How much more should evenings and weekends be than my regular rate?

I

Imamacuser

Veteran
I've been asked to record audio for an 8 hour workshop that takes place over a Friday night and Saturday morning. It's been years since I recorded any workshops, and I'm not sure what the going rate is anymore in the midwest (USA). In video work I always charged my regular day rate on weekends; in this case would you guys charge more for working the evening and weekend? I'm a bit out of the loop because this isn't me bread and butter, just a side job.

I've read that people charge anywhere from $25-$100 an hour, but I'm kinda curious what the actual going day rate and hourly rate is in the midwest.

Thanks in advance
 
ive certainly never charged more for weekend/evening than any other time. also most folks dont go by hour but half day or full day.
 
A day rate is a day rate, be it Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday, or anything in between.

Generally, a day rate assumes a 10-hour day. Anything under 5 hours is a half-day, and anything over is a full day. Some folks charge half-rate for a half day, some charge 75%.
 
I concur w/ Alex, doesn't matter to me what day of week. I stipulate overtime pay for days over 10 (or 12) hours (portal to portal). I only charge a half day rate for travel days, otherwise I don't do half days. Equipment fees are separate from labor.
 
I'm in mostly the network world and there is no difference between weekdays, nights or weekends. In fact, most of my work is on the weekends. Now say your shoot starts at noon on Friday and goes to 2:00am Saturday you get more, but that's because you should be billing OT over 10 hours. But that's different than getting more just for working nights or weekends. But hey, if you're able to negotiate a bonus for nights/weekends, more power to you. I just know that most of my clients would laugh.

I have heard of a handful of old very established guys charging more, and getting it, for very early crew calls. But for most of us, yeah right, it's not happening. I'd love to be able to charge a "penalty" for calls or departure times before 6:00am
 
Even on big films there isn't a premium for nights and weekends. You go into extras when you shoot past the "day" which varies from 10 to 12 depending on the production. And you go into "meal penalty" if you don't break when you should for meals. The normal extras are for short turnaround (less than eight hours between calls) and for consecutive days with out a gap. It's been awhile but I think you can go six straight before that kicks in.
 
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