Typical: Year-12 drama showcase · senior English performance night · house-play festival.
Indicators: single set or stripped staging · 6-12 fixtures · 1-2 microphones · 30-60 min running time · 1-2 performances.
| Phase | Crew | Hours | Sub-total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bump-in | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Focus + plot | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Tech + dress (combined) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Performance (per show) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Bump-out | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| TOTAL crew-hours (1 show) | ~44 | ||
Quick check: if a contractor quotes more than ~55 crew-hours for a Band S show, ask why.
Typical: Year-12 senior drama production · annual senior play · variety night with band.
Indicators: built set with 2-3 looks · 14-30 fixtures · 8-16 mics · 60-90 min · 3-4 performances · simple scene changes.
| Phase | Crew | Hours | Sub-total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bump-in (Sat + Sun) | 6 | 16 | 96 |
| Focus + first plot | 3 | 8 | 24 |
| Tech week (3 evenings) | 5 | 12 | 60 |
| Dress (2 evenings) | 7 | 8 | 56 |
| Performances (× 4 shows) | 7 | 5 | 140 |
| Bump-out | 8 | 5 | 40 |
| TOTAL crew-hours (4 shows) | ~416 | ||
Quick check: if a contractor quotes more than ~520 crew-hours for a Band M show, ask why.
Typical: Annual school musical · Year-12 production with year-10-up cast · pit band 8+ · 5+ performances.
Indicators: revolve OR multi-look set · 30-60 fixtures · 20-32 mics · 2-2.5 hr running time · 5-8 performances · several quick-changes · followspot.
| Phase | Crew | Hours | Sub-total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bump-in (Sat-Tue, 4 days) | 8 | 10 | 320 |
| Focus + plot (Wed-Thu) | 4 | 10 | 80 |
| Tech run (2 evenings) | 8 | 5 | 80 |
| Dress (2 evenings) | 10 | 6 | 120 |
| Performances (× 5 shows) | 10 | 5 | 250 |
| Bump-out (Sun + Mon) | 12 | 6 | 144 |
| TOTAL crew-hours (5 shows) | ~994 | ||
Quick check: if a contractor quotes more than ~1,240 crew-hours for a Band L show, ask why.
Typical: Multi-school co-pro · external venue hire · automation + flying + multiple revolves · 8+ performances · external paid crew core.
Indicators: 60+ fixtures · 32+ mics · 2.5 hr+ running time · 8-12 performances · automation programmer · external venue.
| Phase | Crew | Hours | Sub-total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bump-in (5-7 days) | 14 | 10 | 980 |
| Focus + plot | 5 | 14 | 70 |
| Tech week (3 evenings) | 12 | 7 | 252 |
| Dress (2-3 evenings) | 14 | 7 | 294 |
| Performances (× 8 shows) | 14 | 5 | 560 |
| Bump-out (2 days) | 16 | 8 | 256 |
| TOTAL crew-hours (8 shows) | ~2,412 | ||
Quick check: Band XL = you're past school-internal scope. Have a professional production manager beside you on this one.
St Joseph's SC running Les Misérables (Year 12 musical, 5 performances, 380-seat school venue). Independent assessment via framework: Band L.
Framework estimate: ~994 crew-hours for the production.
Lighting contractor labour line: 720 crew-hours @ $145/hr = A$104,400.
Sound contractor labour line: 240 crew-hours @ $125/hr = A$30,000.
Contractor total: 960 crew-hours.
School in-house crew (students + you + parents): ~280 crew-hours not on the contractor invoice.
Combined: 1,240 crew-hours — within the 25% +/- range of framework's 994, on the upper edge. Defensible.
What to question: the 240 sound crew-hours feels high for a school musical (typical mid-large = 160-200). Ask: "Walk me through the sound crew-call sheet for the 8-day window. Where are the 240 hours?" If they can show you, pay. If they can't, negotiate.
| Role | Standard rate (ex-GST) | Penalty conditions |
|---|---|---|
| LX op / SND op (mid-experience) | A$ 95-115 / hr | +50% Sat after 18:00 · +100% Sun · +150% public holiday |
| LX op / SND op (senior, FOH) | A$ 130-160 / hr | As above |
| Working at Heights ticket-holder (rigging) | A$ 130-180 / hr | As above · 4-hr minimum call |
| Casual stagehand | A$ 55-80 / hr | As above · 3-hr minimum call |
| System designer / programmer | A$ 180-240 / hr | Flat fee often negotiable for full-show package |
| Truck / van + driver (gear transport) | A$ 220 + $4/km | Per-day rate often $480-680 |
Rates are indicative ranges drawn from publicly-advertised Vic-based theatrical hire companies as of 2026-05. Variance ±15% normal. Smaller regional contractors typically 15-25% below these; major Melbourne contractors at top of range.