Musical soloist hire in Australia: the complete guide
One performer is the smallest live music booking that still feels live. There is a person in the room playing and singing, which is a different experience from a speaker on a stand, and for a lot of events that is exactly the right amount of music.
Everything on this page about what soloists charge is drawn from the performers listed on the site. Use it to work out what you are really buying, then ask a few directly. Asking costs nothing and no date is held until you say yes.
What one performer can and cannot do
A good soloist fills a room of a hundred people with a guitar, a voice and a decent PA. They can play softly under conversation, hold a crowd for a ceremony, and carry three hours without a break if the room needs it. For arrival music, dinner and a relaxed evening, one person is often better than four, because the volume never gets away from you.
Where a soloist struggles is a big late dance floor. One voice and one instrument can lift a hundred guests for a while, but sustaining a packed floor until midnight is a band's job. If dancing is the point of your night, a soloist is the wrong tool, and an honest performer will tell you so.
| City | Acts listed | From | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 135 | $350 | $400 |
| Perth | 129 | Enquire | Enquire |
| Sydney | 105 | $350 | $400 |
| Melbourne | 105 | $300 | $300 |
| Adelaide | 28 | $250 | $250 |
| Gold Coast | 19 | $300 | $350 |
| Sunshine Coast | 16 | $300 | $300 |
Live figures from the acts listed on this site right now. "From" is where the middle half of advertised starting prices begins and "Typical" is the median, never one act's figure and not a quote for your event. Prices appear only where at least three acts publish one.
Backing tracks are not cheating, but ask
Most soloists who play party songs run some backing: a drum and bass track under the live guitar and vocal so the songs have a floor. Done well you barely notice, and it turns one person into something much bigger. Done badly it sounds like karaoke with a guitar over the top.
So ask what is live and what is not, and then watch a video with the sound up. The performers who lean hardest on tracks usually say so happily, because their crowd wants the fuller sound. The ones who dodge the question are the ones to be careful with.
Soloist or duo
The second musician buys you harmony, a fuller sound and someone to keep playing when the other one needs water. It also roughly doubles the wage bill, and that shows in the quotes. For most background bookings the second person does not change the guest experience much, and the money is better spent on more hours.
For a wedding, the calculation flips. Ceremony, canapes and the early evening is a long stretch of playing for one person, and two performers carry it more comfortably. Get both quotes before deciding. Many acts list both configurations and will price them side by side in one email.
Where the soloists are
Queensland has the deepest list on this page, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast all carrying strong numbers, and the year round outdoor season is the obvious reason. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth follow close behind. Solo performers are also the most common kind of act in regional towns, because one person can make a living playing local venues in a way a five piece cannot.
That regional depth is useful. If you are planning something two hours from a capital, a soloist is usually the live music option with real local choice, so you are not paying someone to drive half a day.
Questions worth asking before you book
How long can you play in one stretch, and how many breaks do you need? What is live and what is backing? Do you bring a PA and a microphone for speeches? Can I send a short list of songs I would like heard, and how many can you cover? And have you played an event this size before?
The speech microphone question is the sleeper. A soloist already has a microphone and a speaker, so lending it for the toasts is usually a small favour rather than a hire cost, but only if you ask before the day.
Top picks in Australia
Top picks are the acts in this category across Australia, with the most visible client reviews first, then rating; premium listings break remaining ties.
Booking tips
Buy hours, not headcount
With a fixed budget, one performer for four hours usually beats two performers for two. Music across the whole event does more for a room than a bigger sound for half of it.
Say what the music is for
Background under conversation and a singalong for a 60th are different skills. Name the job in your enquiry and the reply tells you quickly whether they do it.
Check the ceremony gear separately
An outdoor ceremony with no power needs a battery powered speaker. Ask whether they own one rather than assuming the same rig works everywhere.