What a Band Website Costs to Run Through a Year of Gigs

Keeping a band online runs to $119 for twelve months; a band that opts for monthly billing pays $19 each month, and a domain matching the band name is extra. AI Web Maker charges nothing while the band builds the whole site and looks through every page. Working from a few lines about the band, the builder lays out a music page, the line up choices and a gig enquiry form. Couples and event planners rarely hire a band they have not heard, so the site has to play the band before anyone picks up a phone. Videos, set lists and clear details about the size of the band do that work around the clock. The test used throughout this guide is simple: how many gigs does the site need to bring in?

This article is part of our complete guide: Website Builder for Creative Businesses.

What should a band put on its music page first?

A band should open its music page with a short live video, because planners want the energy of a real gig rather than a studio recording. A clip filmed at a wedding or a busy party shows how the band reads a room and fills a dance floor. Two or three songs in different styles, such as a slow first dance and a lively closer, cover most of the questions a couple has about range. A set list grouped by decade or genre lets planners spot the songs their guests will love. Each recording should load quickly on a phone, since many enquiries start on one during a lunch break. A strong music page does the audition for the band.

How do line up options help planners choose a package?

Line up options help planners choose because a four piece band, a duo and an acoustic set suit very different rooms and budgets. Listing each option with the instruments involved and a short note on the best kind of event makes the decision easy. A ceremony might only need an acoustic duo, while the evening party calls for the full band with horns. The booking website builder for live bands taking gig enquiries turns each option into a package that visitors can request for a date. The band then accepts the request, moves it to another date or declines it. Planners appreciate seeing their choices laid out before they write.

Why should a band list its technical needs openly?

Listing technical needs openly prevents last minute problems with venues, which protect their staff, their power supply and their neighbours from surprises. Venue managers want to know the stage area required, the number of power sockets and any limits on sound levels. A short section on load in times and parking helps the coordinator plan the day around the band. Bands that bring their own lighting can say so, which saves the venue arranging extra equipment. This page is often forwarded straight from the couple to the venue team. Clear requirements make the band look professional before the first note.

Where else does money go besides the hosting fee?

Apart from hosting, a band normally pays just for its web address, picked from roughly 400 endings and renewed annually. Many bands pick a name that matches their social accounts so fans and planners find the same identity everywhere. Bands weighing an upgrade will see a $189 yearly tier listed above the standard plan, with time to compare before choosing. Setlist tips or advice on picking a first dance song can go up as blog posts, each drafted for roughly sixty five cents in AI credits. Uploading new videos and photos needs no outside help, so updates cost nothing extra. Most bands find the total barely moves from one year to the next.

Frequently asked questions

Should a band publish its fees for weddings?

A band can publish a starting fee for each line up while noting that travel and extra sets are quoted separately, which gives couples a realistic picture early. Starting fees stop enquiries from couples whose budget is far below the band's level. Extra hours, a ceremony set or a late finish can be listed as additions with their own prices. The figures can be edited in the preview and changed whenever the band raises its rates. Transparent pricing usually leads to warmer, faster conversations.

Is it worth adding a page of past venues and events?

A page of past venues is worth adding because planners trust a band that has already played rooms like theirs. Naming venues with permission, along with a photo from each event, builds that trust quickly. Short quotes from couples or event organisers add a personal voice to the list. The page also helps the band appear when people search for entertainment at a particular venue. Over time it becomes one of the most persuasive pages on the site.

How many gigs does the website need to earn its keep?

One booked gig is likely to cover a full year of hosting, because $119 is a small slice of what a band earns for a single evening. On the monthly term the cost is $19, which still sits far below the fee for even a short set. Adding new videos after strong performances keeps the site fresh without much effort. Bands curious about how other creative trades present themselves can explore the creative business website builder used by bands and studios section. Every gig after the first adds directly to the band's earnings. A diary full of confirmed dates is what the site exists to deliver.