For Venues, Pubs & Bars
Fill Your Stage. Book Direct.
Stop paying agency commission (typically 15–20%, some up to 25%) to find live music. Browse 1044 artists across 80 cities, post gigs in 2 minutes, and book direct — auto-generated digital contracts, Stripe deposits released automatically 5 days after the gig, and two-way reviews on every booking.
Updated 4 November 2026
Why Venues Choose GIGXCHANGE
Book live music for your UK venue direct from the artists - search bands and musicians by city, genre and fee, with a contract on every booking.
| Your kind of venueMusic by Venue TypeLive fees and the licence rules for pubs, hotels, care homes and more, then each kind of act. | |
| The appSee It in ActionPost gigs, book acts, sign contracts and see your spend, on iPhone, Android or any browser. | |
| Contracts & paymentsPost to BookedA digital contract on every booking, and Stripe holds the deposit until the gig is done. | |
| Your toolkitBuilt for VenuesSearch filters, Gig Rescue, the licensing checker, the compliance checklist, team logins and spend insights. | |
| Budget rightWhat Gigs PayReal UK fee ranges for pubs, weddings, corporate and private parties. | |
| No markupBook DirectFree to list. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. | |
| No sign-upFree ToolsRate calculator, flyer and events poster, contract generator, the GX Index and the UK licence guide. | |
| Straight answersVenue FAQWhat venues ask before their first booking: fees, payments, licences and cancellations. |
Browse artists1,044
Every act on GigXchange, filterable. The right act for your room, in minutes.
Artists across 80 UK cities — solo acts, duos, bands and DJs
Filter by genre, location, budget, capacity and backline
Audio, video and verified reviews on every profile
Message the artist direct — no agency in the middle
Two-way reviews keep both sides accountable
Emergency cover: Gig Rescue invites available acts if someone drops out
| Browse profiles | |
| Find an Artist | |
| Gig Rescue | |
| Find out more | |
| List your venue |
Post a gig2 min
Say what you need and let acts apply. Post the date, the genre and the budget — that is it.
Two minutes to post; artists come to you
Review profiles, audio and video, then pick the best fit
Auto-generated digital contract on every booking
Deposits held by Stripe, released when the gig is done
Calendar synced with Google Calendar or iCal
No cash on the night, no invoices to chase
Get listedFree
Your venue in the public UK directory. Be found by acts looking for a stage.
A free public page for your venue, indexed by search engines
Capacity, backline, genres and contact in one place
Artists pitch you direct from the listing
Your gigs appear in the city gig directory
Claim and verify your venue to keep it accurate
| Venue directory | |
| Gig directory | |
| Open mics | |
| Find out more | |
| List your venue |
Venue tools7
Licensing, compliance and promotion, free. The admin side of live music, handled.
Licensing checker — which UK licences your venue needs
Compliance checklist linked to gov.uk and industry guidance
Martyn’s Law readiness check
Emergency cover with Gig Rescue when an act cancels last-minute
Flyers and events posters from on-brand templates
Rate calculator so you budget at the going rate
| All free tools | |
| Licensing Checker | |
| Compliance Checklist | |
| Martyn’s Law | |
| Find out more | |
| List your venue |
No markup0%
Free to list — no agency markup on the fee. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Free to list and free to book — 5% only on protected payments
UK booking agencies typically charge 15–20% commission, some up to 25%; GigXchange adds 0% when you settle privately
Pub and hotel groups: every site and its staff in one account
Payments insights show what you spend and when
Free on iPhone, Android or any browser
| How It Works | |
| Compare platforms | |
| Rate Calculator | |
| Find out more | |
| List your venue |
Live music by venue type, then by act
Live UK fees and the licence rules for your kind of venue, then each kind of act.
| GuideLive music for pubs and barsPub fees and the licence rules. | |
| GuideLive music for hotelsBar, wedding and corporate fees, and the rules. | |
| GuideLive music for care homesDaytime formats and the licence rules. | |
| GuideLive music for social and members’ clubsClub nights and the certificate rules. | |
| GuideLive music for holiday parks and resortsSeason bookings and the rules. | |
| GuideLive music for boat parties and river cruisesSailings, sets and the rules. | |
| GuideWedding BandsThe UK's biggest live-music booking category | |
| GuideFunction BandsThe UK's default party-band format | |
| GuideCovers BandsThe UK's pub-circuit anchor format | |
| GuideParty BandsBirthday parties · milestone celebrations · themed events | |
| GuideDJsThe most flexible UK entertainment format | |
| GuideSolo ActsThe UK's most cost-effective live format | |
| GuideTribute ActsGuaranteed audience recognition + theatrical commitment | |
| GuideString QuartetsPremium classical format — acoustic, elegant | |
| GuideJazz BandsSwing, standards and soul - the room-friendly band | |
| GuideCeilidh BandsCaller-led Scottish dance — the participatory format | |
| GuideRock BandsGuitars up - the room that wants a real band | |
| GuideBlues BandsSlow-burn to stomp - the late-night band | |
| GuideSoul & R&B BandsMotown to modern R&B - the floor-filling voice | |
| GuideOriginals BandsOriginal music — authentic atmosphere over hits | |
| GuideFolk ActsStories and singalongs - the room that listens | |
| GuideCountry & Americana ActsLine dances to Americana - the boot-stomp booking | |
| GuideEvery Performer TypeAll the act types, what each suits and how many are on GigXchange |
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 / 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.
How It Works
From signup to showtime — four simple steps
| 01 | OnboardingList Your VenueAdd your capacity, location, venue type, equipment, and the genres you book. Help artists understand what you're looking for. |
| 02 | DiscoverySearch or PostBrowse artist profiles with audio, video, and reviews. Or post a gig listing with your requirements and let artists apply directly. |
| 03 | BookingBook & SignSend a booking request, agree terms, and sign a digital contract. Everything is documented — no back-and-forth emails or handshake deals. |
| 04 | ShowtimeHost & PayThe artist turns up and plays the gig. Funds release automatically via Stripe 5 days later. Simple, clean, done. |
Ready to fill your stage?
Free to list — 2 minutes to set up.Built for Live Music Venues
Not a generic directory — a proper live music booking platform
Advanced Search Filters
Find the right band, duo or DJ for your venue in minutes — filter UK artists by genre, location, budget, capacity, backline and availability, not hours of emails.
Gig Posting
Post your date, genre, budget and requirements and let UK artists apply to you — review profiles, audio and video, then pick the best fit.
Calendar Management
Run your whole entertainment calendar in one place, synced with Google Calendar or iCal — no double-bookings, no spreadsheets.
Reviews & Ratings
Rate every act after the gig and build your venue’s reputation — two-way reviews keep both sides accountable and transparent.
Secure Payments
Deposits held securely via Stripe and released automatically 5 days after the gig — no cash on the night, no invoicing, no chasing.
Emergency Cover
If an act cancels last-minute, Gig Rescue sends an urgent call-out to available acts near you — the first to accept is booked. Fill the slot fast and keep the night on, without the phone-around.
Licensing Checker
Answer a few quick questions and see exactly which UK music licences your venue needs — from TheMusicLicence to a Temporary Event Notice — each linked to the official source. No more guessing.
Compliance Checklist
Eight questions build your venue’s compliance board — fire, health & safety, licensing, insurance and Martyn’s Law, ranked by what the law requires, each linked to its official source.
Team & Multi-Site Management
Run a pub group, a hotel group or one busy venue as a team — every site in one account, staff invited by email to the sites they book for, and one switch between venues instead of separate logins.
Payments Insights
See what you’ve spent on entertainment over any period, how it’s trending, who you book most and your busiest months — answers without a spreadsheet in sight.
Discover artists directly by genre, location and budget, then keep the details that usually get lost in DMs together: fee, date, set length, arrival time, deposit, contract, messages and review trail. Want to hear acts before you book? Step into GX Arena (beta) — real UK acts play their own songs back to back in a live 3D venue, and you can book any of them direct.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,647 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Pub / bar | Solo£162–£330Duo£250–£500Full Band£275–£1,003 |
| Wedding | Solo£271–£500Duo£463–£810Full Band£812–£2,206 |
| Corporate | Solo£281–£474Duo£446–£1,275Full Band£669–£1,708 |
| Private party | Solo£250–£542Duo£250–£500Full Band£583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | SoloTBCDuoTBCFull Band£200–£1,783 |
Solo and Duo are the middle half of recorded fees (25th to 75th percentile). Full Band runs from the 3 to 4 piece 25th percentile to the 5+ piece 75th. Source: GX Index (CC BY 4.0).
Why Direct Booking Beats Agencies
Agencies work for big-budget events. Most venue nights aren't that.
Traditional UK booking agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25% commission and focus on weddings and corporate events. If you’re booking weekly pub nights, open mic hosts, or small festival stages — you’re on your own.
Not sure if you need a music license? Read our UK live music license guide first. Not sure where to start? Our guide on how to find live music for your venue walks through the full 6-step process. For live UK fees and the licensing rules in every nation, see how to book live music in the UK. GigXchange lets you browse artists directly, post gigs and receive applications, and handle the entire booking with contracts and Stripe payments built in. The platform is free to use, with a 5% fee only for protected payments — see how artists use the platform on their side — a fraction of what agencies take. You pick the artist, agree the fee, and deal direct.
| Cost | Free — an optional 5% booker fee on protected paymentsTypically 15–20%, some up to 25% |
| Contact with artist | Direct messagingVia the agency |
| Artist selection | Browse hundreds, filter by genreAgency picks for you |
| Contracts | Auto-generated, digitalManual / varies |
| Payments | Stripe, auto-releaseCash / invoice / varies |
| Cancellation cover | Emergency cover: a Gig Rescue call-out to available actsCall around yourself |
| Cost to list | FreeN/A — venues don't list |
Free Tools for UK Venues
Published for every venue and booker — no signup needed
| Budget RightGig Rate CalculatorKnow the going rate before you budget — live UK gig percentiles by city, band size and event type, benchmarked against Musicians’ Union minimums. | |
| Promote Your NightsFlyer & Events PosterDesign gig flyers from on-brand templates or auto-build a poster of your upcoming events in one click — ready to post to socials in seconds. | |
| Get It In WritingContract GeneratorGenerate a UK-compliant gig contract in under 2 minutes — 8 standard clauses, deposit terms, dual e-signatures and an instant PDF. | |
| The DataGX IndexThe GX Index — the UK’s open live-music rate dataset, updated monthly, so you can benchmark what acts cost before you budget (CC BY 4.0). | |
| Get FeaturedMember SpotlightA 1,500-word editorial profiling your venue, a press-kit PDF and a Spotlight badge — free music PR for active venues. | |
| The PlaybookFinding & Hiring Local Bands6 proven sources for finding UK musicians, plus a vetting checklist so you book the right act first time. | |
| Fill The RoomHow to Promote a Live Music NightA practical playbook for filling your room — the channels, timing and cross-promotion that actually sell tickets to a local live music night. | |
| Stay LegalUK Live Music Licence GuideDo you need a licence? TheMusicLicence, PRS, PPL and TEN exemptions — the 2026 rules explained for UK pubs and bars. |
09 — Questions11 answersVenue FAQ
- UK Open Mic Finder — 1,400+ open-mic listings across 91 cities, plus 9,300+ gigs in the wider directory, list yours free
- Venue Compliance Checklist — every duty your venue owes, ranked by what the law requires, each with its official source
- UK Gig Rate Calculator — live market percentiles by city, band size and event type
- Setlist Builder — see at a glance what an act actually plays before you book them
- Booking Contract Generator — UK-compliant performance agreement, 8 standard clauses, dual e-signatures, instant PDF
- GX Index — the full open UK live-music rate dataset, updated monthly
- UK Musician Earnings 2026 — data-backed report on what UK musicians actually earn (CC BY 4.0)
- UK Market Statistics — venues, fees and industry benchmarks
- How Much UK Live Music Actually Costs in 2026 — venue-side budget guide by gig type and band size, drawn from the GX Index
- How to hire a covers band — what to ask, what to pay, and red flags to watch for
- Corporate event booking — timelines, riders, and getting the brief right
- Booking lead times — how far ahead to book by event type and season
- Band cancelled your event? — your rights, emergency cover and deposit recovery
- Deposit disputes — how the protected-payment process protects both sides
- Dealing with no-shows — what to do when the act doesn’t turn up
Venue guides
| GuideHow to Find Live Music for Your VenueA 6-step guide covering where to source acts, what to pay, how to vet quality, and build a roster of regulars. | |
| ToolkitThe Complete Toolkit for UK Music VenuesEvery free tool a UK venue gets on GigXchange — rich listings, Smart Match, team & multi-site management, contracts, protected payments and licensing, in one place. | |
| PromotionHow to Promote Live Music at Your VenueBreak-even maths, 7-channel playbook, cross-promotion agreements, and 4 KPIs to track weekly. | |
| ComplianceMartyn’s Law for Small UK VenuesThe biggest change to venue law in a generation reaches every 200+ room from ~2027 — the threshold, the two tiers, the four procedures, and a 5-step plan to be ready early. | |
| BookingHow to Choose a Band or MusicianWhat to look for, what to ask, and how to compare acts before committing — from a 16-year musician. | |
| FestivalsUK Music Festivals by MonthEvery UK festival date we have checked, by month, region and genre — what is on near you and when the season peaks. | |
| AI & ToolsAI for UK Music Venues: 9 Guides9 field-tested AI guides for UK pubs, bars and theatres — from copy-paste inbox replies to automated booking workflows. |
| Compliance Checklist | |
| Licensing Checker | |
| Martyn's Law Readiness | |
| Post a Gig | |
| GX Gig Rescue | |
| All free tools |
One UK platform where artists, venues, agents and promoters book live music direct — no middlemen, no monthly fees.
| The marketplace | |
| Why we’re different |
What gigs pay across the UK — calibrated to thousands of real fee observations.
| Free rate calculator | |
| GX Index rates |
Create a free profile, or see who’s already on GigXchange.
| Create a free profile | |
| Browse profiles |
| What’s new | |
| About GigXchange |
Fill Your Stage
1044 artists across 80 cities, all in one place. Free to list, free to message, 5 minutes to set up — emergency cover with Gig Rescue if an act cancels.
Fill Your Stage.
Book Direct.
Stop paying agency commission (typically 15–20%, some up to 25%) to find live music. Browse 1044 artists across 80 cities, post gigs in 2 minutes, and book direct — auto-generated digital contracts, Stripe deposits released automatically 5 days after the gig, and two-way reviews on every booking.
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Why Venues Choose GIGXCHANGE
Book live music for your UK venue direct from the artists - search bands and musicians by city, genre and fee, with a contract on every booking.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Live fees and the licence rules for pubs, hotels, care homes and more, then each kind of act.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Post gigs, book acts, sign contracts and see your spend, on iPhone, Android or any browser.
Actual app screens · Demo account
A digital contract on every booking, and Stripe holds the deposit until the gig is done.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Search filters, Gig Rescue, the licensing checker, the compliance checklist, team logins and spend insights.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Real UK fee ranges for pubs, weddings, corporate and private parties.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Free to list. 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
Actual app screens · Demo account
Rate calculator, flyer and events poster, contract generator, the GX Index and the UK licence guide.
Actual app screens · Demo account
What venues ask before their first booking: fees, payments, licences and cancellations.
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 / 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.
How It Works
From signup to showtime — four simple steps
Click or tap the deck to advance. The corner button opens it full screen.
Ready to fill your stage?
Free to list — 2 minutes to set up.
Built for Live Music Venues
Not a generic directory — a proper live music booking platform
Advanced Search Filters
Find the right band, duo or DJ for your venue in minutes — filter UK artists by genre, location, budget, capacity, backline and availability, not hours of emails.
Gig Posting
Post your date, genre, budget and requirements and let UK artists apply to you — review profiles, audio and video, then pick the best fit.
Calendar Management
Run your whole entertainment calendar in one place, synced with Google Calendar or iCal — no double-bookings, no spreadsheets.
Reviews & Ratings
Rate every act after the gig and build your venue’s reputation — two-way reviews keep both sides accountable and transparent.
Secure Payments
Deposits held securely via Stripe and released automatically 5 days after the gig — no cash on the night, no invoicing, no chasing.
Emergency Cover
If an act cancels last-minute, Gig Rescue sends an urgent call-out to available acts near you — the first to accept is booked. Fill the slot fast and keep the night on, without the phone-around.
Licensing Checker
Answer a few quick questions and see exactly which UK music licences your venue needs — from TheMusicLicence to a Temporary Event Notice — each linked to the official source. No more guessing.
Compliance Checklist
Eight questions build your venue’s compliance board — fire, health & safety, licensing, insurance and Martyn’s Law, ranked by what the law requires, each linked to its official source.
Team & Multi-Site Management
Run a pub group, a hotel group or one busy venue as a team — every site in one account, staff invited by email to the sites they book for, and one switch between venues instead of separate logins.
Payments Insights
See what you’ve spent on entertainment over any period, how it’s trending, who you book most and your busiest months — answers without a spreadsheet in sight.
Discover artists directly by genre, location and budget, then keep the details that usually get lost in DMs together: fee, date, set length, arrival time, deposit, contract, messages and review trail. Want to hear acts before you book? Step into GX Arena (beta) — real UK acts play their own songs back to back in a live 3D venue, and you can book any of them direct.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,647 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£330 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| Wedding | £271–£500 | £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| Corporate | £281–£474 | £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Why Direct Booking Beats Agencies
Agencies work for big-budget events. Most venue nights aren't that.
Traditional UK booking agencies typically charge 15–20%, some up to 25% commission and focus on weddings and corporate events. If you’re booking weekly pub nights, open mic hosts, or small festival stages — you’re on your own.
Not sure if you need a music license? Read our UK live music license guide first. Not sure where to start? Our guide on how to find live music for your venue walks through the full 6-step process. For live UK fees and the licensing rules in every nation, see how to book live music in the UK. GigXchange lets you browse artists directly, post gigs and receive applications, and handle the entire booking with contracts and Stripe payments built in. The platform is free to use, with a 5% fee only for protected payments — see how artists use the platform on their side — a fraction of what agencies take. You pick the artist, agree the fee, and deal direct.
| GIGXCHANGE | UK Booking Agencies | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free — an optional 5% booker fee on protected payments | Typically 15–20%, some up to 25% |
| Contact with artist | Direct messaging | Via the agency |
| Artist selection | Browse hundreds, filter by genre | Agency picks for you |
| Contracts | Auto-generated, digital | Manual / varies |
| Payments | Stripe, auto-release | Cash / invoice / varies |
| Cancellation cover | Emergency cover: a Gig Rescue call-out to available acts | Call around yourself |
| Cost to list | Free | N/A — venues don't list |
Free Tools for UK Venues
Published for every venue and booker — no signup needed
Gig Rate Calculator
Know the going rate before you budget — live UK gig percentiles by city, band size and event type, benchmarked against Musicians’ Union minimums.
Flyer & Events Poster
Design gig flyers from on-brand templates or auto-build a poster of your upcoming events in one click — ready to post to socials in seconds.
Contract Generator
Generate a UK-compliant gig contract in under 2 minutes — 8 standard clauses, deposit terms, dual e-signatures and an instant PDF.
GX Index
The GX Index — the UK’s open live-music rate dataset, updated monthly, so you can benchmark what acts cost before you budget (CC BY 4.0).
Member Spotlight
A 1,500-word editorial profiling your venue, a press-kit PDF and a Spotlight badge — free music PR for active venues.
Finding & Hiring Local Bands
6 proven sources for finding UK musicians, plus a vetting checklist so you book the right act first time.
How to Promote a Live Music Night
A practical playbook for filling your room — the channels, timing and cross-promotion that actually sell tickets to a local live music night.
UK Live Music Licence Guide
Do you need a licence? TheMusicLicence, PRS, PPL and TEN exemptions — the 2026 rules explained for UK pubs and bars.
Venue FAQ
- UK Open Mic Finder — 1,400+ open-mic listings across 91 cities, plus 9,300+ gigs in the wider directory, list yours free
- Venue Compliance Checklist — every duty your venue owes, ranked by what the law requires, each with its official source
- UK Gig Rate Calculator — live market percentiles by city, band size and event type
- Setlist Builder — see at a glance what an act actually plays before you book them
- Booking Contract Generator — UK-compliant performance agreement, 8 standard clauses, dual e-signatures, instant PDF
- GX Index — the full open UK live-music rate dataset, updated monthly
- UK Musician Earnings 2026 — data-backed report on what UK musicians actually earn (CC BY 4.0)
- UK Market Statistics — venues, fees and industry benchmarks
- How Much UK Live Music Actually Costs in 2026 — venue-side budget guide by gig type and band size, drawn from the GX Index
- How to hire a covers band — what to ask, what to pay, and red flags to watch for
- Corporate event booking — timelines, riders, and getting the brief right
- Booking lead times — how far ahead to book by event type and season
- Band cancelled your event? — your rights, emergency cover and deposit recovery
- Deposit disputes — how the protected-payment process protects both sides
- Dealing with no-shows — what to do when the act doesn’t turn up
Fill Your Stage
1044 artists across 80 cities, all in one place. Free to list, free to message, 5 minutes to set up — emergency cover with Gig Rescue if an act cancels.