When I tried to explain to secondary school students the other day how little the orchestra members who perform the musical surprise act at the Eurovision Song Contest were paid, they looked at me in bewilderment. After all, it was more than you earn as a 16-year-old as a stock boy at the average grocery store. So what was really the problem?
So now, just a different calculation, thanks to the NTB, the union for musicians. This month they presented their annual review of rates (achieved and collective agreement), and then you understand why good art is expensive and the NPO an incredible exploiter.
Outrageous
Where were we again, you say. Well, the musicians at the Song Contest get converted to €11.54 an hour. That was then kind of net. In the fee schedule, we can now see that that is at least 200 to 300 per cent below the usual, and since 1 January also prescribed, rate. Professional musicians are supposed to get 50€ gross per, so at least 150€ per rehearsal, and then also 300€ per concert. So in this case: 3 concerts and 8 rehearsals, add up, we come to 2100 euros. Gross. Leaving you with about 1,800 euros net. Of which you don't have to pay your travel expenses, as the NPO does demand of the artists who are going to perform their tricks in front of 200 million people. I suspect the cameramen who record it get more generous allowances.
Paying musicians a quarter of what they are reasonably entitled to. This is downright outrageous. I'll say it out loud. Which funds, which subsidisers, which sponsors gave their approval to this? So far, nobody at Public Broadcasting has mentioned this wantonness. Why not, really?
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