NEW ORLEANS — Thursday, Councilmembers Helena Moreno and JP Morrell introduced an ordinance proposing that musicians hired for city-funded events will make $200 per musician per hour, plus possible tips.
The minimum compensation will be set at $200.
An act with 10 or more musicians would be paid at least 2-thousand dollars per performance.
This does not apply to volunteers such as school or church musical groups.
Council President Helena Moreno said the city hires musicians often. This includes daily performers at the airport, and some for NORD, and the Office of Cultural Economy. She says the airport currently pays $175 for three hours of performance time.
Musicians we spoke with tell us the proposed $200 per hour base is a very competitive rate, and this is a good start for improving the financial security of musicians across New Orleans.
Austin, Texas, another city known for live music, implemented the same standard pay rate last summer.
We’ll know more about whether this will happen after the next Economic Development Committee Hearing in mid-July.
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