When next you spot a celeb sipping a glass of Moët at your local nightclub, consider that the club could have paid her to add glamour to the evening. The two-to-three-hour gig could earn her as much as R25, 000. It's all in a day's work for some South African celebs, who are increasingly becoming commodities as they cash in on brand Me.Showbiz pay, for years a closely guarded secret, is in the spotlight after former radio jock Gareth Cliff slapped M-Net with a R25-million lawsuit after being dumped from Idols amid a race row. In papers filed in support of his lawsuit for defamation and loss of earnings, Cliff revealed that he was paid R350000 for the most recent Idols season.So how does this compare with general pay trends?story_article_left1One reputable industry insider who has managed a variety of stars, reckoned that big names like former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss or It girl Bonang Matheba should be able to rake in more than R100, 000 per event to play master of ceremonies.Some stars have better bargaining power than others, of course . Those who are still up and coming may have to settle for as little as R10000 for similar appearances .Then there are coveted events such as the SA Film and Television Awards and the SA Music Awards, which bring big bucks and even bigger exposure for celebrities.Minnie Dlamini, comedian Loyiso Gola and musician HHP each hosted one of South Africa's big awards shows last year.Top Billing presenter Jonathan Boynton-Lee had a busy 2015. In addition to introducing US musician Pharrell Williams, Boynton-Lee worked for several local and international brands, among them Nike, cosmetics house Elizabeth Arden, various banks and Woolworths.Media personality and model Maps Maponyane said he averaged three to four events a month last year.It sounds like he may have coined it, but Maponyane was not keen to discuss figures.He said that at first he found it "weird" to be paid for making an appearance. "But then you learn your value."He said it was important for personalities to be selective about the gigs they sign up for."For example, I won't go to a cigarette event because I don't smoke," said the 25-year-old.There are many ways for celebs to stretch their income.Those savvy about social media can command up to R20000 a tweet from advertisers.Murray Legg of Webfluential, a company that helps Twitter users gauge their online worth, said that, depending on the celebrity's level of influence, they could rake in between R500 and R20000 per tweet.story_article_right2Jay Badza, brand director at DNA Brand Architects and manager of some of South Africa' s celebs, cautioned stars to be true to themselves.Celebs needed to find opportunities "that will work with the plan you have set for yourself" he said."Doing everything for a pay cheque ends in disaster. You water down your brand."CELEBS CAN EARN:R20, 000 per tweetR44, 000 per month for a top soapie acting roleR100, 000 to host an awards show..