Costs to put on a small event in the UK
I've been involved with putting on charity disco events and here's a head's up on the main costs involved (last updated 2014):
Temporary Event Notice
Playing of recorded music at an event where tickets are sold is classed as regulated entertainment. Contact your council licensing dept for details. In our case a £21 application fee with copies of the notice needing to be sent to the council licensing dept, council environmental health dept (noise control) and local the police authority for their approval of the event.
Sale of alcohol
Contact your council licensing dept. May be covered by the temporary event notice.
Public Liability cover
You MUST have this to ensure you are covered if any guest gets hurt at the event. graham-sykes.co.uk charge £48 for up to 150 people.
Employers liability cover
Optional but any staff you have at the event (including volunteers) are likely not covered by public liability insurance. To cover them you need to add employers liability cover. graham-sykes.co.uk charge around £50 extra for this.
Venue Hire
The cost to hire your hall etc.
Marketing
Poster and ticket printing. cheapestprintonline.co.uk offer low prices for this. Disposable custom printed wrist bands offer a good solution to ticketing if guests will be allowed to leave and re-enter.
PRS and PPL licenses
Required if an entrance fee is charged. See here.