Live Band Pricing and Costs
What does a professional live band cost for a wedding, ball, gala, corporate event or Christmas party? For a full-evening event, The Jetset Society usually sits between approx. €2,600 and €7,800; smaller jazz, lounge and dinner lineups from 3 musicians start at approx. €2,300. Where a booking lands within that range comes down to the lineup, how long we play, the venue, the technical setup and travel. The Jetset Society gives you transparent pricing guidance – with flexible lineups, technical setup, preparation, logistics and reliable delivery. If you are looking to hire a live band in Vienna, Lower Austria or Burgenland, this page sets out clear guide prices for every band size.
Jump to: How it works · FAQ · Enquiry
How much should you budget?
Pricing and costs at a glance
Most evening bookings with The Jetset Society land between approx. €2,600 and €7,800 – the range that applies to weddings, balls, galas, corporate events, Christmas parties and private celebrations with live music through the evening. Smaller jazz, lounge and dinner lineups from 3 musicians start at approx. €2,300.
- A full-evening booking with The Jetset Society usually costs approx. €2,600 to €7,800; smaller jazz, lounge and dinner lineups from 3 musicians start at approx. €2,300.
- At The Jetset Society, the single biggest factor in the price of live band hire is how many musicians play.
- A larger lineup brings a fuller sound, more voices, stronger stage presence and more of a show.
- The fee covers far more than the time you see on stage: preparation, technical setup, soundcheck, logistics and working through the running order all sit behind it.
- The final quote follows from event type, venue, performance time, technical setup, lineup and the impact you want.
- These figures assume a realistic evening: arrival in the early evening, setup and soundcheck, live music across several sets, then teardown and the journey home.
- Shorter shows, daytime events, longer performance times, several performance areas and special setups or technical requirements are costed individually.
What this includes
A standard full-evening booking covers arrival, setup, soundcheck, the live set itself, teardown and the journey home; travel is listed as a separate item in the quote.
What changes the price
Lineup size, performance time, venue, technical setup, travel and how many parts of the event need music are what move the figure most.
What to send us
Date, venue, event type, guest numbers and a rough running order are enough for a first recommendation.
Guide prices by occasion
| Occasion | Recommended lineup | Pricing guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding | 5 to 7 musicians | approx. €2,900–5,400 |
| Corporate event | 5 to 8 musicians | approx. €2,900–6,000 |
| Party (birthday, anniversary, private celebration) | 5 to 9 musicians | approx. €2,900–6,600 |
| Christmas party and year-end celebration | 5 to 8 musicians | approx. €2,900–6,000 |
| Ball (including graduation balls / Maturaball) | 6 to 11 musicians | approx. €3,400–7,800 |
| Gala | 5 to 10 musicians | approx. €2,900–7,200 |
| Trade fair | 4 musicians on the stand, 6 to 8 in the evening or at the trade-fair party | costed individually on the stand, approx. €3,400–6,000 in the evening or at the trade-fair party |
| Wedding ceremony | 2 to 4 musicians | costed individually |
| Agape and drinks reception | 4 to 6 musicians | costed individually |
| Jazz, lounge and dinner | 3 to 5 musicians | approx. €2,300–4,200 |
| New Year’s Eve | 6 to 10 musicians | approx. €3,400–7,200 |
These are guide prices rather than fixed rates. Whether an amount is gross or net is stated in the individual quote. What we quote follows the event as it is actually planned – the schedule, the venue, travel, technical setup, performance time, season and any extras. The figure for each occasion is worked out from the guide prices for each lineup size listed under Detailed guide prices further down this page. The wedding ceremony, the agape (the Austrian post-ceremony drinks) and the performance on the trade fair stand are costed individually according to performance time.
Build your lineup
Move the slider. All figures are approximate.
Every lineup – what it is made up of, the space required and the guide price – is set out just below under “Detailed guide prices”, and the guide prices by occasion, with the recommended lineup, are further up; there is more on each lineup on the Lineups page.
Detailed guide prices
| Lineup | Instruments and voices | Space required (guide figure) | Pricing guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event band | |||
| 4 musicians (quartet) | The event band’s core lineup: keyboard, bass, drums and vocals, with a female or a male singer – in principle it can play every song on the repertoire list. | approx. 10 m² | approx. €2,600–3,600 |
| 5 musicians (quintet) | The core lineup plus 1 musician chosen for the occasion: another voice, guitar or a horn player (saxophone, trumpet or trombone) – in the event band, horns are an option from 5 musicians. | approx. 13 m² | approx. €2,900–4,200 |
| 6 musicians (sextet) | The core lineup plus 2 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination. | approx. 16 m² | approx. €3,400–4,800 |
| 7 musicians (septet) | The core lineup plus 3 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination. | approx. 19 m² | approx. €3,800–5,400 |
| 8 musicians (octet) | The core lineup plus 4 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination. | approx. 22 m² | approx. €4,200–6,000 |
| 9 musicians | The core lineup plus 5 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination. | approx. 25 m² | approx. €4,600–6,600 |
| 10 musicians | The core lineup plus 6 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination. | approx. 28 m² | approx. €4,900–7,200 |
| 11 musicians | The core lineup plus 7 musicians chosen for the occasion, in any combination – the largest lineup. | approx. 31 m² | approx. €5,400–7,800 |
| Jazz lineups | |||
| 3 musicians (trio) | Instrumental jazz trio: piano, double bass and drums, with a setlist chosen for jazz, lounge and dinner. | approx. 7 m² | from approx. €2,300 |
| 4 musicians (jazz quartet) | The jazz trio plus saxophone (our recommendation) or vocals. | approx. 10 m² | approx. €2,600–3,600 |
| 5 musicians (jazz quintet) | The jazz trio plus saxophone and vocals. | approx. 13 m² | approx. €2,900–4,200 |
| Wedding ceremony (ceremony only) | |||
| 2 musicians (duo) | A singer and a keyboard player – or two string players. | approx. 4 m² | wedding ceremony only, costed individually |
| 3 to 5 string players | A pure string lineup: string trio, string quartet or 5 string players. | approx. 7, 10 or 13 m² | wedding ceremony only, costed individually |
Every occasion can be booked in any lineup size from 4 to 11 musicians – from smaller weddings, receptions, private celebrations and smaller corporate events to larger corporate events and large occasions with a powerful live sound. More musicians mean a fuller sound, more voices and more stage presence – so the more guests and the larger the room, the more we would lean towards a bigger lineup. The lineup we recommend for each occasion is in the table “Guide prices by occasion” further up this page. The guide prices in this table apply to full-evening performances; the wedding ceremony (string lineups included), the agape and the performance on the trade fair stand are costed individually. The space required is a guide figure rather than a fixed requirement – in our experience the band finds room in tighter spaces too.
Jazz, lounge and dinner settings can also be planned in smaller or more specialised formations from 3 musicians. These are costed separately according to lineup, performance time, venue and technical setup; the guide price starts at approx. €2,300. There is more on where smaller lineups work on the Jazz, Lounge and Hotels page, and a fuller picture of the wedding market in the guide What does a wedding band cost?
What is included in a live band’s price?
Live performance
Live music from the lineup you have booked: professional musicians, voices, instruments, repertoire and stage presence.
Preparation
Musical phases, style, song requests, songs to avoid, the first dance, the sets and the running order are all agreed in advance with you, the venue or your planning team. Anything from the repertoire list is included; a song learned specially from outside it appears in your quote as an extra service.
Booking coordination
We hold the date, handle communication, the quote and the contract, put the lineup together and take care of the booking details and organisational coordination in advance.
Sound and lighting
We bring our own sound and lighting system – PA system (the speakers the guests hear), mixing desk, microphones, monitoring (what the musicians hear themselves through), lighting, cables and stands – up to a certain room size and itemise it separately in your quote. Where the venue already has a suitable system we are asked to use, that item is dropped. Setup, soundcheck and teardown are included in the price.
Setup, soundcheck and teardown
Load-in, setup, soundcheck, teardown and the long stretch of time on site around them are all part of the job. The working day starts a long time before the first song and only ends once everything is packed down and loaded and the band is on its way.
Travel and logistics
Transport for musicians, instruments and equipment, load-in routes, several vehicles and the logistics behind them appear in the quote as a single travel item; parking, tolls, catering and any overnight stay are added separately where needed. The Jetset Society plays mainly in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland – and travels anywhere in Austria on request.
Repertoire materials
Depending on the programme and what you ask for, sheet music, arrangements (our own written versions of the songs, with every instrument’s part worked out in advance), transcriptions (writing a song down by ear from a recording), transpositions (moving a song into a key that suits the singer) and special charts can all form part of the preparation; this ongoing work is included in the price.
Time on site
Speeches, interludes, changeovers, waiting times and programme items do not automatically reduce the workload: the lineup and the equipment stay tied up on site.
Reliable delivery
The Jetset Society quotes for the event as one complete professional service: planning you can rely on, clear communication and a lineup that fits the occasion.
Why the number of musicians drives the price
The biggest cost factor
Musicians’ fees are the largest single cost in a professional live band. Every additional player adds artistic value, and with it preparation, coordination, technical setup, space and logistics.
More sound, more show, more flexibility
At the same time, the musical effect grows with the lineup: more vocalists, more instruments, horns, more dynamics, multi-part vocals, stronger stage presence and more scope to cover the different phases of the event.
Which factors influence the price?
Lineup size
The number of musicians has the biggest impact on the price. A smaller lineup feels elegant and compact, while larger lineups open up a fuller sound and more stage impact.
Performance time & time on site
It is not only the performance time that counts, but the whole stretch on site: setup, soundcheck, breaks, programme items, waiting times, changeovers, teardown and the journey home.
Event type
A wedding with ceremony, dinner and party is planned quite differently from a ball, gala, corporate event, Christmas party or an understated dinner setup.
Technical setup
How much technical work is involved depends on the number of guests, room size, volume, existing infrastructure, stage, outdoor areas, several rooms and any special requirements of the venue.
Travel & logistics as a price factor
Location, load-in routes, parking, vehicles, tolls, late finishes and possible overnight stays can all change the workload.
Special requests
Songs learned specially from outside the repertoire list, company jingles, guest musicians, bespoke show sections, second sound systems or additional rehearsals are quoted as extra services.
How pricing works by event type
The general event band page sets out which live band setup suits which kind of event and which phase of the music – from reception and dinner through to show moments and the party.
A wedding can bring several musical phases together: ceremony, reception, dinner, the first dance and the party. What it costs depends on which of them are played live and which lineup makes sense for those.
What a live band for a corporate event costs
At corporate events, what counts is a polished performance, volume you can plan around, tight timing, technical coordination and the right feel for brand, guests and occasion.
At a ball, what matters is danceability, the opening, ballroom standards, how the announcements flow and the later party sets. Larger lineups can cover more musical ground here.
Galas usually call for a polished setting around reception, dinner, awards or show moments, and the technical setup, dress code, stage and running order tend to be more involved.
This is often about the shift from reception or dinner into the later part of the evening. What matters then is energy, the right volume and a setup that follows the mood in the room.
What a Christmas party band costs
A Christmas party often pairs atmospheric music for the reception and dinner with the party and pop hits for the dance floor later on. Costs depend on lineup, performance time, date, technical setup and venue.
What jazz, lounge and dinner music costs
For understated settings, a smaller lineup is often the better fit. Performance time, room size, technical setup, the atmosphere you are after and whether more energy is needed later all come into it.
At a trade fair, quick setup times matter, as does controlled volume at the stand and a programme that carries from reception through to the stand party. The lineup follows the size of the stand and the time of day.
Costs that are often missed
Sound and lighting package
Our own sound and lighting is a genuine part of what you book. For many events the standard setup is already covered in the quote and itemised there. The figure depends on the size of the room; where the venue already has a suitable system we are asked to use, that item is dropped.
Second setup
An outdoor ceremony, the agape in the courtyard and the party in the main room can call for extra microphones, a second sound system, changeover time or an extra pair of hands on the day.
Extension
If the celebration is set to run on, extra live music or DJ/playlist support can be arranged separately, subject to availability. As a guide, an additional live hour is around €100 per musician; the exact figure is in the quote, so the decision can be made quickly on the night.
Travel, accommodation & expenses
Travel is itemised separately in every quote. From around two hours’ driving time from Vienna – one way – an overnight stay is usually added, as it is for events further afield, a very late finish or an awkward journey home. Catering, parking fees, tolls or other expenses can come into it as well. There is deliberately no fixed distance limit: the musicians travel in from different places, so we work each date out on its own terms.
AKM / licences
Public events may need performance licences. This is usually handled by the organiser. AKM counts an event as public when it is open to anyone or takes place outside the private sphere, and that includes club functions and company parties, even where the guest list is closed. A wedding among invited family and friends is treated as a private occasion.
Special material
Songs we learn from scratch for your event, which are not on the repertoire list, need their own arrangement, often a transcription and extra rehearsal time, and that work is shown separately in your quote – as are company jingles, guest musicians or individual show sections.
Regional guidance for wedding band costs
Cost of a wedding band in Vienna
At Vienna weddings, load-in routes, parking, setup time, volume, room acoustics and curfews often come into it alongside lineup and performance time.
Cost of a wedding band in Lower Austria
In Lower Austria, the kind of venue – castle, winery or garden – shapes the real workload, as do room changes, outdoor planning, travel and load-in routes.
Cost of a wedding band in Burgenland
In Burgenland, it is often power supply, weather protection, second performance areas and logistics that matter most at wineries, lakeside venues and summer weddings.
Booking, cancellation and peace of mind
Written booking agreement
Once you accept a quote, we put the date, venue, lineup, performance time, technical setup, fee, payment terms and conditions in writing, so both sides know exactly what was agreed.
Cancellation terms
Because your date and lineup are firmly reserved, and preparation and technical setup begin well in advance, cancellation terms are set out transparently in the booking agreement; our terms provide the framework for that, and the details depend on when you cancel and on the agreed scope.
How the enquiry works
Send key details
Date, venue, event type, number of guests, the musical phases you have in mind and a rough running order are enough for a first assessment – the enquiry form is the easiest way.
Clarify the lineup
We check availability and recommend a lineup to suit the room size, running order, atmosphere and budget.
Receive a quote
You receive a tailored quote setting out lineup, performance time, technical setup, terms and price.
Confirm booking
Once you confirm, we take time to agree the running order, song requests, technical requirements, the setup and any special programme items.
What we need for a quote
Date & venue
The date and the venue drive availability, travel, setup and technical planning.
Event type & number of guests
Wedding, ball, corporate event, gala, party or hotel event: the occasion and the number of guests help us gauge the right band size.
Desired performance time
It helps to know whether you want music for the reception, dinner, programme items, the dance floor or the whole evening.
Lineup & impact
If you already have something in mind, just tell us the band size, vocalists, horns, guitar or the energy you picture.
Frequently asked questions about pricing
How much does The Jetset Society cost?
A full-evening booking usually costs approx. €2,600 to €7,800. Smaller jazz, lounge and dinner lineups from 3 musicians start at approx. €2,300. The exact price depends on lineup, performance time, technical setup, venue and running order. Shorter shows, longer performance times, several performance areas or special technical requirements are costed individually.
How much does a live band of 4 to 5 musicians cost?
For a full-evening event, 4 musicians usually cost about €2,600–3,600 and 5 musicians about €2,900–4,200. The exact figure depends on performance time, technical setup, travel, venue, schedule and the impact you are after, and the quote is always put together individually.
How much does a live band of 6 to 8 musicians cost?
For a full-evening event, 6 musicians typically cost approx. €3,400–4,800, 7 musicians approx. €3,800–5,400 and 8 musicians approx. €4,200–6,000.
How much does a live band of 9 to 11 musicians cost?
For a full-evening event, the guide price depends on the setup: approx. €4,600–6,600 for 9 musicians, approx. €4,900–7,200 for 10 and approx. €5,400–7,800 for 11.
Why do I still need a tailored quote?
Every event has its own requirements: lineup, performance time, technical setup, travel, setting up, several musical phases, the venue, waiting times, special requests and the impact you want can all make a considerable difference to the workload.
Are sound and lighting included?
Often yes, in the agreed standard setup, and it is itemised separately in the quote. The Jetset Society brings its own sound and lighting system up to a certain room size; where the venue already has a suitable system we are asked to use, that item is dropped. The exact technical scope depends on the room size, the number of guests, the venue, the existing infrastructure and the performance areas you want.
Why does lineup size influence the price so strongly?
The number of musicians is the biggest cost factor. With each additional person, the artistic input, coordination, technical setup and logistics increase, but you also gain a fuller sound, more vocalists, stage impact and musical flexibility.
Who pays the AKM performance licence fees?
At public events, performance licences or AKM fees may apply. These are usually the responsibility of the organiser and should be factored into the event budget for public events. AKM treats an event as public when it is open to anyone or takes place outside the private sphere, and it puts club functions and company parties in that group as well, even where the guest list is closed. A wedding among invited family and friends sits on the other side of the line: Austria’s Supreme Court has treated a wedding reception as a private occasion even though it was held in a restaurant where other diners could hear the music, so couples can keep their attention on the party itself. For a ball, a graduation ball, a club celebration or a company party, registration simply belongs in the planning; it is done online and is easiest to sort out a few days ahead. We bring the music, and we are glad to supply the setlist for the report of works performed. How any one event is classified depends on its own circumstances, and AKM will confirm that directly.
Should we tip the band?
No. Tipping is not part of how The Jetset Society works, and it is not expected. If you would still like to give something, please don’t let that stop you – the musicians take it as a genuine compliment. What means even more to them is being looked after with a meal on the day. You will find the details under Venue & technical setup. And after the event, a few words of feedback or a recommendation are always welcome.
What happens if the schedule is delayed?
The Jetset Society adapts to the schedule as far as possible. The agreed service period and fee generally remain unchanged in the case of event-related delays; an extension can be arranged subject to availability.
Do breaks between sets affect the price?
No. Breaks between sets – for example during speeches or programme items – do not reduce the price. The musicians stay on site for the whole agreed period, and that time remains committed to your event.
Is the enquiry non-binding?
Yes. Enquiries are free and involve no obligation. You receive an assessment of a suitable lineup and a quote that fits the event type, venue, performance time, technical setup and the impact you want.
Which factors influence the price of a live band?
The main factors are the number of musicians, how long the band plays, the technical setup, travel, setup time, the running order of the event, the conditions on site, the day of the week, the season and any individual requests. At The Jetset Society, the number of musicians has the biggest impact. It is not only the performance time that counts, but the whole stretch on site: setup, soundcheck, breaks, programme items, waiting times, changeovers, teardown and the journey home.
How does payment work?
Once you accept a quote, the date, venue, lineup, performance time, technical setup, fee, payment terms and conditions are recorded in a written booking agreement. The deposit, when it falls due and how payment is made are set out in that agreement; our terms provide the framework for that. That way both sides know exactly what was agreed.
What happens if we have to cancel?
Your date and lineup are firmly reserved, and preparation and technical setup begin well in advance. Cancellation terms are therefore set out transparently in the booking agreement, so both sides know the deadlines in advance; our terms provide the framework for that.