Until now, artists with so-called “guest contracts” at German theaters have been in a rather particular situation: while technically “employed,” with income tax and social security contributions deducted from their earnings, most guest contracts stipulated that no fee would be paid if the artist had to cancel due to illness or if productions or performances were canceled by the organizers.
This is set to change from June 1, 2025, thanks to the “Tarifvertrag Gast” (Guest Collective Agreement) negotiated between trade unions and the Deutscher Bühnenverein (German Stage Association) – but only for contracts concluded after this date, unless the “Tarifvertrag Gast” is explicitly referenced. This is a significant step towards providing greater financial protection for freelance artists, shielding them from income loss due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope that Austria will soon have a similar agreement!