Performer resources
Real-world advice to help DJs, bands and solo musicians price confidently, look professional, and protect themselves on every booking. Most of these principles apply to any live act - just swap "DJ" for your line-up where it makes sense.
How to set your pricing
Pricing is one of the hardest things to get right when you're starting out. Charge too little and you'll burn out, attract difficult clients and undercut the wider scene. Charge too much without the proof to back it up and you'll be passed over. Use the framework below as a starting point - then adjust based on demand, season and your unique strengths.
(Hourly rate × performance hours × performers) + setup/pack-down + travel + equipment + extras + GST
- Performance hours: set a clear hourly rate; don't undersell long sets.
- Performers: for bands and duos, multiply by the number of people on stage - every musician needs to be paid for their time, rehearsal and travel.
- Setup & pack-down: usually 1–2 hours billed at a reduced rate or built in. Bands typically need longer than a DJ - factor in line-checks and stage layout.
- Travel: charge per km outside your home region, plus accommodation if needed. Bands need accommodation for everyone, not just one person.
- Equipment: price PA, lighting, sub, wireless mic, photobooth as line items. Bands usually need a larger PA, foldback / monitors, mic stands and DI boxes; if you bring a sound engineer, that's an extra line too.
- Extras: MC duties, additional DJ, ceremony PA, early arrival, late-night extensions, acoustic crossover sets, recorded DJ playlist between band sets.
- Packages: consider establishing packages that neatly present your services to potential customers and make it easy for them to pick and choose - e.g. Ceremony + reception, 4-hour reception with MC, or Band set + DJ in between. Packages make quoting faster and help clients self-select the right budget.
- GST: if you're GST-registered, add 15%. State this clearly on every Estimate.
- DJ - corporate / weddings: $1,200–$3,500+
- DJ - private parties: $700–$1,800
- DJ - club / bar residencies: $300–$800 per set
- Solo musician / duo: $600–$1,800
- 3-piece band: $1,800–$3,500
- 4–5 piece band: $2,500–$5,500
- 6+ piece / function band: $4,500–$9,000+
- Festivals & stages: negotiated per slot
See the public Pricing guide for more detail.
- Quoting a single number with no breakdown.
- Forgetting travel, overtime and GST.
- Bands: pricing the gig as if it's one person - every member needs to be paid.
- Discounting too quickly when challenged.
- No deposit policy - leads to last-minute cancellations.
Always present prices as Estimates on SoundCheck Aotearoa - the final figure depends on the brief and any extras requested.
Agreements & contracts
A written agreement protects both you and your client. It removes ambiguity about what's included, what happens if things change, and how everyone gets paid. Keep it plain-English - a 1–2 page agreement is usually enough for most gigs.
- Parties, event date, venue and times
- Services included (hours, equipment, MC, lighting)
- Total fee, GST status and deposit amount
- Payment schedule and final-payment due date
- Cancellation & refund policy (sliding scale)
- Overtime rate (per 30 min)
- Force majeure / postponement clause
- Power, access and parking requirements
- Liability, insurance and equipment damage
- Meal & break provisions for long events
- Use of photos / recordings for promotion
- Signatures and date
Tip: a typical NZ cancellation schedule looks like deposit non-refundable, 50% if cancelled inside 60 days, 100% inside 14 days. Always offer a postponement option for weather or illness - it builds trust.
Invoices & getting paid
A clear, compliant invoice gets paid faster and keeps you on the right side of Inland Revenue. Send a deposit invoice on booking and a final invoice 1–2 weeks before the event.
- The word Tax Invoice (if GST-registered) or Invoice
- Your trading name, contact details and GST number (if registered)
- Client's name and billing address
- Unique invoice number and issue date
- Description of services with date of event
- Subtotal, GST line (15%) if applicable, and total due in NZD
- Payment terms (e.g. "due 14 days") and bank account / payment link
You must register for GST once your turnover exceeds $60,000 in any 12-month period. Below that it's optional - but once registered you must charge 15% on all gigs.
Xero, Hnry, MYOB and Wave all handle invoicing and GST returns. Hnry is popular with solo performers because it deducts tax, ACC and GST automatically.
A professional booking process
- Reply fast. Aim to respond to enquiries within 24 hours - speed wins bookings.
- Ask 3–5 clarifying questions about vibe, crowd, must-plays, do-not-plays and timings.
- Send a tailored Estimate with a clear breakdown - never a single mystery number.
- Confirm with an agreement + deposit invoice (typically 25–50%).
- Pre-event check-in two weeks out: timings, special songs, MC requirements.
- Send the final invoice in line with your payment terms.
- Follow up the next day: thank them and ask for a Google review - these power your verified rating on SoundCheck Aotearoa.
Profile playbook - sell the value, not the gear
Customers don't book a 12-channel mixer or a four-way line array - they book the feeling they want their guests to walk away with. Your bio, photos and samples should answer one question: "What will this performer do for my event that nobody else can?"
- The outcome you create. One line. "I keep the dance floor full from first dance to last call." or "We turn a corporate dinner into the night people still talk about on Monday."
- Proof. Years performing, the kinds of rooms you fill, signature events, named venues, recognisable clients (where allowed). Numbers beat adjectives.
- How you work. One paragraph on your process: how you take a brief, how you plan a set, how you handle the unexpected. This is where clients decide they trust you.
- "We read the room and reshape the set in real time."
- "Smooth transition between ceremony, dinner and dance."
- "Bilingual MC - confident in te reo Māori and English."
- "Specialise in Pacific weddings and 80+ guest birthdays."
- "Pioneer CDJ-3000s and a Funktion-One rig…" - most clients don't know what that means.
- "Fender American Pro, Mesa Boogie, Ableton Live 11…"
- Long lists of genres with no context.
- Adjectives without proof: "world-class", "premier", "elite".
Equipment belongs in your What's included list, not your bio.
- Lead photo: you (or the band) actually performing - full dance floor in the background beats a posed studio shot.
- Mix of photos: action shot, gear set up looking tidy, the crowd reacting, a candid moment, one professional headshot. No selfies as the hero image.
- Audio / video samples: 60–90 seconds is plenty. Open with your strongest moment - most listeners decide in the first 15 seconds.
- Repertoire / mix lists: show range, not volume. 15–25 well-chosen songs say more than 200 dumped from your library.
Sample documents - NZ-ready templates
Two plain-English templates written for New Zealand performers. Download, save a copy, and adapt to your business. These are starting points - for high-value or unusual bookings, get a lawyer to review.
Covers parties, event detail, fees and GST, deposit, cancellation, force majeure, equipment, insurance, recording rights and signatures. Suitable for DJs, bands and solo musicians.
Download template →IRD-aligned tax invoice layout with line items for performance, setup, equipment, travel and extras. Includes a GST line you can remove if you're not yet registered.
Download template →Templates are provided as guidance only. They are not legal or tax advice. Tip: open in Google Docs, Word or any markdown editor, then export to PDF before sending.
Get verified
Verified DJs, bands, musicians and agencies appear higher in matches and earn more enquiries. We accept:
- Identity: NZ driver licence or passport
- Business: NZBN or company number
- Insurance: public liability certificate (we recommend $2m+)
- Reviews: link to public Google reviews - our admins verify and approve
Learn how the badges on your profile look to customers on our Trust & Safety page.