Just into the new year 2021, the ALD has issued an updated and revised guidance document to suggest appropriate fees for ALD members.

The document "ALD Substantiated Fees for Lighting Design" can be found on the ALD website www.ald.org.uk in the 'Resources' section or by following this link.

Lucy Carter, co-chair of the ALD Professional members' working group  comments: 

"The updated guidance is for actual fees, royalties and expense remuneration being offered by producers, managements and venues.  The fee levels are obtained from the large number of reports that we have access to through voluntary submissions to the confidential Fees Database, and by member surveys.  These fee suggestions should be taken as a starting point for negotiation and not a suggested minimum fee and it is entirely appropriate to earn more than these levels".   

Johanna Town, Chair of the ALD emphasised that members should be endeavouring to raise the levels of compensation to at least these figures, many of which have not been increased in many years. She added:

This list should be used to encourage forward planning of managements to budget more realistic compensation for lighting designers in the future.  

To assist the resumption of fair and adequate fees as practitioners negotiate new contracts in the near future, as the live performance industry resumes activity following the extensive closures from the COVID-19 lockdown, the ALD has decided to publish the Substantiated Fees Document on their website to both members and non-members.  Further updates later in 2021 will be available to ALD members only.