How Much Should I Charge?

P

Phil Maker

Well-known member
How much should I charge for my services? I'm getting quite a few gigs as a shooter with my HVX, but people see my list of equipment and want me to bring all of it and have access to it for the same price as just the HVX. I would like to come up with an itemized rate for every piece of equipment, but I don't know where to start. What are the average rates for the following equipment list? I live in L.A.

1 - Panasonic HVX-200
2 - P2 Cards (16 & 32 Gig)
1 - Bogen Fluid Head Tripod
2 - Countryman EMW Lav Mics
2 - Sennheiser G2 Wireless Kits
1 - AT4073a Shotgun Mic
1 - K-Tek 9' boompole with internal coil
1 - Marantz Digital Audio Recorder
1 - Sound Devices Mixpre Field Mixer
1 - Glidecam 4000 Stabilizer
1 - Smooth Shooter Arm & Vest
1 - Final Cut Studio 2
1 - MacBook Pro Laptop
1 - Mac G4 Laptop
1 - Britek 3000 Watt Lighting kit

** I'm a certified GlideCam SmoothShooter operator and Apple Certified FCP editor.
 
Typically here in South Africa we charge about 1-2% of the value of items per day for the equipment and then an daily rate for crew members.

- Derrick
 
Try Googling the item in question plus rent - such as "rent 16gb p2 card".
Or find the website of a local equipment rental that lists prices. I Googled
the above and found $75 a day is typical.
 
Phil,

Remember in this business discounts are always preferment. Whatever you charge be careful about doing too many gigs with free gear. It will be expected of you in the future and any repeat clients will not be willing to pay the new rates.


I would recommend for easy of pricing doing a few packages like.

HVX SD

HVX HD

Audio Gear

Post Gear

Advance camera support ( glidecam, dolly, etc)

Let clients get gear by package rather then each individual piece. That way you stay a content producer with gear and not a rental house.
 
jason.adams said:
Phil,

Remember in this business discounts are always preferment. Whatever you charge be careful about doing too many gigs with free gear. It will be expected of you in the future and any repeat clients will not be willing to pay the new rates.


I would recommend for easy of pricing doing a few packages like.

HVX SD

HVX HD

Audio Gear

Post Gear

Advance camera support ( glidecam, dolly, etc)

Let clients get gear by package rather then each individual piece. That way you stay a content producer with gear and not a rental house.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a good way to go. Any ideas on actual figures? Ballpark?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top