Weekend party and event entertainer

Families booking birthday parties, couples planning weddings, pubs and venues, village halls, clubs and local event organisers.

A fee per booking, agreed in advance. Prices vary by act, length of set and event type. Some performers also get tips or repeat bookings through word of mouth.

• A polished act you can repeat reliably
• Confidence in front of an audience
• Basic self-promotion and replying to enquiries

• Public liability insurance, which many venues and event organisers ask to see
• Check whether a venue holds the music licences it needs (PRS and PPL) for live or recorded music, and who is responsible for them
• Check your equipment, such as amplifiers or props, is safe and PAT tested if venues require it
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you start earning, and keep records of income

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £200 to £1,500, depending on your equipment, props, costumes and how much you spend on promotion. Your act and the kit it needs will largely decide where you land in that range.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £150 to £1,200, depending on how often you perform, what you charge and the type of events you win. Treat these as estimates. Most people start at about four hours a week alongside another job.

Check public liability insurance, which many venues ask to see. Also check whether a venue holds the PRS and PPL music licences it needs, whether your equipment must be PAT tested, and how to register as a sole trader with HMRC.