Nieuw Geneco Fee Table Arranging 2024
The table represents a standard amount for a fair fee that can be compared to the gross salary of a HBO (Higher Professional Education) lecturer. The creation of the Arranging Fee Table is based on an initial amount, increased by an amount per arranged minute. In addition to the duration, the complexity of an arrangement determines the level of the fee.
The following activities are included in the amounts:
- Listening to source material (audio).
- Arranging.
Not included are additional activities such as:
- Creating parts.
- Creating sheet music.
- Creating demos.
- Additional work: adjustments after delivery that were not specified in the initial order.
- Conducting rehearsals, giving lectures or explanations.
- These activities are not included; additional agreements must be made for them.
Note: Value Added Tax (VAT) The arrangement work is exempt from VAT. VAT must be charged for all other activities, such as creating parts and conducting rehearsals.
Three levels of “bewerkelijkheid” (Complexity) are used: Laag (low), Gemiddeld (average), and Hoog (high) complexity.
Explanation of the table
The table can be interpreted as a reference framework, a ‘cheat sheet’: it explicitly concerns average arranging work. Extremes fall outside of this. Performance costs such as creating and providing sheet music and other activities are not included. The client and contractor make clear agreements in advance about the compensation for other activities and costs, such as conducting rehearsals, giving lectures or introductions, travel, and accommodation costs. The table is intended for arrangers of professional level. The client can expect a result of very good quality. The experience of arrangers is not included in the table, but can be taken into account in negotiations. To ensure that the guidelines are applied in an informed and fair manner, the fee table should be used by people with knowledge and direct experience in the field itself.
Explanation of the term ‘complexity’
The quality of the source material determines the level of complexity (such as the quality of the audio or the absence of dynamics and notation in the original). The complexity of the genre influences the complexity. Generally speaking, jazz is more complex – because it is more complex – than pop. For example, A Whiter Shade of Pale is low in complexity, a fast piece by Frank Zappa is high in complexity. The term ‘part’ is used in orchestral and ensemble music to indicate an instrumentation where some players have a unique part while others double each other. In electronic music, a description of the number of unique ‘tracks’ can be specified. Occupancy rate is at both ends of the spectrum. As a rule, the highest occupancy rate serves as a guideline: an arrangement from Symphony Orchestra to String Quartet falls under ‘symphonic’. Are there many repetitions or improvised sections that do not require extra work for the arranger? Then that should be stated as a percentage of the total work or ‘set’ and can be subtracted from the duration. Creativity is a determining factor for the level of complexity: are you expected to play with the music, or to introduce variation? Or do you need to find a solution for the absence of, for example, a rhythm section? If an exceptional artistic background is required, that is also a determining factor. For example, arranging Latin American rhythms, or unraveling advanced chords or electronic effects. In principle, there is no distinction between concertante and functional music: film music is used functionally, but that does not necessarily make the complexity less. The required creativity is decisive for the type of complexity.
Obligations for the client
The name of the arranger must be stated in the program. Copyright is based on the Copyright Act with the creator of the work. For music from the public domain, the copyright automatically belongs to the arranger. Authorization lies with the client. Agreements about future use of the work can be included in the contract*.
There is a model agreement* (still in progress) that can be used in combination with the table.