Musician: what to know

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

What musician is

A musician provides live music for ceremonies, dinners, parties and lessons, playing solo or in a small group on instruments that suit the setting. People hire one when they want live music that fits the mood of the event without a full band.

Signs you need it

  • You want live music for a ceremony, a dinner or a reception but a full band is more than you need
  • You want a particular instrument, such as guitar, flute or saxophone, featured at your event
  • The venue is small or formal and needs background music that stays quiet
  • You are planning a memorial, a celebration or a family gathering that calls for a personal touch
  • You want music to fill the time during guest arrival or cocktail hour
  • You want someone who can play a range of requests from classical to popular songs

What the pro does

  • Asks about the event's setting, timing, music style and any songs you want included
  • Chooses a repertoire that suits the moments you need covered, such as arrival, dinner or a ceremony
  • Arrives with the instrument, any stand or amplifier, and sets up in the space you chose
  • Performs at the times you agreed and keeps volume at the level the room needs
  • Takes a request when it fits the repertoire and the moment
  • Packs up the instrument 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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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 or moments covered
  • Instrument type and whether the musician needs amplification
  • Whether you want background music, a featured piece or both
  • Whether you need the musician to bring amplification or the venue provides power and a sound system
  • Special arrangements or songs the musician needs to learn
  • Whether the musician plays the ceremony, the reception or both
  • Number of musicians if you book a small group rather than a soloist

What a written quote should spell out

  • Instrument or instruments the musician will play
  • Start and end time, and the number of sets
  • Background or featured moments and the songs for each
  • Equipment, stands or amplifiers the musician brings and what the venue must provide
  • Setup and arrival time
  • How requests are handled and what happens if the musician cannot attend

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What instrument or instruments will you play, and do you bring your own equipment?
  • Can you play background music at a low volume for dinner?
  • Can I hear a recording of you playing in a similar setting?
  • Which songs can you play from memory, and which need sheet music from me?
  • How far in advance do you need the song list?
  • What happens if you are sick on the day?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers you and your equipment?

Red flags

  • They cannot tell you what they will play for each part of the event
  • They only share recordings from a studio and none from live events
  • They will not confirm the instrument or the equipment they bring
  • They say they can play any song without checking the sheet music or the key
  • They will not confirm the setup time or the venue needs in writing

What you can do yourself

You can list the songs you want played, the moments that need music and the volume you prefer. You can also check the venue for a quiet corner, an outlet if amplification is needed and a clear path for the musician to set up. Hire a musician for the playing and the set flow, since performing at the right volume for a room while guests talk takes experience.

Licenses and permits

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

Musician questions

Does a musician need a license?

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

Can a musician play a ceremony and a reception?

Many can. Ask whether the price covers both and whether the musician has separate sets for the ceremony and reception.

What should I give the musician before the event?

The song list, the order of the moments, the venue contact and any sheet music or recordings you want the musician to learn.

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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