THE TRADITIONAL MODEL
Customer pays agency
Agency separately agrees the performance fee with the act, and the act receives that agreed fee.
The customer’s total and the musician’s performance fee aren’t always visible to both sides.
WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT
A fairer, more transparent way to book live music.
Customers should have genuine choice. Musicians should control what they charge. We built Compare the Band to provide both.
THE DIFFERENCE — QUICK VERSION
You choose them. They price themselves. You decide.
You choose the actsThey set their priceWe show our fee separatelyYou choose
100%of the performance fee an act quotes goes to the act.
BUILT FROM EXPERIENCE
I’ve been on the other side of the booking.
I spent around four years singing full-time in function bands, while also performing with other acts and working regularly with entertainment agencies.
When my main band was overbooked, I sometimes arranged bookings for other bands myself — dealing with customers and musicians and taking a small commission for organising the booking. So I’ve experienced the process from both sides.
THE COMPARE THE BAND WAY
Clear choices, clear totals
Customer chooses acts → acts see the event → acts set their fees → our booking fee is shown separately → customer compares and chooses.
FOR CUSTOMERS
More choice. Better information. Your decision.
You choose who quotes.
You receive exact quotes for the actual event.
You see the pricing breakdown.
You compare genuine options.
You make the decision.
Exceptional acts. Exact quotes. Your choice.Find my actFOR ACTS
More control over the work you take and what you charge.
Customers specifically shortlist you.
You see the event requirements.
You choose whether to quote.
You set your own price.
You keep 100% of your quoted performance fee.
More bookings. Your price. Your fee.Join as an actILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Transparent pricing
- Act’s performance fee
- £1,500
- Compare the Band booking fee
- £150
- Total
- £1,650
£1,500 goes to the act. £150 is Compare the Band’s booking fee.
Acts can improve their quote. The choice stays yours.
During the 48-hour quoting window, acts can see the current lowest quote without seeing which act submitted it. They may choose to lower their own quote to make their offer more attractive, or leave it unchanged. Each revision must be at least £25 lower than their current quote, with every expense included.
Customers can compare the latest quotes throughout the window, but selection opens only when quoting closes. A lower quote does not guarantee a booking, and the cheapest act is never selected automatically.
It’s not about finding the cheapest act. It’s about finding the right one. One act may quote less; another may offer the lineup, sound or performance you prefer. You decide what represents the best value for your event.
Fair to customers.
Fair to musicians.
Customers deserve genuine choice and transparent pricing. Musicians deserve control over what they charge.
We don’t believe those things conflict.
Compare the Band was built to provide both.