Last updated: March 2026
As a professional musician working at functions, weddings and other live events, there are going to be certain times of the year when you’ll find enquiries for gigs come in more frequently than others. After the rush that’s usually associated with booking for the summer, the next big push for bands will usually be for December, with Christmas and New Year being particularly popular. In this blog, we examine what to charge for these dates, and how to arrive at your price.
There are a lot of different factors that determine how much to charge for events on Christmas day and New Years Eve, but one of the most important things to remember is to try not to undermine the market place. For more on the topic of fair pay, see our article on musicians’ wages.
Even if you’d rather be working than taking the day off (and are in the fortunate financial position to not have the fee factor into this decision!) then it’s still generally not a good idea to go out for well below “the going rate”.
This can undermine the fees that venues and clients are prepared to pay, and others (who may be counting on those gigs to see them through the quiet times that follow in January and February) may well find themselves out of work all together.
Example fees
Please keep in mind that these are very general guide prices and cannot encompass all of the factors discussed below for obvious reasons! Based on a private booking for a minimum 2 x 45 minute sets, performed in the late afternoon or evening/night time at a close venue:
- Solo musician: £300 – £400
- 3-piece band: £900 – £1200
- 4-piece band: £1100 – £1500
- 5-piece band: £1500 – £1800
These prices are intended as a starting point. Your quote should always reflect your own experience, location and the specific requirements of each booking. Rates may also vary depending on whether the event falls on a weekday or weekend, with Friday and Saturday dates typically commanding higher fees. If you are looking to hire a Christmas band, expect prices at the higher end of these ranges during peak December dates.
Loading ...Poll Results: What do musicians charge at Christmas and New Year?
Reader Poll Results – 402 voters
The clear majority of musicians (67%) charge at least double their usual fee for Christmas and New Year gigs.
We polled 402 musicians and the results are clear: nearly half (48%) charge double their usual fee for occasions like Christmas day and New Years Eve. A further 19% charge triple or more. Only around a third of respondents (32%) charge their usual rate or just a slight increase. Taken together, two thirds of working musicians apply a significant premium for the festive season, reflecting the sacrifices involved in working on days when most people are celebrating.
A lot of the same principles that apply to gigging all year round still exist at Christmas or NYE. That said, quoting for this time of the year is a very fine art and the price you finally settle on should be based on a whole range of factors like…
Missing out on your own celebrations
It is obviously a given that, for most workers, holidays like Christmas are a national day off. As such, those who happen to be working (in the service industry, for instance) should be fairly compensated for missing out on their own celebrations. This is where we establish the idea that clients should pay a premium for holidays like Christmas and New Year. For example, people working in restaurants and bars will routinely be paid double (sometimes triple!) their usual hourly wage and, as a general rule, musicians should be looking for at least just under double of their usual fee.
Supply & demand
As is the way with most things, price will usually be dictated by how much of something is available and how many people want it. For instance, if you are looking to gig locally and there aren’t many acts in your area, you can probably charge a little more, as more venues would be looking to book than there are musicians to fill the slots.
Type of event
While the general premiums for Christmas and NYE are paramount, you should also take into account what sort of event it is that you’ll be playing at. As is the way with all gigs, different types of show are going to have different budgets to others. For example, a wedding is likely to have more of a budget behind it than a gig in a pub or small club, or if the NYE show you’re playing is being put on by a company, they will almost certainly be able to afford more for their entertainment than an individual.
Travel distance
It may sound obvious, but a factor that you should always take into account when quoting is your distance away from the venue. Different bands charge for this in different ways – some charge for a certain amount of travel time over and above, say, two hours from their base. Others prefer to charge a modest amount per mile, over and above a certain distance. Finally, other bands tend to do an all-encompassing quote that factors in travel to their fee.
Experience
There will be some circumstances where a band or act’s experience plays into how much they charge. For instance, acts that have established their career over a number of years may have lots of other gigs booked throughout the year, and so may not need to perform at Christmas or on New Years Eve. If they have that luxury, they may hold out and charge a higher fee for doing so. Even if you are tempted to consider playing for free to fill your diary, remember that festive dates are prime earning opportunities.
Similarly, if the act has had a distinguished career or perhaps gained some degree of fame, then this will also influence the amount they can charge. For example, there are many singers that had hit songs in the 80’s that now supplement their royalty income by performing at large corporate events.
Provision of equipment
Most gigs, or private bookings at least, are going to require you to provide your own PA equipment. That said, you may want to consider providing a modest discount in a “plug in and play” situation where equipment is provided for you.
Set times and length
While this applies to virtually all gigs, it could be argued that your performance time is particularly relevant on days like Christmas day or New Years Eve. The set times that you are given will not only impact on your ability to re-join celebrations, but on your ability to take other work that day.
For example, if someone is offering you a show that will only take place early on Christmas day, then your ability to take another show in the late afternoon or evening/night time will not be compromised, and so it’s worth considering a price that will appropriately reflect that.
New Year’s Eve pricing
New Year’s Eve deserves a special mention because it is typically the single highest-demand night of the year for live entertainment. Many musicians charge between double and triple their standard rate for NYE bookings, and some charge even more. The late finish (often past midnight), limited transport options and the sheer demand from venues all contribute to higher fees. If you only take one premium gig a year, New Year’s Eve is the one where you can justifiably set your highest price.
