Contract Negotiation Exercise for It Takes Two Workshop

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YOU ARE THE ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE VARIAZI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Variazi Symphony Orchestra is primarily a pops orchestra with four to five events per year. They operate and present year-round. Total budget is $800,000. Artist budget is $100,000.  They use different venues, some outdoor, for performances. You sent this email to the manager of soprano Shannon Sugarbaker following a phone conversation last week. It details the offer you are making for her services next season.     

Dear Artist Manager:  

As we discussed on the phone last week. Variazi Pops Orchestra wishes to engage soprano Shannon Sugarbaker for our 2022-2023 season. We hope Ms. Sugarbaker will return as our on-stage host and star performer for VPO’s annual Christmas spectacular, Pop Goes the Holidays!

For your review, I have outlined our financial offer and proposed event obligations for Ms. Sugarbaker’s engagement. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you need clarification on any of the details.  

Fittings: Early November – We will need Ms. Sugarbaker in town for 24-36 hours for gown fittings. We have flexibility on scheduling of the date and we will provide one hotel night stay and flight for this fitting.   

Rehearsals:

Tuesday, November 29 – 5:00 p.m. piano rehearsal with music director

Wednesday, November 30 – 3:30-7:00 p.m. with orchestra

Thursday, December 1 – 3:00-7:00 p.m. with orchestra  

Performances:

Saturday, December 3 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday December 4 – 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 10 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 11 – 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 14 – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, December 17 – 7:30 p.m

Saturday, December 18 – 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 19 – 3:00 p.m.

Repertoire: To be determined by artist, in consultation with VPO’s music director. VPO’s music director has final approval of all repertoire and program content. Artist will have spoken script.

Fee: Performance fee: $15,000 (plus two, round-trip, domestic, economy flights; local, ground transportation for orchestra events, and hotel) 

Bonus fee: An additional fee of $1000 will apply if Ms. Sugarbaker misses no performances or rehearsals.  

Exclusivity: Artist agrees not to perform within a 90-mile radius of the city of Nashville, TN, 90 days before first performance and 60 days after final performance.

Additional Events: Because Pop Goes the Holidays! is one of our premiere events of the season, we receive numerous media and social event requests. We ask that Ms. Sugarbaker be available for at least three in-person television and/or radio interviews, three phone or online interviews, gala dinner with sponsors and board members following the opening performance, and one reception during the run of the show.  

We will be happy to generate the contract, once we have received your acceptance of our offer. I look forward to working with you and receiving the necessary photos and materials for publicity and social media.    

All best,

Janet Jarriel, Artistic Administrator

Variazi Pops Orchestra

Nashville, Tennessee

404-663-4135 cell   

Consider:  Variazi has presented Ms. Sugarbaker for two other Pops performances - Christmas and a general Pops concert. Both sold out. She is a well-known Musical Theatre performer with a Tony Award and two Grammy nominations. She is originally from the South USA and has quite a following there.

You know she is based in NYC and is in demand for holiday shows. Presenting her is a great opportunity for media coverage and audience building.  The previous Christmas Pops offer to Ms. Sugarbaker was for $10,000 and only 8 shows. The previous general Pops offer was for two shows and $6000. But, the general Pops venue was much larger in an outdoor setting during the summer.

Wait for response from artist manager and consider what you are willing to pay and/or change in order to have her perform.