Weekly rock club night in a rented room

Fans paying at the door or online, plus the host venue sharing bar takings or paying a fee on quiet nights.

Door or ticket income and an agreed share of bar sales, after paying bands, sound tech, promotion and any room fee.

• Booking bands and negotiating fees
• Social media promotion
• Organising and running the door
• Building relationships with venue owners

• Check who holds the liquor licence and whether your night needs its own permit or just the host's, as rules vary by province
• Check public liability insurance, since many hosts will ask for proof of cover
• Check music licensing responsibility (SOCAN and similar) with the host venue
• Written agreement with the venue on split, capacity, curfews and who pays for sound and security
• Weak turnout can leave you paying bands out of pocket, so set fees you can cover
• Winter weather can hit turnout

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the band fees you set and how much you spend on promotion and sound. Set fees you can cover, since weak turnout could leave you paying bands out of pocket.

Check who holds the liquor licence and whether your night needs its own permit, whether you need public liability insurance, who is responsible for music licensing such as SOCAN, and get a written agreement with the venue covering split, capacity, curfews, sound and security.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on turnout, door takings and your share of the bar. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week, and winter weather can affect attendance.