Cost for my travel time.

James Carpenter

James Carpenter

Well-known member
I am working with a company on a web series of 8 videos. One of the interviews I need is a 3hr flight away. They have offered to pay for my flights and accommodation, but also asked me to bill for my travel time. This stumped me a little as I have never previously charged for travel time. Mainly because all my previous has been within an hour or so drive from my office but anyway.

Anyone have any any recos as to how I should calculate this?

cheers all.
 
There is a very recent thread on this somewhere.

Some charge half their day rate. I will if the market will bear the cost. Hotel/airfare coverage is critical.
 
some companies have a list of budgets for each type of expense, and how much you can spend within it. such as for food, hotel, airfare, etc... which is moot if they're at your hip with a charge card for everything

but i agree with the half time for travel, it's still your time. some companies will pay the full rate, but it might be tricky figuring out what they will go for. you of course deserve your full rate, but of course as reasonable people we understand that sitting in a chair reading a book is not the same as operating a camera, and that getting paid to sit there even at half rate, is nothing to sneeze at.
 
Every once and awhile I will get to charge a full rate for a travel day, and it is a day that I lose to booking another job....but I do feel a bit quilty getting the full rate to sit in an airport. So usually 3/4 to 1/2 day rate for travel is what I will ask for.
 
Its common to bill 1/2 day for travel or prep days- but it really depends. Its more about the relationship than anything, see what their expectations are and work it out from there.
 
Just out of curiosity anyone feel like sharing their charges for shoot cancellations within a 24 hr period or shorter? Based on a typical 8 or 10 hour day that got scrapped by the client.
 
hunter richards said:
Its more about the relationship than anything
Click to expand...

This, and if the day is truly just travel - I'll book it @1/2.

Second question, I defer to Hunter's quote again. I generally dont get them, but they do happen on the rare occasion. If you're a one off job client and I know that with 100% surety Im going to bill for half - and you are told that upfront when you book btw, which is the key here I think.
 
Thanks all.

I currently work as a marketing analyst and do video work as a 2nd business. Whilst I usually don't charge for travel (typically because filming jobs are done on the weekends), this gig will involve me taking a day off from my regular job. I'm thinking half a day sounds like a good rate.
 
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