By Noam Bargil, bandleader of Benga Band and founder of RunTheBand. Updated 2026-11-05.
Most pricing advice for wedding bands is written for couples: "expect to pay between X and Y". This guide is for the other side of the table. If you run the band, your price has to cover every musician, the van, the PA, the hours you spend on email, and still leave a margin. Here is the method I use for Benga Band, a 6-piece party band in Amsterdam that has played 85+ weddings and corporate events.
Looking at competitors tells you what the market accepts. It does not tell you whether you make money. Build your floor price first, then compare.
For one gig, add up:
The sum is your floor. Below it you lose money, so never discount past it.
This is roughly how a 6-piece evening set for a wedding near Amsterdam adds up. Treat the numbers as an illustration of the method, not a rate card.
| Cost line | Amount |
|---|---|
| 6 musicians | your agreed fee per musician x 6 |
| Travel (2 cars, fuel, parking) | 120 |
| PA and lights wear | 150 |
| Admin (6 hours at your hourly rate) | 6 x your rate |
| Margin | 15 to 25 percent on top |
When we run those numbers for Benga with our real fees, the full band lands from €3,000 for a standard evening at a wedding. Corporate events, with longer days, more travel or bigger stages, sit between €5,000 and €10,000. Each extra musician (horns, percussion, a second singer) adds about €500.
Your numbers will be different. The point is that each line is written down, so when a couple asks for a discount you know exactly what you are giving away.
Couples compare bands on value, not only on the number. A few things that help:
For a professional party band of 5 or 6 musicians, a standard wedding evening usually starts around €3,000, and bigger lineups or corporate days run from €5,000 to €10,000. The exact price depends on lineup size, set length, travel and production.
Build the price per musician, then present one total to the client. That way adding a sax player or swapping in a dep never breaks your margin.
Only above your floor price, and only in exchange for something: a weekday date, a short set, a quick decision, or extra value instead of a lower price, such as a free extra set or video.
Most bands ask 25 to 50 percent when the contract is signed. We use 40 percent at signing and 60 percent a week before the event. See how much deposit to take.
RunTheBand keeps your musician fees, travel and margin per gig, and turns them into a package offer the client accepts online. See how it works or compare it with other band software.