Before the first gig: payout setup
Do this once, not on show night:- Organization — add a payout funding method under organization Settings → Payments. ACH-funded payouts are free to the organization (Soundcheck absorbs the fee); card-funded runs show the platform fee before you confirm. Bank accounts show a verification badge — only a Verified account can fund ACH runs.
- Members — each person you’ll pay completes payout onboarding from their profile. A member with a verified bank account is payable by direct deposit from day one.
The flow
1
Mark the gig Completed
Once the show has happened, flip the status picker in the gig header from Active to Completed. This moves the gig out of active operations and into closeout — delivery is done, the money isn’t yet.
2
Work the close-out checklist
Open the gig’s Closeout tab. The checklist tracks the business back-half: contract signed, quote approved, deposit received, invoice sent, payment received, feedback logged. If your organization enforces close-out gates, the blocking steps lock Settle until they’re complete — the lock message tells you exactly what’s missing (“Locked until the invoice is sent”).
3
Capture reviews
Closeout is also where you rate the event, the venue, and the crew. These become part of the gig’s permanent history and the reputation record that follows people and venues across future gigs.
4
Run the payouts
From the gig’s Finances tab, review the payables — every accepted invitation and crew offer with a fee. Select who to pay, choose the funding method (ACH for free runs, card when speed matters), and confirm. Payouts move Processing → Paid as they settle; ACH takes longer than card, which is normal. Members paid outside Soundcheck (cash, checks) can be recorded as paid manually so the ledger stays truthful.
5
Mark the gig Settled
When every payable has cleared and the checklist is done, flip the status to Settled. That’s the final state: everyone’s been paid, the books are closed, and the gig is a complete, verified record. The tour roll-up and your finance totals now reflect real money.
Common pitfalls
Settle is greyed out with "Settle all payouts in Finances first"
Settle is greyed out with "Settle all payouts in Finances first"
At least one payable is unpaid or still processing. Open the Finances tab, find the outstanding rows, and either run the payout or record it as paid manually. Settlement is blocked by design until nothing is owed — you can’t close the books on a gig someone’s still owed money on.
Settle is locked with "Complete N close-out steps first"
Settle is locked with "Complete N close-out steps first"
Your organization enforces close-out gates and blocking steps are incomplete. Finish them on the Closeout tab — or, if the books genuinely need to close early, an owner or admin can use Override & settle, which logs a reason. The override skips the checklist, never the payouts.
A member shows as ineligible in the payout run
A member shows as ineligible in the payout run
They haven’t completed payout onboarding, haven’t accepted their invitation, or were already paid. The payout review shows the reason per row — fix the setup and re-run; eligible members can be paid without waiting for stragglers.
The checklist doesn't lock anything for us
The checklist doesn't lock anything for us
Enforcement is an organization opt-in (Enforce close-out gates in organization settings) and applies to gigs created after it’s enabled — existing gigs stay tracking-only. Until it’s on, the checklist is a shared to-do list, not a gate.
The gig was cancelled — do I still close it out?
The gig was cancelled — do I still close it out?
No. Cancelled is a terminal state outside the lifecycle — a called-off show never needs the checklist or settlement. Payouts not yet initiated are stopped when you cancel.
Why bother settling?
Every settled gig is a verified record: who worked, what they were owed, and that they were paid. That record powers your finance roll-ups (including per-tour totals), keeps year-end accounting honest, and builds the work history that follows your crew from gig to gig.Related
Post-event closeout
The checklist, gates, and reviews in depth.
Gig payments
Funding methods, fees, and payout statuses.
Event lifecycle
Every state a gig moves through.
Gigs FAQ
Quick answers on statuses and cancellation.