The short answer
There's no single right number, but there is a right method. Start with what each player needs to earn, add your own time for booking, rehearsing and admin, add costs like travel and gear, then check what comparable acts in your area charge for the same kind of event. Price by package, not by the hour alone, and raise your rates as your calendar fills.
Then present the price well. See how to write a gig proposal that gets booked.
Build your price from the bottom up
- Player pay: what each musician on the gig earns.
- Your time: calls, planning, learning requests, rehearsals and admin, often more hours than the performance itself.
- Costs: travel, parking, sound gear, attire, music and software.
- Profit: what's left for the business after everyone is paid.
Check your market
Look at what similar acts charge for the same event type in your area: weddings usually pay more than restaurant gigs, and corporate events often pay more than private parties. Use directory listings, planner conversations and lost-quote feedback. Don't price yourself against the cheapest act; price against the ones whose clients you want.
When to raise your rates
- Your peak dates book out months ahead.
- Most quotes are accepted without pushback.
- You've added something new: more players, better video, more reviews.
Raise rates for new inquiries first, and honor quotes you've already sent.
How BookLive helps
- Packages and line items. Build your pricing into proposal packages you can reuse.
- Time-based pricing rules. Hourly rates, minimum and maximum lengths and mileage, calculated for you.
- Player pay on every seat. See what each gig costs you before you quote. See how to pay your band.
Your musicians use BookLive for free. Only the bandleader pays.
Frequently asked questions
Should musicians charge by the hour or by the gig?
Most acts price by package or by the event, with an hourly rate for extra time. It keeps quotes simple for clients.
Should I charge more for weddings?
Usually, yes. Weddings involve more planning, requests and pressure, and clients expect to pay more for them.
How do I know if I'm charging too little?
If nearly every quote is accepted immediately and your peak dates fill months ahead, your price is probably low.
Price and quote your gigs in BookLive
Build your packages once and send consistent quotes every time.
Your musicians never pay.