can't get money from these hip hop dudes

A

anthony jackson

Well-known member
:kali:when I shoot a video'' do I ask for all the money up front ?

because they ben giving me half,and taking for ever to give me the rest,and putting me through all these diffrent changes with the editting.

this is the 2nd time this happend
what am thinking about doing is giving this guy his money back he will never get a video at that quality,and I will just keep it for my Portfolio.

is this what I Do ?
 
Why would you give him his money back?
I'm confused.

If he OWES you money it sounds like you have every right to stop working - no reason to give him back the money he paid you up to date.
 
Have a contract, first and foremost. 25% upon delivery of first edited version, final 25% upon final delivery. In the contract, specify what you're going to do, and what you've agreed to. And specify that if they want changes/deviations from that, you include a certain amount of time (two hours, four hours, whatever) to accomodate those changes. Any changes beyond that will be billed at a certain agreed-upon rate.

Then, do the job. Finish it, and give them nothing until they've paid up. No pay = no job. If they want changes, remind them of what they agreed to (max four hours, whatever) and have them come in and make the changes. Then stick to your decisions.
 
that's cool ''they did pay me half,and he said he like it when it was finish'but now they want to change the story board,and I did all that editting,and I don't let clinets know where I live.It was to much work to many changes,and to little
pay !!! well we did have a contract but this guy works at WalMart,and he still
need to pay me the other half,and I told them to shoot again I need to get paid for the work that was done,and that they need another$425 for me to
shoot again.Honestley they have champagne tast but a beer budget,and I just
wont to call it quits.
 
... and if you take nothing else away from this, learn this lesson: cheap clients are the worst. They take up the most time, the most changes, the most hassle, and they are the worst at paying, and they resent every nickel they send you.

Taking a job for cheap, or trying to be "the cheapest guy" is a recipe for unhappiness.
 
anthony jackson said:
:kali:when I shoot a video'' do I ask for all the money up front ?

what am thinking about doing is giving this guy his money back he will never get a video at that quality,and I will just keep it for my Portfolio.

is this what I Do ?
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Hell no, still get your money back but take it as a loss, what I mean is that you never can get your equal amount of money unless you keep charging them for re edits. I am in this exact situation, luckily it was for a little job and I am only owed 100 dollars, however the dude continues to spend 1000's promoting parties etc. What I do know with independent people is make them pay all the money up front or at least 80%, or I break down the costs, this amount to shoot, to edit, etc, what do you want done. Only time I take deposits nowadays is with businesses and contracts, so any issues, depending on the amount of money, lawsuit
 
Man this one sounds all too familiar, I had this happen on my very first video trying to help out some friends to get their first video done, and had to wait almost 2 months after to get the rest of my money. What ended up happening is the video got KOCH Records interested in the artist and they wanted a reshoot to add another scene so I told them I couldn't shoot anything without the balance of $250 which was still owed to me. They ended up paying the balance and not happy with the addtional footage we shot which I told them was going to run another $250 for the shoot and didnt charge them to edit. So I'm all for money up front.
 
I do 50% deposit to secure the date, the the remaining 50% BEFORE I start shooting.

On rare occasions, I'll shoot without the other half of the money, but I won't start editing till I have all cash. Definitely nothing leave's my hands or my office till all money is paid.
 
I agree with rcbrown %100 percent and that's how I run it when i'm shooting. Here is my reason why.

when you are running a business or providing a service you have cost and profit. Most low budget videos cut directly into the profit side of things bringing you almost at cost which means that if you don't get all your money up front you will have to spend some of your money to put it together.

I've calculated that in my area in order for me to do a great quality low budget video I would need at minimum $2000 just for cost and to get everyone paid with doesn't count as profit

I have no problem with giving a client an invoice for %100 up front if I'm only operating at cost
 
Kwan said:
I'm 200% agree with that [SIZE=-1]When It Comes To Music Video[/SIZE]
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hell yes, when it's just a music video with an independent artist who want something simple, all the money up front, if they have a nice little label backing them, then it all depends on how good the business is.
 
well thanks a lot I still have the DVD he end up calling me over the week end
and said he like the first cut,and all of his friends told him the video was top knoch. he was influence by family members but when it came down to it no one wanted to pay more money for another day of shooting,,,so hes now happy with the work but I told him that he needs to come up with the rest of the money to get the DVD ,So am still a head.
told him next year am going up to 3k for music videos,and that they would need to put down 2k for two day shoot,that way this will keep these kind of clients away.....lol I thank everybody for responding to this tread. good point silver wolf
 
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Half up front, 25% before you start to cut, another 25% for each re edit, balance before they get their hands on the finished project. And no, they cannot have the work files.
 
I agree with most all,,, do like RCBrown's recipe probably most, I do not shoot for money yet but did sub work for a while ,,, I did 30% down , 30% at the half mark , 40 % upon completion,,,

but here's the thing,,,

Barry Green said it all " there must be a MEETING of the MIND "
aka 'a contract' ,,, and that is a recipe for 'peace of mind'

Consider that even a napkin with terms and two signatures will carry more weight than any argument ,, any day ,, in any place ,, INCLUDING a small claims court of law ,,,,, PERIOD ....


Pardon my over-enthusiastic flow here but I think most will agree ' if you just get it in writing ' both parties know what each is responsible for, It offers the best protection to both and you can sleep at night.


JMHO hope it helps

cheers
 
OH P.S. Don't even dream of giving back any money ,,, that's your pay for the work you've done thus far. Nor should you release any good reels of work either.
If it ever came to the I'd only surrender uncut raw footage, nothing more.

Again, JMHO. Anyone think there's a better way please chime in that we may all consider better avenues of reconciliation...
 
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