Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from other freelancers, especially those working in events or social media marketing. I manage social media for an independent ~2000 capacity music festival in the UK. This will be my 4th year doing it (I started in 2023), and it’s the festival’s 6th year running. Until now it’s been a 1-day event, but this year it’s expanding into a 3-day camping festival (Fri-Sun), which will significantly increase the workload and scope. Some context: • The organisation is very grassroots - nobody takes a salary or dividends, and the festival has lost money the last 3 years. • I was paid very poorly the last few years (well below minimum wage if broken down hourly), but I accepted it at the time because it was smaller and I believed in the project. • This year I said I couldn’t continue under those conditions, and they agreed to a recorded hourly rate of £25/hour, which felt fair and sustainable. • We had already agreed to this hourly structure, and the ticket-based structure was proposed afterwards as an alternative. However, the director has now proposed an alternative payment structure based on ticket sales instead of hourly pay. They’ve offered: • £400 guaranteed per month base • Bonuses depending on total tickets sold that month, for example: • 500 tickets sold = £600 total • 600 tickets sold = £800 total • 700 tickets sold = £1000 total • 800 tickets sold = £1200 total • 1000 tickets sold = £1500 total Their reasoning is that because the festival is expanding and investing more in marketing tools (Skiddle marketing support, paid ads, radio, etc.), ticket sales should increase significantly. My concerns: • Based on previous years, I typically work around 20-40 hours per month during most of the campaign, and more closer to the event. At £400/month base, this could work out well below my agreed hourly rate depending on workload. • Looking at previous sales patterns, these monthly targets seem unrealistic for most of the campaign except possibly the final 1-2 months before the event. • This shifts a lot of financial risk onto me, even though ticket sales depend on many factors outside my control (lineup strength, reputation, pricing, economy, weather, etc.). • The hourly rate model felt much more predictable and fair, especially given the increased workload this year. • I’m not against bonuses tied to performance, but I’m unsure whether it’s reasonable for performance-based pay to replace hourly pay entirely. Another important factor is that the working environment is quite informal, and I’m friends with the whole team, including the director. I’ve also lived in the director’s flat for the past 1.5 years. Because of the friendship and informal structure, boundaries and expectations haven’t always been clearly defined. For example: • Team members messaging and calling me during my day job, evenings, weekends, and holidays • Lack of clear schedules or structured planning • Being bombarded with WhatsApp messages instead of organised communication • Being asked to do tasks that aren’t time-effective or strategically valuable This has made the role more demanding and unpredictable at times, and is another reason why fair and sustainable compensation feels important. Additional context: • The payment period would likely run for around 6-8 months leading up to the festival. • The festival capacity is around 2000 and previous years haven’t sold out. I want to help the festival succeed and maintain good relationships, but I also need to make sure I’m compensated fairly and not taking on excessive financial risk. My main questions: * Is ticket sales–based compensation like this normal for freelance social media managers working on festivals/events? * Would it be reasonable to insist on a guaranteed hourly rate, with ticket-sales bonuses on top instead of instead of hourly pay? * Has anyone here worked under a structure like this, and how did it work out? * What would experienced freelancers realistically negotiate in this situation? Thanks in advance - I’d really value hearing from people with experience in freelance marketing or events.

Question

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from other freelancers, especially those working in events or social media marketing.   I manage social media for an independent ~2000 capacity music festival in the UK. This will be my 4th year doing it (I started in 2023), and it’s the festival’s 6th year running. Until now it’s been a 1-day event, but this year it’s expanding into a 3-day camping festival (Fri-Sun), which will significantly increase the workload and scope. Some context: • The organisation is very grassroots - nobody takes a salary or dividends, and the festival has lost money the last 3 years. • I was paid very poorly the last few years (well below minimum wage if broken down hourly), but I accepted it at the time because it was smaller and I believed in the project. • This year I said I couldn’t continue under those conditions, and they agreed to a recorded hourly rate of £25/hour, which felt fair and sustainable. • We had already agreed to this hourly structure, and the ticket-based structure was proposed afterwards as an alternative. However, the director has now proposed an alternative payment structure based on ticket sales instead of hourly pay. They’ve offered: • £400 guaranteed per month base • Bonuses depending on total tickets sold that month, for example: • 500 tickets sold = £600 total • 600 tickets sold = £800 total • 700 tickets sold = £1000 total • 800 tickets sold = £1200 total • 1000 tickets sold = £1500 total Their reasoning is that because the festival is expanding and investing more in marketing tools (Skiddle marketing support, paid ads, radio, etc.), ticket sales should increase significantly. My concerns: • Based on previous years, I typically work around 20-40 hours per month during most of the campaign, and more closer to the event. At £400/month base, this could work out well below my agreed hourly rate depending on workload. • Looking at previous sales patterns, these monthly targets seem unrealistic for most of the campaign except possibly the final 1-2 months before the event. • This shifts a lot of financial risk onto me, even though ticket sales depend on many factors outside my control (lineup strength, reputation, pricing, economy, weather, etc.). • The hourly rate model felt much more predictable and fair, especially given the increased workload this year. • I’m not against bonuses tied to performance, but I’m unsure whether it’s reasonable for performance-based pay to replace hourly pay entirely. Another important factor is that the working environment is quite informal, and I’m friends with the whole team, including the director. I’ve also lived in the director’s flat for the past 1.5 years. Because of the friendship and informal structure, boundaries and expectations haven’t always been clearly defined. For example: • Team members messaging and calling me during my day job, evenings, weekends, and holidays • Lack of clear schedules or structured planning • Being bombarded with WhatsApp messages instead of organised communication • Being asked to do tasks that aren’t time-effective or strategically valuable This has made the role more demanding and unpredictable at times, and is another reason why fair and sustainable compensation feels important. Additional context: • The payment period would likely run for around 6-8 months leading up to the festival. • The festival capacity is around 2000 and previous years haven’t sold out. I want to help the festival succeed and maintain good relationships, but I also need to make sure I’m compensated fairly and not taking on excessive financial risk. My main questions: * Is ticket sales–based compensation like this normal for freelance social media managers working on festivals/events? * Would it be reasonable to insist on a guaranteed hourly rate, with ticket-sales bonuses on top instead of instead of hourly pay? * Has anyone here worked under a structure like this, and how did it work out? * What would experienced freelancers realistically negotiate in this situation? Thanks in advance - I’d really value hearing from people with experience in freelance marketing or events.

Simplifier · Accepted Answer

Okay, let's break this down in a way that's super clear. Imagine you're baking cookies. You agreed to get paid a certain amount per batch you bake (hourly rate). Now, they're saying, "Instead of paying you per batch, we'll give you a small base payment, and then more money depending on how many cookies people buy."

The problem is, you don't control how many cookies people buy! Maybe the oven is broken, the recipe is bad, or people just aren't hungry. You could bake your heart out and still not

Pragmatist · Answer

Okay, let's cut to the chase. Ticket-based compensation for social media is unusual and risky, especially when you're dealing with a grassroots festival that hasn't turned a profit. Your concerns are valid.

Here's what you need to do: Stick to your guns on the hourly rate. It's already agreed upon, and it's the only way to ensure you're fairly compensated for your time, especially with the increased workload. Propose a compromise: keep the £25/hour, track your hours meticulously, and then negot

Small Business Consultant · Answer

Okay, let's break this down. The ticket-based compensation model is risky for you, especially given the festival's financial history and the many factors outside your control that influence ticket sales. It's not typical for social media managers to be paid *solely* on ticket sales, especially with a small, developing festival. Your initial agreement of £25/hour was a good starting point, providing a predictable income stream based on your time investment.

Given the circumstances, I'd strongly

Marketing Consultant · Answer

Okay, let's break this down from a marketing perspective. Ticket-based compensation for social media management is not the industry standard, especially when you're already managing the workload of a 3-day festival. It's understandable that they're trying to incentivize you, but it shifts too much risk onto your shoulders. Your concerns about workload and unrealistic targets are valid.

Given your history with the festival and the existing relationship, I'd suggest you negotiate a hybrid approac

Event Management Professional · Answer

Okay, let's break this down. Ticket sales-based compensation for social media management isn't standard, especially as the sole form of payment. Your concerns about workload variability and external factors influencing sales are valid. You're essentially being asked to absorb a significant portion of the festival's financial risk.

Given the grassroots nature and your existing relationship, I'd suggest a hybrid approach. Insist on a guaranteed hourly rate, even if it's slightly lower than the in

Simplifier

Pragmatist

Small Business Consultant

Perspectives

Consensus

Marketing Consultant

Event Management Professional