Understanding the music to be performed and contacting the person or people who coordinate the orchestra’s events is all that is required to hire a professional orchestra. Whether or not a person can hire an orchestra is determined the group’s schedule. The individual or organization hiring the orchestra must also be able to pay the orchestra’s fees for rehearsals and the final concert.
When looking to hire an orchestra, one must first consider the music that will be performed. Some music, such as chamber orchestra music, does not necessitate the participation of every member of the orchestra. The person who hires the orchestra must pay a fee that covers the time of each musician who ends up playing, so it’s crucial to be specific about the type of music on the orchestra program so that the orchestra can respond with a fee estimate and make arrangements with the appropriate musicians.
A manager or director of an orchestra is usually in charge of organizing the orchestra’s appearances, though some directors do double duty and manage their orchestras in addition to conducting. This individual serves as a point of contact for the orchestra director, representatives from performance venues, and the person who hires the orchestra. The next step in hiring an orchestra is to contact the orchestra manager and express an interest in hiring the orchestra. The orchestra manager goes over the events that have already been scheduled on the orchestra’s calendar. He informs the orchestra director that the orchestra has a hire request if the orchestra is available on the date requested the hiring individual.
When the orchestra director receives word that someone wants the orchestra to perform, he may inform the orchestra members of the invitation. He may then inquire as to how many members are able to commit to the rehearsals and concert. If too many members of the orchestra are unavailable, the director will usually decline the invitation, but he may inform the manager that the orchestra will be available on a different date if the hiring individual can change his schedule. In many professional orchestras, the director makes the executive decision on behalf of the orchestra whether or not to accept the invitation, and orchestra members are expected to adjust their own schedules accordingly, as players understand that their position with the orchestra requires a commitment of availability.
If the director accepts the job offer, the hiring individual is responsible for paying the orchestra’s current fee. Depending on the number of rehearsals and concerts requested, as well as how many members of the orchestra must be present, rates can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The cost of hiring an orchestra is the primary reason why most aspiring musicians do not regularly hire their own orchestras, preferring to focus on achieving a level of professional musicianship that will earn them an invitation to perform with the orchestra from the director.
Despite the fact that hiring an orchestra is costly, orchestras make it simple because they want public exposure and have their own expenses to pay for, such as the director’s salary, rehearsal space, travel, and sheet music. On programs, the orchestras’ websites, and advertisements in arts-related publications, they frequently tell the public how to request orchestra services. They usually include a link to the orchestra’s website, the director’s or manager’s phone number or email address, and a description of the orchestra’s capabilities. There are also some websites that match job seekers with available orchestras, and orchestra directors may choose to list their orchestras on these sites.