How do you handle payment for gigs?

[Movie_Dude_3]

I just started most of my freelance work this year, and have had more than a handful of issues with payments. Starting out, I would shoot whatever needs to be shot, edit, and then return the final copy upon payment.

Now, some clients won't take up the final product, because either they don't have the money or they keep forgetting their checks, etc. I also posted a thread here about not being paid at all for some camera work I did for a music video, and finding out months later that the video was canned and that what I would be getting "was just pesos anyway", whatever that means.

I don't know if this is the quality of my work. A couple of my clients continuously ask for work, 'getting me back' weeks after payment is due, so it can't be too bad.

I was just wondering how you guys handled payment from your clients. I would hate to ask for the whole thing upfront, because you never know if your's and the client's style will mesh. But, it gives me inspiration to work harder on the project and guarantees I get something from it besides experience.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Batutta]

Asking for half up front is entirely reasonable if you have no relationship with the client. If they refuse, then you know they probably aren't worth dealing with.

 

[paulears]

If you are freelance, then I agree a price up front, then do the job, then invoice and expect to be paid within 30 days, which are the terms on my invoices. Where the job involves more money or considerably more time, then I get them to agree to staged payments. Two months ago I signed a contract for a job starting soon - the total invoice was issued in September for the full amount, and they have agreed to divide the total by 9 weeks and simply divide the invoice into 9 and pay them via BACs each week. This is all agreed in advance. This client is always good to work for, and does this kind of job regularly. I appreciate many people don not have 'formal' contracts - indeed, I don't myself for some jobs, but the key is getting things in black and white. email is quite good for this as routing and date and time are on each one. So if you tell them in advance that your fee will be $xxxx and you would require them to pay this in two amounts, one on or before XX/XX/10, and the final payment by XX/XX/10, could they confirm their acceptance. They either will, or they won't. If they don't do it, don't do the job because let's be honest, if they are intending to pay what they agreed, this won't be a problem. If they agree to it, then they'll most likely honour the commitment. If it goes horribly wrong, then you have the evidence to present to Judge Judy.

Nowadays many jobs are down to trust. If your client has no money and forgets their checks (cheques) then do you really want to work for people like this.

 

[jmega]

I have also heard of some freelancers getting 1/3 as soon as the contract is signed, 1/3 the day production begins and 1/3 when the final product is delivered. Of course this cant be applied to every job, but I thought it was an even safer route to take for certain projects. I have gotten 1/2 up front, finished the project and not received the back 1/2 before. Now I provide an online version for the client to watch and then deliver the full res version when I have been paid.