Need your help

[MDfilms]

I have been offered a gig mixing audio for a tv show. I haven't seen the studio but I heard its brand new. I've been doing audio about 8 years but mostly all live sound. I wanted to ask what I should expect pay wise. I haven't met with anyone yet but I wanted to get a heads up. It sounds like the first show is going to be a week worth of work, I dont know how many hours each day but it should be under 8. When I currently do live sound I charge $25 an hour or $500 a day depending on what it is. Any insight into the pay scale for mixing a tv show would be great.

Thanks
Mike D

 

[moonlitnite]

Mixing Fees

Mixing Fees

Hi Mike,

Not being a mixer-kind-of-guy, I'm sure my advice is worth exactly what it costs but here goes...

If you're using their equipment, doing simple edits, fades, mixes and the like, I'm sure the marketplace can find (and quickly train) an average Joe to do fair work at a lower wage rate. But the scale goes up as:

1. The client and audience requirements are exceedingly higher. For instance, a game or talk show versus a sci-fi movie with music are entirely diffirent jobs.
2. You provide your own gear, especially if you have specialized hardware/software (or expertise) not found in the studio.
3. You can differentiate yourself from the pack - let's say it's a wedding video, ADR work, cleaning up a nasty recording, etc requiring true artistry and magic
4. You are a ninja, working twice as fast as the next guy.
5. You have an "in" with the client or colleagues are pulling for you on the team
6. The client has a big (or small) budget.
7. The stress/deadlines are tight, or loose.
8. Few others are interested/can handle the work, or everyone is clammoring for the assignment
9. You don't really need the work/have other assignments, or are "on the beach" dying to get enough money to pay your rent and have a meal.
10. You or your client's *perspective* of the above is favorable/unfavorable, vis-a-vis the salary.

Anyway, I agree $25 would be a low-ball figure if all the stars were in the wrong position.

Regards, Michael