Small touring chamber opera company

Audiences buying tickets, venues paying a fee or sharing the box office, arts funders, local sponsors and donors.

Ticket sales or a guaranteed fee per performance, plus grants, sponsorship and donations. Income is uneven, so most small companies build a few shows a year.

• Singing, directing or music production experience
• Organising and budgeting a production
• Building relationships with venues and funders
• Marketing to local audiences

• Check whether the music, libretto or translation is still in copyright and whether you need permission or a licence
• Public liability insurance, and check what venues require before they will book you
• Performers are often paid per show, so check how you will handle contracts, pay and tax (employed or self-employed status)
• Grants are competitive and slow, so do not rely on them for your first show
• Check whether the venue holds the right licence for public performance and ticketed events

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your singers, simple sets, van and the pieces you choose. These are estimates, and grants are slow, so do not rely on them for a first show.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on ticket sales, venue fees, sponsors and donors, from around 15 hours a week. Treat these as estimates, not guaranteed income.

Check whether the music, libretto or translation is still in copyright and whether you need permission or a licence. Also check venue licences for public performance, public liability insurance, and how to handle performer contracts, pay and tax.