Except that that $15/hour teaching job isn't the same as a grip's $25/hour job. A teacher is paid for an 8-10 hours day, almost every day. A grip is paid for the duration of the shoot, and that might only take a day or a few days out of the week. When you're not fully booked all the time, you have to charge more.
new Business card designs, opinions wanted
- Thread starter Jason Miller
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Except that that $15/hour teaching job isn't the same as a grip's $25/hour job. A teacher is paid for an 8-10 hours day, almost every day. A grip is paid for the duration of the shoot, and that might only take a day or a few days out of the week. When you're not fully booked all the time, you have to charge more.
Spot on. Most companies that are successful in this industry follow this sound advice. Their crews are an extension of the company. Since their talents contribute to the quality of work the company produces. In order to hire the good people over and over again they pay them a fair price. They can do this because they bid their jobs accordingly - they are not the "low bidder" on the job because that is not a sustainable business model. They stay the business because they consistently produce high quality work. Clients are willing to spend the money for the quality.
You're exploiting people. All of your posts are about cheap labor.
You don't value the crew members and you don't respect them.
I couldn't disagree more. A good grip pays attention, speeds up lighting, anticipates the next move and is a tremendous help in keeping the production day moving along quickly. Conversely, a less skilled grip waits to be told what to do. On an long day the difference between having one or the other on the set could be an hour of overtime which is expensive. Every crew member has value.
All I'm saying Jonathan is have a little respect for people that work in the industry.
Michael T
Well-known member
Business is a very funny thing. We all need to make enough money to survive and be happy and to grow our business. A friend and client of mine who was a very wealthy man sat me down when I was young and explained to me that you have to be good at what you do first and foremost and hopefully you enjoy it. Once you are equal with the people that have become successful you need to charge what they are charging or you will never grow your business. Yes you may survive for a while but to buy new equipment and pay the bills and make a profit you need to know your industry and decide where you are going to work. I owned a european cabinet company for years and decided to work in the top 5% of the industry and charged accordingly. I was very good and could easily show you why I justified my prices. I bring this to the media business as well. Just because someone can get something done cheap doesn't mean its better, it might be but customers usually get what they pay for. I work hard and do excellent work at the top of my field and my clients are repeat customers and are happy to come back. They know they can expect quality and the extra mile when they need it form me and my employees.
I sometimes work long hours and thru the night and have found that if you give very good quality of product and service you can charge the going rate at the top and this will make you a profit as well as your labor. We build relationships with customers and they come in all kinds, cheap, frugal, easy to deal with and so on. Once my clients see the level of quality and service that they can expect they stay pretty happy. Sometimes you do real good and sometimes you get bit and thats the nature of doing business. So where do you want to work, at the low end of the business or at the top? Each industry has both and a middle. I chose to work where I can make top labor and a good profit and be happy. I produce so I bid jobs and there are people cheaper than me and some do some good work. You have to work at finding enough clients to work for that are willing to pay your price. Too much work and your to cheap, not enough work and your to high. You have to bid on enough work to keep busy. And this is where good marketing can help.
Being fair to the people you work with is up to the individual. Some people treat customers and employees with a lack of respect. I have seen people carve out a reputation that proceeds them in business. I want to help my clients become very successful and in turn I want to get wealthy and have a lot of fun doing it. If I can get great quality work below market value I will take it and pass it on. If I like the person and get to know them I have the choise of educating them as much as I want. The same with clients, I do some free work and sometimes make more than normally. Its about relationships and being fair. I just chose to do it at a level that I'm comfortable with which is in the top of my industry.
If you want to buy a $100,000 camera and don't have the money then you need to find a better deal on it. If you want to make a certain amount of money for wages then you have to find people that will pay you what you want for excellent service and top quality work. They are out there and looking for good people to work with that are first good and secondly reliable. You can carve out a good business if you are willing to work hard and put in the time and effort of being the best at what you do. There will always be people that are willing to work for less than what you charge and they might be very talented. There are clients that will always keep you honest and some nickel and dime you and some people want you to work for nothing.
I have a good friend that is a photographer and over the last two years he has been willing to listen and learn the business and when others told him not to buy new equipment I told him you need to spend money to make money. He bought a camera that was three times what his last one cost and twice as much on lens than the camera. He has bought a new computer and much better software to be faster and better and it has paid off well for him. I told him to rent until he could buy and now he makes a good profit and works with people that he enjoys. Some of his original clients have had a challenge with his rate increases but the new clients don't hesitate to pay his price. He makes a good profit but there are two other photogs that charge twice what he charges and are very busy all the time in his industry and within a year he will be charging what they get because he is now published in the top magazine in the industry. He could still be working more for much less but he listened and has become one of the best in his field and has almost tripled his yearly salary and someday hopes to be the best.
I love to work hard and love what I do, but I have to make a living and so I like to make a profit at the top of what I do. I make $75 an hour and sometimes $45 an hour and sometimes much much more.
Hope this helps and good luck!
I sometimes work long hours and thru the night and have found that if you give very good quality of product and service you can charge the going rate at the top and this will make you a profit as well as your labor. We build relationships with customers and they come in all kinds, cheap, frugal, easy to deal with and so on. Once my clients see the level of quality and service that they can expect they stay pretty happy. Sometimes you do real good and sometimes you get bit and thats the nature of doing business. So where do you want to work, at the low end of the business or at the top? Each industry has both and a middle. I chose to work where I can make top labor and a good profit and be happy. I produce so I bid jobs and there are people cheaper than me and some do some good work. You have to work at finding enough clients to work for that are willing to pay your price. Too much work and your to cheap, not enough work and your to high. You have to bid on enough work to keep busy. And this is where good marketing can help.
Being fair to the people you work with is up to the individual. Some people treat customers and employees with a lack of respect. I have seen people carve out a reputation that proceeds them in business. I want to help my clients become very successful and in turn I want to get wealthy and have a lot of fun doing it. If I can get great quality work below market value I will take it and pass it on. If I like the person and get to know them I have the choise of educating them as much as I want. The same with clients, I do some free work and sometimes make more than normally. Its about relationships and being fair. I just chose to do it at a level that I'm comfortable with which is in the top of my industry.
If you want to buy a $100,000 camera and don't have the money then you need to find a better deal on it. If you want to make a certain amount of money for wages then you have to find people that will pay you what you want for excellent service and top quality work. They are out there and looking for good people to work with that are first good and secondly reliable. You can carve out a good business if you are willing to work hard and put in the time and effort of being the best at what you do. There will always be people that are willing to work for less than what you charge and they might be very talented. There are clients that will always keep you honest and some nickel and dime you and some people want you to work for nothing.
I have a good friend that is a photographer and over the last two years he has been willing to listen and learn the business and when others told him not to buy new equipment I told him you need to spend money to make money. He bought a camera that was three times what his last one cost and twice as much on lens than the camera. He has bought a new computer and much better software to be faster and better and it has paid off well for him. I told him to rent until he could buy and now he makes a good profit and works with people that he enjoys. Some of his original clients have had a challenge with his rate increases but the new clients don't hesitate to pay his price. He makes a good profit but there are two other photogs that charge twice what he charges and are very busy all the time in his industry and within a year he will be charging what they get because he is now published in the top magazine in the industry. He could still be working more for much less but he listened and has become one of the best in his field and has almost tripled his yearly salary and someday hopes to be the best.
I love to work hard and love what I do, but I have to make a living and so I like to make a profit at the top of what I do. I make $75 an hour and sometimes $45 an hour and sometimes much much more.
Hope this helps and good luck!
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Milksac and MichaelT make great points.
I like crews that are "tight" crews that have worked together before. Problem with inexperienced people.... There dangerous! Any two people can figure out how to fly a 12x12 but it takes experience to make sure it doesn't fall down! I don't take chances on safety.
What pride is there in getting a job cause your the low bid? You got the job cause you were the cheapest? Sorry, I ask first if this is a low bid wins contest..... I don't participate in low bid wins. You want to feel good..... Be the highest bidder and get the job!!!!
If the client says "I don't have a great budget.... But I really want you to do it" Than I'll try my best make it happen. How? By having a history of treating your people/vendors good and keeping them paid up...... Gives you leverage..... They will be there when you need them.
frisco
I like crews that are "tight" crews that have worked together before. Problem with inexperienced people.... There dangerous! Any two people can figure out how to fly a 12x12 but it takes experience to make sure it doesn't fall down! I don't take chances on safety.
What pride is there in getting a job cause your the low bid? You got the job cause you were the cheapest? Sorry, I ask first if this is a low bid wins contest..... I don't participate in low bid wins. You want to feel good..... Be the highest bidder and get the job!!!!
If the client says "I don't have a great budget.... But I really want you to do it" Than I'll try my best make it happen. How? By having a history of treating your people/vendors good and keeping them paid up...... Gives you leverage..... They will be there when you need them.
frisco
Ferret Lady
Well-known member
Honestly, I wouldn't use any of these. Think clean and simple. I threw something very basic together in about a minute. Maybe it will give you some ideas...? Good luck!
this OWNS!!!!!!