Accompaniment Fees

Hello. I'm hoping someone can help me. I'm looking to start accompaning for people in the music department at my university, but have absolutely no idea what to charge. I'm a late intermediate pianist with about 10 years (or so) of experience. I don't think I'm quite good enough to charge a ridiculous price, but I don't want to "give" my services away, either.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Elizabeth

Well, I have about a year of accompaniment experience. I've accompanied for musicals (segments, not entire musicals), vocal soloists, chamber music, choirs, instrument ensembles, jazz ensembles, and led church congregations in hymns. I've been underpaid, overpaid, and paid nothing at all. So from my experience, 25 dollars an hour should be just right. If the music is harder, let them know, and bump up your fees. You work for them, but they need you. Don't be afraid to be assertive, especially in a college setting. Good accompanists are hard to come by. And by the way, let THEM decide whether you are good enough to be paid a ridiculous price. ;) Good luck!

Not to go into the economics of it, but in most situations when you don't know what to ask for a service or a product: think of what you would pay for it. What do you think it is worth? What is reasonable? Just use your heart and ask what you think is right to ask.

See, I've never had to pay an accompanist before...ever. My school always paid the accompanists, but as a student I was never paid (it was expected that I volunteer my services "for the experience"). So I have absolutely no idea what I "can" ask for, or what I would pay for an accompanist.

Thank you both your help!!

Ok then just listen to your heart. I´d say 15-20 dollars/hour could be enough too, but when looking it economically: if there aren´t other people who can do it, you should ask more, if there are more you should ask less. If the people you will be working with are your friends, and you know they are lowbudget, you ofcourse ask less, etc.etc. That´s the rational side of it. But I would first advise to just listen to your heart and decide what you consider fair for what you are doing there.

Hey, Elizabeth.

I'm on the other end, I use y'all (don't take that the wrong way.)

If I know the accompanist, $50 for one/two short rehearsals and the performance is fair for one piece. If I don't know the accompanist, odds are I'm looking at someone quite good and would probably expect to pay at least $75 for the same deal. If it's a recital, depending on how many pieces I need her for I'd probably cough up $75-$100+ for two/three solid rehearsals, dress and recital. However, I would fully expect those rehearsals to be absolutely no fooling around with individual technical issues. I've actually had an accompanist who would not accept our agreed upon payment because she really did not have the music down on the performance (it was an exam).

Anything above that is really overpaying and overcharging, if you're talking university purposes. I know accompanists can (and should) go much higher, depending, but unless you the accompanist are pro that's what you should expect.

Advice: make dead certain you get your stuff completely together and that you follow the performer dang well. I've got a mental blacklist of pianists (good pianists!) around here I would not use for accompaniment because they drop the ball on the performer when it comes to performing a piece that is solo + piano. Y'all hold the overall affect of our performance in your hands. :) 'S also why we need to be nice to our accompanists.

In my opinion and experience. Take it for what it's worth. :santa: Good luck!