Basics:
BeatGig is an online marketplace that connects entertainers with clients
Expected pay: You set it
Husl$core: $$$$$
Commissions & fees: None paid by artists; fees are paid by clients
Where: Nationwide
Requirements: Be a performer — musician, comic, speaker — with a strong resume and video clips to share of your act
If you’re a comic, speaker or musician looking for an inexpensive way to advertise your services, you should know about BeatGig. This artist-friendly site can help you connect with venues and organizations looking for entertainment.
What is BeatGig?
Like many online platforms, BeatGig is a marketplace that simply aims to introduce buyers and sellers of a service. In this case, the service is entertainment — singers, bands, comics and speakers — who can perform at bars, restaurants, parties, conventions, colleges and events.
How it works
If you want to sign up as an artist — or as a potential client — you need to register with the site.
For artists, this involves plugging in some basic information and then completing a detailed profile that tells about you and your act. You’ll also be asked to plug in your rates, the dates you’re available and to keep your calendar up-to-date.
This allows venues and other buyers to find you and request bookings.
BeatGig review
The best thing about BeatGig is that it allows artists and entertainers to widely disseminate marketing information about their acts, including videos, reviews and availability. These potential clients pay a fee to search on the site and can contact the artists through the platform.
The only bad thing about BeatGig is that it’s not quite as easy for artists to proactively search for gigs. They can find venues here, with addresses and contact information. But there’s no push notification that says: “These three venues in your area are looking for a Friday night entertainment.”
Price is right
That said, BeatGig charges artists nothing to sign up. The site also doesn’t impose a commission on your pay. Venues and customers pay all the costs of the matchmaking service. Venues and organizations that want to use the site to search for talent pay for a monthly or annual subscription.
A site fee also is added to the cost of the artists services when you’re booked. You, however, get the rate that you set or negotiated with the client.
Comparatively, many other services that aim to help artists book gigs charge artists substantial fees.
Getting booked
When a client asks to book your services here, you deal directly with that client. You can negotiate terms of the deal, including your pay and whether you’ll get reimbursed for travel expenses, cancellations, etc.
BeatGig does not get involved in those negotiations. So you should know that if a venue cancels at the last minute, it is not up to BeatGig to collect a cancellation fee on your behalf. You will need to represent yourself, so pay attention to the terms of the agreements you’re getting into here.
Pay
Artists are generally paid a few days following the gig via direct deposit.
What you get
When you sign up here, you get access to thousands of potential clients, which include bars, restaurants, colleges and college organizations, such as fraternities and sororities. Those potential clients can search for entertainers via genre, location, price or the type of act (i.e. solo performer, band, speaker, etc.).
If you want — and if you have access to one — you are allowed to have your agent manage your calendar and bookings here. But, if you want to handle everything on your own, you also have that ability with BeatGig.
Competition
Know, however, that this site used to be “invitation only,” so you’re competing with some pretty talented artists — including many that you’ll hear on the radio.
That said, these acts are often far too expensive for the small and mid-sized venues that regularly book weekend entertainment here. So there is opportunity for talented artists, whether you’re in a garage band or operate a solo act.
However, it is very important to include video clips of your performances. Many agents who book artists on BeatGig say that they regularly search by genre and location. And then they chose the bands they want by listening to their clips. Put your best foot forward.
Recommendations
If you’re an entertainer of any type, we highly recommend this site. You can sign up with BeatGig here.
Other sites worth considering include StageRush and GigSalad.
What their users say (from Reddit)
If you’re looking for steady gigs, it definitely helps get you booked
BeatGig is legit. I’ve used them before. [They’ll ask for banking information to pay you, and that might sound sketchy.] But I knew the owners of the club that was trying to hire me and everything checked out. I’ve already done a few gigs and got paid out.
My band and I started working with Beatgig a few months ago. We’ve been paid out with zero issues. Honestly, I was hesitant at first but everything has been solid. Even when we discuss our fee, it feels like if you ask for $800, they ask the venue for $880 (or something similar) to cover their cut. Good luck but I think you’re in good hands.
Client perspective
I do marketing & events for a large brewery that has a lot of events, activities, live music, etc. BeatGig is an online ‘marketplace’ of musicians. I’ve used it fairly often. I try to go first to the musicians/singers/bands, because then they don’t need to share a cut. But that being said, I think it’s definitely worthwhile. With BeatGig I got to see and hear a lot of people that I wouldn’t have known about. I regularly search the available people. (Your genre and cover photo and videos are IMPORTANT. If I’m looking for pop or country or reggae, etc ….I type it in to the search bar. When I choose someone I IMMEDIATELY go the the video section to listen.) I base booking on these.
