Casual Stage Rates
Updated: 16 July 2024 | 17:28 PM
Rates
Recommended minimum rates of pay for casual engagements for musicians performing on stage, April 2023. Most commonly used in theatres and concert venues.
Casual Stage Rate usage examples
The most appropriate examples where the use of this rate can apply, but not limited to any of the following:
- 'one-off' publicly funded engagements.
- Independent self-producing artists with no third party management, record label financial backing or representation.
- A commercial theatre producer /company looking to perform in a theatre for a one-off Sunday night concert for example.
- A commercial venture touring a tribute act for one-off engagements.
Please see our ‘Performing with Featured Artists’ guidelines for other rates in theatres and concert halls, stadiums, arenas and festivals.
Please see our Collective Bargaining Agreement with UK Theatre for static theatre production and theatre tours.
Single performance fee (max 3 hours) plus rehearsal on same day (max 3 hours)
Venue capacity of less than 200 |
£180.50 per musician |
Venue capacity of more than 200 |
£201.50 per musician |
Double performance fee (two performances plus a single rehearsal)
Venue capacity of less than 200 |
£317.50 per musician |
Venue capacity of more than 200 |
£353.50 per musician |
Additional rehearsals
On the same day |
half a performance fee |
On another day |
a full performance fee |
Overtime
Rehearsal or performance: £25.75 (double time) per 15 minutes or part thereof based on the National Gig hourly rate of £51.50.
Distance fees and travel expenses
Porterage
- Group A - £38.50 – Electric Guitar (inc’ Amp); Bass Guitar (inc’ Amp); Double Bass.
- Group B - £33.30 – Bass Sax, Tuba.
- Group C - £26.50 – Contra Bassoon; Baritone Sax; French Horn + 1 other brass instrument; Trombone + 1 other brass instrument or bag of mutes: Two Saxes; Cello; Bass Clarinet: Pedalboards.
- Group D – subject to individual negotiation – Drum Kit; Percussion; Harps: Keyboards: P.A.
Doubling/Trebling/Quadrupling
15% of fee for each additional instrument
Breaks
Minimum of 15 mins per 2 hours playing
Late fees
Payable when time of return is between midnight and 2:00 am: £34.80
Overnight stay
Payable when return would be after 2:00 am: £136.00
Subsistence
Payable per day to cover meals and expenses: £58.80
Guidance notes
The MU’s live rates are based on an hourly rate which a self-employed musician needs to charge in order to earn an income, relative to their training, experience and expertise. Individual negotiations can be made based on these minimum rates.
- If you’re self-employed, you do not have a contract of employment with an employer. You’re more likely to be contracted to provide services over a certain period of time for a fee and be in business in your own right.
- You’ll also pay your own tax and National Insurance contributions.
- You don't have employment rights as such if you're self-employed as you are your own boss and can therefore decide how much to charge for your work and how much holiday to give yourself.
- You do have some legal protection.
- You must not be discriminated against and you're entitled to a safe and healthy working environment on your client's premises.
- Self-employed women who have recently left their jobs may be entitled to Maternity Allowance.