The short answer
For the example below, charge about $13 a ticket.
That covers $800 in costs for 80 people and leaves $200 profit; the break-even price is $10. With One Ticket’s booking fee passed on, buyers pay $14.25 and you receive $13 a ticket.
This is an example, not a quote or an average: use your own costs in the calculator below.
The example budget
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Venue hire | $400 |
| Sound engineer | $300 |
| Hosts’ travel | $100 |
| Total costs | $800 |
| People expected | 80 |
| Profit wanted | $200 |
Worked example
At $13 a ticket, what you receive and keep if fewer than 80 come:
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (40 people) | $520 | -$280 |
| Three quarters (60 people) | $780 | -$20 |
| All 80 people | $1,040 | $240 |
And at the prices either side:
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit at 80 people | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $11 | $12.21 | $80 | 73 people |
| $12 | $13.23 | $160 | 67 people |
| $13 | $14.25 | $240 | 62 people |
| $14 | $15.26 | $320 | 58 people |
| $15 | $16.28 | $400 | 54 people |
Try your own numbers
The calculator starts with the example’s figures: change any of them.
- Break-even price
- $10
- Suggested price
- $13
- Buyer pays
- $14.25
- You receive a ticket
- $13
Charge $13 a ticket. Buyers pay $14.25 with One Ticket’s booking fee, and you receive $13 a ticket. At 80 people you receive $1,040, $240 more than the $800 in costs.
If fewer people come
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (40 people) | $520 | -$280 |
| Three quarters (60 people) | $780 | -$20 |
| All 80 people | $1,040 | $240 |
Prices either side
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit if all come | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $11 | $12.21 | $80 | 73 people |
| $12 | $13.23 | $160 | 67 people |
| $13 | $14.25 | $240 | 62 people |
| $14 | $15.26 | $320 | 58 people |
| $15 | $16.28 | $400 | 54 people |
Tips for a live podcast recording
Listeners are paying to be in the room, so a modest price usually fills it. Say whether the audience may be heard on the recording.
More in the guide: How do I sell tickets for a live podcast recording?.
A refund policy to match: Refund policy template for a live podcast recording.
The booking fee
One Ticket adds a booking fee at checkout: $1.25 on a $13 ticket, paid by the buyer, so you receive the whole price. It is the same on every plan, free tickets carry none and the Free plan has no monthly cost. See One Ticket pricing.
Common questions
- How much should I charge for a live podcast recording?
- For the example budget on this page ($800 in costs for 80 people, $200 profit), about $13 a ticket. It is an example: use your own costs.
- What should a live podcast recording ticket cover?
- In this example: venue hire, sound engineer, hosts’ travel. Count the costs paid for each person apart from the ones paid once, and add any profit you want.
- What if fewer people come?
- At $13 a ticket the example makes a loss of $280 with 40 people and a loss of $20 with 60.
- Who pays the booking fee?
- The buyer, on top of the ticket price: $1.25 on a $13 ticket, so you receive the whole $13.