how much would you charge for this?

H

hadi-dimachkieh

Member
I did this for a friend as a favor. he was very rude and pushy the day of the event and in the editing process , so i decided that he is unworthy of my favors now i want to charge him, maybe i am being immature but whatever .there was no contracts or anything so the footage is legally mine.

password is pammy

let me know how much you guys would charge for this.
 
well a verbal agreement is considered a contract no?

In any case you've learned a vital thing that i have....friends and work don't really mix. And If you do ...keep it straight business as you would with anyone else. that's the only way i have seen to make the friendship last. The free work for friends is just a no no right now. Just charge what you'd normally charge.
 
its unethical to charge after the fact. You agreed to do something pro bono ahead of time, and now are holding it against him. I think you should just tell your friend what your beef is instead of holding his footage hostage. Also, let him know that he won't get this favor from you again, he bitched his way out of your heart...
 
Scott Wellington said:
its unethical to charge after the fact. You agreed to do something pro bono ahead of time, and now are holding it against him. I think you should just tell your friend what your beef is instead of holding his footage hostage. Also, let him know that he won't get this favor from you again, he bitched his way out of your heart...
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Thats what i wanted to do at first but then he and his so called company are still treating me the same way, i mean im 21 ( havent had that many experiences yet) they are cussing at me and being very rude still. i should have never dealt with them in the first place. i just dont feel like i can give it to them for free, i explained to them that i did them a favor and they treated me like crap. Can i legally tell them to forget it ?
 
well , i can tel you based on what i'm seeing . Shooting an event over night and then an edit, i would probably charge somewhere around 400-600.
 
hadi-dimachkieh said:
Thats what i wanted to do at first but then he and his so called company are still treating me the same way, i mean im 21 ( havent had that many experiences yet) they are cussing at me and being very rude still. i should have never dealt with them in the first place. i just dont feel like i can give it to them for free, i explained to them that i did them a favor and they treated me like crap. Can i legally tell them to forget it ?
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I know it's difficult to be in that type of situation. I myself have been in your shoes and I'm sure many people here on these boards have been as well. My advice, since I don't have any obligation to your project of your clients and i can look at this from an objective place would be to deliver to them your product, don't demand any money, use what you've shot as demo material because they don't own any rights to your footage since they havent paid you and try to get other paid gigs with what you've shot.
 
Savor challenging experiences such as this, as they will help to steer you clear of bigger issues in the future.

In a business situation, it is never a good idea to go back on your word, whether written or verbal. The repercussions to your reputation of trying to eek out a bit more payment because your ego was bruised is never worth the hassle.

However, as it sounds like there was no commercial interest in this particular project, and it was done for a friend, this sounds more like a personal project (unless other goods/services were provided in exchange for your services). It could be easily compared to a friend agreeing to help paint another friend's fence a month from now, but the relationship dissolves in the interim. Would the friend still be expected to come and help paint the fence? Legally, perhaps verbal agreements are binding, but the only court such a case would ever show up in is The People's Court and Judge Judy would toss both parties out of the courtroom for wasting her time.

I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, but if there were no goods/services exchanged for your finished video, then you have more options than to give your former friend the video for free or try to charge for it. You could also put the completion of this personal project on hold and work on more productive projects.

As others have said, mixing friends with business is generally not a good idea, especially without formal agreements.
 
You'll look more like a professional if you just hand over the promised material without charge as you originally agreed. It may hurt now but will help build your reputation as someone who keeps his word and doesn't let personal feelings interfere with business.

I like the soundtrack and the energy of the piece, BTW, but the mask is kinda creepy.

- Greg
 
I would suggest giving the video for free....BUT- put your company watermark and contact info in the corner. This way he gets his video free (like the agreement), and you get your name out there to promote yourself with everyone who he shows the video to. You will get something out of it as well. Maybe even get more gigs.

He never said he DIDN'T want a watermark did he? :happy:

My bet is he won't like it and will want his own mark on (or none at all). In this case tell him he never said you couldn't- and now it will cost him extra to have it removed or his own info inserted. This "upgrade" goes above and beyond a typical edit- and you should be reimbursed for the extra time :)
In the end though- it might be best to cut your losses and avoid any more projects with him. And keep in mind for the future- people who are getting stuff free tend to be the pickiest because they can afford to be. Next time when someone is being an ass- tell them upfront. Hey man- I'm helping you out, if you don't like it get someone else. Don't sit there in silence and be a victim.
 
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Ed Kishel said:
I would suggest giving the video for free....BUT- put your company watermark and contact info in the corner. This way he gets his video free (like the agreement), and you get your name out there to promote yourself with everyone who he shows the video to. You will get something out of it as well. Maybe even get more gigs.

He never said he DIDN'T want a watermark did he? :happy:

.
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That is correct. This is the best idea Ive read and is exactly what I would do. You simply cannot hold the footage hostage. That is the LOWEST of the LOW. I think your name as a videographer is worth way more than what you can charge for this. Even if he is being an ass... You can never... EVER go back on your word. Give it for free.. show him you are a TRUE professional and that is that. Don´t ever work for him anymore and If you do... charge his ass from the beginning.
 
Greg Smith said:
You'll look more like a professional if you just hand over the promised material without charge as you originally agreed. It may hurt now but will help build your reputation as someone who keeps his word and doesn't let personal feelings interfere with business.

...
- Greg
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I agree 100% and would add....you just got a great experience in commerce.

"experience is something you get ...just after you need it"
 
After reading your post, then watching the video, here's what I would do.

Put graphics over the entire vid. for instance. When he makes his intro. you flash the graphic in large flashy print" DOUCHE BAG" Then every time after you see his corny masked face. You flash the "douche bag" graphic to the beat of the music. After recutting the vid with the creative graphics, then give it to him. This way he cant use you. Because that's what it seems he's doing. I'm guessing this cat thinks he's a rock star because he gets attention at the club, so he's use to to having his ego stroked. This is the ultimate way to say f-off douche bag. Treat me like crap, this is what you deserve. I'm really tired of people that think they can get away with treating others terribly.

Are you worried about looking professional to a guy that wears a mask around town. I wouldn't really worry about it.
 
yea i agree with early comments, give him the watermarked footage of your company name and website. i'd put it a little higher than in the lower corner though so it can't be cropped out without sacrificing the footage...make him pay for the unwater-marked version.
 
thanks for all the input guys, i definitely learned my lesson. no more favors, and depending on company type and size i might even ask for a downpayment. the dude with the mask has nothing to do with it. its the people that organized the event. apparently they owe a bunch of pro's money, like the guy that was designing their website and the guy that does their flyers . i am going to listen to the best advice i got here and hand him the work with a subtle watermark that will give me credit.

funny part is he is sending me suggestions to some changes they want... this guy is crazy.
 
I wouldn't worry about it. You will take this as a learning experience. But, your verbal agreement could end as you "shot" the production for free and charge him a license to use the work. It's just best to move on and lick your wounds. Next time, for the "friend", don;t do anything for free! Do it at a discount so you at least get your expenses and time covered. You're selling time. Like a hairdresser or stylist. Fill the chair and get paid something.
 
People keep telling you to give him the footage and learn a lesson.

How about teaching this guy a lesson? Send him a hard drive with the raw footage. Tell him to go hire an editor.

Then he can see what it costs to actually have to pay for professionals instead of using friends.
 
Did you originally agree to give him an edited version, or raw footage?

I would:
1) Give him what you said you would.
2) End the business relationship.
3) End the friendship- life is too short to put up with behavior such as this from alleged "friends."

Move on, lesson learned.
And be aware that clients (friends or not) can be more demanding the cheaper the project- it's some bizarre inverse proportion of rate formula:
As rate decreases X, demanding factor increases 2X...
 
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