CRACK THE GIG MONEY CODE.
HOW TO GET YOUR BAND THE PAY IT DESERVES.
If you’re still playing gigs for exposure or a couple of hundred in cash in 2025, you’re not just selling yourself short. You’re setting your whole band up for burnout and bullshit.
WHY MOST BANDS NEVER BREAK THE PAY BARRIER
The days of free beers and “maybe next time” promises are done. It’s time to crack the money code and start getting paid properly for every single gig.
Most cover bands out there are stuck in a cycle of cheap pub gigs and backroom deals because they never learn how to value themselves. Sure, the gigs might be fun, but if you’re googling “how to get paid for gigs,” “band rates UK,” or “musician pay rates,” you’re not alone. But if you want to level up, you need more than just a rate card and a limp handshake.
The real money code is all about confidence, strategy and knowing your worth, not just hoping the venue pays up at the end of the night.
STEP 1: KNOW YOUR MINIMUM (AND STICK TO IT)
Every band needs a hard floor, a minimum fee that makes it worth loading your gear, driving across town and pouring sweat onto the stage. If you don’t have one, then you’re already losing. Seriously, forget what the other bands are charging. That’s of no concern. Ask yourself “how much should my band charge?”, then set your own minimum gig fee and never apologise for it.
STEP 2: DON’T BE AFRAID TO WALK AWAY
Venues will try it on. Private clients might plead poverty. But your job is to say no to bad deals, and mean it. The bands who get paid what they’re worth are the ones who walk away from the bullshit. If your inbox is full of “but it’ll be great exposure!” then you’re fishing in the wrong pond.
Want to know the lines that shut down chancers and get you respect? That’s all in my book – and trust me, you’ll use them.
STEP 3: CONTRACTS AREN’T OPTIONAL
If you’re still booking gigs with nothing but a Facebook message and a prayer, you’re playing with fire. A simple contract or gig agreement is your shield. It covers your fee, timings, cancellation terms and all the little details that keep you from getting stiffed.
Want a ready-to-use band gig contract template? You know where to find it. (Hint: it’s in the Band Bunker section of my book, Your Band Is A War Machine.)
STEP 4: SPLIT THE CASH, DON’T SPLIT UP THE BAND
Money arguments kill more bands than a drummer with a heroin habit. Decide up front whether you’re splitting everything evenly or paying for the hours put in behind the scenes. Keep it transparent, keep it fair and keep it simple. No one wants to be in a band where payday feels like a knife fight.
STEP 5: ALWAYS LEVEL UP
The best bands don’t just play more gigs. They play better gigs, for better money, and they keep on rising. That means building a reputation, owning your scene and knowing when to push your rates higher. If you want to go from pub king to power player, then you need a strategic plan.
Hey, and guess what? Yup, that plan is in Your Band Is A War Machine. The book is packed with real-world tactics, savage stories and the exact tools you need to get paid what you’re worth, every single time.
READY TO STOP GETTING PLAYED AND START GETTING PAID?
Grab the book, arm your band with pro-level money moves, and turn every gig into a payday. Because the only thing worse than playing for cheap is watching a worse band hoovering up all your money.
Want a roadmap to better, higher-paying gigs? The full code’s in the book. So, don’t just play the gig, own the business. Grab YOUR BAND IS A WAR MACHINE. It’s the ultimate cover band handbook.
