Can you imagine a good show without music?
From theater to variety shows and stand up comedy, music plays important role in supporting your production.
Hi, I’m Mik, one of TunePocket composers and sound designers. I went though our growing catalog of royalty free music and sounds and picked some of the best music and short sound bits that should work for wide range of live entertainment.
Watch the video below for a quick overview or jump straight to the music for live shows and performances playlist.
Not sure what music style fits your show?
Read my music recommendations for various live show types and performances.
How to choose music for shows and performances?
Live shows encompass a wide variety of performance types, including comedy (stand-up, improv, sketch), theater (drama, experimental plays, monologues), dance (ballet, cultural, contemporary), and physical acts (circus, stunt shows, parkour).
Also don’t forget about interactive experiences like murder mysteries and escape rooms, storytelling (spoken word, poetry readings), and educational or cultural events (lectures, traditional ceremonies).
The best type of music for live shows and performances depends on several factors, including the audience, venue, and performance context.
Related: How to legally use music during live shows and performances
Here are some factors to consider:
Audience Demographics
Know the age group, cultural background, and general preferences of your audience.
Venue Size and Acoustics
Larger venues often benefit from powerful, amplified music, while smaller spaces might require acoustic or softer sounds.
Theme or Purpose
Match the music to the event’s vibe (e.g., high-energy music for celebrations, mellow tones for somber occasions).
Flexibility
Being able to adapt your set based on audience reactions can make the performance more impactful.
You can benefit from having unlimited access to a large collection of pre-cleared music that you can download and use on the spot during a commercial live show (no need for additional performance license!).
For live shows that take place in public spaces or venues we recommend using music not associated with any performance rights organization (like ASCAP, BMI, and similar) to eliminate the need for a pricey public performance license.
Here are some of my recommendation based on your experience providing music for live entertainment:
-
Comedy Shows
Upbeat, quirky, or jazzy instrumental tracks.
Lighthearted, playful, and energetic mood.
Short cues (10–30 seconds) for transitions or punchlines.
Examples include swing, funk, or modern acoustic.
-
Theatrical Performances
Orchestral, ambient, or cinematic music tailored to the story’s tone.
Dynamic mood shifts to reflect the narrative (tense, whimsical, eerie).
Background music can last several minutes; transitions may use short bursts.
Examples include classical pieces or minimalist soundscapes.
-
Dance Performances
Classical, electronic, or traditional music depending on the dance style.
Graceful, intense, joyful, or dramatic mood to match choreography.
Entire tracks (3–10 minutes) accompany routines, with shorter segments for transitions.
Examples include Tchaikovsky, world music, or synth-heavy tracks.
-
Circus and Physical Performances
Upbeat orchestral, cinematic, or eclectic genres (e.g., gypsy jazz, techno).
Energetic and suspenseful mood to highlight stunts or create wonder.
Continuous background tracks (3–7 minutes) or crescendos for dramatic moments.
Examples include drum-heavy beats or playful brass for clown acts.
-
Storytelling and Literary Performances
Soft acoustic, ambient, or instrumental classical music.
Gentle and introspective mood to complement spoken words.
Typically short (1–3 minutes) for intros or as background.
Examples include solo piano, harp, or subtle electronic pads.
-
Audience-Interactive Shows
Light, repetitive tunes or game show-style jingles.
Upbeat and engaging mood to maintain energy and audience focus.
Short clips (10–30 seconds) for transitions or celebratory moments.
Examples include cheery synths, funky basslines, or carnival-style music.
-
Educational and Informational Shows
Minimalist, ambient, or classical music.
Neutral and non-intrusive mood to maintain focus on the content.
Background loops (2–5 minutes) or short intros/outros (10–20 seconds).
Examples include gentle strings, piano, or light percussion.
-
Comedy and Satire
Jazzy, funky, or exaggerated orchestral music.
Playful or ironic mood to underscore humor or parody.
Short snippets (10–30 seconds) for comedic timing or full tracks (2–3 minutes).
Examples include whimsical accordion, bouncy piano, or comedic brass.
-
Drag and Burlesque
Glamorous pop, cabaret, or retro jazz music.
Bold, seductive, and high-energy mood to match dramatic performances.
Full-length tracks (3–5 minutes) for individual numbers or shorter clips for entrances.
Examples include sultry saxophone for burlesque or empowering anthems for drag.
-
Sports and Physical Performances
High-energy electronic, rock, or cinematic music.
Exciting and adrenaline-pumping mood to amplify intensity.
Continuous tracks (5–7 minutes) or shorter highlights (1–3 minutes).
Examples include drum-heavy electronic or electric guitar riffs.
-
Cultural and Religious Shows
Traditional or spiritual music tied to the cultural or religious context.
Reverent, celebratory, or reflective mood to suit the occasion.
Full ceremonial tracks (3–10 minutes) or background loops.
Examples include native flutes, chanting, or regional folk instruments.
-
Variety and Circus
Eclectic mixes depending on the acts (e.g., jazz for acrobats, carnival tunes for clowns).
Energetic, whimsical, or dramatic mood.
Short bursts (30 seconds) or continuous medleys (5–10 minutes).
Examples include playful polka or suspenseful crescendos.
Examples of music that can be used during a live show or performance
When you join TunePocket, you get unlimited access to our entire collection of music, intros /openers and sound effects.
-
Exciting royalty free jazz music with energetic confident feel for cheerful video, vlog, podcast, film or documentary, game show background, and commercial business use.
-
15 sec funky music audio logo reveal with happy retro party feel for short promo video, vlog intro / outro, groovy show opener, attention grabber at event or presentation, and commercial business use. Download unlimited short music clips.
-
Energetic acoustic percussion beat rhythm with upbeat tribal dance feel for motivational video, film, travel vlog, and commercial business use. Download unlimited royalty free music for videos.
-
Funky fat bass royalty free music opener with exciting late night show funk feel for short positive promo video, vlog intro, podcast introduction, event, and commercial business use.
-
Anxious tense cinematic royalty free music with dramatic suspense feel for a crime story film, detective game, investigative documentary, audobook, visual novel, and commercial business use.
-
Feel-good old school boom bap royalty free hip-hop music with positive urban party feel for video, film background, vlog, podcast, and commercial business use. Download unlimited royalty free music for videos.
-
Suspense build up royalty free 30 sec music intro cinematic underscore with eerie brooding mysterious Twilight Zone build up / riser feel for scary movie, haunting creepy video, dark podcast, horror vlog, and commercial business use.
-
Dramatic cinematic royalty free hybrid orchestra music with epic action feel for intense motivational video, tense film, powerful documentary, game, trailer, and commercial business use. Download unlimited royalty free epic music.
-
Download anxious mysterious royalty free cinematic music with brooding tense feel for eerie video, reflective vlog, podcast, crime documentary, thriller film, and commercial business use.
-
Exciting royalty free future bass EDM music with positive modern feel for cheerful promo video background, vlog, podcast, film, and commercial business use.
-
Emotional cinematic piano royalty free music with uplifting romantic feel for magical wedding video, intimate love story film, vlog, podcast background, and commercial business use.
-
Reflective royalty free harmonica music solo with somber vintage Western classic storytelling feel for video, travel vlog, sad cowboy film or audiobook background, America Wild West documentary, and commercial business use.
-
Uplifting royalty free piano and strings cinematic music ballad with emotional build up for inspirational storytelling video, sentimental or wedding film, romantic documentary, love story vlog, and commercial business use.
-
Classic 80s horror movie suspense drone (suspended note) sound royalty free musical effect with anxious cinematic horror feel for spooky retro movie, scary video, podcast, game, audio book, visual novel, and commercial business use.
-
Soothing royalty free Native American / Andean native flute with relaxing ethereal feel for relaxation video, peaceful guided meditation, travel vlog or podcast, film / documentary background, yoga, spa, massage zen ambiance, and commercial business use.
-
Cheerful royalty free polka dance music with feel-good folk party feel for fun travel video, positive Europe vlog or documentary, comedy film, podcast, dance classes, and commercial business use.
-
Dramatic suspense build-up / riser royalty free intro / sound effect / transition with brooding cinematic horror feel for dark movie trailer, scary video, podcast, outro, reveal, and commercial business use.
-
Haunting choir suspense build up with eerie waterphone hit royalty free sound effect with ghostly horror feel for scary movie, video, dark podcast, intro, reveal, film trailer, and commercial business use. Download unlimited royalty free cinematic sound effects.
-
Energetic percussion stomp beat with positive motivational feel for promo video, upbeat vlog, advertisement, and commercial business use.
-
Classic comedy joke drum rim shot sound effect for video editing, fun game, entertainment vlog, presentation, commercial business use.
-
Funny comic "dun dun dun" dramatic royalty free cinematic orchestra sting / sound effect for sneaky video, mischievous fun prank vlog, whimsical comedy film, quirky suspense build up, and commercial business use.
-
Magical ambient royalty free music with dreamy ethereal cinematic, slightly abstract underscore feel for peaceful relaxing video, calm meditation background, soothing vlog ambiance, art installation, and commercial business use.
