She wants me to write/record/sing a Jingle!

There was a painter sitting on a corner with his paintings.
They were very, very expensive....and not very good.
A man walking by stopped and very nicely told the artist
that he didn't believe the paintings to be worth the incredible amounts.
The painter wasn't offended, he just smiled and said, I know but all
I need to sell is one.

Jules I like the last line.

My advice will probably not be applicable in your case.  I've been doing jingles for over twenty years now and the market is very cyclical (right now it sucks) and volitale.  That said most pro jingle folks charge by area of broadcast, length of run and complication of production.  In other words a jingle for Chevrolet running nationally for a 1year period will be waaaaaaay more than the exact same jingle done for mom and pop's local bakery in a small town.  But, to give you an example of commercial rates (and I'm actually less than other peer competitors) I charge $3500.00 for a full sing 30/60 jingle package (full sing, instrumental, various donuts and tags) for a statewide jingle running for a 2 year license period.  Also my singers are paid a one time flat fee and neither they nor I collect air royalties.  That's major market and major union stuff.  I'd suggest something between $500-750 as an asking price and that you negotiate no lower than $350...IF this is a small business.  Just remember that whatever you charge will be your "forever" rate for both this client and any others that might accrue directly from it.  Don't sell yourself short.  This assumes, of course, that you can play, sing and produce at a professional level.  Just some thoughts. 
 
PS:  Sorry, didn't see this is for the San Diego market.  That's a pricey market.  Be careful.

Yorolpal, that's exactly what I was thinking. I was going to start at $500 for the whole deal*... 30/60 Jingle package, vox and tracks included. Plus, I would roll the VO for the commercial in for free, as I'd like to have some matereial for demos. I used to be in Radio in college, but lost my aircheck tapes, and they are waaaaaay too old at this point, anyway. I've a friend who will mix for me, and I'll cut him in, too. Herb, that's also what I was thinking. if I'm going to do it, I want to do it right, especially if I'm losing out on the front end. Spacey, you have a Strong point, my friend... And when I sell pottery, Im more inclined to follow that line... This is just a veey special instance. Bapu, I'm stunned and Amazed that my iputer didn't catch that one... Must be the kooky way I have to log into this forum to reply at.all....:) *I realize that this is chump change. But she's a friend, and when she pays me, sometimes I have to hold a $60 check for a week until she can cover it. Sad. I believe in this business she has... It's a truly amazing place. I've made her web sites and have branded her graphics for practically nothing. In fact $500 is a LOT more than what I charged for the web stuff. Like, twice as much. It's smaller then a "Small" business... It's a Tiny Business...

There's a website out there that gives guidelines for these types of projects (I'm looking, I'm looking!).  As soon as I find it, I'll post a link...

Sites like these are why I'm teetering on the edge of non-existance.  I won't go into a diatribe of why they cannot and do not offer anywhere near the level of service or selection or expertise that a full fledged broadcast production facility has to offer because I've always believed in the business philosophy that says "hey, if you can't stand the heat...get the hell out of the kitchen".  However they are the equivalent of "outsourcing" in our industry.  Yet, this does seem the future of the business.  So enjoy the ride while it lasts.

yorolpal, I understand your situation from experience several decades old. As a draftsman, I had a very good paying job that had an unlimited future, working with ink and mylar in a field very few could excell at. Then the computer came in, and I joined that bandwagon to preserve my career. I went through the night schools, learned cadd from the bottom up, and kept my future intact, for a few years. Eventually, they were and now are teaching cadd in high school, some kids learning in late grade school.

While you can sit and argue with your hopefully future employer at your interview that you have three decades of experience in the construction field, know how to recognize problems in the field while the drawings are still in the computer, etc., the truth is, that kid will do the job for half the income you need, twice as fast. Sure the employer has to do more corrections and checking, sure the customer is getting an inferior product, but the bottom line....it is cheaper.

Guess who wins that argument. I think it is time to face the facts, you simply can not make a living in the music industry anymore. In order to make enough money to support yourself and a family, you need more than music.

Later
Albert