Simple, transparent pricing — no surprises
GigNVenue is free to browse and free to list. We only earn when everyone wins — artists pay a small 5% fee at booking, venues retain 95% of their nightly rate after a successful show plays off. No dark nights, no upfront costs, no subscription fees.
One platform. Two types of users. Zero monthly fees.
For artists & bookers
Browse every venue, message hosts, and submit booking requests at no cost. You only pay when a venue approves your request.
- Unlimited venue browsing
- Free booking requests
- Direct messaging with hosts
- Booking history & dashboard
- Secure your venue with 20% down
- 5% artist fee on confirmation only
For venue owners & hosts
List your venue, manage your calendar, and approve bookings — all completely free. No subscription, no upfront cost — ever. You only contribute after we deliver.
- Unlimited venue listings
- Full booking management dashboard
- Integrated availability calendar
- Direct artist messaging
- Hold priority system for multiple requests
- 5% on a played-off show — only a quarter of the deposit, your 80% is yours
A real example, so you know exactly what to expect
An artist made a request and you confirmed it. That kicks off this payment flow (shown here for a venue with a $750 rate for that night).
The agreed nightly rate, as seen on the venue profile before booking. Both fees are calculated as a percentage of this number.
20% of the nightly rate, held securely by GigNVenue. Returned to the artist if the venue cancels, or released to the venue after a successful show — venues retain 95% of this amount.
5% of the nightly rate paid by the artist at confirmation. Covers secure payment processing, deposit management, direct messaging, and platform support.
We only win when you do
No subscriptions
There are no monthly fees, annual plans, or tiered access levels. The full platform is available to every artist and venue owner at no ongoing cost.
Success, not surprises
Find your stage. Make your move. Pay only on success. With numbers you've already seen, the 5% booking fee only applies when a venue confirms — declined or walked away, you owe nothing.
Deposits protect everyone
Holding the artist's deposit until after the event creates real accountability on both sides — venues get security, artists get confidence their deposit is safe.
Venues pay only after a successful show
No listing fee. No upfront costs. Venues pay a 5% booking fee, deducted from the deposit release — only when a show successfully plays off. No dark nights, no surprise bills.
Everything you want to know about fees
The artist's booking fee is in addition to the venue's listed price. When you browse a venue listed at $750/night, you'll pay a 20% deposit ($150) plus a non-refundable 5% artist booking fee ($38) at booking. The venue contributes their own 5% only after a show successfully plays off — so the cost is shared fairly between both parties at 5% each, and venues never pay anything upfront.
Deposit refund eligibility depends on when the cancellation occurs and the venue's cancellation policy. Generally, if the venue cancels, your deposit is returned to you. If the artist cancels, it depends on the venue's terms — a full, partial, or no refund may apply based on factors like proximity to the booked date. We recommend reviewing each venue's cancellation terms before confirming — they're displayed clearly on every venue profile.
Payment is only triggered when a venue host approves your booking request. Once approved, we'll send a payment link right to you and you'll have 48 hours to complete that payment to lock in your date. If payment isn't completed within that window, the approval expires and the date becomes available again.
The booking fees (5% from artist + 5% from venue) cover secure payment processing via Stripe (including all processing fees), platform infrastructure, customer support, and ongoing product development. The split structure means both sides contribute a fair share — no one side shoulders the platform's full cost. We're here to bridge the gap, open the gates, and work toward our mission of "no dark nights."
Most artists recoup their venue cost — and then some — through ticket sales, cover charges, or a door deal arranged directly with the venue. Merch sales add another revenue stream on the night. Many artists treat the venue rate as a cost of doing business, similar to production or travel costs, and factor it into their ticket pricing. The stronger your draw, the more a booked date pays for itself. Venues also typically retain bar revenue as part of the arrangement — meaning your crowd keeps the venue thriving too. A full room benefits everyone. Now that's Gig'n.
Ready to get started?
Browse venues and submit requests for free — or list your venue in under 10 minutes. No credit card required to start.