Recruiting accompanist

[cardinals]

Hello...I am now working on composition for piano solo and going to look for an accompanist who can play that piece for the recital...but since I don't have any experience in this, I would like to ask some questions:

- When you have your recital played by other performers, how much do you usually pay (for the recital plus 1-2 rehearsal meetings, for example)? My piece is just 5 minutes long and that will be the only one to be played at the recital...but still need some time for them to practice so that they become ready when they meet together for the rehearsals...

I'm also looking for any possibility that they can do that for free because some of them I personally know very well and they're not playing for the whole recital...

Could anyone let me know how they usually contact and negotiate with the accompanist? Just because I don't really know about the practice related to this matter...THX 

[Bob]

The things I have done and seen are just friends and word of mouth.  Sometimes a more formal situation with forms at a college.  

The surprising thing I noticed is that pianist get paid to accompany but instrumentalists seem to do it for free.

For one piece, not too much work and a rehearsal or two... I'm thinking $50 which is really cheap considering the time the accompanist puts in, even just for practice and performance time.  $200 on the high end.

And the paid people leave right away.  The friends stick around for the whole recital.  Haha.

The pay I've seen is either half now half right after the recital or the full amount right after the recital.  

I've been burned once, but I don't do that much performing anyway.  A contract would have been wise in that case, but it wouldn't have mattered -- They wouldn't have done a contract to begin with and iI wouldn't have been paid even with a contract. I've heard of other people using contracts for more formal performances -- larger groups -- but otherwise, it's just a verbal agreement.  With the verbal agreement, it's still wise to be very clear about expectations and you can cheat a bit and email them those things so it's in writing (without looking like you're sending a contract though).

It sounds like what you're asking for is very common though.  You just find a pianist who will accompany for one piece.  And agree on an amount.  Whatever you pay, be sure to thank them a lot afterward.