Do you want to enjoy a live music performance at your event, but do not know where to start? Correct pricing and expectations on the budget as a booker, is an essential first step to be taken before reaching out to the preferred musician. We have created a useful list of guidance that you can use during your search for live music online with the help of Gigstarter!
Best starting point is to check a price range set by an artist on his Gigstarter profile or any other social media. Every artist and band has a settled price and we want them to be treated fairly. This can be found at the top right corner of the page. If you offer significantly below the artist's listed price, it is likely that your offer will not be accepted for a final booking. However, exceptions may occur depending on the situation. In order to provide a more detailed information, we seperated this article in small sections based on the criteria to keep in mind while hiring a musician.
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1. Number of Musicians
Groups such as wedding bands, acoustic duo or festival performers involve multiple musicians, making their costs higher compared to solo acts. If your event takes place in a spacious arena or hall, the entertainment must be sufficient to fill that large space, which means not every singer-songwriter could be enough. The more people involved in the performance, they relatively have to be paid more from the available budget. Keep in mind to be able to efficiently and respectfully negotiate future price. Especially when there are many other costs for the band, such as travel costs. But more about that later.
2. Experience and Reputation
Entry-level musicians, seeking exposure, may offer more budget-friendly options, while mid-level musicians, with defined skills, fall within a moderate fee range. This preference is personal for each booker, as some invest time and money to allow younger talents to take their first steps in the industry, while others prefer to be safe, especially when it concerns big events such as festivals, company parties, or weddings. In order to align your expectations with reality before spending money, conduct small research about the preferred artist on social media, YouTube videos, and articles with possible interviews. Thanks to Gigstarter, every musician who is booked has an opportunity to receive a review, which helps people define the budget appropriately and avoid wasting money.
3. Performance Duration
Creating a budget for a musician, upon the length of performances, involves a nuanced approach to reflect the varying demands at different durations. For a short performance of up to one hour, considerations includes a basic fee, little sound equipment costs and little to no food/accommodation. As the performance duration extends to the standard (one to three) and even premium (from 4 hours to whole day), an increased price, additional technician fees, along with night accommodation become applicable. All of this will affect how much musicians are charging per gig.
FÄIS (Gigstarter Artist)
4. Travel/location
The price for a performance almost always includes travel costs. In some cases, the ideal artist for your event might be located on the other side of the country. On average, every 100 km is expected to result in a price increase, regardless of the formation. If these travel costs prove to be too high, consider exploring similar artists on Gigstarter who are from your own region. This approach not only helps manage costs but also allows you to explore local talent that can bring a unique flavor to any event. It's a practical consideration that contributes to a memorable experience for your audience.
When it comes to location, the budget range can vary drastically depending on the country you are in. What works for Northern countries such as the Netherlands and Germany may not seamlessly apply to Southern Europe. To simplify the breakdown, we have separated it with bullet points for each part of Europe:
Northern Europe: 100-120 euros per band member and 150 euros for a solo artist.
Southern Europe: 60-70 euros per band member and 80-100 euros for a solo artist.
UK: 200-250 euros per band member and 180-200 euros for a solo artist.
5. Equipment and Setup
Some artists prefer to bring their own equipment, but in many cases, the responsibility for arrangement falls on the booker. Anticipate that the cost of an act might be higher if they need to transport their own sound and light equipment to the show. It's crucial to be well-informed about the required equipment; in most cases, artists have a clear understanding of what is necessary to make your party a success. If you lack this knowledge, especially for larger events, consider hiring a technical crew, including sound and lighting technicians.
To sum up all of the above, the Gigstarter team has devised a simple formula that can be applied in most cases when booking live music. We hope it will assist you in making informed choices and in showing due respect to musicians and their hard work.
Check the artists on Gigstarter
Have fun with exploring live music. If you have a question during your search, feel free to email us at info@gigstarter.nl. We are happy to help!
