Hey kids! Want a real live American Idol to perform your next event? Well, it'll cost you, of course. Just maybe not as much as you think.
The New York Post recently ran an article on the booking fees for various "Idol" alums, everyone from Season 7 semifinalist Carly Smithson (with her Evanescence-associated rock band, We Are The Fallen) to the most successful Idols of all time, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. And some of the figures are a bit surprising.
The findings are based on fees posted on the website of Degy Entertainment, a "middle agency" that helps college campuses, the U.S. Navy, and other musical event organizers deal with the red tape that comes with booking celebrity singers. (According to Degy's Jeff Hyman, the liaison agency earns its 10 percent fee by helping with matters like "making sure the artist isn't asking for six pounds of brown M&M's" and such.) While it comes as no surprise that Carrie can earn half a million for a single concert (although her fee might be as low as $200,000 if she's currently touring, or a cool million if she isn't, says Hyman), it's a bit of shocker that Jennifer Hudson fetches only $100,000--a pretty good bargain considering she's an Oscar-winner!
Other surprises: That Clay Aiken, an Idol some consider to be a has-been, has a rate that's double Adam Lambert's (and even more than that of reality rocker Bret Michaels!); or that Lambert and Kellie Pickler both out-earn Season 7 winner David Cook; or that Season' 7s runner-up David Archuleta, who was actually recently dropped by Jive Records, still has a higher rate than last year's Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, both of whom recently played spring concerts through Degy. (According to Hyman, Season 8 winner Kris Allen, who is not listed on Degy's pricing sheet, earns about the same as Lee or Crystal per concert, between $15,000 and $25,000.)
How much would you pay to have your favorite Idol to perform at your next concert or event? This is what it'll cost you...
We Are The Fallen featuring Carly Smithson -- $5-10K
Blake Lewis -- $10K
Lee DeWyze -- $15-25K
Crystal Bowersox -- $15-25K
Danny Gokey -- $30K
David Archuleta -- $30-40K
David Cook -- $30-50K
Adam Lambert -- $40-50K
Kellie Pickler -- $50-60K
Fantasia -- $50-75K
Clay Aiken -- $85-100K
Jennifer Hudson -- $100K
Daughtry -- $200-300K+
Kelly Clarkson -- $350-500K
Carrie Underwood -- $350-500K
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