ATTN music video directors what are your rates?
- Thread starter deadby23
- Start date
Okay well thats what stage im in now. Doing videos for friends bands and local bands where they will throw me a couple hundred or something like that. But im working with a bit of a bigger artist for my next video and im doing his video for free because that will get my name out there and a ton of people will see it. But eventually i would like to be able to start making some decent money from doing videos and i was wondering what some of the people on here generally charge for directing/shooting/editing the video with all possible rental and other production costs aside.
RileyRobertson
Member
This is different for everyone, some may charge flat rates while others Hourly. It all just depends on the video. If there is a ton of special effects, or super technical shots then of course your going to want to charge more. I would say start doing an hourly rate, but don't know how experienced you are so it could be anywhere from $15-$50hr ect. Think of what you think your worth an hour, and the Lowest you would except an hour, and go in the middle. As long as you dont think your worth 500 an hour.lol
Patryk_Rebisz
Veteran
Even, the simplest music video requires at least 3 days of work (day of prep, shoot, day of post). In reality most music videos take more (5-6 days being the norm). So even if you charge some really low rate of say $500/day you should be getting about $1500/3000 (minimum). Realistically you will be the one putting the video together so you should be simply getting a percentage of the budget... unfortunately as the budgets a way too small your experience will play a major factor figuring out how far to stretch the dollar. Now, as music video budgets went way, WAY down, good luck getting any money at all. In a way i'm glad that i got out of MVs business as the money you make on those is pathetic. Good luck!
Patryk that is false. Music Videos are still bringing in a great deal of money for many people. First off, you start low. Make a name for yourself, than you can charge people higher rates. A few videographers I work with are booked for the next 4-6 months and are making at least $500 per video, and that is just the basic price.
Tommy K
Well-known member
There are so many "If's" for someone to give you a concrete answer. It all boils down to how much can your musician clients afford to spend on a video? What are the "production value" expectations put on you? Yes it might take you only a few days from start to finish for something simple. But what if takes you 2 weeks of post? (depending on the complexity for example). You need to esimate based on their expectations, and with regard to your abilities and resources to get the job done, and do you have any overhead that needs to be figured in? I have a little time on my hands this morning, so I will share one of my personal experiences making a a music video with you.
I haven't done a music video for a long time, since tha late 90's. I did a couple for an up and coming band with a record deal. My best friend was their manager and promoter. All things considered, I knew each video would take around 7 working days from planning and running around to completion. I charged them a flat $3500 production fee including planning, shooting and editng (this was over all other productions costs) I included all of my owned and available equipment in this price. So I made about $500 per day as a rate... that is around what other guys I talked with were making at that time as well.
Here is an example of what I did for my money on a pretty ambitious shoot that ended up being more like shooting a short than a video:
I had to scout and book a shooting location, I found and rented (for 3 days) a very old spooky looking historic building in a small town. This is where the bulk of the shoot took place. I had to assemble a crew, book hotel rooms, provide wardrobe, costumes and props, rent a doorway dolly, a BMW car and an electrical generator, hire 9 extras ( mostly friends and relatives who worked cheap or for food), arrange catering on the days of the shoot, and oversee a carpenter crew who built a jail cell in the basement of the old building, and built a wooden coffin. Other locations we used were free like a cemetary and some spooky old woods that we fogged up and had hooded extras carrying the coffin through. We spent 3 long whole days just shooting. It ended up taking around 3 days for post and I had another couple of days running around getting everything together. I worked my a-- off on this shoot... but it was a lot of fun and came out well, and it gave me a lot of experience. The bands total cost for the video was around $6800.
I haven't done a music video for a long time, since tha late 90's. I did a couple for an up and coming band with a record deal. My best friend was their manager and promoter. All things considered, I knew each video would take around 7 working days from planning and running around to completion. I charged them a flat $3500 production fee including planning, shooting and editng (this was over all other productions costs) I included all of my owned and available equipment in this price. So I made about $500 per day as a rate... that is around what other guys I talked with were making at that time as well.
Here is an example of what I did for my money on a pretty ambitious shoot that ended up being more like shooting a short than a video:
I had to scout and book a shooting location, I found and rented (for 3 days) a very old spooky looking historic building in a small town. This is where the bulk of the shoot took place. I had to assemble a crew, book hotel rooms, provide wardrobe, costumes and props, rent a doorway dolly, a BMW car and an electrical generator, hire 9 extras ( mostly friends and relatives who worked cheap or for food), arrange catering on the days of the shoot, and oversee a carpenter crew who built a jail cell in the basement of the old building, and built a wooden coffin. Other locations we used were free like a cemetary and some spooky old woods that we fogged up and had hooded extras carrying the coffin through. We spent 3 long whole days just shooting. It ended up taking around 3 days for post and I had another couple of days running around getting everything together. I worked my a-- off on this shoot... but it was a lot of fun and came out well, and it gave me a lot of experience. The bands total cost for the video was around $6800.
Patryk_Rebisz
Veteran
NYDEUCES, if $500/day is "a great deal of money" for you then fine, for me it's way bellow what i charge just for my services (not including the gear). I love to work on music videos as they are very visually driven but also i don't feel comfortable being taken advantage of by only making $500/day (often gear included).
Tommy K
Well-known member
Yes I agree that you have to decide what you are worth, but found money is found money Patryk Unless you have a better offer in that time slot, making something reasonable vs making nothing because I think am worth more, doesn't put food in your mouth or help pay the bills. Just sayin'... In my case I took the $7000 that I made on the 2 videos and invested it right back into a pet project of mine for cable (plus an additional $3K) that brought me back a nice $40K profit a few months later. So yea making $500 a day was well worth it for me... your mileage may vary.
Patryk_Rebisz
Veteran
Tommy, my comment was directed more to NYDEUCES than you as you did make a smart decision and walked away with $3000 per project (low per day rate but with days adding up you still ended up happy). While NYDEUCES talks about $500 per video - which all things considered comes down to what? $100-200/day???
maranfilms
Veteran
I checked out your site, nice work man. Very creative stuff!!
Patryk_Rebisz
Veteran
Thanks man!
Tommy K
Well-known member
majikfraug
Well-known member
I'd start with a day rate, and then add in extra expenses. For Example-
A simple video, band on stage "rocking out and looking good" at a friend's club where you don't have to pay any location fees:
$250/day each for prep, shoot, post. Band provides location, their own costumes, their own props. I won't go below $1000 for a music video, but that's a personal decision. I have a friend that will go as low as $500, and he's every bit as skilled. It all depends on how much you need the money, experience, clips for your reel, etc.
For a complex video, keep the same amount for yourself (the $250/day or whatever you are happy with making) and add on the $100 car rental fee, $250 "pro" (ie: craigslist) actress fee, $500 costume fee, etc. I would itemize all the expenses on a spreadsheet so they can see where there money is going. You can even break up your fee to look like it's not going all to you, ie: $150/day DP fee + $60/day equipment fees + $15/day for expendables + $25/day travel expenses. For some reason, it's easier for people to swallow a big list of smaller numbers than it is a small list with big numbers.
Feel free to negotiate as well, if you really need the work/really like the artist. Ie: "Normally I would charge $1000 for this video, but I know you guys only have $500. Tell you what, If you can scrounge together another $100 I'll do the video, but it will take longer to deliver since I'll have to squeeze it in between other jobs." That way at least you don't have a time crunch for something you are doing for less than it's worth, and you retain your professional dignity. I would also negotiate for other non-money compensation to help make up the difference, ie: band merch, cd copies, publicity on their websites, free tickets to shows, food & drinks provided by the band (be careful with this one), etc. Every band can afford those items and at least that way you are working for something. If nothing else you can sell that stuff on eBay when your video helps them reach the top of the charts, right?
Your mileage may vary, but this is what is working for me right now. Hope that helps a bit.
A simple video, band on stage "rocking out and looking good" at a friend's club where you don't have to pay any location fees:
$250/day each for prep, shoot, post. Band provides location, their own costumes, their own props. I won't go below $1000 for a music video, but that's a personal decision. I have a friend that will go as low as $500, and he's every bit as skilled. It all depends on how much you need the money, experience, clips for your reel, etc.
For a complex video, keep the same amount for yourself (the $250/day or whatever you are happy with making) and add on the $100 car rental fee, $250 "pro" (ie: craigslist) actress fee, $500 costume fee, etc. I would itemize all the expenses on a spreadsheet so they can see where there money is going. You can even break up your fee to look like it's not going all to you, ie: $150/day DP fee + $60/day equipment fees + $15/day for expendables + $25/day travel expenses. For some reason, it's easier for people to swallow a big list of smaller numbers than it is a small list with big numbers.
Feel free to negotiate as well, if you really need the work/really like the artist. Ie: "Normally I would charge $1000 for this video, but I know you guys only have $500. Tell you what, If you can scrounge together another $100 I'll do the video, but it will take longer to deliver since I'll have to squeeze it in between other jobs." That way at least you don't have a time crunch for something you are doing for less than it's worth, and you retain your professional dignity. I would also negotiate for other non-money compensation to help make up the difference, ie: band merch, cd copies, publicity on their websites, free tickets to shows, food & drinks provided by the band (be careful with this one), etc. Every band can afford those items and at least that way you are working for something. If nothing else you can sell that stuff on eBay when your video helps them reach the top of the charts, right?
Your mileage may vary, but this is what is working for me right now. Hope that helps a bit.
BLUESPIDER
DVXuser Ninja
Now days music videos are done so cheap. There's always some dude with his new 5d willing to charge less regardless if he or she has any talent. With that said, you should be lucky if you made $500-1000 bucks on a video. Most I ever got was 3k but those days are over. I don't even bother filming music videos anymore since most of the time it's not worth my time. Now I just do it for close friends and family. I just charge them dinner at Apple Bees.