Gigs and Live Performances

Whether you are playing at festivals, performing for weddings or busking in the streets, are just starting out playing live, or you have been doing it all your life – we have advice for your career as a live musician.

Guidance and advice

Working as a Live Performer

Advice on major areas of career of a live musician.

Rates of Pay for Live Engagements

We recommended how much you should charge for your work as a minimum

Contracts for Live work

Use MU contract templates to ensure the terms of the gig are in writing

Fair Play Guide

Touring Abroad

Health and Safety at Work

Career as a live musician

6 Top Tips on Negotiating Your Gig Fee

Negotiating the right fee for your next gig can be a tricky business, but can also be an essential part of your career as a musician.

Getting the Most Out of Music Festivals

How to apply for and get the most out of music festivals.

Working with Agents and Managers

Learn about working with others in the music industry and what you need to look out for.

Starting Out Gigging

How to start playing live music, from rehearsals to your first gig.

Working in a Wedding Band

For good function bands, weddings can offer an abundant and decently paid source of work.

A Guide to Freelancing

Learn how to manage your work and navigate aspects of the music industry when working as a freelance musician.

How to Capitalise on Your Success

Some takeaways from a masterclass on how to do capitalise on your success with advice from Dave Murkage, Olly Ward The Agency Group and Kweku 'Que' Quakyi.

Supporting musicians who perform live

If you’re performing your own original music, working in covers bands, function bands, tribute bands or busking, the Musicians' Union can support you. Use our template standard contracts to protect your rights when you’re being engaged, and get advice on how much you should be paid.

Member services for live musicians

Access Expert Contract Advice

The MU can help you make sure the contract you sign is fair and includes all of the necessary clauses

Receive £10m in Public Liability Insurance

Protection against legal liability for damages following injury to a third party person or damage to property at work

Get Legal Advice for Bands

Protect yourself and your band mates with our Partnership Advisory Service.

Protect Your Hearing Health

Access musician-specialist audiologists and bespoke hearing protection at an affordable price

Recover Unpaid Fees

Advice on how to approach an engager, legal assistance and more

Get £3K Cover for Your Instruments or Equipment

MU members can protect their music instruments and equipment anywhere in the world

Latest news and features

Young Black male musician, singing into a microphone against a bright studio light.

MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025

The MU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Black Welsh Music Awards (BWMA), which will take place on Saturday 4 October at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff.

Published: 03 September 2025

Festival Diaries: Creative Ways to Approach Sustainability

As the climate crisis intensifies, Aayushi Jain explores the balance between affordability and sustainability on the festival circuit. Drawing on her summer tour last year as an independent artist, she shares practical and creative ways to reduce the environmental impact of touring.

Published: 29 August 2025

Two young buskers, one singing and one playing guitar on a sunny street.

Bring Busking Back to Birmingham City Centre

Sign the petition to urge the council to reverse the ban on busking in Birmingham city centre.

Published: 28 August 2025

Close up of person in jeans and boots, carrying their guitar case and amp over stone steps.

MU Responds to Birmingham Council’s City Centre Busking Ban

The MU will continue campaigning to overturn the ban as Birmingham becomes the first UK city to entirely outlaw all city-centre busking.

Published: 19 August 2025

Group of buskers, supporters, and MU staff outside at the site of the Leicester Square busking pitch. Some are wearing t-shirts, or holding posters and props, that say ‘back your buskers’.

Green Party’s Zack Polanski Backs Buskers in Call for New Westminster Pitches

On 7 August, London Assembly Member Zack Polanski joined buskers, supporters and MU officials for a photocall and leafleting session as part of the campaign for new viable, accessible Westminster busking pitches to replace those lost in Leicester Square.

Published: 14 August 2025

Read all live news

I realised the MU would help me achieve my ambitions faster and better by providing connections, legal support, and access to insurance for my instrument.
Oscar YorkDrummer and a music scholar

There are times when my tap work is more musician-based than dance, and I hope to be able to pave the way for others to recognise the relationship of tap dance as a percussive instrument within a band.
Annette WalkerMultidisciplinary performer

A lot of the time when you play gigs you get dodgy deals, or they don’t want to pay you and it’s great to know that’s not right.
Amanda DalMulti-genre drummer

Contact the Musicians' Union today

The MU has a network of experienced teams available to help musicians in all areas of the industry. If you have any questions about our services, membership or how the MU could help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Contact the MU

Live guides

Last updated:
16 October 2020

Fair Play Guide

guide

Engagement Booking for Unsigned and Emerging Artists

guide

Last updated:
19 October 2020

Performing and Touring with Featured Artists

guide

Last updated:
11 June 2025

Emerging and Independent Artists’ Festival Code of Conduct

guide

Last updated:
19 October 2020

Performing and Touring with Featured Artists

guide

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Popular searches

Gigs and Live Performances

Guidance and advice

Working as a Live Performer

Rates of Pay for Live Engagements

Contracts for Live work

Fair Play Guide

Touring Abroad

Health and Safety at Work

Career as a live musician

6 Top Tips on Negotiating Your Gig Fee

Getting the Most Out of Music Festivals

Working with Agents and Managers

Starting Out Gigging

Working in a Wedding Band

A Guide to Freelancing

How to Capitalise on Your Success

Supporting musicians who perform live

Member services for live musicians

Access Expert Contract Advice

Receive £10m in Public Liability Insurance

Get Legal Advice for Bands

Protect Your Hearing Health

Recover Unpaid Fees

Get £3K Cover for Your Instruments or Equipment

Latest news and features

MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025

Festival Diaries: Creative Ways to Approach Sustainability

Bring Busking Back to Birmingham City Centre

MU Responds to Birmingham Council’s City Centre Busking Ban

Green Party’s Zack Polanski Backs Buskers in Call for New Westminster Pitches

Contact the Musicians' Union today

Live guides

Fair Play Guide

Engagement Booking for Unsigned and Emerging Artists

Performing and Touring with Featured Artists

Emerging and Independent Artists’ Festival Code of Conduct

Performing and Touring with Featured Artists