How much?

Cipa

Cipa

Active member
Hey DVXusers!
I want to ask you a question...just don`t take it wrong.
Very soon i`m planing to buy my dvx100be (finally), i`ve been reading this site for a very long time - about 4 years or so and as i`m planing to earn my money with filming, i want to know, how much do you people charge for music videos you do? (as this is how i`m planning to get my money back for the camera first)
I just saw, for example - Glazarus music video, you can check it out at the DVX footage section and i think it`s awesome :), considering it was made with no budget at all. So how much would you charge?
If i look from my point of view, I`m from Riga, Latvia, and filming is something that most of people over here are not familiar with, especially with cams like DVX (not sold over here), so i think most of the artists and stuff DO OVER PAY big time in Latvia, that`s were i come in, lol...so, yeah...sorry for such a long introduction, for such a simple question.
How much? (for a quality music video)
Thanks a bunch people!
 
if you've been readin these boards for 4 years you should have read at LEAST one of the "what do you charge for videos" threads. lol

the consensus seems to be... it depends. You really just have to work out what your willing to work for and how much the band is willing to pay. Also remember to budget separetly anything the band wants that will cost money so that it doesn't come out of of your fee (at the least, food. at the most, a ferrari).

I'm doing videos myself locally on a very small level and charge about $40 per hour for production and then double the total to pay for post. So if we shot 8 hours the first day and then 3 hours the second day, I might charge $440, then another $440 to pay for post. so maybe $880. Remember this is for local bands with no money. Hell, I'll do a video for free if it seems like a good oportunity.

If you know bands that are willing to pay other companies a lot more and and you think you can do just as good a job, by all means ask for more. Videos can be a lot of work and $1000 a video isn't enough to live on.
 
Like Cheese said, it's all about the caliber of the bands you're working with. The sad thing about doing music video's is that the majority of bands are not signed to a label, and they're broke :(

I know people hate to talk about it here, but shooting weddings is a great way to pay for your gear. I charge $1500- $2500 per wedding, and I shoot at LEAST two a month. Yes, I spend a lot of time in the office editing, but it still give's me plenty of cash to pay for more goodies, and time to shoot whatever I want on the side (music vids, shorts, etc).

If you can get in good with a fairly reputable label, that's when the music vid's will start to pay off.

-brown
 
yeah, sorry about that, it`s always this thing, ask first and then search for similar threads ;)
Well, yeah, that`s what i was thinking, i know it ain`t a lot of money, but that`s something i COULD live on. I guess for me at the moment it`s - "being around the filming" type of thing, just doing something i do enjoy, instead of working at the state revenue service, lol...
Would like to keep this thread going, to hear other dvxusers thoughts ;)
Nice one Cheesesailor77 :)))
 
thanks brown!
I guess i should just shoot stuff for free for people i know (at start) and then if they think it turned out great, i could get some credit and work my way up. Latvia is a small country, everyone knows everyone, lol...
 
Maybe I'm spoiled, but I won't touch a project that I can't charge a full rate for. Not anymore anyway. Unless I really believe in the project or it's a personal project. I used to shoot stuff for free all the time to build my reel but once the checks start coming in it's hard to continue to work for free/cheap.

Here's my formula:

Write a script or pen your idea down and figure out how much it would cost in locations and props and whatnot.

Then figure out what crew and gear you need to pull it off. Don't skimp on positions, if you need to hire a gaffer, then do it. Don't try and save money by doing everything yourself. Make sure you budget for each crew members full day rate. (BTW cheesesaailor77, no offense but I pay a grip [day rate] more than you get for an entire day of production, you need to charge more).

Tack on producer fees and anything else that needs to get paid for, like post production, SFX, post audio, etc.

When you've added that up then you'll know what to charge. It's true that we are in this business because we love it, but it is also true that we are in this business to make money. I have a mortgage to pay and a family to feed.

Plus, when you charge a lot (meaning the right amount) you create value for yourself. It might seem expensive but you have to remember that the perception is that more expensive means higher quality.

I personally get discouraged when people sell themselves short. Not only are they missing out on the money they deserve, but it makes it harder for the rest of us to get paid the proper amount.

If a band, or anyone else, doesn't have the money to afford you, just tell them to call you back when they do. You'll be suprised that they will call you back.
 
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Gauranga said:
BTW cheesesaailor77, no offense but I pay a grip [day rate] more than you get for an entire day of production, you need to charge more).
Click to expand...

None taken :) But you're right, once the checks roll in there's not much reason to slum it anymore. For the rest of us "youngin's" it's the only way to do anything. Until I can get bands that are signed to a label to hire me (which I don't think is far off) I have to work with unsigned local bands, and they usually don't have more than a grand to their name :) They often feel they're taking a chance on YOU. "You're trying to convince us we need a music video? what?!? and you want us to pay you?!?!?" :D I'm amazed I get anything

Until your work gets out there you gotta do something :)
 
Cheese, like I said, I've been there man. I've done my fair share of free/cheap gigs. I agree that they are essential when you first start out. It's the old saying, "no one will hire me because I don't have experience, and I don't have experience because no one will hire me" or something like that. One day though, we have to say enough is enough and know that we have enough experience from doing free gigs to start getting paid.
 
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