855 original artists are available to book, with 980 reviews from real clients rating performances 5 out of 5. The category is defined by the material rather than the format: it takes in singer-songwriters and singing guitarists, original bands across rock, indie, folk, jazz and soul, rappers and hip hop artists, and DJ-producers who play their own tracks, most of whom also cover other people's songs when the event calls for it.
Booking fees start from $100 for a solo acoustic set and most bookings sit around $350, with the size of the act, the length of the set and the act's profile setting the level.
An originals act is booked for its own songs, which makes it a different proposition from a cover band hired to play the hits. The largest groups here are singer-songwriters and singing guitarists working solo or as a duo, then original bands, then rappers and hip hop artists; some have released records and play festivals, and others are working musicians with a handful of their own songs inside a covers set. The profile, and the audio and video on it, tell you which.
Original acts suit the parts of an event where people listen: a drinks reception, a dinner, a festival slot, a product launch or a showcase where the music is meant to be noticed rather than provide a backdrop. They are a riskier choice for a dancefloor, because guests dance to songs they know, so for a wedding party ask how much of the set is covers and whether the act will learn a first-dance song or a request. Where the brief is background music with nothing riding on it, an acoustic duo playing standards is usually the safer booking.
Starting prices are shown on each profile and the results can be sorted by price, which is the quickest way to find the cheapest acts to book in a given area. The spread is wide: a solo acoustic set at the bottom, a band with its own sound engineer higher up, and an act with a following charging for the name as well as the set. Ask what the fee includes, because a PA, travel and a sound check on the day are the usual extras, and confirm set lengths, since originals acts often play shorter sets than a covers band.
Fees run from $100 to $1,400+, with most bookings around $350. The size of the act sets the level first, the length of the set second, and profile last: a name that draws its own crowd is priced accordingly.
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