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    FAQ

    Questions, answered

    BANDANA is a free platform where indie bands and independent venues run the same show from the same page — songs and set lists on one side, booking and advances on the other.

    The basics

    What is BANDANA?
    BANDANA is a free platform for indie bands and independent music venues. Bands use it for songs, lyrics and chords, set lists, rehearsal recordings, and scheduling. Venues use it for a shared booking calendar, gig advance pages, open mic sign-ups, and ticketing. Both sides meet on the same gig page.
    Is BANDANA free?
    Yes. Bands and venues use BANDANA for free, with no per-member charge and no trial clock. The only thing that costs money is ticketing, which adds a flat 25 cents per ticket plus Stripe's processing rate.
    Do I need to install an app?
    No. BANDANA runs in any modern browser on any device. There is also an iOS app that adds offline reading and background audio playback. About the iOS app
    How do I sign in?
    With a magic link sent to your email, or with Google. There are no passwords, and your account is created automatically the first time you sign in. Signing in

    Songs and set lists

    What is the best free app for building a set list?
    BANDANA's set list builder is free: drag songs into order, keep undecided songs in a separate maybe section, share a read-only link with subs and the venue, and export a PDF for the music stand. Set list builder
    Can I transpose chords into a different key?
    Yes. Transposing shifts every chord in a song by the same interval, up to twelve semitones in either direction. Slash chords move both the chord and the bass note, and the key badge updates automatically. Chord transposition
    How do I get lyrics and chords into BANDANA?
    Paste text, upload a file, or use AI extraction on a chord sheet. Imported content saves immediately, so nothing is lost to a mis-tap. Adding songs
    Can I share a song or set list with someone who has no account?
    Yes. Songs and set lists each have a public read-only share link that opens in any browser. This is the fastest way to get a sub ready. Sharing a song
    Can I print lyrics and chords?
    Yes. The PDF export renders chords above lyrics in a monospaced layout, in whatever key you are currently displaying. Exporting a PDF

    Rehearsals and recordings

    How do bands agree on a rehearsal time?
    Propose several candidate time slots on an event and let members vote. You can see exactly who voted for what, and each member's default availability is stored per band rather than globally. Scheduling and voting
    Can I record rehearsals in BANDANA?
    Yes. Record straight into a song from the inline mic, or upload audio from your phone. Recordings attach to the song, so they show up wherever that song appears. Recording rehearsals
    Does audio keep playing when I lock my phone?
    In the iOS app, yes — with lock-screen controls showing the song and set list.

    Gigs, venues, and booking

    What is a gig advance?
    Advancing a show means confirming logistics before the date: load-in and soundcheck, set times, backline, guest list, and contacts. BANDANA replaces the email thread with one shared page the venue and every band can edit their part of. Gig advances
    Can venues take booking requests through BANDANA?
    Yes. Venues mark which dates are open and publish a booking form — on their own website as an embed, or as a direct link. Requests only come in for dates that are actually available. Booking form embed
    Does approving a booking request create the show?
    No, and that is deliberate. Approving tells the band yes. The venue creates the gig separately, so nothing half-finished lands on a public calendar.
    Can I run an open mic or open jam with BANDANA?
    Yes. Recurring sessions generate automatically, performers sign up from their phones and submit songs, sign-ups lock on a window you set, and house band and play-with-others formats are supported. Open mic software
    Can I show my upcoming shows on my own website?
    Yes. Paste one embed snippet and your BANDANA calendar renders on your site, styled to match your venue and dropping shows once their day ends in your local time zone. Event calendar embed

    Ticketing

    What does BANDANA charge per ticket?
    A flat 25 cents per ticket, plus Stripe's standard processing rate charged by Stripe. BANDANA does not take a percentage of your ticket price and there is no monthly fee. BANDANA tix
    Where does the ticket money go?
    Directly into the venue's own connected Stripe account. BANDANA does not hold your balance.
    Can I use BANDANA tix today?
    Yes. BANDANA tix is available to any venue. Connect a Stripe account, and tickets sell from a page built out of the gig advance for a flat 25 cent BANDANA fee per ticket plus Stripe's standard processing rate.

    Access and data

    Does BANDANA work without internet?
    In the iOS app, content you have already opened — your dashboard, bands, set lists, songs, and events — stays readable offline. Editing requires a connection. Offline mode
    Can anyone find my band on BANDANA?
    No. Bands are private and invite-only. There is no public band directory and no discovery feed.
    Who can see a gig page?
    The venue staff working the show and the bands on the bill get the collaborative version. A read-only public version exists for anyone you share the link with.
    Can I delete my account?
    Yes, permanently, from your account settings. Deleting your account

    Need step-by-step instructions? Open the Help Center.

    Free to start. No card, no trial clock.

    BANDANA is free for bands and venues. Sign in with a magic link or Google and bring your bandmates along.

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