What is the difference between a gig, a booking and an event?

They are three different things, and one leads to the next.

A gig is a request for a performer. A venue, promoter or agent posts it ("we need an act for Saturday 14th, budget £300"), and artists apply. Artists never post gigs - they advertise on their profile and apply to gigs instead. Use Post a Gig to list one.

A booking is the deal itself. When a venue accepts an application, or someone sends a booking offer directly from a profile, a booking is created between the two members. It carries the date, the fee, the contract and the payment, and it moves through its own stages (pending, accepted, confirmed, completed). Every booking starts with an offer - see how bookings work.

An event is the public listing. Once a booking is agreed, the venue or promoter can turn it into an event with Publish as Event - the page fans see, with the line-up, the time and, if you want, tickets. A gig and an event are never linked directly; the booking in the middle is what connects them.

You do not have to use all three. A venue can post a gig and never publish an event; an artist can be booked straight from their profile with no gig at all; and an event can be created on its own for a night that was arranged elsewhere.