Capt Quirk
Veteran
Which ever way it is blowing... you don't spit into the wind.
You don't pull the mask off the ol' LOne Ranger..
And you DON"T mess around with Jim
music video pricing for musicians who can't afford anything
- Thread starter offbeatbryce
- Start date
Which ever way it is blowing... you don't spit into the wind.
You don't pull the mask off the ol' LOne Ranger..
And you DON"T mess around with Jim
Capt Quirk
Veteran
Ok, now you've crossed the line. There was no need for that!
jamedia.uk
Well-known member
the answer my friend is.....
this thread has fallen apart. It's obviously friday afternoon somewhere
The answer to the OP is always trade. Be it money or something in kind or a mix.
Capt Quirk
Veteran
Actually, the real answer is, do it because you love doing it. If you want to get rich doing music videos, get good, get a name, and work with the big bands. Garage bands are like cousins, good for practice.
rsbush
Well-known member
You're projecting. In the words of Iggy Pop at the induction of the Stooges in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, "Music is life, and life is not a business". Don't forget, blues, R&B, jazz, Rock & Roll, Pop, Rap and Hip Hop were started by poor people. If the dollar is your bottom line in your life, then just choose not to help.
rsbush
Well-known member
There is. When you walk away from it feeling good.
Capt Quirk
Veteran
When you feel good, they feel good... the people who watch it feel good. And when you give somebody your reel, and you can say "I did this one, one man, with a budget of $50." And they say "Cool! You have the job!"
I've done hundreds of videos for bands and events for little to no pay (mostly no pay). I do it because I want to help. Most event I participate in are for charity events where bands play. The bands don't make any money but get free food and drinks. My video team is usually just me and if i'm lucky I find someone to help. Just because the bands are there and willing to help I usually provide them with at least 1 if not 2 edited music video of their performance at the charity event.
When bands ask me to make a music video specifically for them and don't have money then I'll ask them for at least 2 of the following things in return if I have the time;
1. Do a performance at a charity event even if it's not an event i'm participating in.
2. Return the favor down the road to someone else (pay it forward).
3. Find as much free help (friends and family usually) as they can during the shoot including prepping food and drinks for the shoot days.
4. Let me use their music for one of my future videos.
Some of my video production services at charity events can be used as a tax write off. Sometimes I trade for soundtrack work on a movie project. Other times I just do the music video completely for free and expect nothing in return.
When bands ask me to make a music video specifically for them and don't have money then I'll ask them for at least 2 of the following things in return if I have the time;
1. Do a performance at a charity event even if it's not an event i'm participating in.
2. Return the favor down the road to someone else (pay it forward).
3. Find as much free help (friends and family usually) as they can during the shoot including prepping food and drinks for the shoot days.
4. Let me use their music for one of my future videos.
Some of my video production services at charity events can be used as a tax write off. Sometimes I trade for soundtrack work on a movie project. Other times I just do the music video completely for free and expect nothing in return.
Sorry I meant BEFORE you get involved.
rsbush
Well-known member
I look at two things.
Is there something about the actual experience of doing the work, in and of itself, that is enough for me. Not what may possibly come from it in the future, but what is in it in the doing for me.
And most importantly, do I think I can walk away feeling like it was a job well done, that it won't reflect poorly on me.
Thanks. . .that all make sense. Yeah, thinking of it as a direct lead in to something else is folly; you just never know, but if it had the chance to show off cool production techniques/lighting/set design/some kind of visual razzmatazz, might be worth it. I guess more what I'm getting at is. . .even if it sounds really cool in theory, etc. etc., you can never know if will all fall apart on the day. . .people/resources drop out, everything gets compromised, what started out being an epic idea can get whittled down to disappointing low budget nonsense by the time you're actually in the thick of it, and now you've basically wasted your time/effort. Certainly seen that with several no-budget short film projects, would think music videos woudn't be any different.
GHKAM
Well-known member
About 5 years ago, I was the video guy for my friend's cover band. I filmed a gig, but he later let the singer go. The singer went on to join an original band.
The next year, I saw the singer at a different gig and offered him by email to shoot a music video for his new band.
He emailed me back, detailing how he wanted to do an elaborate production, with actors, etc. This would have been pretty time-consuming and require me to travel a bit. There was no money involved.
It fizzled out/due to my lack of interest...if I followed up, the music video could have happened.
This would have been for a song from their new (at the time) album. Eventually that album became world-famous. They're from the US, but they're huge in Europe (not exaggerating but would prefer to not name-drop). This guy has a music career now, they are constantly flying out to different countries over there on tour.
Moral of the story: I should have made a free music video for that guy's band.
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That's an interesting story. . .but I still only mean waste of time in the sense that you get NOTHING out of it. . .in these examples I'm still assuming I would go in not getting paid, and never assuming to see pay from it, or that the band takes off, etc. etc. It's all about "will this project result in a really cool final product?". That's what I mean, knowing before you go in if that's going to happen or it's going to be at trainwreck that falls apart. I guess you really can't know.
GHKAM
Well-known member
I suppose a large factor is your skill level with video and how much control you have over the project.
One paradox of sorts I've come across with low/no pay videos is a band typically won't afford you the proper amount of time versus a paid pro.
paulears
Veteran
They also reject advice, refuse to follow plans. Like one I did where the idea was to shoot lots of songs, multi-cam, but as live - then produce a ten minute medley. So they did a minute or two of each song - I kept asking them to complete the songs, but they insisted they only want a little of each, and doing all the songs would waste time. 4 hours later, one of them said that maybe having one or two in full would actually be useful (what I'd been saying all along), so from then on we did all the song. A month or two after it was over and done, they asked if I could edit X into a full song - of course, this was one incomplete, as were all their alternatives. They'd done all their favourite ones first, and all were incomplete. This, of course, was MY fault! As I hadn't stopped the cameras I sent them the audio of me asking, and being told no it wasn't needed.
Bands never have enough money or time. Their needs outweighs their wallets at every level.
Bands never have enough money or time. Their needs outweighs their wallets at every level.
rsbush
Well-known member
First and most importantly, I look to how organized and disiplined someone seems. I need to have that "these guys have their sh*t together" moment.
Then I try to assess if their concept is within their means and resources, or are they overreaching. If I think they're overreaching, I'll offer ideas as to what I believe is actually possible to acheive.
And before I get onboard, I make it very clear that there is a quality bar under which I will not go under any circumstances. I repeat this as often as I feel is neccesary. If someone is not paying my rate, I make the most of my power to say "no".
This approach isn't foolproof, but so far it's kept me from walking away shaking my head saying "what the f**k was that?".
Then I try to assess if their concept is within their means and resources, or are they overreaching. If I think they're overreaching, I'll offer ideas as to what I believe is actually possible to acheive.
And before I get onboard, I make it very clear that there is a quality bar under which I will not go under any circumstances. I repeat this as often as I feel is neccesary. If someone is not paying my rate, I make the most of my power to say "no".
This approach isn't foolproof, but so far it's kept me from walking away shaking my head saying "what the f**k was that?".
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Barry_Green
Moderator
You don't have to; we know exactly who you mean, and this is probably the video you would have been shooting...