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I'm just gonna go down the list with how I would do it. Performers When is the latest you should be handing out music to performers? ​Ideally a full month before at the latest. However, I like three to six months for comfort. If you are paying your performers, when should you pay them? Directly after the concert. Usually they should receive a check before they leave afterward. However a check within 10 days is standard acceptable business practice too. If your performers are volunteers, how do you thank them; gifts, dinner, a thank you note? For me, a meal speaks way more than a gift. I would provide dinner for all the performers. If concert is several miles away in another town, state, or countries and you are paying your performers, should you include travel expenses in their payment or pay for their travel and possible hotel stay? If that is really necessary, factor it into their final pay but allow them to make any arrangements themselves. Though, honestly, you shouldn't be making non-local concerts like that without a road manager. If concert is several miles away in another town, state, or countries and you are NOT paying your performers, should you pay for their travel, possible hotel stay, and/or other expenses? Don't. If you were a part of a concert with multiple composers, after performer, should you performers acknowledge you or should you walk up on stage and bow along with your performers? Or should they just bow and leave the stage? Always acknowledge the composer on stage unless there is a common standard otherwise. Should you be responsible for any other extra equipment your performer needs, such as electronic equipment, stopwatches, tuning forks, things for prepared piano, or foot pedals for live electronics and ect., or is that a responsibility for you the composer? Extra equipment required by the performer is the performer's responsibility. However, if an obscure piece of equipment is necessary, the composer should work with the performer to get the equipment. Equipment If you are responsible for recording, when do you go into the venue to set up your equipment? 1.5 hours minimum before the downbeat, though earlier is better so you can test it and soundcheck with it. If you are not responsible for recording, when should you talk to the recording tech people? As soon as they get there. If their is a video element or a lighting element, when should you it out? Try and plan lighting in advance so there's no surprises on concert day. If this is not possible, as early as possible. Lighting, especially setup of it, can take a significant amount of time. I do lighting for music concerts regularly and for major concerts I require at least three hours time before just to make sure all the cues are ready. Making sure the performers are happy with the lights on stage can also be a major time-drainer depending on how temperamental they are. If their are electronic components to your music, when should it be set up in the venue? As soon as the techs or stage managers get there. Pre-Concert Should you have a stage crew, or should you do any back stage preparations and duties yourself? Depends on the venue. If it is a significant stage with large setups, a stage manager and stage crew is a must. I'd never recommend doing stage stuff yourself except for the smallest of concerts. How soon should you have the dress rehearsal? Ideally the day before, but if that's not possible, 2 to 6 hours before the concert. If you have a large ensemble performer a work of yours, how often should you attend rehearsals? As often as you can. Give your input to the conductor whenever you can to correct things and comment on interpretation. If a piece is not up to your standards the day of or the day before, should it be removed, replaced, or allowed on the program? This is a sticky one. It depends, I suppose, on how integral the piece is to the program. If it is absolutely awful, then cut it. Should you make a poster or flyer, and if so when do you post them up? Absolutely. Post them at least a month before the concert. What is the appropriate attire for you and your performers? And what is not acceptable to wear for you or your performers? Performers should wear either "concert dress" (tuxedos or suit and tie) or "concert black" (all back everything). Which you chose is more preference to how formal it is. It is not acceptable to wear "street clothes" such as blue jeans, sneakers, flop-flops etc. Should you make programs, if so what are some basic information that should be in them? Always make programs; you just look lazy if you don't. They should include: the program in its entirety with composers and performers; performer and/or composer bios; program notes, if applicable; and any texts/librettos in the spoken/sung language and a translation in the language of the audience. Sometimes advertisements for upcoming concerts can also be appropriate. Should you make any pre-concert announcements or speeches? Depends on the formality of the event. Usually I think announcements and introductions are good to have. Speeches about works by composers can be nice though they have to contribute to the music not detract from it. When should you let the audience into the space? Depends on the length/importance of the concert. Standard practice is at least 30 minutes to open the doors, but this can be extended to as early as 1 hr or as late as 10 minutes. The size of audience will dictate this. During the Concert Who should cue to lower the house lights and cue performers to go on stage? The stage manager. That's his job. Where should you as the composer be during the concert; in the audience or back stage? In the audience whenever possible. Who should monitor the audience coming in and out during the concert? The House manager and the ushers. If an audience member becomes distractive, who should be responsible for asking them to leave; you or a recital/stage crew? The ushers. If someone is arriving late, when should you allow them into the venue? Between pieces only during applause. If your concert has a mix of pieces that are solos, and pieces for larger ensembles that require the stage to be set up, which pieces should be first? Try and order the program to minimize setup/tear down. If that requires having the stage with a bunch of empty seats, so be it. With clever lighting, you can actually make that work to your advantage. How much time should you allow for setting up the stage for a piece? No more than three minutes, but that's a very long break. Ideally a stage crew with enough people should be able to strike a full stage in less than 90 seconds. If you know a piece take a long time to set up, should you make the set up time the intermission, a slight break, talk about the piece to the audience while it is being set up, or just allow the audience to watch the set up? If there's a major setup, try, where possible, to make it an intermission situation. This eliminates the awkward break in time for the audience. When should you have an intermission? Smack dab in the middle of the concert. Try to balance the halves as much as possible. Either that, or make the second half slightly shorter than the first. After the Concert During the final applause, do you take your bow from the stage or from the audience? From the stage, always. It is often difficult to see you when your in the audience. Should you have a reception after the concert? If so what should be served at a reception, if not why? If its a recital its usually appropriate to do a reception. Serve light "refreshments". How long, as the composer, should you stay after the concert? I'd say no more than 30 minutes. If the hall is your responsibility, however, (as in you booked the event), then say until you're the last one to leave. Who is responsible for cleaning up the stage, the house of the venue, and the lobby of the venue? If you have one, the cleanup crew. If not, enlist your stage crew. Should you give your performers a copy of the recording? Yes. How do you thank your performers? With a prompt check. If you were not pleased with the performance, does any of the following questions change? You analyze what went wrong and then fix it. If the performers sucked, find new performers. If the venue sucked, find a new venue, etc. Hope this helps!

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