From Solo to Band and Back Again
Mastering flexibility to stay booked!
Gigging can be a valuable side hustle. You want to work more?
You want your phone ringing?
Then here’s a truth you need to tattoo on your brain:
The more show formats you can offer, the more bookings you can get.
Solo. Duo. Trio. Full band. Acoustic. Electric.
Flexibility is currency.
And in 2025’s tough, cautious live market?
Tom Waits nailed it: “If you want to survive, you have to be able to play any room.” (The Guardian, 2011) Don’t limit yourself to one format if you want steady work.
Being able to shape-shift to meet demand isn’t optional.
It’s essential.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of each show format.
✅ Solo:
Cheapest to run.
Highest net financial return.
Best for small bars, early slots, acoustic sets.
But: You carry everything.
✅ Duo:
Great balance of cost and impact.
Can harmonise, add depth.
Popular for smaller clubs and weddings.
But: Needs real chemistry.
✅ Trio / Small Band:
Bigger sound, still manageable costs.
Works for mid-size pubs, breweries, events.
But: Splitting the show financials between more people.
✅ Full Band:
Ultimate live experience.
Command higher fees.
Perfect for peak nights, large venues, ticketed shows.
But: More moving parts, higher costs, tougher logistics.
And Dave Grohl’s advice is timeless: “Play everywhere. Play with anyone. That’s how you learn.” (Rolling Stone, 2014)
If you’re only offering one option, you’re excluding yourself from entire chunks of the market. The more formats you master, the more doors you open.
Adapting Your Playlist
Your 3-hour rock band set won’t work at an acoustic Sunday arvo gig.
Your stripped-back duo won’t satisfy the 300-punter Saturday night crowd.
Adapting all playlists to sell a tailored experience…now that can work.
✅ Create acoustic-friendly arrangements.
✅ Practice with and without percussion.
✅ Use backing tracks or loops intelligently (not as a crutch, but to add value).
✅ Build dynamic setlists for different moods and audiences.
Brandi Carlile put it beautifully: “The song is the thing. But you have to dress it for the room you’re in.” (NPR, 2018)
Your setlist might stay true—but your delivery better match the vibe.
Venues think in budgets. Set pricing strategies when you know your true value.
✅ Solo: Cheaper, but must still deliver.
✅ Duo: More affordable than full band, great for tight budgets.
✅ Band: Premium offering for premium nights.
Be ready to quote confidently for each format. And be able to explain what value you’re delivering at every level in each show pitch. Don’t apologise for your rate. But don’t expect the same show payment for less delivery.
Flexibility doesn’t mean chaos.
✅ Tighten your lineup.
✅ Schedule regular rehearsals.
✅ Share setlists and arrangements clearly.
✅ Communicate expectations up front (fees, transport, call times).
Nothing kills repeat bookings faster than a band that sounds under-rehearsed because they cobbled it together the night before.
Professional means prepared.
Selling Yourself as an Artist who can deliver Versatile Shows
You are actually selling yourself as a Music Brand able to pivot into any environment pending brief and budget. Your flexibility is a massive asset.
✅ “We can do an acoustic duo or a full band depending on your needs.”
✅ “We tailor our show to suit your crowd and budget.”
✅ “We have multiple set formats ready to go.”
And it’s not just theory. Live Performance Australia’s Ticketing and Attendance Report 2023 shows strong demand for small-format acts mid-week and in smaller venues, while full-band shows dominate premium slots and weekends.
You’re not making them fit you. You’re showing you can fit them. That’s gold.
What I am talking about here is a mindset shift. Its about service and not self. Too many artists act like their format is sacred.
“I’m only a rock band.”
“I don’t do acoustic.”
“We don’t want to compromise.”
That’s fine if you don’t want to work. But if you want to build a sustainable music business? You need to offer what the market wants. Agents don’t book you to validate your artistic choices. They book you to solve the Venue’s problem: delivering the right vibe to their patrons.
UK Music’s Music By Numbers 2023 report confirms venues are increasingly booking artists who can offer multiple formats to meet changing budgets and audience expectations.
You want more show bookings? Be the solution. Make yourself the obvious, easy choice.
✅ Know your formats.
✅ Adapt your set.
✅ Price intelligently.
✅ Rehearse like a pro.
Flexibility isn’t selling out. It’s selling smart. Because at the end of the day, your job isn’t to play for yourselves. It’s to create unforgettable nights for the people in the room. And the more ways you can do that? The more work you’ll have.
Deloitte’s 2024 Global Powers of Hospitality study drives it home: post-pandemic, venues want modular entertainment solutions—acts that can scale up or down to match the night.
Key References
Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 202
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