Weekend event entertainer

Families booking birthday parties, couples planning weddings, workplaces holding staff events, and community groups, bars and festivals.

A fee per booking, usually set by the length of the show. Add-ons like travel, extra hours or custom material can raise the price.

• A polished act you can repeat reliably
• Confidence in front of a crowd
• Basic self-promotion and booking admin

• Commercial general liability insurance, which many venues ask to see
• Music licensing: venues often hold the licences for performing music, but check with the venue or the relevant Canadian licensing bodies if you play recorded or cover music
• Check whether your municipality requires a business licence for a home-based business
• Register for GST/HST once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and keep records for income tax
• Winter weather and slow seasons can affect bookings, especially for outdoor events

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on the kind of act, your equipment and how much you spend on promotion. Many performers start small and add gear as bookings come in.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $1,800, depending on how many bookings you take and what you charge. Winter weather and slow seasons can affect bookings, especially for outdoor events.

Things to check: commercial general liability insurance, which many venues ask to see; music licensing if you play recorded or cover music; and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence. Also check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.