How Much Do Live Musicians Cost?
Considering hiring live musicians for your event but not sure what would fit within your budget? Luckily, live music comes in many different shapes and sizes, so we could easily sort you out with something that both fits your perfect vibe and, most importantly, within budget!
Bookings are not priced at an hourly rate - there is a certain flat fee for the booking, then it goes up incrementally with extra time. Keep scrolling for some examples of typical quotes…
Strings
Below is a list of our typical quotes for live musician bookings. These will vary from enquiry to enquiry based on location, line-up and if they are at particularly short notice…etc. but these should give you some good ideas to factor into your budget!
String groups are by far our most common bookings. To learn a bit more, have a read of our comprehensive guide on booking your string quartet here.
1 hour 2 hours + travel expenses
String quartet £560 £675 £40
String trio £495 £560 £40
String duo £400 £485 £20
Acoustic soloist £230 £280 £15
Really like the idea of a string quartet but just can’t stretch your budget that far? A trio is a great compromise to consider, with only one less player the sound they can give is a little less full, but can deliver a very similar experience. To get an idea for the differences between quartet and trio have a listen to our in-house MSH Quartet and Trio promo videos below…
MSH string trio
MSH string quartet
We have our own extensive and varied library of sheet music for string quartet or trio which can be viewed here. All of our groups have access to our library and if you have any requests not on there let us know and we’ll have a search for the sheet music!
Interested in adding a PA system or specifying an electric strings group? Let us know and we can work that into your quote.
Jazz
In a close second place to strings, our next most common bookings are for jazz musicians. Have a listen to some of our groups on our samples page here.
1 hour 2 hours + travel expenses
Jazz quartet £645 £745 £40
Jazz trio £530 £640 £40
Jazz duo £485 £545 £30
Jazz soloist £270 £325 £20
Jazz ensembles are our most flexible in terms of line-up so we can work around your preference! A common trio line-up would be sax, bass and drums - perhaps swapping in a guitar or singer - whereas the duo could be sax and drums / guitar / keyboard.
Harpists / guitarists / pianists
1 hour 2 hours + travel expenses
Harpist £350 £400 £20
Guitarist £300 £350 £15
Pianist £270 £325 £15 / £20 (do they need a keyboard, is parking available?)
Have a listen to some of our harpists and other soloists on our samples pages here and here.
Singers / bands
Singer and band bookings are slightly different to our other musicians, as they tend to be more of a personal selection / bespoke booking.
Here are some typical quotes: -
1 hour 2 hours + travel expenses
Singer £395 £495 £20
Band – for a 4-piece band for an evening, providing lights, PA system, 2 hours of live music and a party playlist to play in between their sets would be around £1395 (+ £50 travel).
You can see our singers on our sample page here and our bands here. When enquiring let us know who in particular you are interested in and what timings in the day you would need them, then we can find out their availability and exact quote for you!
Fancy something a little different? We have some especially unique acts showcased on our specialist acts page here.
Some frequently asked questions…
Does my booking include set up and pack down time?
Set up and pack down time is not included in the booking timings. Your musicians will arrive about 30 mins before to set up in time to begin playing at specified time and will pack down after they have finished playing.
Why are certain line-ups / acts more expensive than others?
Different expenses need to be factored into the fee which vary by instrument / line-up and individual acts have their own specific requirements to cover.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
We request 50% to confirm the booking with the balance due 1 business day afterward. If you would like to settle before then that would be no problem at all, just let us know! Bookings made close to the date may need full payment for confirmation.
If I refer a friend, can I have a discount?
Yes! We do offer a referral discount of £25 on both bookings when you refer a friend and they also book with us. Every little counts!
If you’re still unsure of what options would be a good idea for your particular event, just drop us an enquiry - we’re happy to have a chat!
This pricing used in this article is accurate as of February 2023.