they receive per diem pay? On average, how much do they receive and is it EVERYDAY or just on performance day. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-acts-on-tour-receiving-per-diem-pay/231806/2 "2004-02-29T23:41:33Z")
AFAIK, pay is based per-gig/concert. A band that is a true band receives a set amount per performance; that money is divided up based on their relationship as a band (usually equally, with plenty going to road manager and crew; publishing rights matter little when touring). For side men - e.g., hired musicians supporting one or more celebrity musicians and acting as a band - they are typically paid based on either a contracted per-gig rate over a tour, or based on union or understood standards for that geography. In terms of a per-diem in the literal sense, I don’t have much exposure to them for musicians, but one scenario I can imagine is some artist who can’t handle their income - too much, too soon and all that. Their manager or accountant or whomever may withhold their income to a bank account and release an amount daily for their use… ---
**Author:** ![Quint\_Essence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/54ee81/32.png) [@Quint\_Essence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint_Essence)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-acts-on-tour-receiving-per-diem-pay/231806/3 "2004-03-01T04:04:47Z")
per diem pay would more likely be paid to roadies and/or studio musicians who join a tour as a replacement or additional musician for the tour. How much is paid or whether the gig is actually “per diem” or based on a set period depends a lot on the permanence of the musician in the bulk of the tour.