Do you charge for travel days?

L

Lkorver

Well-known member
I'm an LA based DP and have been asked to shoot a commercial in Maine. It's a one day shoot but with 2 full days of travel. I have usually charged half days rate for travel days and know a lot of guys out here that charge full days rate. I know this client well, they are a publicly traded company and are always going to go for bottom dollar, at all costs.

Do I stick to my guns and demand half day rate, or should I just be happy to be working in this economy?
 
Your call of course. But, I wouldn't travel for free. As soon as you do it once they will always expect it. You may not be missing out on other jobs during your travel days - but you technically could be working - so why should you give up those days to somebody else for free. A half day is more than fair - especially considering traveling xcountry is going to take more than 5 hours. Unless its a great client of yours and you really want to do them a huge favor, I say you should absolutely charge for travel days. Would you ask them to give up 2 days of their rate for you for free?
 
For years I've charged 1/2 time (hours or day rate) for travel, because while it's taking productivity time away, I can ostensibly be multi-tasking on other things. Hasn't been a problem yet.

I grew up in Maine and now live on the West Coast as well, so I might also charge an additional 20% for Weird Memories Tax. ;-)
 
Travel days = Day rate + per-diem + mileage or airfare.
If client isn't willing to accept this there should be other considerations.

Are you getting a generous kit rental, are you shooting someone/something that will be an incredible life experience or something that will get you more work?
 
bill totolo said:
Travel days = Day rate + per-diem + mileage or airfare.
If client isn't willing to accept this there should be other considerations.

Are you getting a generous kit rental, are you shooting someone/something that will be an incredible life experience or something that will get you more work?
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It's a cool shoot with an olymic gold medalist, 30 second spot. It will be great for my commercial reel for sure. So I'd like to make it happen. I'm getting $850 for me and the gear plus airfare and hotel.
 
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Doesn't sound like a good deal to me. You and your gear for basically 3 days for $850. You have to do what makes you happy - so if you think its a worthwhile experience, go for it. But, if its really a professional job - you should be getting paid more. Only you can decide if its worth it. A good reel may get you more work. But, working for low money may also get you the rep that you'll work cheap and they'll try to take advantage.
 
One more thought... I have and will work for free for friends or passion projects - but with paying clients you need to make sure you're not being taken advantage of. If everyone is willing to travel for free and give away gear rentals, nobody will ever be able to make a living doing what we love. :-D
 
I charge full rate for travel days. I simply see it as being booked. If I could book those days with a gig, I would but I'm on a plane for them soo...

full rate.
 
You are extremely lucky to have a client who will pop for transcontinental airfare/excess baggage/skycap tips/airport parking/your hotel/ when they could easily, especially through Crews Control, etc. find a NY/Boston/Philly DP for a tremendous savings. I used to travel constantly but the internet and crewing services ruined it. I charge half rate for travel because it takes some of the pain from me turning down a full day while traveling so I agree with you, pushing for a full rate may push them to hire east coast help. I am surprised you have a client, who you say is bottom line conscious, who will pay additional for a west coast DP to go to the east coast. Consider yourself fortunate!

If you haven't already given them an estimate you start high and if they balk or pause you go down to half day rate. That way they feel they got a deal, and everyone likes a deal.

This client obviously likes your work and doesn't want to risk working with an unknown local DP, which would save them money. But driving a harder bargain and forcing them to use a stranger, who may screw up, could ruin your relationship. I have found that some people who advise turning down a half loaf often don't need the money. My two cents.
 
1/2 day rate for travel days normally, but if the shoot is longer than a couple of days
I've also charged a 5 day week.

This is the same as my local rental house rates and makes calculating costs easy.

Peter
 
I've never understood this whole 1/2 day travel rate thing. Why should anyone pay less than your daily rate (even if it is just for travelling), especially if your packaging the deal with gear. $850 (US) is not a good deal in my book. Sorry it's a great deal for the production but not for you.

I've never subscribed to the whole 1/2 day deal thing and yes I've lost out on gigs because of it but I can live with that.

and the comment about "half days for travel as being typical" is not. It's only typical if you set the precedent.
 
steadicamsteel said:
and the comment about "half days for travel as being typical" is not. It's only typical if you set the precedent.
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I have to disagree. It's "typical" for me because every cameraman and soundman that I've worked with for the last 15 years has charged a 1/2 day rate for travel. These aren't students, these are seasoned professionals who work with the BBC, CBC (here in Canada), Discovery Channel, etc. I follow their lead.

This is the same issue that arises when people ask what an average day rate is. I charge $750. Sure some clients will pay more, but $750 is "typical" in my experience, based on what my colleagues are charging.

Peter
 
FYI, on the East Coast (away from Boston or NYC which is more) the typical day rate is $1500 for a camera and sticks and perhaps a portable light. Want a jib-crane, add more $$$, want a steadicam, add more $$$, soundman, add, etc. etc. Editing seems to run around $125 an hour or so in my experience.
 
perhaps for a indie guy with a suite in his home. Certainly not at a post house.

back on travelling, I'd much rather pull my day rate without the hassles of travelling and I'd much rather sleep with my bride than some nappy pillows I hop were really washed. If I made concessions for travelling, I'd simply have to do it more. I see no need to charge less for more work. When a company travels me, it's because they want me. Will it cost em more than a local photog? Sure it will. I'm good with that.
 
Jokerswild said:
FYI, on the East Coast (away from Boston or NYC which is more) the typical day rate is $1500 for a camera and sticks and perhaps a portable light. Want a jib-crane, add more $$$, want a steadicam, add more $$$, soundman, add, etc. etc. Editing seems to run around $125 an hour or so in my experience.
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I need to move :)
 
1/2 is the least I'll take for travel but I always start out with a full rate especially if it's just one day in and out. A few of my clients pay full rate plus kit rental as well but the key here is "a few".

Robert Starling, SOC
Steadicam
 
Me Myself & I said:
I have to disagree. It's "typical" for me because every cameraman and soundman that I've worked with for the last 15 years has charged a 1/2 day rate for travel. These aren't students, these are seasoned professionals who work with the BBC, CBC (here in Canada), Discovery Channel, etc. I follow their lead.

This is the same issue that arises when people ask what an average day rate is. I charge $750. Sure some clients will pay more, but $750 is "typical" in my experience, based on what my colleagues are charging.

Peter
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More fool them. Producers must love it when booking crews in your area. Stand up and stop following others who lead. If your any good, productions will be happy to pay your daily rate, no if's and or but's. To say that your doing it because other "seasoned professionals" are doing it, that's just wrong.

I'm away to jump off a cliff...........who's with me?
 
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