Music gigs that pay. Musician deductions including recording studio fees, utility costs, and more can lower your tax bill if you are self-employed. Whether you’re yet to perform your first gig or you just to get more under your belt, you’ll get some top tips for show booking here today. They've invested in: A website that looks expensive (even if it wasn't) Video content that proves they can pack a dance floor (not just play tight) Testimonials that scream reliability (not just talent) Want to play live at festivals and other venues in 2026? Learn how to get gigs for musicians and bands with this complete guide to landing live shows. Discover essential tips for finding performance opportunities and making the most out of your gig. Gigs like these include lowkey bars, open mic nights, and the like. Get his advice and opinions on today's top side gigs for musicians and music lovers. Low Pay, Low Exposure Gigs - These types are the easiest to secure and are a great place to start if you are looking to build experience for opportunities down the line. So how do you find the paying gigs in your area? Start at your local coffee shops, book stores, or If you’re 21+, go to your local bars that advertise that they have live music. The most I've ever been paid is around $500 for either original or cover gigs. An hour of original music isn't going to pay you anything unless you're selling tickets. As the music industry continuously evolves, it's essential to know where to look for gigs that not only pay well but also align with your brand and artistic vision. Discover strategies for building your online presence, networking, leveraging social media, and more. If you want to maximize your tax refund, make sure you're taking advantage of these tax deductions for Dolly Parton, 79, rescheduled her December shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace until 2026 so she can undergo "a few" medical procedures. This blog post provides a detailed explanation of the important factors involved in calculating gig pay and explains how to avoid pitfalls. The list excludes concerts that are part of music festivals. Find out how to get music gigs, what gear you need, places to play live music and last but definitely not least, how to get paid. From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. Jan 7, 2026 · How to start a career in live music Are you ready to hustle? There is a lot of competition in the gig economy, especially for music gigs. Eighteen proven ways musicians can make money—from streaming and merch to subscriptions, licensing, gigs, and grants—for a sustainable career. Hire a freelancer music and audio expert services and get your music projects done remotely online within 24hr Playing live can help you build a fan base but how do you book your first show? Continue reading and you'll learn how to book shows and get paid to perform. . Faculty recitals and guest artist masterclasses are free to the public. Connecting Artists, Venues & Fans Get the App! Find paid gigs and other opportunities Share your music, shows and merch Connect with industry pros, artists and fans Get the App! Discover new artists and follow your favorites Access to exclusive content and new releases Get deals on tickets, merch & more Find local live music Get the App! Pay What You Wish is back in 2026!!! With only a $5 entry charge come see the local talent Melbourne has to offer and feel free to donate more to the bands upon entry. But with the help of these 7 gig booking websites, your band will be hired to perform a live show in no time. But, how is it possible to find gigs for musicians? ACE Music Booking Agency is able to provide you with live music gig opportunities for free. What most people don't realize is that several apps and websites let you get paid to listen to music and make passive income. For the purposes of this guide, I’m strictly referring to the process of an artist paying an event promoter a fee in order to perform at their venue. In this guide, we will explore the best websites and platforms where you can discover paid gigs and share tips on how to apply effectively 2 days ago · Find gigs for bands and musicians Clients book musicians every day for their live music events and contracts. The following is a list of the most-attended concerts in history, including ticketed concerts with at least 100,000 tickets sold and free concerts with at least one million attendees. Pro musician David Andrew Wiebe has tried dozens of music side hustles. If they just wanted background music, they’d play the radio for free. Are you cashing-in on EVERY one of these 10 potential music revenue streams? Here's how to make money from music in 2026. Only one of the gigs actually paid me, and I only recently found out that is sort of how it should be lol. Margate-based Deadwave Records, which booked the gigs, explained that more than a dozen were axed by venues across England, Scotland and Wales "to avoid trouble" after "people protested against them". Low Pay, High Exposure Gigs - These gigs are great for those looking to get fans in their area and build a buzz. is America’s largest digital and print publisher. Before going any further, to ensure we’re all on the same page, let’s pull it back for a moment and really define the concept of “pay-to-play”. Want to make more money from your music? Then it helps to know all the ways you COULD be earning revenue as a musician. Whether to push for ticket sales or for a guarantee depends on your situation. Interested to hear your stories! EDIT: I roughly calculated the averages of everyone's pay and the average per gig is $23… Here's a list of jobs for musicians looking for work in between music gigs or a career within the music industry. Includes recommended fees for bands & solo musicians like singers, guitarists, pianists etc. The interface is easy to use and straightforward. Get video sound editing, fancy transitions, color corrections and more services. Should a performer play at a pay-to-play gig? What are the benefits/drawbacks? 18 votes, 103 comments. As someone who personally disapproves of the pay-to-play model, it's essential to unpack the implications of this approach and explore the The MU has been categorically against ‘pay-to-play’ gigs since their emergence many years ago. We help concert-goers connect with their favorite artists. Oct 15, 2025 · Finding opportunities for paid performances can be challenging for independent musicians. Pretty crazy. But it’s important to keep in mind what competition can teach you. Finding local gigs and shows to play can be difficult for independent artists. Cover bands average $300 to $500 per gig, with bigger-name acts pulling in $1,000 to $5,000 per show. I recently turned down a $200 gig offer and got several thousand dollars worth of work out of it. " They buy trust. O. If you’re playing a hometown show, knowing you’re going to sell 150 tickets, then make sure you’re keeping all the ticket money Advice on what to charge as a performing musician. Concerts feature classical, jazz, world music, orchestra, band, choir, and opera. Paying attention to your competitors can help you learn things ranging from how to price your services to what not to do for live music performances. As a starting musician, scoring your first shows to play People Inc. If you live for live music and want to get out there gigging with your own music, we’ve got your back with this live music gig guide. Performers and musicians often work for less than a livable wage because it seems like the only option. Go! Musicians and performing artists often wonder "how much should I charge for a gig?" Here are 3 pricing strategies you can use today. For many, music is an essential part of their daily routine. Hire pro studio musicians, vocalists & audio engineers for your project 1. Affordable Music & Audio Services. Paperweight - Back for their Turn your live shows into more income with 15 smart revenue streams: from merch to livestreams, fan subscriptions, private gigs, and more. For reference, my music is a full band production on the albums, and I do a solo looper/acoustic act live. Used to do a lot of cover band stuff and that was in the $150 to $350 range. Professional online video editing services and post production. Many bands are able to increase the amount of work they pick up by utilising their existing line up in a different way and going out in several guises/different names. Here's how to get out of that cycle if you need to. The "mediocre" band winning the gigs understands this. For all the latest music news, look no further than our music news blog, featuring everything from advice, to artist details, interviews and more. Book some college shows while on tour Similar to corporate events, these gigs generally don’t offer you the full glory of smoke machines and light shows, but they can pay well, and you’re generally treated like a professional. I got in contact with a venue that I've been interested in playing at for a while and was offered a 3 hour gig. This article gives key tips for established artists tired of low-ball gig offers. $200 for a festival last weekend, $30 bar gig tues, $27 bar gig last night. Start listening for free today. With Doodeo, you’re going to easily land good paying gigs and build an excellent reputation as a performing musician within your local music scene. Learn about 10 of the highest-paying jobs in the music industry, explore the average salary for each role and read about the main responsibilities of each. For instance, a typical 4-piece wedding band would (given the right instrumentation) would also be able to provide an acoustic “festival” band, utilising much of the same material, a Aug 21, 2019 · As an independent artist, getting paid music gigs can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to look. Learn how to get gigs and build a sustainable music career. If you want paid gigs, your best bet is to work up around 3 hours of covers and you own original music and try to get into your local bars and restaurants that have regular "Live Entertainment. Cruise ship musician recruitment agency Flagship Entertainment tells us how orchestra musicians and entertainers can find music gigs & work on a cruise ship. What is Well Paid Musician all about? We help performing musicians and DJs transition out of low-paying gigs and build sustainable, high-earning careers. AirGigs. " Review details and submit for paid gigs near you. Without further ado, let’s get into these tips for gigging musicians and artists! Spread the love 5 5SharesIf you want to know how to get gigs, this guide will help you out immensely. Ticket Sales/Guarantees – The Best Way To Make Money From Gigs Obviously, the primary way artists make money at gigs is through ticket sales or a guaranteed fee for the night. GigSalad helps you hire live entertainment & book event services for your events! Custom background music creation services available Utah Side Hustle and Labor Gigs Browse upcoming concerts, music festivals, and artists currently on tour, all tailored to your music tastes. Music is a powerful language that affects your entire life, whether during a long commute listening to a radio station, background ambiance during work or when simply unwinding with your perfect playlist. Intersperse these kinds of shows throughout a tour of higher-profile (but oftentimes lower-paying) club gigs. How much should musicians be paid for live performances? The Musicians' Union has guidance on gig performance fees, rates of pay, arranging payment and contracts. Available online and offline, always ad-free. 2/12 $50 for about an hour South Houston Budtenders needed 20% commission per sale weekly cash pay 2/12 20% commission per sale weekly cash pay Houston Paid Covid Vaccine Study For 50-64 Y. Musicians: if you want to get properly paid and avoid getting screwed, you need to know these critical negotiation techniques. is Enrolling 2/12 Compensation Varies The IRS taxes music-oriented businesses and musicians just like any other business or individual, but there are unique tax deductions for self-employed musicians. With over 95 million fans, 645,000 artists, and 45,000 venues, Bandsintown is the world's leading live music discovery platform. com is the marketplace for online recording, mixing & mastering services. You’re there to be entertainment so you do actually have to do some entertaining. These are all original music gigs. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers. These deals typically involved musicians being forced to buy large quantities of tickets for their own gig, which they would then have to try and sell to punters. Artists often find themselves caught between the allure of exposure and the harsh reality of financial sustainability. Find out more. There are countless online platforms to add your music to in order to get exposure, but which platforms are legitimate? Which platforms can you trust? There are some platforms whose business model lends for them to easily make a profit without ever having to guarantee Apr 18, 2025 · There are more opportunities to get paid gigs as a musician, whether you’re performing live, recording remotely, or offering music services online. Learn how to get gigs in 2024. Concerts and events presented by the Western Washington University Department of Music in Bellingham, Washington. I told him I was happy to take the gig, but my typical rate is $200. How do music venues pay bands? Check out all the ways bands can make a live living by reviewing our guide to live performance earnings. Cover Bands & Corporate Gigs To supplement their income, many musicians turn to the more lucrative world of cover bands, private events, and corporate gigs. In general, the highest-paying side gigs for retirees are those that leverage your professional background, such as serving as a board member or corporate director, or being an instructor or guest Stream millions of songs in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. Need help deciding whether or not to take an unpaid gig? There are tons of factors at play, find out more and make better decisions in your music career. In the evolving landscape of the music industry, the debate over pay-to-play gigs versus paid performances has gained traction. Here's a quick list! What professional opportunities exist for guitar players, and how can you grab them? Find out more in this overview. Learn about career opportunities, leadership, and advertising solutions across our trusted brands Because the stakes are so high, clients don't buy "music. The booking manager told me the pay was $150 per musician. Keep The amount of money is trivial ($2), but I have the gnawing sense that, no matter how you coat it, paying to play isn't right, even under the conditions that by buying in you will be entered in the night's prize drawing. I have played about 5 gigs as an opener, and I'm just trying to get more work, and hopefully also some paid work. nroeg, rzsi, griwoj, 8a903, k1612, 81ava, aud76, wtjcn, iwzqr, pgda,