Hello Beautiful people!
I have written a book for a stage musical and have more coming down the pipeline. Since I am starting out and have no dedicated funds available for such a project, I am wondering if composers are willing to write a composition for a work for a deferred payment, depending on if the project gets picked up or not? Perhaps you can explain to me how this process typically works out. Obviously, I want a win/win situation for all involved.
In my experience, it depends on the project and experience level. When I first started, I worked on some short films for deferred payment. Nowadays, I try to gear towards projects with payment upfront. I just finished working on a few plays for a theatre in my hometown but was paid upfront.
It is hard to gauge if a project will be successful and it is a risk to take on a large-scale project such as composing and arranging a musical without a guarantee of payment.
However, everyone is different! Maybe some of the other composers here with more experience and insight can chime in? @joel Irwin or @Joanna Karselis?
I do not have an experience with theater or musicals. My work has been mostly shorts which have few prospects of income. Deferring payment exclusively turns the composer into an 'investor'. If they are OK with that, fine. But generally I see myself as a 'service provider'. In that case I would suggest two things: (1) at a minimum get some sort of payment up front - I would suggest half. Keep in mind that in theater as in films, certain expenses are 'certain'. You have to pay the venue and in film you probably had to pay for pre-production costs such as the location scout (and the locations) though there are film commisions :) Check with the librettist and make sure you both have similar arrangements. In film, for example, in my experience the screenplay is rarely free up front. (2) make sure your agreement/contract has a clause and there is agreement on payment (especially if you have a deferred arrangement) should the music not be used. For example, if the production is shutdown before it generates revenue and you have a deferred clause, do you still get paid? In the film end, I have had a couple of cases where I wrote and delivered music and then the producer/director wanted to move 'in a different direction'. As there was no money up front, there needs to be an 'accounting' in that case.
I mostly agree with Joel Irwin. I have done projects (feature Films only) with deferred payment as attached as royalties. Usually 5% of net with a cap $$ amount. And I always ask if distribution companies are attached to the film prior to accepting an agreement.
I would be interested in hearing more about your project. What are looking for exactly. One song? Instrumental only? What size orchestra? Are lyrics required? Do you have a set of lyrics that need music? What is the story about? When does it take place in history? In what region or culture does it takes place (so we have an idea of the instrumentation). I don’t mind doing work on spec; I just need to know the expectation. Thanks and congratulations on your new project.