Fee recommendations of IG Freie Musikschaffende for musical work in small ensembles in Austria
Status: December 2020
1. introduction
Any calculation of fee recommendations for musical work in a small ensemble must try to take into account some aspects that are not present when working in a larger ensemble, orchestra or choir. The organisation, musical preparation and responsibility in this area far exceeds the effort required for work within a set or vocal group. These guidelines for musicians are to be applied to work in an ensemble of up to 10 people. For larger ensembles, the fee recommendations for freelance orchestral work should apply.
However, we are aware that this boundary is fluid: we therefore recommend applying the above guidelines for orchestral work with a 25% surcharge on the total fee for participation in ensembles of 11 or more people where the effort is more akin to that in a smaller ensemble. This could be, for example, a particularly soloistic voice within a classical work or a role as soloist within a pop or jazz ensemble.
The following recommendations are intended as minimum standards. Fortunately, some musicians are in a negotiating position that allows them to obtain higher fees. These recommendations should serve above all as a basis for negotiation for those who are not in this position.
As we do not recognise any differences in value between musical genres, these guidelines should apply equally to all performances - whether in a classical chamber ensemble, a pop or jazz band or any other type of ensemble.
2. calculation, definition of a service
The starting point for the following calculation is an appropriate monthly salary for musical work. For this purpose, the collective agreement of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz (source: www.kollektivvertrag.at, as of 2019) was used, as the basic salary of this orchestra is in the middle range for such activities.
We assume a ratio of 4 : 1 (rehearsals : concerts), which means that there is one concert for every 4 rehearsals.
● A rehearsal service lasts up to 3 hours, incl. a break of at least 20 minutes
● A concert service is understood to be a performance of max. 3 hours, plus max. 1 hour of preparation (set-up, rehearsal, sound check etc.)
The following rates result from this calculation:
Minimum fee recommendations
Rehearsal unit: max. 3 hrs. with min. 20 min. break € 156,94
Concert unit: max. 3 hrs. concert incl. 1 hr. preparation € 313,88
A working day lasts 6 hours (excluding travel, recording, etc.) - thus it can include 2 services as defined above. Thus, a fair daily rate can be derived from these fee recommendations:
2 rehearsals: € 313,88
1 rehearsal - 1 concert: € 470,82
In the case of projects lasting several days, music professionals and employers can agree on a flat daily rate for the entire project, which is derived from these guidelines.
Recordings
A single recording service lasts up to 3 hours, with a break of at least 20 minutes, and is remunerated in the same way as a concert service (see above).
3. on implementation
A prerequisite for the effectiveness of these guidelines is an honest and detailed calculation of the time and work involved. Therefore, we recommend to all music creators:
Anyone applying for project funding should try to make a realistic and detailed estimate of the scope of the project (rehearsals, concerts, additional work and all costs involved) and include this in the calculation.
During a project, a project logbook with the above-mentioned data should be kept. This can, among other things, fulfil documentation obligations vis-à-vis funding agencies.
In addition, we expressly recommend that all music creators register with the LSG - Wahrnehmung von Leistungsschutzrechten für Inter preten(www.lsg-interpreten.com). Performers have a legal claim to compensation if sound carriers on which they are involved are played in public or broadcast on television or radio. If, in the course of their participation in a project, musicians are requested to assign these rights, the fee must be set at a correspondingly higher level.
These recommendations are exclusive of additional costs (rehearsal room costs, travel costs, food, accommodation, material costs, etc.) or additional expenses (in the form of management, booking, administration, logistics, sheet music creation or processing, etc.) incurred by projects.
These fee floors apply from 2020 and are to be adjusted for inflation every 2 years.