How to Start a Function Band (2026 Guide for Musicians)
Hello everyone, this is Paul from FixTheMusic. Over the years, I've set up a few different bands, including The Charmers, and I currently manage Party Sax & DJ.
Between us, we’ve helped hundreds of bands get booked for weddings, parties and corporate events across the UK and Europe.
This post is part of our new how-to series, where we share practical advice for musicians who want to build successful bands and get bookings through FixTheMusic.
Today we're talking about how to start a function band.
This guide is for:
- Musicians starting their first function band
- Existing bands who want better bookings and higher fees
- Recent graduates or semi-pro musicians looking to turn gigging into paid work
- Singers or instrumentalists putting a new line-up together
If you’re a musician, singer, guitarist, drummer or a group of friends who’ve recently finished university — or you’re already gigging and want more bookings — this guide will help you get started.
Quick summary: how to start a function band
- Choose your style and genre
- Build your line-up
- Plan your repertoire
- Set a budget
- Organise your promo video shoot
- Write your band bio
- Create your FixTheMusic profile
What Is a Function Band?
A function band, sometimes called a cover band or wedding band, performs live music at private and corporate events. The repertoire usually includes popular genres like pop, soul, funk, Motown and rock; the kind of music guests recognise and love to dance to.
Step 1: Choose Your Style and Genre
The first step is to decide what kind of band you want to be.
Ask yourself:
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Do you want to play a mix of styles or focus on one genre?
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Will your sound lean more towards indie rock, garage, R&B, hip hop, pop or Motown?
Your style will guide everything else you do, from song choices to image and marketing.
Step 2: Build Your Line-Up
Once you’ve chosen your genre, start putting your line-up together.
If you’re a singer, you might need to find musicians. If you’re a guitarist or drummer, you might be looking for a vocalist or keyboard player.
Think about the instrumentation that fits your genre and the types of events you want to play. If your music relies on electronic sounds, make sure you have musicians who can recreate those elements live so your performance sounds as authentic as possible.
Paul breaks down how to choose the right line-up for a function band, including common mistakes that stop bands getting booked:
Step 3: Plan Your Repertoire
Next, choose your songs.
Pick tracks that suit your singer’s voice, match your genre and show off the band’s strengths. If you’re creating a promo video or medley, focus on your strongest material — the songs most likely to impress potential clients.
Only include songs you can perform confidently. It’s better to have a smaller set of songs you can perform well than a long list of tracks you haven’t properly rehearsed.
Step 4: Set a Budget
Decide early how much money you’re prepared to invest at the start.
Talk openly about:
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Who will pay for what
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How you’ll split future income
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How you’ll handle ongoing costs
Your budget should include money for a video shoot, photos and any audio recordings you need.
For photos, outdoor locations can work well. If you’re in London, good spots include Borough Market, the Thames or London Bridge; somewhere that reflects where your band is based.
For the video, you’ll probably need an indoor space, so shop around for venues and videographers. You’ll also need to decide whether to record the audio live during the shoot or in advance.
Many bands record at home and send tracks to an engineer or producer, which can save money.
Step 5: Organise the Video Shoot
Once your audio is ready and the shoot date is set, make sure everyone knows the plan.
Confirm:
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What to wear
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Where to be and when
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Who’s bringing makeup or doing touch-ups
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Details for the videographer and venue
Bring snacks and water. Shoots can be long days, and it helps to keep everyone comfortable and performing at their best.
In 2026, most clients will watch your promo video on their phone, often with the sound on, so the first 10 seconds really matter. Make sure the opening shots look great, the audio is clear straight away and the energy is high from the start.
When planning your promo, make sure you create an unbranded version of the video. Avoid visible logos on drum kits, clothing, backline gear or anything in the background. This ensures the video can be used across multiple platforms and keeps your promo looking clean, professional and suitable for all types of clients.
Step 5b: Sort Your Equipment and Transport
Professional function bands are self-contained. You need your own PA system, lighting rig and reliable transport to get your gear to gigs. Most wedding venues require bands to have public liability insurance and PAT-tested equipment. Make sure you have both before your first booking.
Think carefully about transport. Getting a full band and its equipment to a wedding venue on a Saturday afternoon requires reliable vehicles and good logistics planning. Sort this out before you start taking bookings, not after.
If you are just starting out and do not yet have all your own equipment, some venues have in-house PA systems or you can hire locally. Factor these costs into your quotes.
Step 6: Write Your Band Bio and Gather Materials
While you wait for the photos and video edits, work on your band biography.
We don’t recommend relying solely on AI for band bios. They often sound generic and impersonal. Instead, write it together as a band. Keep it short, personal and honest about your experience and style.
You’ll also need:
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A full repertoire list
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Audio recordings
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Professional photos
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A high-quality unbranded promo video
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A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs)
FAQs are especially useful. Clients appreciate quick answers to common questions before reaching out, and it shows professionalism.
In this video, Paul explains what actually makes a function or wedding band bookable, from line-up choices to promo quality and communication.
Step 7: Create Your FixTheMusic Profile
Once you have everything ready, we can help you set up your FixTheMusic profile.
We’ll need:
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One high-definition unbranded promo video
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At least six professional photos
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A detailed biography
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A full repertoire list and set list
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Audio recordings and FAQs
The more detail you include, the better your chances of attracting bookings.
Remember, your video is the most important part of your profile. Most clients, especially those planning destination weddings, can’t see you live, so your video sells your band. You don’t need to spend thousands, but make sure you hire the right people for the budget you have.
Step 8: Getting Your First Bookings
Your first few bookings are the hardest. Clients rely heavily on reviews and video quality, so early on you may need to accept slightly lower fees to build your track record. Once you have three or four strong verified reviews, enquiries become much easier to convert.
Respond to every enquiry as quickly as possible. Bands that reply within the hour are significantly more likely to get booked than those that take a day or more. Keep your communication professional and clear. Many clients are planning one of the biggest days of their lives and they need to feel confident in you.
Word of mouth is powerful in this industry. Wedding planners, venue coordinators and photographers all have regular contact with couples. Building good relationships with these suppliers can generate consistent referrals over time.
Platforms like FixTheMusic handle the booking and payment process securely, which helps build trust with clients who have never seen you perform live.
Before You Launch Your Band
Before putting your band live on FixTheMusic or sending out quotes, make sure you have the basics in place.
- A tight 2–4 minute unbranded promo video
- At least six strong, professional photos
- A clear repertoire list and example set list
- Agreed fees, deps and payment structure within the band
- One person responsible for handling enquiries and bookings
Getting these details right early will save time, avoid confusion and help you come across as professional from the start.
And once the bookings start coming in, the next step is learning how to operate professionally on the day, including how to work smoothly with suppliers like photographers.
How to Set Your Fees
Research what bands at a similar level are charging in your area before setting your rates.
On FixTheMusic, wedding bands in the UK typically charge between £800 and £2,500 for a standard evening booking, with higher fees for peak dates, larger line-ups and destination events.
Agree upfront within the band how fees will be split. Will it be equal shares? Will the bandleader or booker take a larger cut? Will deps be paid a flat rate or a percentage? Getting this agreed in writing before your first booking avoids difficult conversations later.
As your reviews and reputation build, your fees should rise. Bands that invest in better promo, communicate professionally and deliver consistently strong performances can command significantly higher fees over time.
Using Deputies (Deps)
Most professional function bands use a pool of deputy musicians to cover for band members who are unavailable or ill. This is standard practice in the industry and allows you to accept more bookings without turning work away.
Build relationships with reliable deps early. Introduce them to your repertoire and make sure they have access to your promo materials and set lists.
Clients book the band they see in the video. If a key member changes, communicate this clearly and make sure the dep is up to the same standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do function bands make?
Function bands can earn anywhere from £800 to £2,500 per event, depending on the size of the band, location, experience and type of event.
Top professional function bands on FixTheMusic often earn between £1,500 and £8,000 for weddings and corporate bookings, especially for weekend events or international performances.
Keep in mind that this fee is usually split between the band members, and sometimes covers travel, equipment and rehearsal costs. Bands that invest in high-quality promo materials, professional communication and reliable live performance standards tend to secure the most consistent work and higher-paying gigs.
You can read more in our article about how much the average wedding band costs in the UK.
How much would it cost to start a band?
Starting a function band typically costs between £500 and £2,000, depending on your approach and resources.
Here’s a rough breakdown:
- Promo video and audio recording: £300–£1,000
- Professional photos: £150–£400
- Rehearsal space: £50–£150
- Marketing materials and setup (like a FixTheMusic profile): free to low-cost
If you already have recording gear or know someone who can help with mixing or filming, you can reduce your costs significantly.
The key is to make smart investments that present your band professionally from the start.
How many songs does a function band need to know?
Most wedding bands perform two 45 to 60 minute sets, which typically require 30 to 40 songs. However, having a broader repertoire of 60 to 80 songs gives you more flexibility to read the room and adapt to different crowds.
How long does it take to start getting bookings?
Most bands on FixTheMusic receive their first enquiries within a few weeks of going live, assuming their promo video and profile are strong. Converting those enquiries into confirmed bookings depends heavily on how quickly you respond and how professional your communication is.
Final Thoughts
That’s a quick overview of how to start a function band from our perspective at FixTheMusic.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at hello@fixthemusic.com.
When you’re ready, send us your latest unbranded promo video, and we’ll be in touch about setting up your band profile.
