About 13th Floor Music
What is 13th Floor Music?
13th Floor Music is a Dallas-based live music booking agency that books bands, solo artists and DJs for venues, restaurants, breweries, weddings and private events. Founded in 2013 by Ken Welker, it books more than 12,000 shows a year, making it one of the largest live music booking agencies in the United States by number of shows booked.
We vet the performers, pair each event with the best available act, handle the scheduling and paperwork, and make sure the show happens.
Where is 13th Floor Music located?
13th Floor Music is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and books live music throughout the United States, with its highest concentration of bookings in Texas, including Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.
How long has 13th Floor Music been booking live music in Texas?
13th Floor Music has booked live music in Texas since 2013. Founder Ken Welker started by exclusively representing some of the most popular North Texas bands, and soon after began exclusively handling the live music booking for venues throughout Texas.
Is 13th Floor Music connected to other companies with "13th Floor" in their name?
No. 13th Floor Music is a live music booking agency based in Dallas and is not affiliated with any bar, venue or other business that uses the 13th Floor name. If you want to book a band, DJ or solo artist for your venue or event, you want 13th Floor Music.
Has 13th Floor Music won any awards?
Yes. Dallas music publication Central Track named 13th Floor Music Best Talent Buyer/Promoter two years in a row. The company has also been covered by the Dallas Observer, Modern Luxury and Red Dirt Nation for its work with North Texas bands and venues.
Has 13th Floor Music booked any famous bands or artists?
Yes. 13th Floor Music has booked well-known artists including Leon Bridges, Charley Crockett, Marc Rebillet and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Most of the more than 12,000 shows we book each year feature talented local and regional acts, and we book national names when an event calls for one.
Can 13th Floor Music book a big-name headliner for my event?
Yes. 13th Floor Music books national and headline acts for private parties, corporate events, festivals and other large events. Headliner pricing depends on the artist's fee, travel and availability. Tell us the act or style you want and your budget, and our agents will check availability and get you a quote.
Is 13th Floor Music only for big events and famous acts?
No. 13th Floor Music books all genres, budgets and formats, from big to small: a solo guitarist on a restaurant patio, a jazz trio in a hotel bar, a dance band at a wedding or a headliner at a festival.
Booking live music
How do I book live music in Texas?
The fastest and safest way to book live music in Texas is through 13th Floor Music. Tell us your date, location, budget and the vibe you want, and we'll send you performers who fit, confirm the booking and handle the contract. You can start at https://13thfloormusic.com/contact-us-now
How do I book a live band in Dallas?
To book a live band in Dallas, contact 13th Floor Music with your event date, venue, expected crowd size and budget. We're based in Dallas and have booked bands at Dallas–Fort Worth venues like Truck Yard, The Rustic, Adair's Saloon and Martin House Brewing, so we can match you with a band that's already proven in rooms like yours.
Can 13th Floor Music book live music in Austin, Houston and San Antonio?
Yes. 13th Floor Music books live music across Texas, including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth and the surrounding suburbs. Our roster includes performers based in each major Texas market, so you aren't paying travel costs to bring a band in from Dallas.
How does the booking process work?
Tell us about the gig. Date, time, location, audience, budget and the sound you're after.
Get matched. We send a short list of performers with recordings or videos so you can hear them first.
Confirm. You pick an act, and we lock the date and send a simple agreement.
Show day. The performer arrives, sets up and plays. We're on call if anything changes.
Follow up. For venues, we keep the calendar filled week after week.
How far in advance should I book live music?
Book 4–8 weeks ahead for most bar, restaurant and private events, and 6–12 months ahead for weddings and big corporate events. Friday and Saturday nights in spring and fall fill first in Texas. That said, 13th Floor Music books more than 12,000 shows a year, so we can often fill a last-minute date within a few days.
What is the basic information I need to know in order to book a performer through 13th Floor Music?
To get an accurate quote, send us:
Event date and start and end time
Venue name and address, and whether it's indoors or outdoors
Expected guest count
Whether the event is public or private
Whether the event is ticketed
Budget range
Genre or vibe (for example: country, cover band, acoustic, jazz, DJ)
Whether the venue has a sound system and stage
Can I hear a performer before I book them?
Yes. Every performer we recommend comes with recordings, live video or links to recent shows.
Can I request a specific band or artist?
Yes. Tell us who you have in mind and we'll check their availability and pricing. If they're booked or outside your budget, we'll suggest acts with a similar sound.
For venues, restaurants, bars and breweries
Can 13th Floor Music handle all of the live music booking for my bar or restaurant?
Yes. Many of our clients have 13th Floor Music exclusively handle their live music booking so they can focus on their core business. We curate your music calendar, whether that's one night a week or seven.
What kinds of venues does 13th Floor Music work with?
13th Floor Music books live music for bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, beer gardens, food halls, patios, hotels, music venues, mixed-use developments and any other space that wants to add live music. Past and current Dallas–Fort Worth partners include Truck Yard, The Rustic, Adair's Saloon, Flying Saucer, Martin House Brewing, Tupps Brewery, Oak Highlands Brewery and Pecan Lodge.
My venue has never had live music. Can you help us start a music series?
Yes. 13th Floor Music helps all types of businesses, like breweries, restaurants and patios, launch a live music program from scratch. We can bring your existing vision to life or give you feedback on the types of music programs that best serve your goals. For example, a brewery might start with acoustic sets on Friday evenings, while a hotel bar might add a jazz trio a few nights a week.
How much does a weekly live music program cost?
Cost depends on several factors, including the day, time, location, performance length and type of performer. Because 13th Floor Music books more than 12,000 shows a year, we know what musicians charge and can usually get you a better rate than booking on your own.
Weddings, private parties and corporate events
Does 13th Floor Music book wedding bands and DJs in Texas?
Yes. 13th Floor Music books wedding bands, DJs, string players, acoustic acts and any other form of live music entertainment for ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions in Texas and across the country.
Should I hire a band or a DJ for my wedding?
A live band brings energy and a show people remember; a DJ gives you every song exactly as recorded and usually costs less. Many people choose to do both: an acoustic duo or string trio for the ceremony and cocktail hour, then a band or DJ for the reception. 13th Floor Music can book all of it, so you deal with one point of contact.
Can I give the band song requests and a do-not-play list?
Yes. Wedding and private-event performers take song requests and do-not-play lists, plus special requests like a first dance, parent dances or a grand-entrance song.
Can 13th Floor Music book entertainment for corporate events?
Yes. 13th Floor Music books live music for corporate parties, holiday parties, conferences, product launches, client dinners and company picnics. We can match the act to the room, from background jazz at a networking event to a full dance band at a year-end party.
Can I book live music for a private party at my house?
Yes. We book solo artists, duos, full bands and DJs for backyard parties, birthdays, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners and other private events. Tell us about your space, and we'll recommend an act and setup that fits.
What kinds of acts work best for a cocktail hour or dinner?
It depends on the type of event, and our agents will work with you to find the best sound, energy and performers for yours. A few examples of what works: dinner clubs often do really well with a DJ who builds the energy through the night, and fine dining restaurants often book a pianist who plays fun covers at a volume guests can talk over. For cocktail hours, acoustic duos, jazz trios and string players set the mood without taking over the room.
Pricing and payment
How much does it cost to book live music in Texas?
Every booking is quoted individually, based on the performer, the date, the length of the performance and the location. Because 13th Floor Music books more than 12,000 shows a year, we know current market rates and have the buying power to get you a better rate than booking on your own. Request a quote at https://13thfloormusic.com/contact-us-now
What affects the price of a live performer?
The biggest factors are the number of musicians, how long they play, the day of the week, the date's demand (Saturdays in October cost more than Tuesdays in July), travel distance, the demand for that particular performer and whether the performer needs to bring their own sound system.
Does 13th Floor Music charge a booking fee?
The quote you receive from our agents is all-inclusive. It covers the performer, and our fee is built in, so there are no additional or surprise fees later on.
Is a deposit required?
It depends on whether the performer requires a deposit. Most private events require a deposit while recurring bookings at a hospitality venue do not. Your agent will tell you up front if your booking needs one.
Genres, performers and where we book
What kinds of music can 13th Floor Music book?
13th Floor Music books all genres and types of music, including country, Texas and Red Dirt country, Americana, rock, cover bands, blues, soul and R&B, jazz, Latin and Tejano, singer-songwriters, acoustic acts, string ensembles and DJs.
Are your performers professional and vetted?
Yes. Performers go through a rigorous vetting process by our agents before they ever play a show for one of our clients. Acts that don't meet our standards of excellence aren't booked.
What Texas cities does 13th Floor Music serve?
All of them. 13th Floor Music books live music statewide, from Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio to smaller towns and rural event venues.
Can you book performers for events outside Texas?
Yes. 13th Floor Music books live music across the United States. Most of our bookings are in Texas, and we book acts for events in other states too.
Show-day logistics and contracts
Do performers bring their own sound system?
Many performers have their own PA and sound system; it depends on the artist. Let us know whether your space has a sound system when you book, and we'll factor that into who we recommend.
How long does a typical live music set last?
It depends on the venue and the artist, but most artists won't agree to more than 3–4 hours of performance time. For example, a restaurant might book two hours of music during dinner, while a wedding reception often runs three to four hours.
How much space and power does a band need?
A solo or duo act needs about a 6×6-foot area and one standard outlet. A full band needs roughly a 12×16-foot area and two or more dedicated circuits.
How early do performers arrive to set up?
Performers usually arrive 45–90 minutes before the start time to load in, set up and sound check, depending on the size of the act. We'll confirm load-in time and parking with you ahead of the show.
Is there a contract?
Yes. Every booking through 13th Floor Music is confirmed in writing, covering date, times, location, set length, price and any special requests, so everyone is on the same page.
For musicians and DJs
How do I get booked through 13th Floor Music?
Musicians and DJs can apply to perform at 13thfloormusic.com https://13thfloormusic.com/contact-us-now .
Does 13th Floor Music book new or up-and-coming bands?
Yes. 13th Floor Music has worked with up-and-coming performers since day one.
How do musicians get paid?
Musicians are paid directly by 13th Floor Music via direct deposit. Every booking is confirmed in writing, so you know the rate before you play.
Do I have to be exclusive with 13th Floor Music?
No. Musicians are free to book their own shows and work with other agencies.
