Free tool · no sign-up
Gig profit calculatorWhat did that gig really pay?
Put in the fee and what the gig cost you. See your real take-home, your hourly rate and what every minute on stage earned.
HOW IT’S WORKED OUT
The fee is only half the story.
Two gigs can pay the same and leave you with very different money. This is the sum the calculator does for you.
- 01
Start with the fee
The amount the booker, venue or promoter pays you.
- 02
Take off the costs
Mileage (miles × rate), fares, accommodation, food, and kit, costume or hire costs.
- 03
Take off commission
Your agent’s or manager’s percentage of the full fee.
- 04
What’s left is profit
Divide it by your hours and your stage minutes to compare gigs fairly.
WORKED EXAMPLE
A £250 club spot, 120 miles round trip at 45p (£54), £15 on food and 10% commission (£25) leaves £156. Over six hours that is £26 an hour, and for a 20-minute set, £7.80 a stage minute.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Know the details.
Then get going.
Practical answers about working out what a gig really paid.
More free toolsHow do you work out the profit on a gig?
Start with the fee, then take off everything the gig cost you: mileage or fares, accommodation, food, kit or costume costs, and any agent or manager commission. What is left is your profit — the money you actually took home before tax.
What mileage rate should I use?
In the UK, 45p a mile is HMRC’s approved rate for the first 10,000 business miles a year in a car or van, and 25p after that. It is a fair estimate of fuel, wear and running costs. Change the rate if you use a different one.
Is commission worked out on the whole fee?
Yes. This calculator takes the commission percentage from the full fee, which is how most agents and managers charge. If your agreement is different, adjust the percentage to match.
Does this include tax?
No. The result is your profit before Income Tax and National Insurance. Use the free performer tax calculator to estimate what to set aside.
Can I track this for every gig automatically?
Yes. StagePay keeps each gig’s fee, travel and expenses together and shows your net profit per gig and per month for free. Pro adds profit by venue and gig type, and profit per stage minute.
THE KNOWLEDGE HUB
Keep more of the fee.
What performers can claim as expenses
The costs you can usually take off your tax bill.
Read the guide FIELD NOTES / 02Negotiate gig rates without undercutting yourself
Use what gigs really cost to set your floor.
Read the guide FIELD NOTES / 03Track gig income and profit without spreadsheets
The fields to log for every gig, and a weekly habit.
Read the guideYOUR NEXT ACT
Stop guessing what the gig paid.
StagePay tracks the fee, the costs and the profit for every gig. Start for free.
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