Jim Feeley
Veteran
Maybe smart enough to know they can pass the cost onto their client and think the guy's pretty good and the want to be sure he makes enough money to stay in business?
Am I charging enough?
- Thread starter roxics
- Start date
Maybe smart enough to know they can pass the cost onto their client and think the guy's pretty good and the want to be sure he makes enough money to stay in business?
roxics
Veteran
It’s long and complicated but I know this client personally. A Facebook friend. I used to work with her husband doing video work at my regular full time job. We both took on work for the company she works for on the side, him as director/producer and me doing all the production. He works for a competitor of hers now so he can’t do video work with her on the side anymore. So my guess is, he was charging more to take his cut when we both did video work for her together. Now that it’s just me working for her directly, I think she is saying to me subtly, without actually coming out and saying it “hey you guys used to charge us more for these videos.”
Although I always told him he needs to take a cut, he never told me he was or what his cut was if he was. But I always assumed it was probably equal to my own. I think this might be her way of saying that it was.
Although I always told him he needs to take a cut, he never told me he was or what his cut was if he was. But I always assumed it was probably equal to my own. I think this might be her way of saying that it was.
gkantziper
Esteemed Member
One simple way to get a fairly good idea what to charge is by calling one of the major crew services.
Jim Feeley
Veteran
That's a reasonable idea. But the crew services charge less than the going rate around here...and pay crafts people much less than the going rate...so I'd use the price they charge clients (i.e.- producers, etc) as a low-end floor of what you should charge...and maybe have a book rate of 1.5x to 2x that.
But good suggestion of a way to get some rough perspective.
But good suggestion of a way to get some rough perspective.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
In LA non-union work, no half day rates, no hourly rates, only day rates, travel days sitting on airlines are day rate. The average seems to be around $500.00 to $600.00 per day labor plus gear rentals, of course. I know a few DPs and ops who can charge more and get it because they work on higher end projects but in my little EPK/DOC/BTS world, these rates are average. I shoot a lot of green screen interviews so I charge a bit more to shoot green screen because it's just more work, gotta haul and put up a green screen, extra Kinos to light the green screen, etc. Depends on if we are shooting with my camera or renting also but most of our clients shoot with my cameras so with small G&L package, little bit of audio if there isn't a sound mixer, and our C100 or 300, it ends up usually about $1,200.00 per day. But can go higher for gimbal or lower for just a small and simple package. We're pretty scalable, we can bring whatever is needed and just charge accordingly. Editors charge per hour but it makes little sense for shooters to charge hourly. If you take a two hour shoot, unless you are a news guy, chances are you aren't shooting another job the same day so it's day rate. In LA, you need to build in two to four hours round trip to get from anywhere to anywhere also because of traffic.
Union rates are union rates, but of course gear is negotiable.
Union rates are union rates, but of course gear is negotiable.
Eric Coughlin
Veteran
Does equipment rate factor into day rate for travel, or you just charge the labor day rate for travel?
What if you do a shoot where you travel the same day as the shoot, say flying in the morning, shooting, and leaving at night? How would you charge for the travel time then?
robmneilson
Veteran
I usually don't bill for gear on a travel day (unless its something I'm sub renting and paying for). But if it's a day where we travel and then shoot at night it's billed as a normal day (clock starts ticking once I'm travelling and I'll charge OT if it's a long day).
bill totolo
Veteran
Interesting, I get a very slightly higher day rate, but never get full day for travel (only half), so its probably a wash.
Then again, I took domestic travel off my resume two years ago. Just got to be a hassle. More than enough work in town to keep me busy.
Nothing exciting about schlepping gear through airports anymore. The romance has worn off.
doubledark
Well-known member
Hi all
two parts to my question;
a) can I ask how much you are charging for your labour i.e. how much per hour or per half / full day
b) same question but this time in regards to gear that you own that you "rent" out to the client
If this is too sensitive to reply on an open forum then please DM (everything will be confidential).
thanks
two parts to my question;
a) can I ask how much you are charging for your labour i.e. how much per hour or per half / full day
b) same question but this time in regards to gear that you own that you "rent" out to the client
If this is too sensitive to reply on an open forum then please DM (everything will be confidential).
thanks
Generally one does not charge the gear at anything but its full rate regardless of how long the day is (that is after all how rental houses do it). i.e, if you charge $350 for your camera that camera is always billed at $350 whether it's a 2-hour day or a 14-hour day.
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