To split gig money with band members, agree on the split in writing before the gig, take shared gig costs off the top, then pay out one of three ways: equal shares, a leader share plus equal shares, or a flat fee per player. Pay people the night of or on the date you promised.
Below: the three models and when each one is fair, the calculator (type in your gig and see every share), the text to send a hired player, and the mistakes that break up bands.
The three ways bands split pay
There's no single right split. There's the one that matches who's doing the work, and the one everybody agreed to before the downbeat.
- Equal split after costs. Take the shared costs off the top, then divide the rest evenly. Fair when everyone books, promotes, hauls gear and carries the same weight.
- Leader share, then equal split. The leader takes a percentage off the top for booking, emails, invoicing and the gear they bring, and the rest is split evenly, leader included. Fair when one person runs the business.
- Flat pay per player. The leader quotes the client, pays each hired player a set amount, covers the costs and keeps what's left. Fair when you hire players for the night. The leader carries the risk and keeps the upside.
"We'll figure out the money after." The leader quietly keeps the tips. The PA rental shows up as a surprise. Players get paid "when the client pays me."
The split is in the offer text. Costs off the top are listed up front. Tips: decided before the gig. Pay goes out on a date everyone knows.
Split calculator
Type in the gig. Pick a model. See what everyone takes home.
Gig pay split
Before taxes. Tips not counted. Nothing leaves your phone.
Made-up example A trio books a private party for $1,200 and rents a bigger PA for $150. Equal split: $1,050 three ways is $350 each. Leader share at 20%: the leader takes $210 off the top, then $280 each, so the leader takes home $490 and the other two $280. Flat pay at $300 per hired player: the leader pays out $600 and keeps $450 for booking it, bringing the rig and waiting on the client's check.
What comes off the top
Decide this list once, write it down, and use it every gig. The usual suspects:
- Sound you rent or hire for this gig. A bigger PA, a sound person, extra lights.
- Fees. An agent's cut or a gig site's fee on that booking.
- Travel you agreed to share. Gas on a long drive, parking, tolls, a hotel.
Gear that one person owns and brings to every gig is different. That's usually why a leader share or flat model exists. Say so out loud, so nobody feels like they're paying for someone else's speaker.
The offer text to a hired player
A hired player should know exactly what they're signing up for before they say yes. Copy this, fill it in, and get a "yes" back in writing.
Hi [Name], are you free for this one? - Date: [date] - Where: [venue, city] - Load-in: [time] Music: [start] to [end] - Event: [bar / private party / corporate] - Pay: $[amount], paid [the night of / by date] by [cash / app / check] - Tips: [split evenly / go to the band fund / none expected] - What to bring: [gear] - Dress: [what to wear] - Songs: [setlist link], plus [new songs to learn] Reply "in" and you're booked. Thanks! [Your name]
Leader rules that keep players coming back
- Pay on the date you said. If the client pays you on net terms weeks later, decide before you book whether you'll front the players' pay. Players remember who paid on time.
- Know who pays you at the end of the night. You can't pay the band from money you haven't collected. See how to get paid for gigs.
- Price the band into the quote. Don't quote a trio at a solo price and hope the split works. Run the numbers in what a 3-hour gig should pay first.
- Keep a record of every payment. Date, name, amount, method. Your tax pro will ask.
- Say tips out loud. Split, band fund or the leader's. Any is fine. A surprise isn't.
Questions players ask
What is the fairest way to split gig money in a band?
The fairest split is the one everyone agreed to in writing before the gig. Equal shares after expenses work for bands where everyone does the same work. A leader share works when one person books, promotes and handles the money. Flat pay per player works when you hire players for the night.
Should the bandleader get a bigger share?
Often, yes. Booking, emails, the PA, the van, the invoice and the risk of a client paying late are real work. Many leaders take a set percentage off the top or pay players a flat fee and keep what's left. Say which one up front.
What comes off the top before splitting?
Costs that belong to the gig itself: a rented PA or sound person, an agent's or gig site's fee, parking, and travel you agreed to cover. Decide the list before the gig so nobody is surprised at the end of the night.
When should I pay hired players?
The night of the gig, or on the date you promised in writing. If the client pays you on net terms weeks later, decide in advance whether you'll front the players' pay. Your players' trust is your band.
Do I need to send hired players a tax form?
It depends on how much you paid them and how your business is set up. Talk to a tax pro in your state before tax season, and keep a record of every payment.