TV guest
The trade unions BFFS, GDBA and VdO have reached an agreement with the German Stage Association on a first collective agreement for dependent guests.
This is a significant improvement as, for the first time, the risk of illness and loss of performance is regulated in a binding collective agreement. Previously, guests' claims could be completely excluded in individual contracts. The days of these gagging contracts are now a thing of the past.
The TV Guest applies to contracts that are signed from June 1, 2025 and enter into force on or after that date. For contracts negotiated before June 1, we recommend referring to the TV Guest. See also "Entry into force".
TV GAST-the most important regulations
- Cancellation fees in the event of a performance cancellation by the theater
- Sick pay
- Vacation entitlements
- Entry into force
For all guests in all categories (§ 1 para. 2 NV-Bühne) for whom fixed-term employment contracts are concluded for a certain number of performances, i.e. also for non-performing persons. However, it does not apply to private theaters, small performers, extras, amateurs, trainees or students.
If the theater cancels an entire production, half of the performance fees plus a performance fee must be paid out.
If individual performances are canceled, they will also be paid out at 100% up to this 50 plus 1 rule.
If the theater cancels further performances, the following applies:
Cancellation less than four weeks in advance: 100 % payout
Cancellation up to four weeks in advance : 50 % payout
Cancellation up to eight weeks in advance : 25 % payout
Please note: The theater can offer a replacement performance, if no agreement on such a performance is reached during the contract period, payment must be made according to the rules.
Please note: This only applies if the reason for the cancellation falls within the theater's sphere of risk, i.e. including illness in the ensemble, poor ticket sales, technical faults, but not strikes and official bans.
The cancellation fee must be paid by the theater if the cancellation is "from the sphere of the theater" and no replacement performance has been agreed by the end of the contract period. This replacement performance can then also be after the original end of the contract, but you are not obliged to accept an offer for a replacement performance. The rehearsal fee will not be refunded.
If the theater cancels for reasons that originate from its operations (technical malfunction, illness, also lack of ticket sales), they come from its sphere and the rules of TV Gast apply. If the reasons come from outside (official prohibition, also strike), the theater does not have to pay. The old, usual cancellation clauses such as "illness in the ensemble, "resignation of the director", or "disruptions in operations" are no longer permitted.
Firstly, there is a guaranteed 50-plus-1 fee and, in addition, a flexible cancellation fee, the amount of which depends on how quickly a performance is canceled.
50% of the contractually agreed performances + 1 further performance will be paid in full in any case.
Yes, depending on the time of the cancellation, the following portion of the evening fee will be paid in addition to the guaranteed half plus one performance for each additional canceled performance:
25% if canceled up to 8 weeks in advance
50% if canceled within 8 to 4 weeks
100% if canceled within 4 weeks
Yes, you are entitled to continued payment of remuneration in the event of illness from the first day (the statutory entitlement would only apply 4 weeks after the start of the contract)
If you are absent due to illness during the rehearsal phase, you will continue to receive your rehearsal fee without any deductions. This means that for the rehearsal day on which you are ill, you receive the same as if you were healthy.
Anyone who has to cancel a performance due to illness will receive 50% of the agreed performance fee, at least the minimum guest fee and at most double the minimum guest fee (currently 580.00 euros for TVöD houses and 622.00 euros for TV-L houses). Please note that there are two minimum fees in the NV-Bühne: the minimum fee for guests is the starting fee for permanent employees.
Yes, for every 26 days of employment (rehearsal period + performance days) you are now entitled to three vacation days. The vacation should be taken during the rehearsal period if possible. It can also be used for work commitments. However, time off is also possible and should be negotiated into the contract as before.
The theater can determine the vacation days. If this is not done, the vacation will be paid out. The rehearsal fee is added to the premiere fee and divided by the days of employment. There is a minimum of the minimum fee for guests and a maximum of 1.5 times this fee. Please note that there are two minimum fees in the NV-Bühne: the minimum fee for guests is the starting fee for permanent employees.
The vacation allowance is calculated on the basis of the allowances for the rehearsals and the first performance (premiere)
Rehearsal fees + 1 performance fee (premiere) divided by (days of employment in the rehearsal period + 1)
The vacation allowance is at least the allowance for one vacation day, but at least the minimum allowance for one rehearsal day and at most 1.5 times the minimum allowance for one rehearsal day.
The new collective agreement for guests applies to guest contracts concluded from June 1, 2025. The collective agreement does not have to be applied to contracts concluded earlier, even if the contract (production) period is after June 1, 2025.
We recommend renegotiating the contract and incorporating the rules of the TV Gast. Under no circumstances, however, should you have to buy the inclusion of the new collective agreement by deducting fees.
The German Stage Association recommends that its theaters apply the TV Guest immediately. Its rules will be a binding standard and will also give the theater legal certainty. You can also get support on this and all other contractual issues at recht@gdba.de.
The contract stipulates 10 performances, the performance fee is EUR 600, and EUR 6,000 would be reimbursed for all 10 performances.
Case A: The entire production is canceled months in advance:
50+1: 6 performances are remunerated at 100% (600 EUR)
+X: 4 performances are remunerated at 25% (150 EUR)
cancellation fee for all 10 performances is 4200 EUR
cancellation: 1800 EUR
Case B: the last 5 performances are canceled 4 to 8 weeks in advance:
50+1: the 6th performance is remunerated at 100% (600 EUR)
+X: 4 performance fees are remunerated at 50% (300 EUR)
cancellation fee for all 5 performances is 1800 EUR
cancellation: 1200 EUR
Case C: the last 5 performances are canceled less than 4 weeks in advance:
50+1: the 6th performance is remunerated 100% (600 EUR)
+X: 4 performance fees are remunerated 100% (600 EUR)
cancellation fee for all 5 performances is 3000 EUR
cancellation: 0 EUR
Case D: 4 out of 7 performances are canceled months in advance:
The four performances must be 100% refunded due to the 50+1 rule.
Follow us: