Band Rate Calculator
Gig rate calculator
All math runs in your browser. Adjust the inputs — the range updates instantly. No account, no API call.
Recommended quote range
$1,500–$4,000
Gross fee for the engagement — quote toward the high end when timeline, travel, or production is tight.
Negotiation floor
$1,350
Walk-away number. Below this you are subsidizing the night.
Per-member take (after ~20% expenses)
$300–$800
Equal split of remaining fee after a typical fuel/food/gear allowance across 4 members.
Estimates reflect typical US market rates for working bands. Your market, draw, reputation, demand, and written scope move these numbers — sometimes a lot. This is a ballpark, not a guarantee or a union scale.
How to use this number
The calculator returns a range, not a magic price. Treat the high end as your opening quote when the client wants certainty (wedding timeline, corporate run-of-show, full production). Treat the low end as the cheapest package you will actually deliver — fewer sets, smaller lineup, or lighter production — not a starting point you hope to crawl up from.
- Quote high, know your floor. Open near the top of the range when scope is fuzzy. Your negotiation floor is the number below which fuel, food, and time make the night a loss. If they land under the floor after every add-on is stripped, say no.
- Ask before you quote. Sound provided or full band PA? Load-in time and stairs? Parking / cartage? Outdoor power? Ceremony + reception or reception only? Deposit amount and cancel window? Each answer moves you inside the range.
- Write the package, not just the fee. “Four-piece, two 45s, venue PA, parking on site, 50% deposit, balance day-of” beats “$2,000 for the night.” Scope creep kills private-event margins.
- Split after the fee is real. Per-member take here assumes an equal split after a typical expense allowance. Real bands often weight by role, gear, or who books — use Bandmate band tools and the revenue split guide when you lock a deal.
For the cost-floor method behind these ranges (door vs guarantee, private-event packaging, when to raise), read How to price your band for gigs . The article teaches principles; this tool computes a ballpark.
When to walk
Walking is a pricing skill. Decline — or re-package — when any of these show up:
- The offer sits under your floor even after cutting sets or players, and the room will not clear a door deal on realistic turnout.
- Load-in, run time, or production is undefined (“we’ll figure sound out”) and the client will not put scope in writing.
- No deposit on a private event more than a few weeks out, or payment terms that strand you waiting on “after the bar settles.”
- “Exposure” is the only upside and the bill does not cover costs. A one-off unpaid night can still make sense for the right room; making unpaid your default teaches buyers your calendar is optional.
- Last-minute fills that demand full production with half the fee. Short notice is a premium, not a discount.
Counter with fewer minutes on stage, a smaller configuration, or another date before you drop the fee to zero. A buyer who will only book unpaid is shopping for charity, not a band.
Rate model (what the math uses)
Same tables the calculator multiplies. Reference setup: 4-piece, standard set load (~2×45 / 1×60-class), venue provides PA & lights, working local / regional act — not a national draw.
Base fee ranges by gig type × market ($)
| Gig type | Major metro | Mid-size | Small market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar / club | $300–$800 | $200–$500 | $150–$350 |
| Private party | $800–$2,000 | $600–$1,500 | $400–$1,000 |
| Wedding | $2,000–$5,500 | $1,500–$4,000 | $1,200–$3,000 |
| Corporate | $2,500–$7,000 | $1,800–$5,000 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Festival | $500–$3,500 | $400–$2,500 | $300–$1,500 |
Band size multipliers
Relative to the 4-piece reference.
| Size | × |
|---|---|
| 1 (solo) | 0.4 |
| 2 (duo) | 0.55 |
| 3 | 0.8 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 1.15 |
| 6 | 1.3 |
| 7 | 1.4 |
| 8+ | 1.5 |
Set length multipliers
Relative to 2×45 as “standard block.”
| Sets | × |
|---|---|
| 1 × 45 min | 0.7 |
| 1 × 60 min | 0.85 |
| 2 × 45 min | 1 |
| 2 × 60 min | 1.2 |
| 3 × 45 min | 1.35 |
| 3 × 60 min | 1.55 |
Production add-on
When the band brings PA & lights (absolute $, not a pure multiplier).
| Market | Add |
|---|---|
| Major metro | $300–$700 |
| Mid-size market | $200–$500 |
| Small market | $150–$350 |
Outputs. Recommended range = base × size × sets (+ production add-on when relevant), rounded to avoid fake precision. Negotiation floor ≈ 90% of the low end. Per-member take = remaining fee after a 20% expense allowance, split equally across the selected band size.
Honesty notes. Bar/club nights often live in the low hundreds per band (door deals included). Weddings commonly sit roughly $1.5k–$5k+ by region and package. Corporate usually clears above comparable wedding work. Festivals are wildly variable — draw and slot matter more than city size. None of these are national agency rate cards; strong draw, specialty repertoire, or full production companies can sit well above the high end.
Assumptions
- Estimates reflect typical US market rates for working cover, party, and club bands with a clean demo and reliable show.
- Your market, draw, reputation, and demand move these numbers — sometimes far outside the printed range.
- Not union scale, not a quote from Bandmate, and not legal or tax advice. Build your own cost floor from real expenses before you sign.
Next steps
Lock a floor, quote a package, and track the money. Split payouts and calendar with features for bands, or dig deeper into pricing craft in how to price your band for gigs .