Pay scales are set collectively by Local 1000 members, to establish a minimum wage. Many of our members negotiate payment well above scale. If you perform under a Local 1000 contract you must receive at least scale wages. This applies as well to any musician appearing with you, whether or not they belong to the union. (adopted 6.24.18)
The founding members of Local 1000 decided to make these scales as simple as possible, and to expand upon them as the Local grows. You decide which scale is appropriate to a given job (within reason). Most of our members perform under concert or small concert scales.
UPDATE: On November 10, 2022, Local 1000 membership approved changes to our promulgated minimum pay scales, effective on January 1, 2023.
Scale dollar amounts are the same in U.S. or CAD, for example, solo concert scale is $300 US or $300 CAD.
New Solo Scales as of January 1, 2023 (+ 50% additional of appropriate scale per sideperson)
- Concert: $300.00 + Pension
- Fair Trade Music Small Concert: $200.00 + Pension
- Small Concert/Club: $150.00 + Pension
- Opening Act: $100.00 + Pension
- Solo Festival: $400 per day + Pension
- Higher Education Event = $500 + Pension
- Special Event = $500 + Pension
- Special Event Sideperson = $225 + Pension
Note: If you perform under a union contract you will receive a pension contribution of between 8% to 15% of scale. (The Pension Fund has a small Rehabilitation percentage that is required at this time. Contact the Office for details.) The employer pays this amount in addition to your performance fee. Suppose you get $230 for your performance, plus a 10% pension contribution.
10% of $230 = $23
$230 + $23 = $253 (your total compensation)
Ensemble scales
Equal-sharing ensembles The following scales be promulgated for ensembles that function on an equal sharing basis (i.e. where all ensemble members receive equal payment for gigs rather than the “leader/sideperson” model).
- Opening act: $50 + Pension per ensemble member
- Small concert: $100 + Pension per ensemble member
- Standard concert: $200 + Pension per ensemble member
- Festival: $350 Per Day + Pension – Per Ensemble Member
- Special event scale: $400 + Pension per ensemble member
Local 1000 Livestream Guidelines and Recommendations
COVID-19 has moved the live concert experience online, at least for the foreseeable future. With this reality in mind, Local 1000 is committed to help ensure working musicians continue receiving fair wages for their work.
Based on current AFM guidelines for non-symphonic streaming projects, Local 1000 offers the following regarding fees for livestreamed online concerts produced in cooperation with established venues:
- A minimum concert guarantee consistent with Local 1000’s promulgated scale (consult with pay scales above), plus 10%, as directed by the AFM. As always, “scale” is understood to be a minimum wage and does not prevent an artist from negotiating a higher guarantee.
- Additionally, we recommend any negotiated percentage above scale be no less than 50% of gross monies received.
- Any income derived from any source during the 24-hour period after the concert has ended must be treated identically to the negotiated deal of the concert itself.
- After this first 24-hour “grace period” has ended, an archived live stream may be left available online for up to one month for a fee of $85 per musician OR the percentage negotiated for the concert itself for any income generated during the month, whichever is greater.
- If a live stream is left online for up to 6 months, then the standard On-Demand Streaming AFM Agreement applies, i.e. $197.20 per musician OR the percentage negotiated for the concert itself for any income generated during the 6 months, whichever is greater.