For artists and the agents who represent them
The booking agent agreement
Commission, exclusivity, territory, term and leaving - in plain English.
The clauses to check in a UK artist and booking agent agreement - commission, exclusivity, territory, term, payment and leaving.
Updated 23 October 2026
01 — Booking agent agreement
What Goes in a Booking Agent Agreement
GIGXCHANGE is where UK artists and their booking agents book gigs under contract. An artist and an agent agree the representation first - commission, exclusivity, territory, how long, how to leave - and then every gig the agent books on GigXchange carries its own performance contract, signed by both sides. 982 artists and 70 venues are on the platform. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee.
Most artist and agent disagreements in the UK are not about a bad gig. They are about something nobody wrote down: whether the agent takes a cut of a booking the band found themselves, what happens to commission on dates already booked when the artist leaves, or whether the agent covers weddings only or everything.
This page is a checklist of the clauses that settle those questions before they come up - it is not legal advice, and union members can ask the Musicians’ Union to read a contract before they sign.
The agreement between artist and agent is one document. On GigXchange, each gig the agent books then gets its own performance contract with the booker - date, fee, sets, kit and cancellation - signed by both sides with a full audit trail, so the two layers never blur.
| 02The agreement, in five clausesFive clauses to check | |
| 03CommissionWhat acts earn, and what an agent takes | |
| 04Venues booking live actsThe venues in our directory | |
| 05Members across the UKThe acts and rooms near you | |
| 06The two contractsRepresentation and performance are separate agreements - know which is which. | |
| 07Before you signThe questions to answer in writing before an artist and an agent sign. | |
| 08Free tools for agentsFree with an agent account. | |
| 10QuestionsWhat artists and agents agree before they sign | |
| 11Keep exploringThe other guides and the longer reads |
02 — The clauses
5 stepsFive clauses
| Step 01CommissionThe rate, and whether it comes off the full fee or after travel and costs. UK agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25%. | |
| Step 02ExclusivityIs this agent your only agent - for every gig, or only for some kinds of event? Do they take a cut of gigs you find yourself? | |
| Step 03Territory and eventsThe regions and the kinds of booking the agent covers - weddings, corporate, clubs, festivals. | |
| Step 04Term and leavingHow long it runs, the notice period, and whether commission continues on bookings made before you leave. | |
| Step 05Money and paperworkWho collects the fee, when the artist is paid, and that every gig carries its own contract. | |
| If you have oneAlready signed?Check the agreement you have against these five before it renews or rolls over. |
03 — Commission
LiveThe price ladder
What does the commission clause cost in practice? UK agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25%. At 20%, it takes £200 from a typical wedding fee for a 3 to 4 piece band - £1,000 (1,615 fees) on the live GX Index - and £71 from a typical private-party solo booking at £354 (78 fees).
GX Index UK medians, live - the fees the commission clause applies to. Typical UK commission: 15–20%, some up to 25%.
- Pub or bar, 3 to 4 piece £350 median · 275 observationsMU minimum £501.48 · for 3 players; 4 players: £668.64
- Wedding, 3 to 4 piece £1,000 median · 1,615 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Private party, solo £354 median · 78 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Wedding, solo £330 median · 109 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
The fee is the act’s; an agent’s commission comes out of it. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee.
| GuideHow agents structure commissionFlat, percentage, gross and net. | |
| ToolRate calculatorA fair fee for your night. | |
| DataGX IndexEvery UK fee table, open data. |
04 — On GigXchange
70 venuesVenues booking live acts
70 venues book their live music direct on GigXchange - every booking with its own signed contract. Each venue lists what it books and posts its open dates; message the booker, agree the fee and sign the contract in one place. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. How are gigs contracted on GigXchange? Each booking - whether an agent or the artist made it - creates a digital performance agreement with the date, fee, sets and kit, signed by both sides with a full audit trail.
05 — Members across the UK
Tap a cityWhere agreement play
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
Booking in a city? London · Birmingham · Leeds · Glasgow · Sheffield · Manchester · Bradford · Edinburgh · Liverpool · Bristol · Leicester · Cardiff · every city guide
06 — Two contracts
Two contracts
| The representation agreementBetween the artist and the agent: commission, exclusivity, territory, term. Agreed once. | |
| The performance contractBetween the act and the booker, for each gig: date, fee, sets, kit, cancellation. Made on every GigXchange booking. | |
| The payment termsDeposit, balance and when the agent’s commission is settled. | |
| The invoiceWho invoices the booker - the act or the agent - and on what terms. |
07 — Choosing the agent
Before you sign
| Get it in writingA verbal deal is hard to prove. Every term above belongs in the signed agreement. | |
| Take adviceUnion members can ask the Musicians’ Union to look at a contract before they sign. | |
| Check the regulatorUK agencies work under the 2003 Conduct Regulations, enforced by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. | |
| Know the market rateCompare any commission and fee against the live figures on this page. |
| Employment Agency Standards InspectorateEnforces the rules UK agencies work under | |
| The Conduct of Employment Agencies Regulations 2003The regulations themselves | |
| Musicians' UnionNational gig rates | |
| The Agents' AssociationThe UK trade body for entertainment agents |
08 — Free tools
6 toolsFor agents
| ContractsBooking ContractsUK-compliant and e-signed, on every booking | |
| MoneyInvoice GeneratorSynced to your bookings, paid faster | |
| Press kitEPK BuilderA press kit that updates itself | |
| BookingsAvailability + Booking ManagerLive availability on your own website | |
| PromotionTour PosterBuilt from your upcoming gigs in 1 click | |
| DiscoveryFind an ArtistRanked acts for your dates |
See it in action
A look inside GigXchange Mainstage — the members app where artists, venues, agents and promoters manage bookings, messaging, events and payments. Scroll: the phone follows you through the app.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
10 — Questions7 answersBooking agent agreement FAQ
11 — Keep exploring
Go deeper
| Booking Agents for BandsWhat agents charge and how bands get one. | |
| Booking Agents for DJsWhat DJ agents take and how to get one. | |
| Booking Agents for SingersHow singers get an agent, and what it costs. | |
| Booking Agents for Tribute ActsTribute agencies, commission, getting signed. | |
| How Much Do Booking Agents MakeCommission per booking, on live fees. | |
| Booking Agent vs ManagerWho sells the gigs, who runs the career. | |
| How to Become a Booking AgentStart an agency and run a roster. | |
| Contract generatorThe gig contract, free. | |
| What to put in a gig contractThe 8 clauses every gig needs. | |
| All the agent guidesEvery agent page in one place. | |
| Commission modelsFlat, percentage, gross and net. | |
| GigXchange for agentsEverything an agent account does. |
| The booking fee | |
| Gig rate calculator | |
| GX Gig Rescue |
Run the roster direct
Join free - contracts, invoices and commission tracking built in.
The booking agent agreement
The clauses to check in a UK artist and booking agent agreement - commission, exclusivity, territory, term, payment and leaving.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
What Goes in a Booking Agent Agreement
GIGXCHANGE is where UK artists and their booking agents book gigs under contract. An artist and an agent agree the representation first - commission, exclusivity, territory, how long, how to leave - and then every gig the agent books on GigXchange carries its own performance contract, signed by both sides. 982 artists and 70 venues are on the platform. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee.
Most artist and agent disagreements in the UK are not about a bad gig. They are about something nobody wrote down: whether the agent takes a cut of a booking the band found themselves, what happens to commission on dates already booked when the artist leaves, or whether the agent covers weddings only or everything.
This page is a checklist of the clauses that settle those questions before they come up - it is not legal advice, and union members can ask the Musicians’ Union to read a contract before they sign.
The agreement between artist and agent is one document. On GigXchange, each gig the agent books then gets its own performance contract with the booker - date, fee, sets, kit and cancellation - signed by both sides with a full audit trail, so the two layers never blur.
The agreement, in five clauses
What a UK artist and booking agent agree before they sign - a checklist, not legal advice.
Commission
The rate, and whether it comes off the full fee or after travel and costs. UK agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25%.
Exclusivity
Is this agent your only agent - for every gig, or only for some kinds of event? Do they take a cut of gigs you find yourself?
Territory and events
The regions and the kinds of booking the agent covers - weddings, corporate, clubs, festivals.
Term and leaving
How long it runs, the notice period, and whether commission continues on bookings made before you leave.
Money and paperwork
Who collects the fee, when the artist is paid, and that every gig carries its own contract.
Already signed?
Check the agreement you have against these five before it renews or rolls over.
Commission, live
GX Index UK medians, live - the fees the commission clause applies to. Typical UK commission: 15–20%, some up to 25%.
What does the commission clause cost in practice? UK agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25%. At 20%, it takes £200 from a typical wedding fee for a 3 to 4 piece band - £1,000 (1,615 fees) on the live GX Index - and £71 from a typical private-party solo booking at £354 (78 fees).
- Pub or bar, 3 to 4 piece £350 median · 275 observationsMU minimum £501.48 · for 3 players; 4 players: £668.64
- Wedding, 3 to 4 piece £1,000 median · 1,615 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Private party, solo £354 median · 78 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Wedding, solo £330 median · 109 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
The fee is the act’s; an agent’s commission comes out of it. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. How agents structure commission · Work out a fair fee · Every GX Index fee table · The Musicians’ Union national gig rates
Venues booking live acts
70 venues book their live music direct on GigXchange - every booking with its own signed contract. Each venue lists what it books and posts its open dates; message the booker, agree the fee and sign the contract in one place. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. How are gigs contracted on GigXchange? Each booking - whether an agent or the artist made it - creates a digital performance agreement with the date, fee, sets and kit, signed by both sides with a full audit trail.
Browse the UK venue directory · What an agent account does · Join as an agent
Members across the UK
Artists, venues, agents and promoters on GigXchange, by city - where agreement play and get booked.
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
Booking live music in a city? London · Birmingham · Leeds · Glasgow · Sheffield · Manchester · Bradford · Edinburgh · Liverpool · Bristol · Leicester · Cardiff · every city guide
The two contracts
Representation and performance are separate agreements - know which is which.
The representation agreement
Between the artist and the agent: commission, exclusivity, territory, term. Agreed once.
The performance contract
Between the act and the booker, for each gig: date, fee, sets, kit, cancellation. Made on every GigXchange booking.
The payment terms
Deposit, balance and when the agent’s commission is settled.
The invoice
Who invoices the booker - the act or the agent - and on what terms.
Before you sign
The questions to answer in writing before an artist and an agent sign.
Who regulates and advises: Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate · The Conduct of Employment Agencies Regulations 2003 · Musicians' Union · The Agents' Association
Free tools for agents
Free with an agent account.
Booking Contracts
Every GigXchange booking auto-generates a UK-compliant performance contract — 8 standard clauses, deposit terms, dual e-signatures, instant PDF.
Invoice Generator
Create polished invoices in seconds and get paid faster — synced to your bookings, numbered and dated automatically.
EPK Builder
Build an electronic press kit from your profile — 18 blocks to arrange, live players, verified reviews — published at one always-current link.
Availability + Booking Manager
Mark the dates you can play, then embed the widget on your own website so visitors see live availability and book you direct.
Tour Poster
Auto-build a live tour page from your upcoming gigs in 1 click — 7 designs, ticket links, embeddable on your own site.
Find an Artist
Pick the empty date, set a 60-second brief, and invite up to 5 ranked best-fit acts — fit scores, fee bands and kit tags attached.
See it in action
A look inside GigXchange Mainstage, the members app agents run a roster in: find the venues, agree the date and fee in the chat, track every booking and commission. Scroll: the phone follows you through the app.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
- 01 / 04
Your dashboard
The moment you log in, everything that matters is in front of you — what's booked, what you've earned, and what needs you next. No digging through tabs.
- Bookings at a glanceConfirmed, pending and upcoming gigs in one view — so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Earnings, trackedSee deposits held securely and payouts released, with a running total you can trust.
- Live activity feedNew messages, offers and event updates surface the second they happen — you're never the last to know.
- 02 / 04
Explore the scene
Find the right artists, venues and open gigs across the UK from one place — filtered by what actually matters to you: location, genre, date and budget.
- Search that fits youFilter by role, city, genre and availability to surface only the people and gigs worth your time.
- Smart Match suggestionsThe strongest matches rise to the top, so the right connection finds you — not just the loudest.
- Open gigs, liveBrowse gigs that need filling and apply in a tap — no cold outreach, no gatekeepers.
- 03 / 04
Bookings, end to end
Offer, negotiate and confirm a gig in a single thread — every date, fee and deposit agreed in one place and held to.
- One thread, start to finishThe whole deal lives in one conversation — no lost emails, no he-said-she-said.
- Negotiate with clarityCounter-offers, dates and fees are structured and tracked, so both sides always know where they stand.
- Held securelyThe deposit is held safely until the gig is done — performers get paid, bookers get peace of mind.
- 04 / 04
Messaging
Agree the details before you commit. Direct, real-time conversations with venues, artists, agents and promoters — with bookings built right in.
- Talk first, book secondSort the awkward questions — sound, timings, fee — before anything's signed.
- Bookings inside the chatTurn a conversation into a confirmed offer without ever leaving the thread.
- Share availability & filesSend your calendar, riders and posters in-line, so everyone's working from the same page.
Booking agent agreement FAQ
What artists and agents agree before they sign.
More answers: The booking fee · Gig rate calculator · GX Gig Rescue
Your roster, booked
Join free, add your acts and pitch venues direct.