Live Performance Award

If you produce or stage live performances in Australia - theatre, opera, dance, orchestral, musical, variety or comedy work - and engage performers, musicians, dancers or production and technical crew in the award's classifications, MA000081 generally applies. It does not cover film and television production or broadcasting, which sit under other awards. Confirm coverage against the Fair Work source before setting pay and conditions, since some roles or productions may fall under a different instrument.

The award sets minimum rates across a wide band of classification levels covering performers, musicians, dancers and production and technical staff, with each level defined by the role, skills and responsibilities involved. You place each person at the level matching the work they actually do, then pay at least that minimum. Title alone is not enough; assess the real duties. Once the level is settled, read the current rate for that classification from the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual employees are paid an hourly or call-based rate plus a casual loading in place of the paid leave and other entitlements casuals do not receive. Across modern awards this loading is commonly 25%, but treat that as a guide and confirm the exact figure for MA000081 on the Fair Work source. Casual engagement is common in live performance, so check how the loading interacts with calls, minimum engagements and the award's penalties before running pay.

Live performance frequently runs into the evening and across weekends, and MA000081 provides penalties for late-night, Saturday and Sunday work. As a general guide across awards, weekend penalties commonly run around 25% on Saturday and 50% on Sunday, but this award's late-night and Sunday penalties can be higher. Confirm what the award actually provides for the relevant time, day and employment type on the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than assuming a percentage.

Public holiday entitlements flow from the National Employment Standards and the award. As a guide, public holiday work across awards can attract penalties of up to 150%, and the award's own provisions determine what applies to a given performance and employment type. Shows often run on public holidays, so always verify the public holiday rate, and any arrangement for people not called that day, for MA000081 on the Fair Work source before a relevant pay run.

Overtime generally applies when work extends beyond the rostered or agreed hours, or a call runs over, and is paid at penalty rates that step up with the hours or extension worked. Because work is structured around calls and performances, identifying when overtime begins takes care. Map each person's calls and any extensions, then confirm the applicable overtime rate for MA000081 on the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than applying a flat assumption.

Yes. Part-time employees work fewer hours than full-timers on a reasonably predictable basis, and the award requires the agreed pattern to be set out, with changes agreed. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same minimum rates as full-timers for their classification. Alongside part-time, the award also supports weekly, short-term and casual engagement suited to production runs. Check the part-time and engagement provisions in the award for the full requirements.

Musicians are engaged on a distinct call-based calculation rather than a simple weekly rate, with minimum numbers of calls and minimum call lengths applying. This reflects the way orchestral and ensemble work is scheduled around rehearsals and performances. Getting musician pay right means tracking calls accurately rather than estimating a weekly figure. Confirm the current musician rates and call requirements for MA000081 on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

MA000081 provides allowances tied to the realities of the work, including touring and travel provisions, a driver allowance for on-tour driving, an understudy allowance, a recording allowance when a performance is recorded, and meal allowances for back-to-back performances. Because these apply only in particular circumstances, they are easy to miss on a busy production. Identify which apply to each engagement and confirm the current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Yes. Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when an employee takes paid annual leave, and under this award it is 17.5%. It applies to full-time and part-time employees taking annual leave; casuals do not accrue annual leave. Given how much live performance work is casual or short-term, check each person's status before applying leave loading. Apply it when processing leave payments and confirm the calculation against the Fair Work source.

Minimum rates and many allowances are reviewed each year in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 review increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. Apply the new rates from the correct pay period, not the calendar date, and refresh the figures for each classification and allowance from the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year - particularly for a production that runs across the July changeover.

A call is a scheduled work period - a rehearsal or performance session - and the award engages people by calls and performances with minimum call lengths rather than a simple weekly roster. Additional or extra performances beyond the agreed number can attract extra payment, and musicians have their own minimum-call rules. Track each person's calls and performances precisely, and confirm the current minimum-call entitlements and any extra-performance payments for MA000081 on the Fair Work source.

Start by confirming each person's correct classification, then map their calls and performances, apply the right late-night, weekend and public holiday penalties and any overtime, and pay the touring, understudy, recording and meal allowances that apply, refreshing every figure from the Fair Work Pay Calculator after each 1 July increase. Accurate records of calls and hours are essential. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for live performance employers, mapping engagements to the correct classifications, allowances and penalties so the right amount is paid every cycle.