How to calculate and split gig income
The gig pays $500. The room cost $40, the drummer bought petrol and the guitarist paid for dinner. Here's how to split it fairly.
Start with the gross income
The gross is what the venue pays you. If the gig pays $500, that's your gross. Write it down before anyone takes a cut.
If you get paid in cash, count it on the night. If you get paid by bank transfer, record it when the money arrives.
Subtract band expenses
Before anyone takes their share, subtract the expenses the band incurred for the gig. Common gig expenses include: rehearsal room (if you rehearsed for this show), petrol and parking, equipment hire, merch production and rider supplies.
Track who paid for each expense so you can reimburse them before splitting the remaining amount.
Reimburse who paid for what
If the drummer paid $40 for petrol and the guitarist paid $30 for parking, reimburse them from the gross before splitting the profit. They fronted the money—they should get it back.
After reimbursements, the remaining amount is the band's profit to split.
Decide on a split method
There are several common ways to split gig income:
Equal split: Every member gets the same amount, regardless of role. This is the simplest and most common for bands where everyone contributes equally.
Equal split with bandleader premium: The bandleader takes an extra share for booking the gig, coordinating the band and handling the admin.
Pay-per-role: Different roles get different amounts—e.g., the frontperson gets more than the backing musician.
Choose a method before the gig, not after. Talking about money after the show is how bands break up.
Track everything in one place
A spreadsheet works, but it's easy to forget to update. A finance tracker that lives in the same app as your gigs is better because you can record income and expenses right after the show.
The Band Planned has a built-in finance tracker where you can log income by source, expenses by category and who paid for what. Every member can see the records, so there's no confusion at payout time.
Example: a $500 gig
Gross: $500
Expenses: Petrol $40 (drummer paid) + Parking $30 (guitarist paid) + Rehearsal room $40 (bassist paid) = $110
Reimbursements: Drummer gets $40, guitarist gets $30, bassist gets $40
Profit to split: $500 - $110 = $390
Equal split for a 4-piece: $390 / 4 = $97.50 each
Total paid out: $110 (reimbursements) + $390 (splits) = $500
FAQ
Should we pay deps the same as full members?
That's up to the band. Some bands pay deps a flat fee; others split equally. Decide before the gig and communicate it clearly.
What if the gig loses money?
If the gig pays less than the expenses, the band absorbs the loss. Decide in advance whether losses are split equally or covered by the bandleader.
Related features
Band Finance Tracker
Track gig income, expenses and who paid for what. A simple band finance tracker built for working musicians. 14-day free trial—no card required.
Gig Management Software
Gig management software that keeps every show organised—from load-in to performance times, pay, venue details and member RSVPs. 14-day free trial—no card required.
Band Management Software
Band management software that keeps gigs, rehearsals, availability, finances and venue outreach in one shared workspace. Start a 14-day free trial—no card required.
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