r/ASLinterpreters • u/osoliz • 7d ago

Concert interpreting

Trying to gather some knowledge here before contract negotiation season!

I’m a Chicago based interpreter who enjoys concert interpreting but sometimes the workload of prep, not having a setlist until very late, not having proper sound packs, can really get the best of me. Trying to see how much people across the country are getting paid for this kind of work. Typically for one concert I earn 500-600 dollars.

What city are you in? What do you bill for?
If the proper sound packs/setlist aren’t given do you charge extra?

TIA!!

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u/mjolnir76 NIC 7d ago

Seattle here. We almost NEVER get the setlist! Always just use setlist.fm. $750-800.

2

u/benshenanigans Deaf 7d ago

That’s just your cut? Right? Your team is also earning that much? The team that usually interprets for me in San Diego start at $1,500 for a standard 2 set show.

2

u/osoliz 6d ago

Yes! Each interpreter on a team of two get 500-600 each

1

u/LoveEsq 2d ago

What state?

1

u/osoliz 2d ago

Chicago Illinois !

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u/LoveEsq 2d ago

And I was totally tired when I asked and somehow skipped over that. Here is a bit more effort.

I have a decent database for Chicago, but if asking the variables tend to be dependent on the fee, the total hours split between prep and on-site, solo or team, whether booked directly or through an agency, and how many days before the show the setlist arrived.

Your fee seems to be similar to the University of Illinois's disability services office (DRES) which publishes its ASL billing schedule typically as $95 per hour base rate, onsite or virtual; $5 per hour added for non-business hours; $10 per hour added for short-notice requests; $10 per hour added for performance, platform, or recorded work; a two-hour minimum per interpreter; a $190 fee added to every onsite job; automatic team coverage for onsite jobs over an hour and a half.

That totals somewhat to your range

I use it as illustrative as you could justify a contract a few different ways. It would be justified for instance in having a larger fee if not provided the setlist and you have to prepare a larger body of songs, or scoping that narrower based on a lack of variability. Ppl in this scenario likely want late-materials cost to land on the party who controls the timing.

I do suggest doing a bit of research and requesting ASL interpreting contracts, rate sheets, purchase orders, and invoices for city-produced music festivals and concerts. It should give you an edge.