The short answer
A gig proposal gets booked when it's fast, clear and easy to say yes to. Send it within a day of the inquiry, offer two or three packages instead of one price, spell out what's included in each, state the deposit and the date the offer expires, and give the client one obvious way to book.
Once they say yes, move straight to a performance contract and a deposit.
What every gig proposal should include
- The event: date, venue, times and what kind of event it is, so the client knows you listened.
- Two or three packages: for example, ceremony only, ceremony plus cocktail hour, or the full day.
- What's included in each: players, hours, song requests, sound system, travel.
- The price and the deposit: the total and what it takes to hold the date.
- An expiry date: "This quote holds your date until June 1."
- One way to book: a button or link, not "let me know."
Why packages beat a single price
One price invites a yes-or-no decision. Packages invite a which-one decision. Put your most popular option in the middle, make the top option genuinely better, and list what each package includes, with a value next to extras like a learned special song or extra hour. Clients compare your packages to each other instead of to the cheapest act they found.
Speed wins the gig
Couples and planners usually contact several acts at once. The first clear, professional proposal often gets booked. Save package templates so you can send a tailored quote in minutes, then follow up two or three days later if you haven't heard back.
Pricing by the hour
For gigs that vary in length, like corporate events and parties, use a price table: a minimum number of hours, a rate for each extra half hour, and travel. Then quotes stay consistent no matter who asks.
How BookLive helps
- Proposals with packages. Build several options, each with its own line items, discounts and an included-value list.
- Booking links. Share a flat-rate package with its price and deposit, so clients can book themselves.
- Time-based pricing rules. Set hourly rates, minimum and maximum lengths and mileage per player, so quotes calculate themselves.
- Quote requests. Clients ask for a date and time, and you approve before anything is booked.
- Send by email. Proposals go to the client from BookLive, and you can see when they were sent.
Your musicians use BookLive for free. Only the bandleader pays.
Frequently asked questions
How many packages should a gig proposal have?
Two or three. Enough to give the client a choice, not so many that they can't decide.
How long should a gig quote be valid?
Usually one to two weeks. Put the expiry date on the proposal so the client knows when the date is no longer held.
Should I put my prices on my website?
Many acts show starting prices to filter out mismatched inquiries, then send a tailored proposal with packages.
Send your next proposal from BookLive
Build your packages once, then send a tailored proposal in minutes whenever an inquiry comes in.
Your musicians never pay.