Post a gig, pick from verified acts: booking live music without the guesswork
Booking live music has always been a leap of faith. You find an act through a friend of a friend or a tired listings site, you watch a phone-shot video from two years ago, and you hope the band that turns up is the band on the screen. The gig either makes the night or quietly kills it, and you rarely know which until it's too late.
The Jamma gig board is built to take the faith out of it. You post the slot you need to fill, and artists come to you, each one arriving with a profile whose ratings are welded to real payments. No self-written CV, no favours-for-references. Here's how it works and how to get great applicants fast.
Post a gig in two minutes
Posting is free. Head to the gig board, hit Post a gig, and give the essentials: what you need, the date and time, the town, a rough budget and the vibe. Your listing goes live immediately and shows up for every relevant artist across the UK.
The more specific you are, the better the applicants. "Acoustic duo for a Sunday afternoon, 2 x 45 minute sets, we provide the PA" pulls a sharper shortlist than "band wanted". Budgets help too, artists self-select honestly when they can see the range.
Every applicant comes with receipts
This is the part that changes the game. When an artist applies, you don't just get a message and a hopeful quote, you get their verified profile alongside it: their average rating, how many tips real audiences have left them, and the feedback tags people tap most. Because all of that is attached to actual payments, it can't be inflated the way an open review page can.
You review applications side by side, shortlist the ones you like, message anyone directly to nail down the details, and decline the rest with a tap. It's a pipeline, not an inbox.
- See each applicant's rating and tip history inline, evidence, not adjectives.
- Shortlist and compare your favourites.
- Message any applicant to sort timings, set length and equipment.
- Decline politely with one tap; your listing retires itself once you confirm an act.
Why verified beats a demo reel
A demo reel shows an act on their best day. A Jamma profile shows how they actually go down, night after night, in front of paying crowds, the average, not the highlight. For a venue trying to build a reputation for good nights, that consistency is worth more than a slick two minutes of video.
It also protects you on the things that go wrong quietly: an act's response time and repeat-booking rate tell you whether they'll turn up and turn up on time. Increasingly that reliability signal matters as much as the music.
Get the best acts to notice you
Good artists have options, so make your slot the easy yes. Post early, the strongest acts book weeks out. Be clear about the money. Reply quickly when someone applies; a same-day message doubles your chances of landing your first choice. And if a gig goes well, re-book the act directly, a venue that treats artists well gets first pick of the calendar.
Not ready to post publicly? You can also pitch an act directly from the artists directory or approach a room from the venues directory. However you start, the profile does the vouching so you don't have to.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to post a gig?+
No. Posting a gig and taking applications is free. A small commission applies only when a booking is paid through the platform, and Premium artists pay 0%.
How are the ratings verified?+
Every rating on a Jamma profile arrived attached to a real payment, a tip through the artist's QR or a paid gig, which makes fake volume expensive and traceable, unlike open review sites.
What if no one applies?+
Post earlier, widen the budget a little, and keep the brief specific but friendly. You can also pitch acts directly from the artists directory rather than waiting for applications.
