Guidance

Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR), part 2: Getting set up

This introduction is the second of three documents on Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR). It gives you an overview of how to set up and run a production company to claim OTR. 

Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR), part 3: keeping records, producing accounts and making a claim

Find below our series of templates, guidance and services for creating records, accounts and claiming for OTR. 

Keeping records

This guidance looks at how to keep accrual accounts for your concert production company for the purposes of claiming OTR, and includes examples to help you.

OTR 3.1 - Accruals Basis of Accounting

This resource is part of our OTR Part 3 guidance: Keeping records, producing accounts and making a claim. It looks at how to keep accrual accounts for your concert production company for the purposes of claiming OTR. 

Organisations claiming Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) (i.e. the concert production companies) have to prepare their financial statements under the Accruals Basis of accounting which requires that income and expense must be recognized in the accounting periods to which they relate rather than on a cash basis.

OTR 3.2 - Template: Accrual accounting spreadsheet (including guidance notes)

This resource is part of our OTR Part 3 guidance: Keeping records, producing accounts and making a claim.

It includes two downloadable documents:

  • OTR 3.2 Template: Accrual accounts (Excel spreadsheet)
  • OTR 3.2(a) Guidance: Notes on using the accrual accounts template (PDF)

Please note:

Where to go to list your events online

Online events listings can be a good way to way to reach new and bigger audiences, but you have to be willing to put in time, work, patience and a bit of creativity.

There are many options out there, and we'll outline the main types below. Also, before you venture deep into the web, did you know that you can list your events on the Making Music website?

Listings sites

Top tips for email marketing, part 2: Building a great email

In part 2 of this guidance on email marketing we'll cover what to include in your email, how to make a great subject line and how to measure success.

Part 1: Getting started and building a list | Part 2: Building a great email

Top tips for email marketing, part 1: Getting started and building a list

In an era with more and more options available for communicating with your audiences, email remains one of the most effective - 99% of adults check their email at least once per day, and promotion via email is reckoned to be 40 times more effective than social media.

Dealing with performance anxiety - from BAPAM

Performance anxiety or ‘stage fright’ is a feeling of fear accompanied by increased bodily arousal which can affect a performer when they are practising on their own, rehearsing with others, before and/or during a performance – in fact any time.This resource from The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) offers some useful advice on recognising and managing performance anxiety.

Fit to play: exercises for instrumentalists - from BAPAM

All skilled physical activity, including music, should be preceded by a warm-up. This resource from The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) offers some useful exercises to help instrumentalists prepapre physically.

Fit to Sing: vocal exercises - from BAPAM

All skilled physical activity, including music, should be preceded by a warm-up. This resource from The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) offers some useful vocal exercises to help you prepare physically.