Minimum fee recommendations of IG Freie Musikschaffende for freelance project-based orchestral work in Austria
Status August 2020 - Short version
This document is a first step of the IGFM in dealing with the issue of "Fair Pay". We want to show the dramatic financial situation of freelance music makers by putting it in a real context.
We calculate our minimum fee recommendation on the basis of the rates of an orchestra in Austria protected by a collective agreement. All additional payments such as overtime, standing days (days off within projects lasting several days), allowances (e.g. solo rates), remuneration for streaming and the problem of travel days have been left out here.
For definitions of terms, detailed calculations and further examples of fee recommendations (e.g. Veranstalterverband Österreich and Vereinigung Alte Musik Berlin), please also refer to the long version of this document.
All versions of our fee recommendations can be accessed under the "Knowledge" section.
A. Free orchestra projects - calculation of the minimum standard
The calculation of the Austrian minimum fee standard results in the following minimum rates per service:
Rehearsal service max. 3 hrs. with min. 20 min. break: € 94,16
Concert service max. 3 hrs. continuous performance € 188,32
The IGFM recommends the introduction of these minimum rates from 2020. These fee floors are to be adjusted to inflation every 2 years.
As this is a minimum standard, the 13th and 14th salary, which are common in Austria, were not taken into account. IGFM appeals to orchestras and promoters to take these two additional salaries into account and to set the fee rates higher than the minimum standard presented here.
In addition, the payment of the substitutes of all CT orchestras1 should also be regulated in the form that they receive an appropriate service contract or their payment at least reaches, if not exceeds, the minimum standards of the IGFM.
B. Calculation model for free instrumental and singing lessons
The IGFM bases the following calculation on the collective agreement of the public music schools of the City of Vienna and recommends similar or slightly higher fees for freelance instrumental teachers.
The IGFM recommends teaching fees of approx. 60 euros gross/hour (60 minutes) for free music lessons in Austria.
This fee should be adjusted accordingly depending on the personal situation. Here, too, we recommend a regular inflation adjustment every two years.
1 KV-Orchestra: Collective agreement orchestra, an orchestra that offers its musicians permanent positions whose payment is regulated by a collective agreement. IGFM rejects the term "professional orchestra" because it makes the professional work of the self-employed musicians invisible.