Comps, Guest List, and How Free Tickets Affect Your Payout
Every free ticket comes out of the door you're splitting. The math on comps, and the numbers to agree on before the show.
By Team Roadi · Updated · 3 min read
Part of How Bands Get Paid: The Indie Band Money Guide, from The Indie Band Survival Guide.
Quick Reference
A comp is a complimentary ticket. A free entry. Every comp is one less paid ticket, which means every comp directly reduces the pool of money available for your payout.
If you're on a door deal, comps cost you money. Literally. Every person who walks in free is $10 or $12 or $15 that doesn't go into the gross door.
How Comps Work
The venue's guest list and your guest list are two separate things. Both reduce the paid count.
Venue comps: The venue puts people on the list. Staff, friends of the owner, press, local industry, other band members. You often have no visibility into how many of these there are.
Artist comps: You put people on the list. Friends, family, press, other musicians. You usually get a set number (2 to 6 is common for a small club show).
Why This Matters for Your Payout
Example: 80 people come to the show. 15 are on various guest lists (8 venue, 4 artist, 3 from the other band's list). Ticket price is $10.
- Without comps: 80 × $10 = $800 gross. Your 80% = $640.
- With 15 comps: 65 × $10 = $650 gross. Your 80% = $520.
That's $120 less because 15 people didn't pay. And on a night where you're splitting four ways, that's $30 per person. That's gas money.
What to Negotiate
Cap the comps. Get a number in the deal memo. "6 comps for the band, 6 comps for the venue" is clear. "Reasonable guest list" is not.
Ask whether venue comps count against your door. Sometimes the venue eats their own comps, meaning they don't reduce your gross. This is a real thing you can negotiate.
If there are multiple bands on the bill, clarify how comps are allocated. Are your 4 comps separate from the opening band's 4 comps? Or is there one shared pool? If the headliner put 20 people on the list and you're the opener splitting the door, those 20 free entries are costing you money.
Press and Industry Comps
Putting a local music writer or a booking agent on the guest list is a real investment. That one comp could lead to a review, a future booking, or a relationship worth more than $10. Use your comps strategically, not generously.
A music writer who comes to your show and writes about it is worth five paying fans in long-term value. A friend who comes every time and never pays is a different conversation.
The Bottom Line
Comps aren't free. They're paid for by the bands on the door deal. Know how many are going out, factor them into your expectations, and negotiate the terms in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a comp at a concert?
A comp is a complimentary ticket: free entry for someone on the guest list. Every comp is one less paid ticket, so on a door deal each comp directly lowers the money your percentage is calculated from.
How many comps does a band usually get?
At a small club show, 2 to 6 is common. The venue keeps its own separate list. Get both numbers in the deal memo, because "reasonable guest list" means something different to everyone.
Do venue comps count against the band's door?
Sometimes, and it's negotiable. Some venues absorb their own comps so they don't reduce your gross. On multi-band bills, also agree whether each band has its own comp allotment or everyone shares one pool.