The money
Ticket revenue is typically split with artists and promoters, so the venue relies on bar takings and hire fees to stay alive. Bar spend per head at gigs can be lower than at clubs because audiences come for the music, not the drinking. Fixed costs include sound and lighting kit, production staff, rent and licensing. Many grassroots venues operate at or around break-even and depend on volunteers, crowdfunding or levy-style support from the wider industry. Booking risk sits with someone on every show, and empty rooms on a wet Tuesday are part of the job.
Numbers that matter
- Tickets sold versus capacity
- how full the room is
- Bar spend per head
- drink income per attendee
- Show settlement
- what each party takes after costs
- Shows per week
- programming density
- Hire income
- room rental revenue
- No-show rate
- ticket holders who never arrive
What keeps owners up
- Noise complaints and agent of change disputes
- Rent and rates on central buildings
- Ticket price ceilings at grassroots level
- Artist touring costs pushing out small shows
- Ageing production kit and capital costs
- Secondary ticketing and booking fees
What we talk about
- Why the bar pays for the band
- A levy on arena tickets to support small rooms
- Production crew careers that started on a pub stage
- Settlement night: how the money actually gets split
- Accessibility in old, cramped venues
- The volunteer economy behind grassroots music