Artist guide
How to Start Gigging
First open mic to first paid gig.
How to start gigging in the UK: a 45-minute set, open mics, a live clip and your first pitch. Pub median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act.
Updated 31 October 2026
01 — Start Gigging
How do you start gigging?
Start gigging by building a 45-minute set, playing open mics to test it, recording a live clip, then pitching local pubs and bars with that clip. UK pubs pay a median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act in the GX Index.
Most acts play a handful of open mics before their first paid booking. GigXchange lists 1,466 UK open mics to start from, and the guide to contacting venues covers the pitch itself.
On this page| 02Start gigging in six stepsThe steps | |
| 03Start at open micsOpen mics | |
| 04What UK pubs pay for a gigWhat pubs pay | |
| 05Work out your first feeYour fee | |
| 06Where to play your first gigsWhere to play | |
| 07Venues already on GigXchangeVenues on GigXchange | |
| 08What you need before your first gigBefore your first gig | |
| 09Get your first gigs on GigXchangeOn GigXchange | |
| 10See it in actionThe app, screen by screen | |
| 11Questions7 answers | |
| 12Keep exploringThe other guides and tools |
02 — The steps
6 stepsStart gigging in six steps
Starting to gig takes six steps: build a set, test it at open mics, record a live clip, put it on one page, pitch local venues and confirm your first paid gig in writing.
| Step 01Build a 45-minute setEnough songs for one long set or two short ones, in an order that holds a room. Pubs often want two 45-minute sets, so aim for 20 songs over time. | |
| Step 02Test it at open micsPlay three or four open mics to find what works live, meet the people who run local nights and get used to strange PAs and short soundchecks. | |
| Step 03Record a live clipA phone video of one song played live, with clean sound, is worth more to a booker than a studio track - it shows you can hold a room. | |
| Step 04Put it all on one pagePhoto, short bio, the clip, two or three tracks, your set length and how to book you - one link instead of five attachments. | |
| Step 05Pitch your local venuesStart with pubs and bars that already book acts like yours. A short email with your clip, two dates and a fee beats a long story. | |
| Step 06Confirm your first gig in writingDate, set times, fee, how and when you are paid and what the venue provides - a short email or a contract avoids surprises on the night. |
03 — Open mics
Start at open mics
Open mics are where most acts start: a free slot of two or three songs in front of a real audience. GigXchange lists 1,466 UK open mics, so there is almost certainly one near you this week.
| Find an open mic near youEvery listed UK open mic by town, night and how to get a slot - most are free to play. | |
| How open mics workWhat to expect, what to bring, the etiquette and how to turn a slot into a paid booking. | |
| Talk to the hostThe person running the night often books the venue's paid acts too. Say hello, ask what they book and leave your link. |
04 — What pubs pay
What UK pubs pay for a gig
UK pubs pay a median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act, £325 (93 fees) for a duo and £350 (379 fees) for a three or four piece in the GX Index - the going rate for the pub gigs a new act pitches for.
These are medians of real advertised and agreed fees. New acts often quote below them to get in the door; quoting near the median and showing a good live clip usually works better than playing for free.
- Solo act £265 median · 546 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Duo £325 median · 93 observations
- 3 to 4 piece band £350 median · 379 observations
- 5+ piece band £525 median · 307 observations
| How to price your gig | |
| Every GX Index fee table | |
| Musicians' Union national gig rates |
05 — Your fee
Work out your first fee
Work out a fair first fee before anyone asks: pick your line-up, your town and the kind of gig, and the calculator reads the live GX Index - a solo act's pub median is £265 (546 fees).
06 — Where to play
71 venuesWhere to play your first gigs
Your first gigs are most likely in local pubs, bars and cafes that already book acts like yours. The GigXchange venue directory lists 3,227 UK venues - start with the ones in your own town.
Each city guide names the rooms that book live music, what they pay and who to ask.
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
07 — Venues on GigXchange
Venues already on GigXchange
These venues book artists directly on GigXchange - 71 venues are members, each with a public profile showing what they book and where they are. Any artist, new or not, can apply to the slots they post.
- Venue38
- The Tranquil Turtle
- The Fulford Arms
- The King Arthur
- St James Park
- Firebug
- Nicholas Chamberlaine School
- The Point Events Venue
- Llangollen Town Hall
- Kettering Rugby Football Club
- The Victoria Birmingham
- Trillians Rock Bar
- The White Lion
- Barnaby's Lounge
- Bird in Hand Pub
- Goffs park social club
- Behind The Wall
- The Full Moon and Attic Bar
- Capones
- The Duke of Cambridge
| Venue38Ayr | |
| The Tranquil TurtleStevenage | |
| The Fulford ArmsYork | |
| The King ArthurGlastonbury | |
| St James ParkExeter | |
| FirebugLeicester | |
| Every UK venueThe venue directory, town by town |
08 — Before your first gig
What you need before your first gig
Before your first gig you need a timed setlist, a list of the kit you bring and what the venue provides, a written agreement and a way to invoice. Free tools cover each one in minutes.
| A timed setlistSongs in order with timings, so you finish bang on time. | |
| A stage plot and kit listWho stands where and what you bring - send it before the night. | |
| A written agreementThe date, times, fee and payment terms in one page both sides can see. | |
| An invoiceA clear invoice with your bank details, sent the day after the gig. |
Playing your own songs at a licensed venue? Report your set to PRS for Music and get paid royalties on top of your fee.
09 — On GigXchange
Get your first gigs on GigXchange
On GigXchange a new act can be booked without a track record: build a free profile, apply to the open slots venues post and agree the fee in chat. 1,021 artists are already on GigXchange.
- 01
Create a free artist profile
Your photos, clip, tracks, fee and free dates on one page venues can find and book from.
- 02
Apply to open gig slots
Venues post the dates they need filled; apply in two taps with your profile attached.
- 03
Agree the fee in chat
The offer, the counter-offer and the confirmed booking stay in one thread, with a digital contract.
| Create a free artist profile | |
| Apply to open gig slots | |
| Agree the fee in chat |
See it in action
Your profile, the gigs venues post, the booking chat, the EPK and the setlists - the free artist side of GigXchange, screen by screen.
- 01 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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.
- 05 / 06
Your profile & EPK
Your shop window to the whole UK scene — a profile and electronic press kit that does the selling for you, on the public web and inside the app.
- Built to be foundYour profile is a public page engineered for search and AI discovery — so people find you without you chasing them.
- A press kit that travelsMusic, photos, stats and past gigs in one shareable EPK that makes booking you an easy yes.
- Always currentUpdate once and it's live everywhere — no stale links, no outdated one-sheets.
- 06 / 06
Setlists
Build a polished setlist in minutes and share it with the room — songs, keys and running order, ready for the night.
- Drag-and-drop running orderReorder songs in a tap and see the whole set take shape, page by page.
- Share it anywhereSend a clean, branded setlist to the band, the venue or the sound engineer in one tap.
- Reuse and adaptSave sets per act or venue and tweak the running order for the next gig without starting over.
- 01 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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.
- 05 / 06
Your profile & EPK
Your shop window to the whole UK scene — a profile and electronic press kit that does the selling for you, on the public web and inside the app.
- Built to be foundYour profile is a public page engineered for search and AI discovery — so people find you without you chasing them.
- A press kit that travelsMusic, photos, stats and past gigs in one shareable EPK that makes booking you an easy yes.
- Always currentUpdate once and it's live everywhere — no stale links, no outdated one-sheets.
- 06 / 06
Setlists
Build a polished setlist in minutes and share it with the room — songs, keys and running order, ready for the night.
- Drag-and-drop running orderReorder songs in a tap and see the whole set take shape, page by page.
- Share it anywhereSend a clean, branded setlist to the band, the venue or the sound engineer in one tap.
- Reuse and adaptSave sets per act or venue and tweak the running order for the next gig without starting over.
11 — Questions7 answersStart Gigging FAQ
Straight answers to the questions artists ask most - what to send, what to charge, when to follow up and what you need in writing - each checked against the live GX Index fees and official sources.
12 — Keep exploring
Keep exploring
The other artist guides, the free tools that do the legwork for you, and the longer reads for brand-new acts - every one free, and every one written for artists getting booked in the UK.
| How to Contact Venues for GigsWho books the music, what to send, what pubs pay and when to follow up | |
| Find an open micEvery listed UK open mic by town and night | |
| Setlist builderA timed setlist for your first gig | |
| EPK builderYour clip, tracks and bio on one page | |
| Gig rate calculatorA fair first fee for your act and town | |
| Booking your first gigThe longer read for brand-new acts | |
| GigXchange for artistsGet found and booked by venues, free |
| The complete guide to booking your first gig | |
| How open mics work | |
| City gig guides |
Play your first gig
Build a free artist profile, apply to the open gig slots venues post and agree the fee in chat - the contract is digital and payment is held securely until the gig is played.
How to Start Gigging
From your first open mic to your first paid gig - the set, the clip, the pitch and the fee. UK pubs pay a median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
How do you start gigging?
Start gigging by building a 45-minute set, playing open mics to test it, recording a live clip, then pitching local pubs and bars with that clip. UK pubs pay a median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act in the GX Index.
Most acts play a handful of open mics before their first paid booking. GigXchange lists 1,466 UK open mics to start from, and the guide to contacting venues covers the pitch itself.
Start gigging in six steps
Starting to gig takes six steps: build a set, test it at open mics, record a live clip, put it on one page, pitch local venues and confirm your first paid gig in writing.
- Build a 45-minute setEnough songs for one long set or two short ones, in an order that holds a room. Pubs often want two 45-minute sets, so aim for 20 songs over time.Setlist
- Test it at open micsPlay three or four open mics to find what works live, meet the people who run local nights and get used to strange PAs and short soundchecks.Open mics
- Record a live clipA phone video of one song played live, with clean sound, is worth more to a booker than a studio track - it shows you can hold a room.EPK
- Put it all on one pagePhoto, short bio, the clip, two or three tracks, your set length and how to book you - one link instead of five attachments.Link page
- Pitch your local venuesStart with pubs and bars that already book acts like yours. A short email with your clip, two dates and a fee beats a long story.The pitch
- Confirm your first gig in writingDate, set times, fee, how and when you are paid and what the venue provides - a short email or a contract avoids surprises on the night.Contract
Start at open mics
Open mics are where most acts start: a free slot of two or three songs in front of a real audience. GigXchange lists 1,466 UK open mics, so there is almost certainly one near you this week.
What UK pubs pay for a gig
UK pubs pay a median £265 (546 fees) for a solo act, £325 (93 fees) for a duo and £350 (379 fees) for a three or four piece in the GX Index - the going rate for the pub gigs a new act pitches for.
These are medians of real advertised and agreed fees. New acts often quote below them to get in the door; quoting near the median and showing a good live clip usually works better than playing for free.
GX Index medians of real advertised and agreed fees - quote inside the range and say what it covers.
- Solo act £265 median · 546 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Duo £325 median · 93 observations
- 3 to 4 piece band £350 median · 379 observations
- 5+ piece band £525 median · 307 observations
How to price your gig · Every GX Index fee table · Musicians' Union national gig rates
Work out your first fee
Work out a fair first fee before anyone asks: pick your line-up, your town and the kind of gig, and the calculator reads the live GX Index - a solo act's pub median is £265 (546 fees).
Where to play your first gigs
Your first gigs are most likely in local pubs, bars and cafes that already book acts like yours. The GigXchange venue directory lists 3,227 UK venues - start with the ones in your own town.
Each city guide names the rooms that book live music, what they pay and who to ask.
Venues already on GigXchange
These venues book artists directly on GigXchange - 71 venues are members, each with a public profile showing what they book and where they are. Any artist, new or not, can apply to the slots they post.
What you need before your first gig
Before your first gig you need a timed setlist, a list of the kit you bring and what the venue provides, a written agreement and a way to invoice. Free tools cover each one in minutes.
A timed setlist
Songs in order with timings, so you finish bang on time.
A stage plot and kit list
Who stands where and what you bring - send it before the night.
A written agreement
The date, times, fee and payment terms in one page both sides can see.
An invoice
A clear invoice with your bank details, sent the day after the gig.
Playing your own songs at a licensed venue? Report your set to PRS for Music and get paid royalties on top of your fee.
Get your first gigs on GigXchange
On GigXchange a new act can be booked without a track record: build a free profile, apply to the open slots venues post and agree the fee in chat. 1,021 artists are already on GigXchange.
- 01
Create a free artist profile
Your photos, clip, tracks, fee and free dates on one page venues can find and book from.
- 02
Apply to open gig slots
Venues post the dates they need filled; apply in two taps with your profile attached.
- 03
Agree the fee in chat
The offer, the counter-offer and the confirmed booking stay in one thread, with a digital contract.
Create a free artist profile · Apply to open gig slots · Agree the fee in chat
See it in action
Your profile, the gigs venues post, the booking chat, the EPK and the setlists - the free artist side of GigXchange, screen by screen. Scroll and the phone follows you through the app.
- 01 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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.
- 05 / 06
Your profile & EPK
Your shop window to the whole UK scene — a profile and electronic press kit that does the selling for you, on the public web and inside the app.
- Built to be foundYour profile is a public page engineered for search and AI discovery — so people find you without you chasing them.
- A press kit that travelsMusic, photos, stats and past gigs in one shareable EPK that makes booking you an easy yes.
- Always currentUpdate once and it's live everywhere — no stale links, no outdated one-sheets.
- 06 / 06
Setlists
Build a polished setlist in minutes and share it with the room — songs, keys and running order, ready for the night.
- Drag-and-drop running orderReorder songs in a tap and see the whole set take shape, page by page.
- Share it anywhereSend a clean, branded setlist to the band, the venue or the sound engineer in one tap.
- Reuse and adaptSave sets per act or venue and tweak the running order for the next gig without starting over.
- 01 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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 / 06
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.
- 05 / 06
Your profile & EPK
Your shop window to the whole UK scene — a profile and electronic press kit that does the selling for you, on the public web and inside the app.
- Built to be foundYour profile is a public page engineered for search and AI discovery — so people find you without you chasing them.
- A press kit that travelsMusic, photos, stats and past gigs in one shareable EPK that makes booking you an easy yes.
- Always currentUpdate once and it's live everywhere — no stale links, no outdated one-sheets.
- 06 / 06
Setlists
Build a polished setlist in minutes and share it with the room — songs, keys and running order, ready for the night.
- Drag-and-drop running orderReorder songs in a tap and see the whole set take shape, page by page.
- Share it anywhereSend a clean, branded setlist to the band, the venue or the sound engineer in one tap.
- Reuse and adaptSave sets per act or venue and tweak the running order for the next gig without starting over.
Start Gigging FAQ
Straight answers to the questions artists ask most - what to send, what to charge, when to follow up and what you need in writing - each checked against the live GX Index fees and official sources.
More answers: The complete guide to booking your first gig · How open mics work · City gig guides
Play your first gig
Build a free artist profile, apply to the open gig slots venues post and agree the fee in chat - the contract is digital and payment is held securely until the gig is played.