Rates
This page lists tasks commonly performed by Theatrical Consultants along with a range of rates that we have charged for performing them. These rates are meant as guidelines, as indicators of real, current market pricing. Feel free to adapt them to your personal circumstances.
This page will evolve continually – rates will change and new tasks will certainly be added to the list. So please check back!
READING OF A SCRIPT
Some consultants charge money for this. Most do not.
FREE
FIRST-DATE MEETING WITH A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT
FREE
CONSULTATION
$50-$100/HOUR
DRAMATURGY, NOTES ONLY
This refers to written notes. We suggest you visit the LMDA website for their recommendations.
DRAMATURGY, NOTES, MEETING, AND A FOLLOW-UP
The rate varies due to the amount of time spent on the project.
$250-$750
1-DAY INTENSIVE SESSION
$1,000 [4-HOUR MINIMUM / INCLUDES PREP]
2-DAY INTENSIVE SESSION
$2,000 [8-HOUR MINIMUM / INCLUDES PREP]
RETAINER, 6 MONTHS
$5,000
RETAINER, 12 MONTHS
$10,000
PLAY READING, 1-DAY to 1-WEEK
The rate varies due to the amount of time spent on the project and the scope of work required.
$1,000-$5,000
MUSICAL READING, 1-DAY to 1-WEEK
The rate varies due to the amount of time spent on the project and the scope of work required.
$1,000-$7,500
WORKSHOP / LAB
$4,000-$8,000
PER DIEM / TRAVEL
$400-$500
INDIVIDUALIZED RATES
If you wish to construct your own individualized rates, here is a formula that many independent contractors use. Decide what you wish your yearly earnings to be. Break that down into money/week and money/hour. Then double the money/hour rate and multiply it by the amount of time you intend to spend on a job. That amount will be your personal rate. Remember to figure in ALL the time you spend on a job – including the “thinking” time – not just the hours or minutes you spend writing or taking action on your thoughts.
Of equal importance to monetary considerations are time lengths for jobs. Contracts and invoices should always include rates, time frames, and specifics agreed to between Theater Consultants and Clients.
The most controversial forms of remuneration are percentages and royalties. This page does not delve into them, as no industry standard exists for them. In fact, there is no industry consensus that Theater Consultants are entitled to percentages or royalties. There can be cases where it’s proper for a producer to bestow “points” on a Theater Consultant who makes substantial contributions to a project over a long period of time. As a general practice, the Theater Consultants of America believe that asking a writer for a percentage of his earnings is inappropriate. Nevertheless, that decision should be made between a Theater Consultant and her Client.