Getting paid
Why every entertainer needs a deposit policy.
Nothing separates a real booking from a friendly "we'd love to have you" like a deposit. If you're still holding dates on a promise, this is the single change that will cost you the fewest gigs.
What a deposit actually does
A deposit does three things at once. It confirms intent — someone who pays $80 to hold a date is far more likely to show up than someone who said "pencil us in." It protects your calendar — you can turn down the competing gig knowing this one is real. And it starts the money — you're not chasing the full fee on the day of the show.
Without one, you carry all the risk: you hold a Saturday, decline other work, and eat the loss if the client drifts away.
How much to ask for
A deposit of 20–50% of the fee is standard across live entertainment. Twenty percent is friendly and easy to say yes to; a bigger event or a far drive justifies more. Whatever you pick, apply it consistently — a policy you enforce sometimes isn't a policy, it's a mood.
State plainly whether the deposit is refundable, and by when. "Non-refundable, applied to your balance" is common and fair, as long as it's written down before they pay.
Make it painless, or it won't happen
The reason performers skip deposits is friction: invoicing apps, bank details, awkward follow-ups. If taking a deposit is a chore, you'll let it slide on the busy weeks — exactly when you need it most.
The fix is to make the deposit part of booking, not a separate step. When a client books you, the deposit should be a card payment right there, into your own account, with the balance due on the date. That's how ActBook does it: your terms go on the contract, the client signs, and the deposit lands in your Stripe — no chasing, no invoices sent into the void.
Put it in writing
A deposit only protects you if the terms are clear: the amount, whether it's refundable, and what happens on a cancellation. If you don't have a contract yet, our free contract generator includes a deposit and cancellation section you can adapt in a minute.
Practical gig-business notes, occasionally.
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