Why some performers rarely get paid
Some musicians – and many scientists – don’t get paid to entertain you. Here’s why.
I’ve played in orchestras for about twenty years, have performed alongside professional musicians, and for sold out crowds. If you look closely you can see me playing violin in a BBC documentary. As part of larger music ensembles I’ve played for audiences that included Lily Allen, Kate Winslet, and members of the Barenaked Ladies. Tickets to these performances often cost between £10-£25, but I’ve not been paid for any of these gigs.
Surprised? Don’t be. I’m not a professional musician. I’m a (former) scientist and my current day job and freelance work are in science communication. Music is a hobby. But despite “talking about science” being my job, I also sometimes give science talks without getting any pay, and people are far less shocked about that than the fact that I never get paid to play violin. It’s like they’re saying: Oh, it’s fine to do your job for free, but why don’t you get paid for your hobby? That’s interesting, and I want to unpack that a bit to see what factors determine whether you expect a performer (of music or science) to be paid or not, and what decisions the performer weighs to decide whether to take part in one of these events for pay or not.