Hire a band – simple and direct
Looking to hire a band for a party, a company event, a bar or a festival in Sweden? On Booky you find live bands and artists, send your request straight to them, and handle the contract and payment in one place – no agency in between.
Below: how it works, what to think about before you book live music, and what it costs.
Find artists to book · How Booky works · See pricing
How booking on Booky works
- Find artists: search and filter by genre, location, price and availability, and open their profiles for photos, videos, requirements and reviews.
- Send a booking request with the date, time and price. You can send it as a guest without an account, or create a free account.
- Agree on the details in the conversation. Offers are versioned and have a reply deadline, so nothing gets stuck.
- Once you have both accepted, a digital contract is created automatically as a PDF.
- Pay in advance through Stripe. Booky holds the money until the gig has taken place, and payment is due no later than 48 hours before the event.
- After the event you both leave a review, and the artist's fee is paid out.
What to think about when you hire a band
- Playing time and sets: decide how long the band should play, and whether that's one set or several with breaks.
- Sound and equipment: ask what the band brings and what needs to be on site, such as a stage, power and a PA system.
- Genre and audience: pick the repertoire for your guests. A dance band suits a party; something calmer suits dinner.
- Logistics: setting up and soundcheck take time. Make sure the band can get in early and knows where to park, set up and get food and drinks.
- Volume and curfews: check the rules for the venue or location, especially outdoors and late at night.
- Music licensing: when music is played in public, the organiser normally needs a licence, for example from STIM in Sweden. Check what applies to your event.
How much does it cost to book a band?
The artist sets the price, and it depends on things like playing time, the number of performers, travel and equipment. Many artists show their starting price on their profile, and you agree on the final price in the request.
On Booky you pay the artist's price plus a service fee: 100 kr for bookings up to 1,000 kr, otherwise 10% on top of the artist's price. For example, on a 2,000 kr booking you pay 2,200 kr and the artist receives 1,800 kr. There are no monthly fees.
Safe for both sides
Booky has one fixed cancellation policy for every booking, so there's nothing to negotiate:
- Cancel 7 or more days before the event and the artist fee is refunded in full.
- Cancel between 48 hours and 7 days before and 50% of the artist fee is refunded.
- Cancel within 48 hours and nothing is refunded.
- Booky's service fee is not refunded when the person who booked cancels.
- If the artist cancels or doesn't show up, you get all your money back, including the service fee.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I hire a band?
As a rule of thumb, get in touch as soon as your date is set – ideally several months ahead. Popular bands get booked early, especially in summer, during wedding season and before Christmas. If it's sooner than that, ask anyway: artists show their availability on their profiles.
Can I hire a band for a private party without an account?
Yes. Send a booking request as a guest and confirm your email address. When the band replies with their price, you get a link to sign the agreement and pay.
How does payment work?
You pay the full artist fee in advance through Stripe, no later than 48 hours before the event. Booky holds the money until the gig has taken place, and then the fee is paid out to the artist.
What happens if the band cancels?
If the artist cancels or doesn't show up, you get all your money back, including Booky's service fee.
Can I negotiate the price?
Yes. You agree on the details and the price in the request. Once you have both accepted, the contract is created automatically.