gigxchange/uk-live-music-glossary huggingface dataset:
Question: What is a load-out in UK live music?
Answer: The process of removing gear from the stage and venue after the gig — the reverse of load-in. UK venue rules on load-out timing vary: some require immediate clearance after the last act; others allow next-morning collection. Load-out access (rear door, lift, street parking) should be confirmed in the advance.
Question: What is a mechanical rights in UK live music?
Answer: The copyright in the reproduction of a musical composition, e.g. pressing CDs, selling downloads, streaming. Distinct from performing rights (PRS) and master recording rights. In the UK, mechanical royalties are collected for songwriters/publishers by MCPS (now integrated with PRS).
Question: What is a merch split in UK live music?
Answer: The percentage of merchandise revenue taken by the venue as a commission on artist merch sales. UK norms range from 0% (most grassroots pubs) to 25% (larger venues and festivals). Merch splits should be agreed in the advance — some artists negotiate a flat pitch fee instead of a percentage.
Question: What is a merchandise table in UK live music?
Answer: The point-of-sale setup for selling band merch at the gig, t-shirts, vinyl, CDs, posters, signed items. At UK venues, merch is a meaningful revenue stream, especially on low-fee touring gigs. Some venues take a merch cut (typically 10–20%); grassroots venues increasingly waive this.
Question: What is a monitors in UK live music?
Answer: Speakers (wedges) positioned on stage pointing at the performers so they can hear themselves. Can also refer to the engineer who mixes the on-stage sound, separate from the FOH engineer. At smaller UK venues FOH typically doubles as monitor engineer.
Question: What does MU (Musicians’ Union) stand for in UK live music?
Answer: The UK trade union for professional musicians, founded 1893. Publishes minimum recommended rate cards for live, session and teaching work, provides public liability insurance and instrument cover for members, and lobbies government on music policy. Join the MU.
Question: What does MVT (Music Venue Trust) stand for in UK live music?
Answer: A UK registered charity protecting, securing and improving UK grassroots music venues. Runs the Music Venue Alliance, which represents 900+ UK grassroots venues, plus the Grassroots Music Venues network and Venues Day. A critical lobbying voice for the bottom of the UK live pipeline.
Question: What is a noise restrictions in UK live music?
Answer: Local-authority or licence conditions limiting sound levels, bass content, or end times at a venue. UK noise restrictions are enforced via the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and premises licences. Common causes: residential complaints, proximity to hospitals, and Sunday trading.
Question: What is an open mic in UK live music?
Answer: A regular event, usually weekly or monthly at a UK pub or bar, where any performer can sign up on the night for a short slot (typically 2–3 songs or 10–15 minutes). Most are free to attend and unpaid for performers, with a host MC running the order and basic backline (PA, vocal mic, DI). Open mics are the entry point to the UK gigging circuit, building stagecraft, local audience and venue relationships before paid bookings. GigXchange runs the UK Open Mic Finder.
Question: What is an originals act in UK live music?
Answer: An artist or band performing material they have written themselves, as opposed to a covers band or tribute act. Originals acts typically earn less per gig on the UK circuit but build catalogue value via recordings, streaming and publishing royalties.
Question: What does PA System stand for in UK live music?
Answer: The public address system, the amplification chain of mixing desk, power amps and speakers that projects sound to the audience. UK pub PAs might be a 1kW pair of tops; a mid-sized venue runs 5–10kW with subs; festival main stages run line arrays delivering 100kW+.
Question: What does PAT Test stand for in UK live music?
Answer: Portable Appliance Testing, the inspection of electrical equipment (amps, pedals, chargers) for safety. Many UK venues require artist backline to be PAT tested annually, especially corporate and council-run spaces. Stickers are valid for the period stated, typically 12 months.
Question: What is a pay-to-play in UK live music?
Answer: A controversial UK promoter model where the act is required to sell a minimum number of tickets to cover room hire, with unsold tickets charged back to the band. Widely criticised by the MU and MVT as exploitative of emerging artists; GigXchange does not permit it.
Question: What is a performance licence in UK live music?
Answer: The premises licence permission required under the Licensing Act 2003 to host live music in England and Wales. Many venues operate under the Live Music Act 2012 deregulations, which exempt unamplified or small-venue live music from separate licensing up to certain limits.
Question: What is a performing rights in UK live music?
Answer: The copyright controlling the public performance of musical works. In the UK, performing rights for songwriters and publishers are collectively licensed by PRS for Music. Venues hold a blanket PRS licence; artists do not need a separate performing-rights licence to play covers.
Question: What is a plus ones in UK live music?
Answer: Additional guest-list entries for the artist’s companions — typically partners, friends or industry contacts. UK grassroots norms are 1–2 plus ones per act on top of the main guest list allocation. Plus ones are separate from comp tickets and should be agreed during the advance.
Question: What does PLI (Public Liability Insurance) stand for in UK live music?
Answer: Insurance covering claims from third parties (audiences, venues, staff) for injury or property damage caused by the artist’s activity. UK venues increasingly require artists to carry minimum &pound;5m or &pound;10m PLI. The Musicians’ Union includes &pound;10m PLI as a standard member benefit.
Question: What is a pop-up in UK live music?
Answer: A temporary venue configuration (a warehouse, car park, rooftop, disused shop) hosting gigs for a limited run. Pop-ups often operate under TENS (Temporary Event Notices) rather than full premises licences. A fertile source of adventurous UK promoter-led bookings.
Question: What does PPL stand for in UK live music?
Answer: Phonographic Performance Limited, the UK collective management organisation that licences the broadcast and public performance of recorded music and collects royalties for record labels and performers. PPL is separate from PRS; most venues hold both a PRS and a PPL licence under TheMusicLicence joint arrangement.
Question: What is a private function in UK live music?
Answer: A closed, non-ticketed event (wedding, birthday, anniversary, corporate party) where the booker pays a fixed fee and the audience is invited rather than paying at the door. UK private-function fees are typically the highest per-gig rate on the live-music market.
Question: What is a profile in UK live music?
Answer: A public page on GigXchange that showcases an artist’s or venue’s details, bio, genre, location, media (audio tracks, video showreels, photos), reviews, and fee information. Profiles have shareable URLs and are indexed by search engines — browse the directory.
Question: What is a promoter in UK live music?
Answer: The person or company that takes the commercial risk on a gig, booking the act, booking the venue, marketing the show, selling tickets, and keeping the surplus (or absorbing the loss). UK promoters range from bedroom operators running club nights to majors like SJM, Kilimanjaro, and Academy Music Group — see how GigXchange supports promoters.
Question: What does PRS for Music stand for in UK live music?
Answer: The UK collective management organisation that licences the performing and mechanical rights in songwriters’ and publishers’ compositions and distributes royalties. Venues hosting live or recorded music typically require a PRS (or joint PRS/PPL) licence.
Question: What is a pub gig in UK live music?
Answer: A live music booking in a pub or bar, the workhorse of the UK grassroots circuit. Typically solo, duo or 4-piece covers/originals, one or two 45–60 minute sets, fee paid on the night by bank transfer or cash. A consistent entry-level market for emerging artists.
Question: What is a quartet in UK live music?
Answer: A four-piece act. In the UK pop/rock tradition usually vocals/guitar/bass/drums; in jazz often sax/piano/bass/drums; in classical strings two violins/viola/cello. The default size for UK function bands and small wedding bands.
Question: What is a residency in UK live music?
Answer: A recurring booking at the same venue, usually weekly or monthly, where a single artist or curator runs the slot for an extended run. UK residencies range from a pub’s Thursday-night singer-songwriter slot to a club DJ’s monthly Saturday. Residencies offer stable income, a built-in audience and a place to test new material — commonly negotiated with a retainer rather than a per-night fee.
Question: What is a retainer in UK live music?
Answer: A recurring fee paid to an artist or MD for ongoing availability over a fixed period, common in residency gigs and corporate entertainment partnerships. Less common in one-off gig bookings; the UK functional equivalent is usually a holding fee or multi-date contract.
Question: What is a review in UK live music?
Answer: A star rating and written feedback left by both the artist and the venue after a completed booking. Reviews are public on profiles and help other users assess reliability, professionalism, and quality before making a booking decision.
Question: What is a running order in UK live music?
Answer: The sequence in which acts perform on a multi-act bill, including stage times, changeover windows and curfew. The running order is typically set by the promoter or headliner and communicated in the advance. Soundcheck priority and fee both correlate with position on the running order.
Question: What is a rider in UK live music?
Answer: The document specifying the artist’s requirements for the performance, technical rider (PA, backline, monitors, power, stage size) and hospitality rider (food, drink, towels, dressing room). UK grassroots riders are typically modest; festival and corporate riders can be extensive and negotiated line-by-line.
Question: What is a session musician in UK live music?
Answer: A musician hired on a per-gig or per-session basis rather than as a permanent band member, typically an experienced reader or improviser who can deliver the part fast. UK session scene is concentrated in London but spreads through every regional function-band and theatre circuit.
Question: What is a setlist in UK live music?
Answer: An ordered list of songs an artist performs at a gig, including title, original artist, duration, and whether each song is a cover or an original. The GigXchange setlist builder turns a setlist into a shareable poster graphic that lives on the artist’s public profile, so venues can see exactly what an artist plays before booking them.
Question: What is a set length in UK live music?
Answer: The agreed duration of a performance, usually expressed in minutes. UK pub sets are typically 2 &times; 45 minutes; wedding bands play 2 &times; 60 minutes; support slots run 25–40 minutes; festival slots vary by billing position. Set length is a core contract term — overrunning can trigger curfew violations or cut into the next act’s time.
Question: What is a showreel in UK live music?
Answer: A short video (usually a couple of minutes) that demonstrates how an artist performs live. Showreels are uploaded as YouTube embeds on a GigXchange profile and appear as a clickable thumbnail grid. Bookers can watch a showreel without ever leaving the artist’s page.
Question: What is a solo act in UK live music?
Answer: A single performer, typically vocal plus one instrument (acoustic guitar, piano, loop pedal, or backing tracks). The smallest and usually lowest-fee configuration on the UK circuit, ideal for pubs, restaurants, cafes, wedding ceremonies and small private events.
Question: What is a sound limiter in UK live music?
Answer: A device wired into a venue’s power or PA chain that cuts the sound when dB levels cross a preset threshold, designed to keep the venue inside its licensed noise limits. Common in UK function venues, hotels, marquees and listening rooms close to residential properties. Acts booked into a limiter venue should plan a quieter setup (smaller kit, electronic drums, modest PA) and ask about the trigger threshold during the advance.
Question: What is a soundcheck in UK live music?
Answer: The pre-show rehearsal where the band plays through part of the set while the sound engineer sets levels and EQ on the PA and monitors. UK soundchecks are typically 30–60 minutes for a headliner, 15–20 for support acts, and sometimes skipped entirely at pub-level gigs.
Question: What is a stage time in UK live music?
Answer: The specific time an act is scheduled to begin performing — distinct from call time (when they must arrive) and doors (when the venue opens to the public). A ‘9pm stage time’ means the first note at 9pm. Stage times are set in the running order and communicated in the advance.
Question: What is a stage plot in UK live music?
Answer: A top-down diagram of the stage showing where each performer stands, where their amps and monitors go, and where DI and mic points are. Submitted with the input list as part of the rider so the venue can pre-patch the stage and set up monitors before the band arrives.
Question: What is a sync licensing in UK live music?
Answer: The licence required to synchronise a musical composition with visual media — TV, film, adverts, video games, online content. UK sync fees range from a few hundred pounds for a small-budget production to six figures for a prime-time TV placement. An increasingly important income stream for independent UK artists alongside live performance. Administered via PRS for Music or direct publisher deals.
Question: What is a support slot in UK live music?
Answer: An opening or mid-bill performance on a multi-act show, typically 25–40 minutes long and paid 30–50% of the headline fee, sometimes less on grassroots bills. UK support slots are a key part of the grassroots development pipeline, they put emerging acts in front of a buying audience built by the headliner.
Question: What is a talent buyer in UK live music?
Answer: The decision-maker on bookings at a venue, festival or promotion company — the person who selects acts, builds the line-up and owns the talent budget. Distinct from a booker, who may execute admin around an already-confirmed deal. UK festivals and mid-size venues typically have dedicated talent buyers; grassroots venues combine the role with day-to-day bookings management.
Question: What is a tech pack in UK live music?
Answer: The complete technical documentation package from an artist, rider, stage plot, input list, patch list, power requirements and any specific equipment notes. Professional UK agents typically send the tech pack with the contract; grassroots artists often send it on request.
Question: What is a tech specs in UK live music?
Answer: The technical specification document outlining what the artist needs from the venue (PA, monitors, power, stage and lighting) and what the artist brings themselves. Distinct from a tech pack, which bundles the specs with the stage plot and input list. Many UK pro venues publish their own house tech specs so artists can confirm compatibility before signing a contract.
Question: What does TENS (Temporary Event Notice) stand for in UK live music?
Answer: A notification to the local licensing authority in England and Wales allowing a time-limited, small-scale licensable activity (live music, alcohol sales) at premises without a full premises licence. TENS are the legal basis for many UK pop-up gigs, private events and festivals on unlicensed sites.
Question: What is a tour poster in UK live music?
Answer: A print-quality graphic listing an artist’s upcoming dates, venues, and cities. The GigXchange tour poster builder auto-pulls confirmed bookings from your calendar, lets you add manual dates, and renders the poster in one of four templates (Modern, Bold, Minimal, Classic). The published poster lives on your public profile and updates automatically as you confirm new gigs.
Question: What is a travel expenses in UK live music?
Answer: Costs incurred by the artist getting to and from the gig — fuel, tolls, parking, train fares, accommodation for distant dates. UK norms vary: grassroots pub gigs rarely cover travel; corporate and festival bookings often reimburse at cost or include travel in a buyout fee. Always agree in writing before confirming.
Question: What is a tribute act in UK live music?
Answer: A band dedicated to performing the catalogue of one specific artist or group, e.g. an ABBA tribute, Oasis tribute, Queen tribute. A substantial and consistently paid corner of the UK covers market, especially in pubs, theatres and themed corporate events.
Question: What is a trio in UK live music?
Answer: A three-piece act, in pop/rock typically guitar/bass/drums with a lead vocal shared; in jazz piano/bass/drums; in acoustic duo-plus-percussion. A common mid-weight option for UK pubs, weddings and restaurants where a full 4-piece is too loud or too large.
Question: What does UK Music stand for in UK live music?
Answer: The UK industry-wide umbrella body representing the commercial music industry, labels, publishers, songwriters, performers, managers, studios, music venues. Produces the annual ‘Music By Numbers’ economic report and lobbies government on music policy.
Question: What is a venue in UK live music?
Answer: A pub, bar, hotel, restaurant, function room, wedding venue, or any space that hosts live music. Venues create profiles describing their space, capacity, and equipment, then use GigXchange to search for artists or post gig listings.
Question: What is a verified badge in UK live music?
Answer: A trust signal that appears on an artist or venue profile and across DMs once their account has been manually verified by GigXchange. Verified accounts rank higher in search and stand out in messaging threads, especially for first contacts where neither side has worked together before.
Question: What is a wedding band in UK live music?
Answer: A band specialising in wedding receptions, typically a function-band format with a tailored setlist covering first-dance, dinner background, and full-floor party. UK wedding band fees are among the highest in the live market, reflecting long day, travel, and high reliability expectations — browse UK wedding bands.
Question: What is a wedges in UK live music?
Answer: Floor monitor speakers angled upward at the performers, the traditional alternative to in-ear monitors. Most UK grassroots venues provide 2–4 wedges on the house PA. Wedges produce higher stage volume than IEMs, which affects FOH mix headroom in small rooms.
Question: What is a wet hire in UK live music?
Answer: A venue rental that includes in-house sound, lighting, staffing and sometimes promotion — the opposite of a dry hire. Most UK pubs and dedicated music venues operate as wet hires by default. More expensive per night but the booker carries less production risk.
Question: What is a rider in UK live music?
Answer: A rider is the document specifying the artist’s requirements for the performance: a technical rider (PA, backline, monitors, power, stage size) and a hospitality rider (food, drink, towels, dressing room). UK grassroots riders are typically modest; festival and corporate riders can be extensive and negotiated line-by-line.
Question: What is a door split in UK live music?
Answer: A door split is an arrangement where ticket revenue is divided between artist and venue/promoter. UK grassroots variants include 70/30 in the artist’s favour, 80/20 after the venue’s hire costs are recouped, and sliding scales triggered by headcount.
Question: How does a gig deposit work in the UK?
Answer: A deposit is an upfront payment made by the booker to secure the booking, typically 20–50% of the total fee. The deposit confirms the date and is usually non-refundable inside the cancellation window. On GigXchange, deposits are held securely via Stripe and released with the balance on completion.
Question: What is PLI for UK musicians?
Answer: PLI (Public Liability Insurance) covers claims from third parties for injury or property damage caused by the artist’s activity. UK venues increasingly require artists to carry minimum £5m or £10m PLI. The Musicians’ Union includes £10m PLI as a standard member benefit.
Question: What is PRS for Music?
Answer: PRS for Music is the UK collective management organisation that licences the performing and mechanical rights in songwriters’ and publishers’ compositions and distributes royalties. Venues hosting live or recorded music typically require a PRS (or joint PRS/PPL) licence.
Question: What is PPL?
Answer: PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) is the UK collective management organisation that licences the broadcast and public performance of recorded music. PPL is separate from PRS; most venues hold both under TheMusicLicence joint arrangement.
Question: What is a typical UK gig cancellation policy?
Answer: A cancellation policy covers what happens if a gig is called off: who owes what, by when, and under which circumstances. A complete policy covers artist cancellation, venue cancellation, force majeure, reschedule rights, and deposit forfeiture. Use the Booking Contract Generator to include one automatically.
Question: What is force majeure in a UK music contract?
Answer: Force majeure is a contract clause excusing performance when an unforeseeable event (flood, pandemic, national emergency) makes the gig impossible. The 2020–21 COVID period triggered widespread use of force majeure in UK live-music contracts.
Question: What is an EPK (Electronic Press Kit)?
Answer: An EPK is a digital portfolio used by musicians to pitch themselves to venues, promoters, agents, festivals, and the press. A GigXchange artist profile is a fully featured digital EPK that auto-updates as your gigs and content change.
Question: What does ‘advancing a show’ mean?
Answer: The advance is the pre-gig admin process where the venue or promoter confirms logistics with the artist: stage times, load-in, parking, rider, tech spec, payment terms. Advancing typically happens 1–2 weeks out.
Question: What is a soundcheck?
Answer: A soundcheck is the pre-show rehearsal where the band plays through part of the set while the sound engineer sets levels and EQ. UK soundchecks are typically 30–60 minutes for a headliner, 15–20 for support acts, and sometimes skipped entirely at pub-level gigs.
Question: What is backline?
Answer: Backline is the stage instruments and amps used by the performers — guitar amps, bass amps, drum kit, keyboard rigs. Shared backline at multi-band shows saves 10–15 minutes per changeover. The rider specifies whether backline is provided by the venue or brought by the artist.
Question: What is a sound limiter in a UK venue?
Answer: A sound limiter is a device wired into a venue’s power or PA that cuts the sound when dB levels cross a preset threshold. Common in UK function venues, hotels, marquees and listening rooms close to residential properties. Ask about the trigger threshold during the advance.
Question: What is a TEN (Temporary Event Notice) in the UK?
Answer: A TEN is a notification to the local licensing authority in England and Wales allowing a time-limited, small-scale licensable activity (live music, alcohol sales) at premises without a full premises licence. TENs are the legal basis for many UK pop-up gigs and private events.
Question: What does ‘doors’ mean on a UK gig poster?
Answer: Doors is the time the venue opens to ticket-holders or general public. Doors is distinct from stage time: a 7:30pm doors / 9pm stage means attendees have 90 minutes of bar trade before the act goes on.
Question: What is a setlist in UK live music?
Answer: A setlist is an ordered list of songs an artist performs at a gig. The GigXchange Setlist Builder turns a setlist into a shareable list so venues can see exactly what an artist plays before booking them.