how much would you charge? client's wish list attached.

[Johnny Utah]

Here's a message i received earlier today, I doubt he can afford 15k to do it right....so any creative ideas to make it work and still make good money>?
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What I am looking
to do is approx a 1 hour yoga instruction demonstration video, I want to do
this video with a completely white surrounding. I want to add in
instruction through voice in the background with some addition of text on
the screen as well.
Also, I will be doing approx a 5 minute intro video for my company which
will include video footage of me running in trails, roads and stairs. I
want to do this with a mounted head cam. And some footage of a camera
shooting me while I do this running. I will then move the video into an
interview type scene with me talking about my company and the exercises
within. All my talking is going to be done in the white background setting
here as well. Frequent ultra slow motion with the exercises would be
great, as well as some text that I also have written up to add to the video.

Finally, I want to do approx 85 clips of all possible different exercises I
will be instructing. I have already done about 60 clips and they are only
like 30 seconds in length each. The problem is that I want them done in
white background with some nice editing and added voice over for instruction
and explanation of each exercise with slow motion in these clips too. I
will be putting the video of yoga and the 85 exercises on DVD as well.

 

[arniepix]

I would do 2 things.

First, I'd give them an hones, itemized bid based on their specs. Don't sugarcoat it. If what they want will cost $15k, then that's what they need to know. By itemizing it, they'll see exactly what they can save if they loose the montage of the client running, or shooting on the stage with he white cyc. Who knows, maybe they were expecting to pay $20k.

Second, I'd find out what the client really wants to spend. Then work backwards from there. Can't afford the stage with the cyc? How about a roll of seamless white paper? They can spring for the rental of the stands if you don't already own them. Lose the helmet cam shots. What's up with that, anyway? Make a less ambitious montage of them running, running, running, running.

And have fun explaining that if they really want all 85 clips to be on a white background, then the 60 clips they already have are useless.

Good luck!

 

[Paul Hudson]

If they are requesting a 15G shoot show them why it costs 15. Clients need to understand why things cost what they do.

 

[paulears]

NEVER do complex jobs for cut prices, on the assumption as they know they are getting a deal, next the prices can go up. I give this advice as somebody who ignored it when told it by somebody else.

Recent job was very complex and I did it for probably half the 'real' cost. Client very pleased, and wanted another on the same price deal. I did it, explaining that he'd forgotten the special price was a one-off. Now I have another one come in from a friend with a different business who wants one on the same deal! Things are a bit quiet, so I'm doing it - but I'm simply unable to ever get this clients quotes back up again, because he knows I can do it.

Quote the real cost - if you can afford to lose the job - but if you need the money, it will be tricky!