For bands and the agents who book them
Booking agents for bands
What an agent does, what they take, and how to run a band roster on GigXchange.
What a booking agent does for a UK band, what they charge against live gig fees, how a band gets one - and how agents run a band roster on GigXchange.
Updated 23 October 2026
01 — Booking agents for bands
Where Booking Agents Book Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where UK booking agents and bands book gigs direct. 982 artists are on the platform and 70 venues across 79 cities list what they host. An agent runs the whole band roster from one free account, pitches the venue booker in the chat, and every booking ends in a contract both sides sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, so the agent keeps all of their commission.
Most band agents in the UK still run on a spreadsheet, a WhatsApp group per band and an inbox full of half-agreed dates. A wedding enquiry comes in, the agent texts five band members to check the date, quotes a fee from memory, and a week later nobody is sure whether the deposit landed or which set list was agreed.
That is where agents lose bookings and bands lose trust. The work an agent is actually paid for - knowing which band suits which room, and getting a fair fee for it - gets buried under admin.
On GigXchange the admin is the platform. Each band keeps its own profile with audio, video and reviews, the agent sees every band’s availability in one view, quotes from the live GX Index instead of guesswork, and the offer and the contract sit in the same thread as the conversation. Each artist’s commission rate is set once on the roster, so the agent knows what each date earns.
| 02How it works, in stepsFrom first contact to a paid booking | |
| 03Band feesWhat bands earn, and what an agent takes | |
| 04Venues booking bandsThe venues in our directory | |
| 05Members across the UKThe acts and rooms near you | |
| 06Where bands get bookedThe bookings an agent sells a band into - and the pages bookers use to find them. | |
| 07Function, covers and wedding bandsThe bands agencies work with most - function, covers and wedding bands - each with its own booking page. | |
| 08Choosing the right agentWhat to check before you sign, so the deal works for the act and the agent. | |
| 09Free tools for agentsFree with an agent account. | |
| 11QuestionsWhat bands and agents ask first | |
| 12Keep exploringThe other guides and the longer reads |
02 — The steps
5 stepsHow it works
| Step 01Build the rosterAn agent adds each band they represent to one account - line-up, sound, audio and video, fee range - so every pitch starts from a complete profile. | |
| Step 02Find the right roomsSearch venues by city, size and what they book, and see the dates they have posted. Bands without an agent use the same search. | |
| Step 03Pitch and agree in the chatMessage the booker direct, settle the date, fee, sets and kit, and the offer lands in the same thread. | |
| Step 04Sign the contractEvery booking makes a digital performance agreement, signed by both sides, with a full audit trail. | |
| Step 05Get paidGigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. Agent-brokered bookings settle directly between the parties for now - every date is still a signed contract. | |
| If plans changeA band drops outGX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near the venue - the first to accept is booked. |
03 — Band fees
LiveThe price ladder
What does a booking agent take from a band’s fee? UK agencies typically charge commission of 15–20%, some up to 25%. At 20%, an agent takes £200 of the typical wedding fee for a 3 to 4 piece band - £1,000 (1,615 fees) on the live GX Index - and £70 of a typical pub gig at £350 (275 fees).
GX Index UK medians for bands, live - against the Musicians’ Union per-musician minimums. An agent’s commission comes out of the band’s fee: UK agencies typically take 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
- Pub or bar, 5 piece or more £525 median · 223 observationsMU minimum £835.80
- Private party, 3 to 4 piece £869 median · 534 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Wedding, 3 to 4 piece £1,000 median · 1,615 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Wedding, 5 piece or more £1,489 median · 427 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
- Corporate, 5 piece or more £1,337 median · 73 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
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 bands
70 venues book their live music direct on GigXchange - the rooms a band, or its agent, pitches to. 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. Where do bands get gigs in the UK? On GigXchange, a band or its booking agent pitches venues direct - pubs, clubs, hotels and function rooms - agrees the fee in the chat and signs a contract on every booking.
05 — Members across the UK
Tap a cityWhere bands 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 — Where bands get booked
Where bands play
| Pubs and barsWeekend covers and originals nights - the most bookings, and the first rung for a new band. | |
| WeddingsThe best-paid band booking on the GX Index - first dance, two sets and a DJ playlist between. | |
| Private partiesBirthdays and anniversaries - party sets, often booked weeks ahead. | |
| Corporate and hotel eventsAwards dinners and Christmas parties, booked through events teams and hotels. | |
| Social and members’ clubsSaturday turns and tribute nights in the concert room. | |
| Holiday parksSeason-long entertainment programmes - weekly band nights through the summer. |
07 — Function bands
Function bands
The bands agencies work with most - function, covers and wedding bands - each with its own booking page.
| Function bandsWeddings, corporate and private parties - the agency staple. | |
| Covers bandsPubs, clubs and parties - the songs everyone knows. | |
| Wedding bandsLine-ups, set plans and live wedding fees. | |
| Tribute actsOne act’s songs, often booked through a specialist agent. |
08 — Choosing the agent
Before you sign
| Know the commissionUK agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25%. Ask whether it comes off the gross fee or after costs, and who pays travel. | |
| Read the exclusivity clauseSole agent for all your gigs, or one territory or type of event? How long does it run, and how do you end it? | |
| Ask what they have bookedWhich venues and events, for which bands like yours, and at what fees - then check against the live fee table above. | |
| Get every gig in writingEach booking should carry a contract with the date, fee, sets and kit - whoever made the booking. |
| 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 |
09 — 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.
11 — Questions8 answersBooking agents for bands FAQ
12 — Keep exploring
Go deeper
| 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 AgreementThe clauses to check before you sign. | |
| Booking Agent vs ManagerWho sells the gigs, who runs the career. | |
| How to Become a Booking AgentStart an agency and run a roster. | |
| Is an agent worth it?When the commission pays for itself. | |
| Commission modelsFlat, percentage, gross and net. | |
| Hire a function bandWhat bookers look for. | |
| GigXchange for agentsEverything an agent account does. | |
| All the agent guidesEvery agent page in one place. |
| The booking fee | |
| Gig rate calculator | |
| GX Gig Rescue |
Run the roster direct
Join free - contracts, invoices and commission tracking built in.
Booking agents for bands
What a booking agent does for a UK band, what they charge against live gig fees, how a band gets one - and how agents run a band roster on GigXchange.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Where Booking Agents Book Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where UK booking agents and bands book gigs direct. 982 artists are on the platform and 70 venues across 79 cities list what they host. An agent runs the whole band roster from one free account, pitches the venue booker in the chat, and every booking ends in a contract both sides sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, so the agent keeps all of their commission.
Most band agents in the UK still run on a spreadsheet, a WhatsApp group per band and an inbox full of half-agreed dates. A wedding enquiry comes in, the agent texts five band members to check the date, quotes a fee from memory, and a week later nobody is sure whether the deposit landed or which set list was agreed.
That is where agents lose bookings and bands lose trust. The work an agent is actually paid for - knowing which band suits which room, and getting a fair fee for it - gets buried under admin.
On GigXchange the admin is the platform. Each band keeps its own profile with audio, video and reviews, the agent sees every band’s availability in one view, quotes from the live GX Index instead of guesswork, and the offer and the contract sit in the same thread as the conversation. Each artist’s commission rate is set once on the roster, so the agent knows what each date earns.
How it works, in steps
From the first conversation to a signed, paid booking - the same steps whether an agent books the act or the act books direct.
Build the roster
An agent adds each band they represent to one account - line-up, sound, audio and video, fee range - so every pitch starts from a complete profile.
Find the right rooms
Search venues by city, size and what they book, and see the dates they have posted. Bands without an agent use the same search.
Pitch and agree in the chat
Message the booker direct, settle the date, fee, sets and kit, and the offer lands in the same thread.
Sign the contract
Every booking makes a digital performance agreement, signed by both sides, with a full audit trail.
Get paid
GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. Agent-brokered bookings settle directly between the parties for now - every date is still a signed contract.
A band drops out
GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near the venue - the first to accept is booked.
Band fees, live
GX Index UK medians for bands, live - against the Musicians’ Union per-musician minimums. An agent’s commission comes out of the band’s fee: UK agencies typically take 15–20%, some up to 25%.
What does a booking agent take from a band’s fee? UK agencies typically charge commission of 15–20%, some up to 25%. At 20%, an agent takes £200 of the typical wedding fee for a 3 to 4 piece band - £1,000 (1,615 fees) on the live GX Index - and £70 of a typical pub gig at £350 (275 fees).
- Pub or bar, 3 to 4 piece £350 median · 275 observationsMU minimum £501.48 · for 3 players; 4 players: £668.64
- Pub or bar, 5 piece or more £525 median · 223 observationsMU minimum £835.80
- Private party, 3 to 4 piece £869 median · 534 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Wedding, 3 to 4 piece £1,000 median · 1,615 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Wedding, 5 piece or more £1,489 median · 427 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
- Corporate, 5 piece or more £1,337 median · 73 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
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 bands
70 venues book their live music direct on GigXchange - the rooms a band, or its agent, pitches to. 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. Where do bands get gigs in the UK? On GigXchange, a band or its booking agent pitches venues direct - pubs, clubs, hotels and function rooms - agrees the fee in the chat and signs a contract on every booking.
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 bands 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
Where bands get booked
The bookings an agent sells a band into - and the pages bookers use to find them.
Pubs and bars
Weekend covers and originals nights - the most bookings, and the first rung for a new band.
Weddings
The best-paid band booking on the GX Index - first dance, two sets and a DJ playlist between.
Private parties
Birthdays and anniversaries - party sets, often booked weeks ahead.
Corporate and hotel events
Awards dinners and Christmas parties, booked through events teams and hotels.
Social and members’ clubs
Saturday turns and tribute nights in the concert room.
Holiday parks
Season-long entertainment programmes - weekly band nights through the summer.
Function, covers and wedding bands
The bands agencies work with most - function, covers and wedding bands - each with its own booking page.
Choosing the right agent
What to check before you sign, so the deal works for the act and the agent.
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 agents for bands FAQ
What bands and agents ask first.
More answers: The booking fee · Gig rate calculator · GX Gig Rescue
Your roster, booked
Join free, add your acts and pitch venues direct.