Gig Contract Checklist for Indian Musicians: Fees, TDS, Riders and Cancellations

General information, not legal or tax advice.

The essentials

• Parties: legal names, PAN, and who signs for the band.
• Date, venue, set length, soundcheck time.
• Fee: gross amount, whether GST is extra, advance % and balance due date.
• Travel, stay, food: who books and pays.
• Tech rider and stage plot attached as a schedule.

TDS: why your payment is short

Promoters often deduct TDS. For FY 2025-26, professional fees under Section 194J attract TDS (generally 10%) once aggregate payments to a resident exceed ₹50,000 in the year; some one-off performance contracts are instead treated as contract work under Section 194C. Note the Income-tax Act, 2025 takes effect from April 2026 and renumbers provisions — ask your CA which applies, and get Form 16A so you can claim the credit.

GST

State whether the fee is inclusive or exclusive of GST. See GST for musicians for thresholds and the folk/classical exemption.

Rights clauses

• Recording/streaming the set: allowed? paid extra? who owns footage?
• Name and likeness for promotion — limit to this event.
• Licensing: venue/promoter handles IPRS/PPL/Novex licences (explained) and permits (gigs & permits).

Cancellation and force majeure

Define what happens if the promoter cancels (advance non-refundable, kill fee), if you cancel, and for weather, permit or government orders. Indian contract law enforces agreed terms, so write them down.

Exclusivity / radius

If the promoter asks you not to play nearby within X days, make it reasonable and paid for.

Before you sign

• Email confirmation at minimum; signed PDF ideally.
• Invoice on your letterhead with bank details.
• Agents take commission — agree it separately (booking agents).