Guides · Gigs · Tips · Local
Play more. Earn more. Know more.
Practical, no-fluff guides for musicians, venues, restaurants and anyone planning an event, from the team behind Jamma Music and JamJar.
Post a gig, pick from verified acts: booking live music without the guesswork
How the Jamma gig board works for venues and bookers: post a slot free, and every artist who applies arrives with verified ratings and real tip history.
JamJar as a standalone tipping system: live before tonight's service
You don't need the whole platform to start: JamJar works as a pure QR tipping system for venues, bars and performers, set up in an afternoon, no hardware, no app.
One QR for gigs and tips: why we joined Jamma Music and JamJar at the hip
Jamma Music and JamJar now run on one account: the same QR that takes tips builds the profile that gets you booked. Here's how the unified platform works.
How to pitch 7,000+ UK venues without cold-emailing into the void
A practical guide to getting gigs from the UK venues directory: how to pick the right rooms, what to put in a pitch, and why a verified profile beats a demo reel.
Jar Profiles: the hospitality CV that can't be faked
Every rating on a Jar Profile arrived attached to a real tip from a real customer. Why payment-verified track records will change hospitality hiring.
Your jar works from minute one, the bank paperwork can wait
Most tipping apps make you finish identity checks before you can earn a penny. JamJar flips it: tips accrue from your very first scan and settle when you connect.
How to price yourself as a function band (without underselling)
Cost-plus maths, per-head framing, seasonal pricing, deposits and how to raise your rates, a 2026 pricing playbook for UK function bands.
Why QR feedback beats comment cards (and mystery diners)
Comment cards get binned and mystery diners visit twice a year. QR feedback is instant, private and per-server, and catches complaints before the 1-star review.
UK tipping law in 2026: what the Tips Act means for your venue
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act is in force: 100% of tips to workers, fair allocation, written policy, records. A plain-English guide for venues.
Solo singer, duo or full band: what should you book?
Solo act, duo or full band? A practical decision guide by budget, venue size, vibe and dance-floor needs, with real 2026 UK prices for each.
Turn great service into Google reviews (and better tips) with one QR
The same QR scan that takes a tip can nudge a happy guest to your Google review link. Reviews are the #1 local-SEO lever for restaurants, here's the play.
Digital tip jars at weddings and functions: the extra income stream bands ignore
Function bands are leaving £50–£200 a night on the table. How to run a digital tip jar tastefully at weddings, parties and corporate events.
Individual QR tip codes for servers: how they work
Give every server a personal QR code: guests scan at the table, tip by card in seconds, and the money goes to that server, not a pool. Here's the full setup.
How buskers can take card payments in the UK (2026 guide)
A practical 2026 guide to cashless busking in the UK: QR tip jars vs card readers, real costs, weatherproof setups, licensing basics and tax.
How to find gigs as a new artist: a working musician's playbook
From open mics to the function circuit: a practical, step-by-step playbook for landing your first paid gigs as a new UK artist in 2026.
Should your restaurant scrap the service charge?
The 12.5% service charge splits tips equally, and blunts the incentive to give great service. Here's the case for scrapping it and going individual.
How to get more tips at gigs: 9 tactics that actually work
Nine field-tested tactics UK musicians use to earn more tips at gigs, from QR placement and the perfect mic ask to requests, timing and follow-up.
A landlord's guide to booking live music for your pub
Licensing rules, realistic 2026 rates (£150–£350 per act), what actually pulls a crowd, and how to make live music pay for your pub.
Cashless tipping for musicians: the complete UK guide
Every way UK musicians can take cashless tips in 2026, QR tip jars, card readers, payment links, with real costs, payout times and tax basics.
How much does a wedding band cost in the UK? (2026 prices)
Real 2026 UK wedding band prices: solo acts from £250, function bands £1,200–£1,800, premium bands £3,500+. What drives the price and how to budget.
QR code tip jars: how they work (and why performers love them)
How QR code tip jars work in the UK: fans scan, tip by card or Apple Pay in seconds, no app, no sign-up. Fees, payouts and setup explained.