How it works
Funded before the event. Released on a fixed trigger, not on trust.
The organization funds the booking when it's confirmed. Standby holds it, neither side can touch it, until the event wraps. Here's exactly how that works.
1
Org funds the booking
Payment is captured via Stripe the moment a booking is confirmed, for the full agreed amount. No second charge later, no invoice to chase.
2
Standby holds it in escrow
The money sits with Standby, not the org and not the talent, for the length of the booking. Either side can open a dispute if something goes wrong, that freezes the funds until Standby resolves it.
3
Funds release when the event wraps
Once the booking is marked complete, a 7-day dispute window runs. If nobody opens a dispute, the payout releases automatically to the talent's Stripe account at the end of that window.
Questions
- When does the org actually pay?
- The moment a booking is confirmed. Standby captures the full amount via Stripe and holds it in escrow. The organization's card isn't charged again later, and the talent isn't paid before the event happens.
- Who holds the money while the event is happening?
- Standby, via Stripe. Not the organization, and not the talent. Neither side can access the funds until the release trigger fires.
- What releases the funds to talent?
- The event finishing. Once the booking is marked complete, a 7-day dispute window opens; if nobody opens a dispute, funds release automatically to the talent's connected Stripe account at the end of that window.
- What if the organization or talent has a problem?
- Either side can open a dispute within 7 days of the event ending. That freezes the escrowed funds until Standby resolves it, nothing is released or refunded while a dispute is open. Full terms are on the Dispute Policy page.
- What if the event is cancelled or postponed?
- Refund terms scale with notice given: full refund (including the 8% fee) more than 7 days out, a 50/50 split 3–7 days out, and the talent keeps the full booking amount inside 3 days, since they turned down other work to hold the date. Full terms are on the Refund & Cancellation Policy page.
- What does Standby charge?
- A flat 8% platform fee on the booking amount. No subscription, no listing fee, no separate payout fee.