The Basics
How to send an Encore Pay+ invoice
How is Encore Pay+ different to Encore Pay?
Pay+ is a service that lets you use Encore’s smart payment tools for any of your own bookings.
This is completely separate from Encore Pay, which is used for bookings you win through Encore (either by applying for a “job” or receiving a “direct enquiry” from a customer). Although they share some similar features, these are two separate services.
Why is there a charge to use Encore Pay+?
Unfortunately, handling payments from debit and credit cards isn’t free (we wish it was!) Our small handling fee of 4.7% covers the costs issued by our card processors and enables us to keep the service running.
What are the benefits of using Pay+ over my normal payment method?
One of the main benefits of Pay+ is security, for both you and your client.
Security: Although the vast majority of bookings go ahead without incident, many musicians are familiar with the pain of a non-paying (or extremely slow) client! With Encore Pay+, you can go to your gig knowing that the money is held safe and will be transferred to your account shortly afterwards. And the client can be assured that the money is held securely and can be refunded in the unlikely event of you cancelling.
Deposits: your client only needs to complete our simple checkout process once, and we’ll automatically handle the deposit and final payments when they’re due.
Musician replacement service: in the unlikely event you need to cancel, our expert support team will step in and help find a great alternative - even for same-day cancellations!
Simpler tax returns: no-one enjoys their annual tax returns, but using Pay+ for all your bookings means all your payment data is stored securely in one place, so you can simply download all the right info as a spreadsheet whenever you need it.
Do I still need to use a contract for a Pay+ booking?
Yes - although Pay+ offers some protections in the event of cancellation, we do not establish or enforce a contract between you and your client, so we strongly recommend using your own (amended as necessary to explain the 30% deposit included as standard with Pay+). We’re exploring the possibility of helping with contracts in the future, so watch this space!
Cancellations
What happens if my client cancels on me?
With Encore Pay+, you’re covered by our standard cancellation policy. This means you’ll typically still receive the deposit (unless the cancellation is within the first 48 hours), and in some cases may be due an additional payment. If you reach an alternative agreement with your client, we can also provide a manual transfer of funds - just get in touch with our team and we’ll be able to help.
What happens if I need to cancel a booking taken through Pay+?
No problem - with Encore Pay+ your client is in safe hands. In the first instance, be sure to notify both your client and us as soon as you can confirm the cancellation. We’ll then speak to your client and arrange to book an alternative musician for their event. We’ll also handle the re-routing of payments, and in some cases you may need to send your deposit back to us or the client.
Payment
Which payment methods are supported for my client?
Encore Pay+ supports all major card providers (excluding Amex).
Will I receive a deposit if I use Pay+?
Yes - your client will be asked to pay 30% upfront to secure the booking, unless the event is within 1 month (in which case full payment is required). You will typically receive the deposit within 5 working days of their payment, but we’ll keep you updated via email.
When will I receive the full fee from my client?
As with Encore Pay bookings, your client will be charged the full fee (less any deposit paid) 1 month before the event. The payment will be held securely until shortly after the event, and you’ll typically receive it to your account within 5 working days of the event.
Can I use Pay+ to take payment for anything other than a single performance?
Although we designed Pay+ to be used for single performances, you are welcome to make use of it for any other musical services you find it helpful for. If you find Pay+ useful in this way, we’d love to hear from you and talk about how you’re using it! Send an email to our Musician Support team at [email protected], or use the chat feature on the platform to start a conversation with our team.
If a client finds me through Encore, can I take the booking using Pay+?
Unfortunately, we do not permit Pay+ to be used for Encore bookings. Winning you a booking through Encore takes a huge amount of time and money, much of which is often unseen. We typically pay to find customers who are booking music, and then spend time on the phone helping them to choose and book a great musician. These costs, along with the expense of running a large bookings website and providing support for your customers, mean that it’s important our service fee is applied to all bookings generated through Encore.