Questions, answered.

Browse vendors at /browse or submit a brief at /brief describing your event. Send an enquiry to a vendor you like. They respond with a quote (usually within 24–48 hours). You accept the quote - a binding booking agreement is generated. You pay a deposit (typically 50%) to confirm, then the balance before the event. After the event, you're prompted to review the vendor.

Client funds clear into Gigster (not directly to the vendor). For new vendors with fewer than 3 completed Gigster bookings, the deposit is held until 72 hours before the event - protection against ghost cancellations. For established vendors, the deposit is paid out 1–2 business days after receipt. The balance is held until 48 hours after the event (24 hours for Pro Plus vendors) so disputes can be raised before payout.

The vendor sets their own fee. Gigster adds a single commission on top - between 10% and 15% depending on the vendor's subscription tier - and the client sees one total. The commission is inclusive of card and EFT payment-processing fees. There are no hidden charges. If a Pro Booker (qualified booking agent) is involved, an additional 10% referral fee is added; this is disclosed before you accept the quote.

Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex via PayFast) and instant EFT. Both clear through Gigster. PayFast is South Africa's leading payment gateway and handles all card data - Gigster never sees your card details.

Each vendor sets their own cancellation policy, attached to the booking agreement before you pay. Typical policies are 50% retention 14+ days before the event and 100% retention within 7 days, but it varies by vendor. The policy is visible on the quote - read it before accepting. Gigster mediates disputes if there's genuine cause (e.g. no-show, late arrival, technical failure).

Yes. Reviews can only be submitted by clients who completed a confirmed Gigster booking. The platform automatically prompts the client to leave a review after the event. There is no way to write a review without a real booking, which is why Gigster reviews are generally more trustworthy than open-rated platforms.

Email support@thegigster.com as soon as practical (or within 48 hours of the event). Gigster mediates between client and vendor and can freeze the balance payout while the dispute is investigated. Common dispute grounds: no-show, late arrival, performance materially different from what was quoted, technical failure caused by the vendor. The booking agreement and quote set out what was agreed.

Any South Africa-based event services vendor. Apply at /vendor/apply. Each application is manually vetted by Gigster - typically within 24–48 hours. Vendors must have a professional online presence (website or social profiles), at least one piece of media (photo or video), and a working email address.

The Free tier is genuinely free - no listing fee, no per-booking fee on the marketplace. Gigster earns from the client-side commission. Pro is R299/month and Pro Plus is R499/month, both subscriptions add more photos, videos, categories, provinces, search ranking, and a lower marketplace commission rate (so the vendor's quoted price is more competitive on the client total). See the /join page for the full comparison.

Marketplace = vendors get inbound enquiries from clients browsing Gigster; Gigster takes a commission on the client total. Gigster Direct = vendors use Gigster's quote/contract/invoice/payment system with their own existing clients (clients sourced outside Gigster); Gigster takes zero commission. Both are included in every account. Most active vendors use both.

Deposit payout timing depends on the vendor's booking history (protection against new vendors taking deposits and ghosting): New (0–2 completed bookings) = held until 72 hours before event. Established (3–9) = 1–2 business days after received. Trusted (10+) = within 24 hours. Balance payout timing depends on subscription tier: Free = 7 days post-event, Pro = 48 hours, Pro Plus = 24 hours. Gigster Direct payouts are 2 business days regardless of either tier (or instant if EFT - funds go straight to the vendor's bank).

Vendors who already have a client should use Gigster Direct, where the commission is zero (subscription-funded). Taking a Gigster-sourced enquiry off-platform loses the vendor: the booking agreement, dispute protection, payment infrastructure, post-event review (which only counts when the booking ran on Gigster), and ranking signal. Most vendors find the trade-off isn't worth it.

Pro Bookers are qualified event-industry agents (PCOs, corporate bookers, wedding planners) who refer clients to vendors on Gigster. They earn a 10% referral fee on confirmed bookings - paid by the client (not deducted from the vendor). Applications are reviewed by Carina personally and require business verification. Apply at /become-a-pro-booker.

Gigster Direct is a turnkey back-office booking tool that any vendor can use with their own clients (clients sourced outside Gigster). The vendor gets AI-assisted quote creation, branded invoice and contract PDFs, online card or EFT payment, automatic payment reminders, and a post-event review request - all in one workflow. The client receives professional emails and a secure payment link and never needs a Gigster account. Learn more.

Direct is included in every Gigster subscription. Free vendors get one lifetime Direct booking. Pro (R299/month) includes 3 Direct bookings per billing cycle. Pro Plus (R499/month) includes unlimited Direct bookings. On card payments the client pays a 4% surcharge (3% PayFast pass-through + 1% Gigster service fee). On EFT, Gigster takes nothing - the client pays the vendor directly.

No. The client receives the invoice and booking agreement by email and pays via a secure link. They never need to create an account or log in.

Gigster is South Africa's event services marketplace. We connect people planning weddings, corporate events, conferences, awards, product launches and other live events with vetted vendors - musicians, bands, DJs, MCs, speakers, comedians, dancers, specialty performers, photographers, videographers, content creators, event planners, production and technical, styling and décor, hospitality, transport, security and more. Gigster also offers Gigster Direct, a turnkey booking system any vendor can use with their own clients.

All event service categories, organised into four groups: Live Entertainment (musicians, bands, DJs, comedians, dancers, specialty performers, digital and virtual acts), Speakers & Facilitators (MCs, hosts, keynote speakers, trainers, auctioneers), Creative & Media (photographers, videographers, voice artists, editors, graphic designers, content creators), and Event Services (production and technical, styling and décor, hospitality, transport, event planning, security, beauty, gifting). Browse the full list at /browse.

Gigster is South Africa-first - vendors are listed across all 9 SA provinces and pricing is in ZAR. Some Pro Plus vendors are also flagged as available internationally for clients booking SA talent for events abroad. There is no separate international platform; the same vendor profiles travel with the right tag.

Gigster Online (Pty) Ltd is a South African company founded by Carina Bruwer, who conceptualised the platform to bring trust, structure and modern payment infrastructure to the African live event industry. The technology stack is built from the ground up as a turnkey marketplace, payments and booking system - designed to scale beyond South Africa, and engineered with international partnership, white-label and acquisition opportunities in mind. For commercial enquiries, contact carina@gigster.co.za. For day-to-day support, support@thegigster.com.