Fees: concerts and recitals

Fees are always a matter of negotiation and what you charge will depend on the specific requirements of the engagement. If you are negotiating a future engagement, you may wish to incorporate an annual inflationary increase, using the Retail Price Index (RPI) figures. Inflation rates are published monthly by the Office for National Statistics.

Typical concert or recital fee

Most performers charged between £150 and £450 per concert and the ‘midpoint’ was £250. This means that half the performers surveyed charged less than £250; the other half charged more.

Overall highest fee

Most performers charged a highest fee of between £200 and £650 per concert and the midpoint was £350.

Overall lowest fee

Most performers charged a lowest fee of between £50 and £200 per concert. The midpoint was £100.

What else should I charge for?

Fees will include a same day rehearsal. For extra rehearsals other than on the day of the concert, 25 performers quoted an hourly fee, with most charging between £24 and £48, with a midpoint of £25.

Travel costs and subsistence are often charged separately. Travel by air, train and taxi is often charged at cost. HM Revenue & Customs’ approved mileage rate (for mileage expenses not included in the fee) is 40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter.

Highest and lowest fees by type of performer

Solo instrumentalists

Most solo instrumentalists charged a highest fee of between £244 and £600 and the midpoint was £400.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £42 and £200 and the midpoint was £100.

Solo singers

Most solo singers charged a highest fee of between £180 and £880 and the midpoint was £350.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £50 and £400 and the midpoint was £125.

Conductors

Most conductors charged a highest fee of between £360 and £2,900 and the midpoint was £950.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £33 and £620 and the midpoint was £175.

Accompanists

Most accompanists charged a highest fee of between £150 and £470 and the midpoint was £250.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £71 and £150 and the midpoint was £175.

Duo or ensemble players and singers

Most duo or ensemble players and singers charged a highest fee of between £126 and £500 and the midpoint was £300.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £48 and £188 and the midpoint was £100.

Solo continuo players

Ten performers had worked as solo continuo players. Their fees ranged from £30 to £350 per concert, with an average fee of £187.50.

Highest and lowest fees by venue

International concert hall or festival

Most of the 10% of performers who fell into this category charged a highest fee of between £550 and £5,200 per concert. The midpoint was £1,700.

Only two respondents received their lowest fee at this type of venue.

Regional concert hall or festival

For the 46% who performed at a regional concert hall or festival most charged a highest fee of between £240 and £656 per concert. The midpoint was £400.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £98 and £410. The midpoint was £150.

All other venues

For the 44% who performed at all other types of venue, most charged a highest fee of between £142 and £500. The midpoint was £275.

Most charged a lowest fee of between £48 and £150, with a midpoint of £100.

Conductors of amateur music societies

Concert fee

Sixteen conductors gave a fee per concert. Most of these charged between £170 and £750 with a midpoint of £387.

Annual fee

Seven conductors quoted annual fees. These ranged from £300 to £5,500 with an average of £2,242.

The remaining six did not specify whether they received a concert fee or annual fee but quoted a range from £350 to £6,000.

Weekly Rehearsal Fee

Of the 20 people who quoted a separate fee for weekly rehearsals, most charged between £45 and £100 per rehearsal, with a midpoint of £60.

Professional leaders of amateur orchestras

Four performers worked as professional leaders of amateur orchestras. The fees ranged from £50 to £150 per concert.