orchestrations how much $$ to charge

I have been approached to submit a sampling of orchestration for a Broadway style musical. When I meet with the composer and lyricist they also want to discuss payment for my time. I have never "orchestrated" another composers work, just my own, so I have no idea what would even be fair. Any suggestions? should I charge a flat rate per piece, per measure or per hour of work?

Thanks in advance for every one's input

It depends on the caliber of the musical you are orchestrating. Where is it going to be premiered? What is it for? How many performances is it expected to run for?

Maybe you could ask Nikolas, he is a Freelance Composer like you.

Thanks Saiming... :huh:

I'm not actually sure I can help, as I know nothing about musicals or Broadway...

We are lacking info here:

a. Where is the musical going to get on? Broadway? Westend? France maybe? "Broadway style", does not mean for me that, indeed, it's Broadway, or is it? And I misunderstood?

b. What forces/ensemble we're talking about here? A full orchestra? Or 4 woods, 2 brass and 3 keyboards maybe...

The above could be common things, but as I said, I don't know the world of musicals...

On the matter of price though some thoughts:

I wouldn't say, per hour. I, for example, am dead slow in certain things, and it would cost them the earth :D I don't think I've ever heard a compoer/orchestrator to charge by the hour. Unless you put them in YOUR studio, and they can see you working, and can see the clock ticking.

Since this will be score based, I'd say charge by the bar, or page, and not by the minute. But then again, at a copying work I was offered at some point to do, for a Hollywood based composer, I was quoted a price per minute, of copied page. But the whole gross was high enough price, for 8 weeks of intense working. So it was really cool... Never happened. :happy:

Bottom line is this: It does depend where you are. If, indeed, this is Broadway, then there should be some people to ask (even stop them on the street, or something :D) and check with the flat/current prices. Anywhere else in the world (maybe not West End as well), all prices should/could be negotiable. It all comes down to how much they're willing to give/their budget. And this is the same to all freelance works.

Your best bet, if you do remain in darkness after searching, is to go and be honest, and have several plans ready in your head. To be prepared, to ask "how will you pay me, in what maner, per minute, per bar, per page?" and know what you will ask depending on the answer. To know the exact ammount you are willing to get, and not feel "ripped off" (very bad to have grudges...) and where to say "no, I'm not willing to work for such a low price". As I said initially, if the whole thing is towards the "small" scale, small orchestra, few instruments, etc, then you can go lower, cause obviously it will take you less time to do the work. If the thing is a full orchestra + some random instruments here and there, then... Go high. Don't put your age in equation, nor in your head: "I'm only 19. WOW 1000$! That's huge!". No, it's not if you could be earning 10,000$ for the same job! The other way around "God, I'm 30 with 2 kids to feed and they're only offering 7,000$. I want at least 10,000$" again needs some water in as an argument, but stands better...

When I pitch for a job (although I know the territory of computer games now), I always keep in my mind, what's my lowest point. If anybody offers me less than x$ then the answer is "No, I want more". And the more is certainly not unresonable. Then comes, obviously, the person/company I'm talking with, and depending on this, I will charge differently on an indie developer who works alone, than EA, or Rockstar.

Dunno if my post helped, being so vauge and avoiding actually quoting a price...