What is a live performance agreement?
A live performance agreement (often called a performance contract or gig contract) confirms that an act will play at a particular event and what each side is responsible for: when the act loads in and plays, who provides the sound system, what the act needs on stage and backstage, the fee and when it is paid, and what happens if the show can't go ahead.
This template covers the line-up and substitutes, load-in, soundcheck and set times, stage, sound and technical needs, shelter for outdoor shows, weather and electrical safety, venue licensing, hospitality, the fee, deposit and balance, travel, extra time, merchandise, recording and livestreaming, publicity, safety and conduct, cancellation by either side, and liability. You choose who runs the sound, the recording rule and the balance due date; VergeHR places both signatures, dates, job titles and initials.
- Best for
- Bands, solo musicians, singers, entertainers and the venues, promoters and clients who book them
- Signed by
- The performer (or the person who signs for the act) and the client
- Recording
- Choose from three rules — personal clips only, client promotional use, or no recording
- Length
- About 3 pages, initialled on every page
When to Use a live performance agreement
- A wedding band confirming a reception booking
- A venue or promoter booking an act for a ticketed show
- A company booking a jazz trio or string quartet for a corporate dinner
- A festival or summer party booking an outdoor performance
- A magician, comedian or other entertainer booked for a private event
What You Fill In
24 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: performer, client.
1 The parties
- Performer or act name*
- Line-up
- Performer phone or email
- Client (person, venue or promoter)*
- Client contact on the day
2 The show
- Event*
- Performance date*
- Venue name and address*
- Load-in and soundcheck from*
- Performance times*
- Performance space* indoors · outdoors
3 Production
- Sound system and engineer* the Performer brings its own PA and runs the sound · the Client provides the PA and a sound engineer · the venue's house PA and engineer are used
- Technical needs
- Hospitality
- Recording and streaming* Guests may take personal photos and short clips. No full recording or livestream without the Performer's written consent. · The Client may record the performance for its own private use and post short clips to promote the event, but not sell or broadcast it. · No recording or livestreaming at all, apart from guests' personal photos.
4 Fee and payment
- Currency*
- Performance fee*
- Travel and accommodation
- Deposit to secure the date*
- Balance due* 7 days before the performance · 14 days before the performance · on the day, before the first set · within 7 days after the performance
- Extra time per 30 minutes
- Merchandise* The Performer may not sell merchandise at the event. · The Performer may sell its own merchandise at the event and keeps all proceeds.
5 Cancellation
- Full fee payable if the Client cancels fewer than (days before)*
6 Other terms
- Governing law*
7 Who signs
- Performer signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The band, musician or entertainer, or the person who signs for the act.
- Client signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The person, venue or promoter booking the performance.
What the live performance agreement Covers
- The show
- Stage, sound and technical needs
- Hospitality
- Fee and payment
- Recording and publicity
- Safety and conduct
- Cancellation
- Liability and general
Using the live performance agreement, step by step
1 Name the act and the show
Enter the act's name and line-up, the event, date and venue, load-in time and the sets (for example two 45-minute sets). Say whether the performance is indoors or outdoors.
2 Agree sound and the rider
Choose who provides the PA and engineer — the act, the client or the venue — and list technical and hospitality needs. These become the client's obligations in the agreement.
3 Set the money
Enter the fee, deposit and when the balance is due, any travel and accommodation arrangement, a rate for extra time if you offer it, and whether you may sell merchandise.
4 Pick the recording rule and send
Choose how the show may be recorded or streamed, set the late-cancellation window, add the client as signer and send. The signed copy is filed in Files.
Tips Before You Send It
- Put the essentials of your technical and hospitality rider — stage size, power, sound, meals — in the Technical needs and Hospitality boxes. Only what is written in the agreement is part of what the client signs.
- For outdoor shows, the template lets the act delay or stop if weather or electrics make it unsafe, without reducing the fee. Make sure the client knows this before signing.
- If you want to use recordings yourself, agree it separately — the template's options control what the client and guests may do.
- The act is described as an independent contractor responsible for paying its own members; check local rules if you are booking performers regularly.
Sign It Online In Minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Live performance agreement: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a performance agreement and a rider?
The performance agreement is the contract: who, when, where and how much. The rider lists the act's technical and hospitality needs. This template puts the key rider items in the agreement itself, so the client signs up to them.
Who is responsible for music licensing at the venue?
It depends on where the show takes place. The template says the client makes sure any licence required for the performance is in place, unless you agree otherwise.
What happens if the act has to cancel?
The performer tells the client as soon as possible and may offer a replacement act for the client to accept or reject. If the client does not accept one, all payments are refunded in full.
Is a performance contract signed electronically binding?
In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an ordinary services contract like this one. VergeHR keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF as evidence of who signed and when.
Can I change the wording?
You fill in the blanks and choose the options on the setup page; optional clauses appear only when you fill them in. If you need different clauses, draft your own document and upload it to VergeHR eSignature instead — you can still place the signature boxes in the editor.
Is this template free?
Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in VergeHR. The person you send it to doesn't need a VergeHR login to sign.