The Real Cost of Marketing Your Show: Freelancers vs. Hiring an Agency
When you’re producing a show, you already know that every dollar matters. Between rehearsal space, sets, costumes, and royalties, the budget gets tight fast — and that’s before you even get to marketing.
So it’s natural to wonder: is it better to hire individual freelancers for your marketing needs or work with a small creative agency like Pearl Creative Consulting?
Let’s break down what it would actually cost to assemble a team of experienced, reasonably priced professionals to run a two-month marketing campaign for your show — compared to working with an agency that provides all those services in one place.
The “Build-Your-Own-Team” Approach
If you were to hire each contractor individually, here’s what you’d typically be looking at for two months of work at fair, mid-range freelance rates (based on U.S. averages in 2025):
Paid Ads Manager
What they do: Set up and monitor Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads; manage targeting, budgets, and reporting.
Average rate: $50–$75/hour
Time required: 10–15 hours/month
Estimated cost (2 months): $1,000–$2,250
Content Creator
What they do: Write copy, draft posts, and produce short-form videos or photos for social media and ads.
Average rate: $40–$60/hour or $500–$1,000 per content package
Estimated cost (2 months): $1,000–$2,000
Social Media Manager
What they do: Schedule posts, respond to comments, track engagement, and maintain a consistent online presence.
Average rate: $30–$50/hour or $800–$1,200 per month
Estimated cost (2 months): $1,600–$2,400
Administrative Assistant (Event Posting & Research)
What they do: Submit your event to listings, track deadlines, and research community or opportunities.
Average rate: $25–$35/hour
Time required: 8–10 hours/month
Estimated cost (2 months): $400–$700
Digital Marketing Strategist
What they do: Create the overall campaign plan, identify audiences, messaging, timelines, and ad strategy.
Average rate: $75–$125/hour or $1,000–$2,000 per strategy project
Estimated cost (2 months): $1,500–$2,500
Graphic Designer
What they do: Design key art, social graphics, ad templates, and show visuals.
Average rate: $50–$75/hour or $400–$800 per project
Estimated cost (2 months): $800–$1,600
Total Estimated Cost (Hiring Individually):
Total: $6,300–$11,450 for two months or $10,200–$19,425 for three months
That doesn’t include the time you’d spend managing communication, coordinating deadlines, reviewing work from six different people, or ensuring everyone’s efforts align under one cohesive campaign.
The Agency Approach
When you hire an agency like Pearl Creative Consulting, you get:
A unified creative and marketing strategy
Professional ad management, social content, design, and research
Streamlined communication — one team, one vision, one invoice
Consistent brand voice and messaging across all platforms
Our agency model consolidates all of those roles into one integrated team, allowing us to offer two months of full-service marketing for a fraction of the cost.
Because we operate efficiently and specialize in theater and live performance, you get access to experienced professionals in every area without paying six different specialists.
Why It’s More Than Just “Cheaper”
When you hire a creative agency, you’re not just saving money — you’re saving time, stress, and energy. You get one partner who understands your goals, your timeline, and your audience. And instead of trying to juggle graphics, ads, and event listings yourself, you can focus on what you do best: creating great theater.
At Pearl Creative, we’re proud to help theater companies and independent producers stretch their marketing budgets further — without cutting corners on quality or creativity.
If you’re planning your next show and want to see what a smart, affordable, all-in-one campaign could look like, let’s talk. We’ll help you create a plan that fits your goals, your timeline, and your budget — so you can get back to doing what you love.
