The short answer
A good performance contract covers who, when, where and how much: the client and your act, the date and set times, the venue, the fee, the deposit and payment schedule, what happens if either side cancels, overtime, and what you need on site. Send it right after the client accepts your proposal, collect an electronic signature and the deposit together, and don't hold the date until both arrive.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review your template.
Clauses every musician contract needs
- The parties: your act and the client, with contact details.
- The event: date, venue, arrival time, performance times and breaks.
- The fee: the total, the deposit and when the balance is due.
- Cancellation: what's refundable, and what happens if you can't perform.
- Overtime: the rate for playing past the agreed end time.
- Site needs: power, a covered space for outdoor gigs, parking, meals for long events.
- Substitutes: whether you may send a qualified sub if a player can't make it.
- Signatures: both parties, with the date.
Deposits hold the date
Ask for a deposit when the contract is signed, and say in the contract that the date is only held once both arrive. Many acts ask for a meaningful share of the fee up front and the balance before the event. More in how to get paid for gigs.
Use e-signatures
Printing, scanning and mailing contracts slows down bookings. With an e-signature, the client can sign on their phone the same day they say yes, while they're still excited.
How BookLive helps
- Contract templates. Write your contract once and fill in each gig's details automatically.
- E-signatures. Send the contract by email and the client signs online.
- Know when it's opened. See whether the client has opened the contract yet, and how often.
- Gig status updates itself. When the contract is signed, the gig moves to booked.
- Deposits and payment schedules. Collect the deposit and set when the rest is due.
Your musicians use BookLive for free. Only the bandleader pays.
Frequently asked questions
Do musicians need a contract for every gig?
For private events, weddings and corporate gigs, yes. It protects your date, your fee and your time, and it makes you look professional.
How much deposit should a musician ask for?
It varies, but many acts ask for a significant share of the fee to hold the date, with the balance due before the event.
Is an electronic signature valid for a performance contract?
In the US, electronic signatures are generally treated as valid for contracts like these. Check with a lawyer for your situation.
Send your next contract from BookLive
Turn a yes into a signed contract and a deposit the same day.
Your musicians never pay.