Guitarist: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What guitarist is

A guitarist plays acoustic or electric guitar for events, restaurants and ceremonies, performing background or featured music in the genres you like. People book one when they want a relaxed, personal sound for a dinner, a ceremony or a party.

Signs you need it

  • You want live guitar music for a dinner, a cocktail hour or a ceremony
  • You want a featured song, such as a first dance or a serenade, played on guitar
  • Your venue is small or casual and suits a single instrument
  • You want a particular genre, such as folk, rock or fingerstyle, played live
  • You want music that stays quiet while guests talk and then picks up for a moment
  • You want an acoustic setup that is easy to set up in a restaurant or garden

What the pro does

  • Asks about the setting, the moments that need music and the songs you like
  • Builds a repertoire of songs for background and featured moments
  • Arrives with the guitar, a stand and any amplifier needed, then tests the sound
  • Plays background sets during arrival or dinner and featured songs at the times agreed
  • Takes requests that fit the repertoire and the moment
  • Packs up the guitar and equipment at the end of the event

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the performance and the number of sets
  • Whether the guitarist plays acoustic, electric or both
  • Whether an amplifier and speaker are needed for the room
  • Whether the guitarist brings their own amplifier and cables
  • Special songs or arrangements the guitarist must learn
  • Whether the guitarist plays a ceremony, a reception or both
  • Whether a vocalist or second musician joins the performance

What a written quote should spell out

  • Start and end time, and the number of sets
  • Background and featured moments with the songs for each
  • Whether the guitar is acoustic or electric, and what amplification is included
  • Equipment the venue must provide, such as power or a speaker
  • Setup and teardown times
  • What happens if the guitarist cannot attend

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you play acoustic or electric guitar, and do you bring your own amplifier?
  • Can you play background music quietly for dinner, and then play a featured song?
  • Can I hear a recording of you playing live in a setting like mine?
  • Which songs can you play from memory, and which do you need a chart or recording for?
  • How do you handle requests for songs you do not know?
  • Do you bring your own amp and cables, or do you need power and a sound system at the venue?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers your guitar and any amplifier?

Red flags

  • They cannot name the genres they play or the songs they know well
  • Their recordings are not from live events in a setting like yours
  • They say they will learn any song with no time limit
  • They will not confirm whether they bring amplification
  • They do not ask about the volume the room needs or whether the venue has power

What you can do yourself

You can list the songs you want, the moments that need music and the volume you prefer. You can also check the venue for power, a quiet corner and a clear spot for the guitarist to set up. Hire a guitarist for the playing, the volume balance and the set flow, since guitar sound changes a lot with the room and the crowd.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for a guitarist, so ask for proof of liability insurance and references from similar events instead. Venues often handle public performance licensing for recorded music, so confirm with the venue who covers it and check local noise rules with your state or local licensing agency.

Guitarist questions

Does a guitarist need a license?

Usually not a state license. Ask for insurance and references, and check with the venue about music licensing and noise limits.

Can a guitarist also sing?

Many can. Ask whether the guitarist sings, and whether the price covers vocals or only instrumental music.

What should I send the guitarist before the event?

A list of songs you want, songs to avoid, the timeline for the moments and any chord sheet or recording the guitarist needs to learn a special song.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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