What Should You Charge for a Gig? Fees, Deposits and Getting It in Writing (UK)
By Written by Peter McVeigh
Knowing what to ask for is one of the hardest parts of gigging. Here is how UK musicians can think about fees, what the Musicians' Union rates are for, what to check before you accept and what to put in writing.
Pricing a gig is awkward. Charge too much and you may lose the booking. Charge too little and you teach people your time is worth very little, and you may end up losing money once travel and gear are counted.
This guide helps you think through what to charge and what to agree before you play. It is general information, not legal advice, and fees vary a great deal by region, venue and type of gig.
Start with your costs
Before you pick a number, work out what the gig actually costs you. That means travel, parking and fuel, and your time, including load in, sound check, the set and the journey home, not just the hour on stage. Count the gear, hire, strings, batteries and wear on equipment, any other musicians, sound engineers or crew you pay, and the tax you will need to set aside on the income.
If the fee does not cover these, you are paying to play. Our guide on the break-even point shows how to work out when a show makes financial sense.
What the Musicians' Union rates are for
The Musicians' Union publishes recommended minimum rates for live work, set per musician for different types of engagement, with extras such as travel, set up time, overtime and carrying equipment added on top. The MU updates them from time to time, so check the current table on the MU website rather than relying on a figure you saw elsewhere.
As an example of the scale, one third party site that reproduces the table listed a pub or club engagement of up to three hours at roughly £167 per musician after the May 2026 update, and a function of up to four hours at roughly £223. Treat those as an indication only and confirm them with the MU.
In practice many pubs and small venues pay less than the recommended minimums, and plenty of smaller gigs are paid on the door. The rates are still useful. They give you a benchmark when you are quoting for private events, weddings, corporate work and functions, where the person booking you is usually used to paying a proper fee.
Different kinds of gig, different deals
Pubs and bars are often a flat fee, sometimes a low one, so ask what the budget is before you quote. Ticketed venue shows are usually a door split, a guarantee or a mix, so make sure you know how the ticket money is divided. Private events and functions are usually a flat fee agreed in advance, and this is where you can quote nearer to the MU rates. Support slots are often a small fee or a share of the door, and the value is the audience as well as the money. Open mics are usually unpaid and not meant to be a source of income.
If someone offers exposure instead of money, ask what that actually means. Exposure to a crowd that has come to see you or the venue's regulars is not the same as paying for your time.
Ask the right questions before you quote
Ask the right questions before you quote. What is the budget for music? How long is the set and how many sets? What time do you need to load in and sound check? Is there a PA and a sound engineer, or do I bring my own? Is food, drink or accommodation included? Who is paying, and when?
The answers let you give an honest number rather than guessing, and show that you are professional.
Deposits and cancellation
For private events especially, it is normal to ask for a deposit to secure the date, with the balance due on or before the night. That protects you if the client cancels late.
Agree in advance what happens if either side cancels, including the notice period and whether the deposit is returned. It is far easier to settle this before a booking than after a problem.
Put it in writing
A simple written agreement avoids most disputes, and it can be an email that both sides confirm. Include the date, venue and address, plus the load in, sound check and set times and the length of the set. Add the fee, any deposit and when the balance is paid, and what equipment and sound the venue provides and what you bring. Cover travel or accommodation if it is included, and the cancellation terms.
For bigger bookings, a proper contract is worth having. Our session musician and band agreement tools can help you draft one, and the Musicians' Union offers contract advice to members. If a client is slow to pay, our guide on what to do when a client ghosts you covers your options.
Invoice properly
Once the gig is done, send an invoice if the client or venue expects one, with your details, the date, the fee and how to pay. Our Invoice Generator makes this quick, and our guide on what goes on a music invoice explains what to include.
Common mistakes
The common mistakes are quoting without knowing the budget, forgetting travel and setup time, and agreeing a fee by word of mouth with nothing in writing. Others are skipping a deposit on a private booking, and accepting exposure in place of pay without asking what it means.
What to do next
Work out your real costs for a typical gig and set a minimum fee you will not go below. Check the current rates on the Musicians' Union website, and write a short template email confirming the date, times, fee and deposit that you can send for every booking.
If you are earlier in the process, see our guide on getting your first gigs. And if you are playing your own songs, remember you may also be owed money for the performance. Our guide on reporting live setlists to PRS explains how.
Disclaimer
This article is general information for independent musicians, not legal or financial advice. Fees vary widely and the Musicians' Union rates change, so check the MU website for current figures before you quote or sign anything.