Small Orchestra or String Ensemble for Events

Couples planning weddings, companies holding events, hotels, galleries, restaurants, museums and community organizations.

A fixed fee per booking based on group size and performance length. You pay the musicians per job and keep the difference, plus extras like custom song requests or sound setup.

• Strong musicianship or a good network of players
• Organizing schedules and rehearsals
• Friendly, professional dealings with clients
• Basic selling and marketing

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether venues ask for proof of cover
• Whether hired musicians count as contractors or employees, check Canada Revenue Agency guidance
• Who holds the music performance licences (such as SOCAN), as venues often do, but check for each booking
• Check typical local rates, including any musicians' union scales, before setting prices
• Bookings are seasonal: weddings cluster in summer and corporate events around December

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on your instruments, music, marketing and insurance. Check typical local rates, including any musicians' union scales, before setting your prices.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many bookings you win and your group size. Bookings are seasonal, with weddings clustering in summer and corporate events around December.

Check commercial general liability insurance and whether venues want proof of cover. Also check whether hired musicians count as contractors or employees using Canada Revenue Agency guidance, and who holds music performance licences such as SOCAN for each booking.