For office and family parties
Live music for a Christmas party
The office party or the family do - the right act, booked before the Fridays go.
Live music for a UK office or family Christmas party: when to book, what bands cost on live fees, late finishes and the £150 staff party tax rule.
Updated 23 October 2026
01 — Live music for a Christmas party
Where to Book a Christmas Party Band
GIGXCHANGE is where people planning an office or family Christmas party book live music direct. 982 artists are on GigXchange, from jazz trios for the drinks to party bands, tribute acts and DJs for the dancefloor. Sign up free to see who is free on your date, hear them first, agree the sets and the finish time in the chat, and sign a contract on every booking. On the live GX Index a corporate solo act is typically £392 (191 fees) and a 5 piece or bigger band £1,337 (73 fees). The booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Every December the same thing happens. The office party is pencilled in for the second Friday, someone is told to "sort the music", and by the time they ask, the band everyone liked last year is booked - Fridays in early December are the first dates acts and venues lose. What is left is whoever is free, at whatever price they quote.
The person organising it is rarely a music booker. They are the office manager, the team lead or the family member who always ends up doing it, with a budget, a room that has its own rules about volume and finish time, and a crowd that wants the songs it knows.
On GigXchange they can see which acts are free on the date with their fees, hear them before asking, and agree the sets, the finish time and who brings the sound kit in writing. The deposit is held safely until after the party, and if an act drops out in the busiest week of the year, GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts nearby.
| 02Book it in five stepsFrom an idea to a booked act | |
| 03Party feesWhat acts charge for events like yours | |
| 04Artists for your eventA few of the acts on GigXchange | |
| 05Members across the UKThe acts and rooms near you | |
| 06Places that host eventsThe venues in our directory | |
| 07The licence rulesEach with its official source | |
| 08Music for each part of the nightWhat to book for each part of the party. | |
| 09Before you bookThe few things to check, so the day goes the way you planned. | |
| 10Free tools for organisersFree tools for planning the music. | |
| 12QuestionsWhat Christmas party organisers ask | |
| 13Keep exploringThe other guides and the longer reads |
02 — The steps
5 stepsBook it
| Step 01Decide what the music is forBackground while people talk, a moment everyone stops for, or a dancefloor. That one answer tells you what kind of act to look for. | |
| Step 02Find acts free on your dateSign up free, then enter the date, the place and a budget - you see the acts who are free that day, ranked, with their fees. | |
| Step 03Hear them, then askListen to their audio and video and read reviews from other bookers. Message them direct with any question - no agency in between. | |
| Step 04Sign the contractEvery booking makes a simple written agreement - the date, times, fee and who brings the sound kit - that you both sign. | |
| Step 05Pay safely5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. A protected payment holds the deposit with Stripe until after the event. | |
| If plans changeIf the act drops outGX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked. |
03 — Party fees
LiveThe price ladder
How much is a band for a Christmas party? On the live GX Index a solo act at a corporate event is typically £392 (191 fees) and a 5 piece or bigger band £1,337 (73 fees). At a private party a 3 to 4 piece band is typically £869 (534 fees). December Fridays are in highest demand - book early or pick a Thursday.
GX Index UK medians, live - what ACTS charge, against the Musicians’ Union per-musician minimums. Travel, extra hours and sound for a big room can add to it - ask for one all-in price.
- Corporate or gala, solo £392 median · 191 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Corporate or gala, 5 piece or more £1,337 median · 73 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
- Private party, 3 to 4 piece £869 median · 534 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Private party, 5 piece or more £675 median · 50 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
You pay the act’s fee. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
| GuideHiring a band: the fees explainedWhat acts charge, and why. | |
| ToolRate calculatorA fair fee for your night. | |
| DataGX IndexEvery UK fee table, open data. |
04 — On GigXchange
982 artistsArtists for your event
982 artists are on GigXchange, from solo singers and duos to party bands, string players, tribute acts and DJs. Each profile has the line-up, the sound, audio and video where the act has added it, and reviews from people who booked them.
- Listen firstPlay their audio and video before you message anyone. Two minutes tells you more than any description.Most profiles carry tracks or a live clip.
- Check the line-up and the kitHow many players, how much space they need, and whether they bring their own sound and lighting.It decides whether they fit the room.
- Read the reviewsReviews come from people who booked the act - look for events like yours.Every review is tied to a real booking.
- Ask about the setSet lengths, the songs that matter to you, and anything they will not play. Agree it in the chat.It all goes into the contract.
Sign up free as an organiser, then enter your date, the place and a budget on Find an artist - you see the acts who are free that day, ranked, with their fees. Find an artist
05 — Members across the UK
Tap a cityActs near you
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 — On GigXchange
70 venuesPlaces that host events
70 venues are on GigXchange - if the party still needs a room, see what each one hosts. Each venue lists its capacity and what it hosts. Message the venue, agree the date, and book the music in the same place. Where can you hold a Christmas party with a live band? A function room, a hotel, a pub with a back room or the office itself - check the room’s finish time and power before you book the act.
07 — The licence rules
Checked 22 October 2026What you need
Does a Christmas party with a band need a licence? At a venue licensed to sell alcohol, live music between 8am and 11pm for up to 500 people needs no extra licence. After 11pm the venue’s own licence must cover it - ask before you agree the finish time.
| England and WalesAt a licensed venue, the venue covers itLive music between 8am and 11pm for up to 500 people in a venue licensed to sell alcohol needs no extra licence. Ask the venue about their finish time. | |
| England and WalesPast 11pm, the venue’s licence decidesThe Live Music Act only covers music until 11pm. A later finish needs the venue’s premises licence to allow it - ask the venue, then write the finish time into the act’s contract. | |
| UKThe £150 staff party tax ruleAn annual party open to all staff is tax-free for employees if the cost is £150 a head or less - VAT, transport and guests included. Go over by a penny and the whole cost is taxable. | |
| England and WalesOne-off events: a TENFor an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. |
| Scotland and NILicensing (Scotland) Act 2005Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your council. | |
| ToolLicensing checkerTen questions, a plain-English verdict. |
08 — The night
The night
| As people arriveA jazz trio or an acoustic duo - festive, but easy to talk over. | |
| During the mealA solo singer or pianist, quiet enough for the speeches and the awards. | |
| The dancefloorA party or function band with the Christmas songs everyone knows. | |
| After the bandA DJ to the finish time, or a band that leaves a playlist running. |
09 — Before you book
Before you book
| Hear the real thingAudio, video and reviews on each act’s profile, where they have added them - from people who booked them before. | |
| Tell them about the placeRoom size, how many guests, where they set up and where the plug sockets are. Good acts ask - if they do not, tell them anyway. | |
| Ask about coverMany venues ask acts for public liability insurance. Musicians’ Union members are covered with their membership - ask before you book. | |
| Agree the kitWho brings the PA, the stage space and the power - written into the contract so nobody guesses on the night. |
| HMRC - Annual parties (EIM21690)The £150 per head rule | |
| GOV.UK - Live Music ActMusic until 11pm | |
| Musicians' UnionWhat musicians are paid | |
| PPL PRSTheMusicLicence |
10 — Free tools
4 toolsFor organisers
| DiscoveryFind an ArtistRanked acts for your dates | |
| ContractsBooking ContractsUK-compliant and e-signed, on every booking | |
| ComplianceLicensing CheckerMusic licences, decoded | |
| CoverGX Gig RescueFill a dropout, fast |
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.
12 — Questions8 answersLive music for a Christmas party FAQ
13 — Keep exploring
Go deeper
| Live Music for a WeddingCeremony, drinks, meal and evening - what to book. | |
| Live Music for a Birthday PartyA band or a singer for a 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th. | |
| Live Music for a Charity EventMusic for a ball, a gala, a fundraiser or a fun day. | |
| Live Music for a Community EventA fete, fair, fun day or street party. | |
| Live Music for a Garden PartyA band or singer at home - space, power and neighbours. | |
| Christmas party bandsThe acts that do December. | |
| Hire a function bandFor the office party. | |
| All the event guidesEvery kind of event in one place. | |
| Live music for any eventThe booking basics. | |
| GigXchange for organisersEverything an organiser account does. |
| How cancellations work | |
| The booking fee | |
| What should I pay? |
Live music for a Christmas party
Live music for a UK office or family Christmas party: when to book, what bands cost on live fees, late finishes and the £150 staff party tax rule.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Where to Book a Christmas Party Band
GIGXCHANGE is where people planning an office or family Christmas party book live music direct. 982 artists are on GigXchange, from jazz trios for the drinks to party bands, tribute acts and DJs for the dancefloor. Sign up free to see who is free on your date, hear them first, agree the sets and the finish time in the chat, and sign a contract on every booking. On the live GX Index a corporate solo act is typically £392 (191 fees) and a 5 piece or bigger band £1,337 (73 fees). The booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Every December the same thing happens. The office party is pencilled in for the second Friday, someone is told to "sort the music", and by the time they ask, the band everyone liked last year is booked - Fridays in early December are the first dates acts and venues lose. What is left is whoever is free, at whatever price they quote.
The person organising it is rarely a music booker. They are the office manager, the team lead or the family member who always ends up doing it, with a budget, a room that has its own rules about volume and finish time, and a crowd that wants the songs it knows.
On GigXchange they can see which acts are free on the date with their fees, hear them before asking, and agree the sets, the finish time and who brings the sound kit in writing. The deposit is held safely until after the party, and if an act drops out in the busiest week of the year, GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts nearby.
Book it in five steps
You do not need to know anything about music - just what the day needs.
Decide what the music is for
Background while people talk, a moment everyone stops for, or a dancefloor. That one answer tells you what kind of act to look for.
Find acts free on your date
Sign up free, then enter the date, the place and a budget - you see the acts who are free that day, ranked, with their fees.
Hear them, then ask
Listen to their audio and video and read reviews from other bookers. Message them direct with any question - no agency in between.
Sign the contract
Every booking makes a simple written agreement - the date, times, fee and who brings the sound kit - that you both sign.
Pay safely
5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. A protected payment holds the deposit with Stripe until after the event.
If the act drops out
GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked.
Party fees, live
GX Index UK medians, live - what ACTS charge, against the Musicians’ Union per-musician minimums. Travel, extra hours and sound for a big room can add to it - ask for one all-in price.
How much is a band for a Christmas party? On the live GX Index a solo act at a corporate event is typically £392 (191 fees) and a 5 piece or bigger band £1,337 (73 fees). At a private party a 3 to 4 piece band is typically £869 (534 fees). December Fridays are in highest demand - book early or pick a Thursday.
- Corporate or gala, solo £392 median · 191 observationsThe MU publishes no solo figure
- Corporate or gala, 5 piece or more £1,337 median · 73 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
- Private party, 3 to 4 piece £869 median · 534 observationsMU minimum £668.64 · for 3 players; 4 players: £891.52
- Private party, 5 piece or more £675 median · 50 observationsMU minimum £1,114.40
You pay the act’s fee. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. Hiring a band: the fees explained · Work out a fair fee · Every GX Index fee table · The Musicians’ Union national gig rates
Artists for your event
A few of the acts on GigXchange - tap a photo to see them, open a profile to hear them.
982 artists are on GigXchange, from solo singers and duos to party bands, string players, tribute acts and DJs. Each profile has the line-up, the sound, audio and video where the act has added it, and reviews from people who booked them.
- Listen firstPlay their audio and video before you message anyone. Two minutes tells you more than any description.Most profiles carry tracks or a live clip.
- Check the line-up and the kitHow many players, how much space they need, and whether they bring their own sound and lighting.It decides whether they fit the room.
- Read the reviewsReviews come from people who booked the act - look for events like yours.Every review is tied to a real booking.
- Ask about the setSet lengths, the songs that matter to you, and anything they will not play. Agree it in the chat.It all goes into the contract.
Not sure who to pick?
Sign up free as an organiser, then enter your date, the place and a budget on Find an artist - you see the acts who are free that day, ranked, with their fees.
Members across the UK
Artists and venues on GigXchange, by city - the acts and rooms near you.
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
Places that host events
70 venues are on GigXchange - if the party still needs a room, see what each one hosts. Each venue lists its capacity and what it hosts. Message the venue, agree the date, and book the music in the same place. Where can you hold a Christmas party with a live band? A function room, a hotel, a pub with a back room or the office itself - check the room’s finish time and power before you book the act.
Browse the UK venue directory · What an organiser account does · Join as an organiser
The licence rules
The rules a Christmas party meets, each with its official source. Checked 22 October 2026.
Does a Christmas party with a band need a licence? At a venue licensed to sell alcohol, live music between 8am and 11pm for up to 500 people needs no extra licence. After 11pm the venue’s own licence must cover it - ask before you agree the finish time.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your council. Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Not sure which applies? Licensing checker · Compliance checklist · Martyn’s Law check
Music for each part of the night
What to book for each part of the party.
As people arrive
A jazz trio or an acoustic duo - festive, but easy to talk over.
During the meal
A solo singer or pianist, quiet enough for the speeches and the awards.
The dancefloor
A party or function band with the Christmas songs everyone knows.
After the band
A DJ to the finish time, or a band that leaves a playlist running.
Before you book
The few things to check, so the day goes the way you planned.
Where the rules come from: HMRC - Annual parties (EIM21690) · GOV.UK - Live Music Act · Musicians' Union · PPL PRS
Free tools for organisers
Free tools for planning the music.
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.
Booking Contracts
Every GigXchange booking auto-generates a UK-compliant performance contract — 8 standard clauses, deposit terms, dual e-signatures, instant PDF.
Licensing Checker
Ten plain-English questions produce a two-part verdict — permission and copyright — with an indicative cost and official gov.uk / PPL PRS sources.
GX Gig Rescue
Broadcast an urgent booking invite to up to 25 available acts near you — last-minute specialists first, first to accept is booked.
See it in action
A look inside GigXchange Mainstage, the members app organisers book in: find the act, agree the date and fee in the chat, keep the booking in one place. 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.
Live music for a Christmas party FAQ
What Christmas party organisers ask.
More answers: How cancellations work · The booking fee · What should I pay?
Your event, booked
Join free and book the act direct.