Salary Advice?

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DJ Lewis

Well-known member
Maybe the isn't the appropriate place for this, and if it is, please point me in the right direction....

I'm a full time editor/shooter/PA at a religious non-profit organization... for those who can't read between the lines, I make nothing.

My immediate boss has suggested I meet with the higher ups and give them a number that would make me happy. But I'd like to know how much other editors are making so when I go in there I can give them a fair number (taking in account that its an NPO), and can back it up.

What would you guys demand? Whats the salary range for a full time editor/shooter that works at a regular production house (for profit)? Where else can I find out salary ranges? If you don't want to post any public info, please PM me....

Thanks
 
I think it would really depend on where you are located and your skill level. Where I live (Arkansas) you could pull anything from $24K starting pay up to around $65K. Your best bet is to just figure out what you need to make a decent living, and don't underestimate yourself. The worst they can say is no. Good luck!
 
squintpictures said:
Your best bet is to just figure out what you need to make a decent living, and don't underestimate yourself. The worst they can say is no.
Click to expand...

I agree...if you're doing a good job and they like your work, then you should get paid what you're worth. I would also add that you might want to ask for a little bit above what you're looking for so that they can "talk you down" a little...old trick, but you'll usually end up around what you were actually hoping to get.
 
Greggl said:
Also, NPO rarely means 'no money'.
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Religous NPO... The last time we talked money, I was promised a substantial raise which equaled out to something like $.08 an hour. No matter what I ask for I probably will not get from this company. But it would be good to know what to ask for when I start sending out my demo reel.
 
Nah.. thats the angle they play.

See, they paid for the gear... now they need to pay for someone to use it.. the
gear is the cheap part. They'll work the sob story andgle or try to leverage
your devotion and sensibilities to get you for peanuts.

Either that or they know and expect that they only have 'help' for a limited
amount of time, then you move on to more fincially appealing pastures.

The bottom line, ultra-low end should be around $600-800/week and thats
if you get benefits, have that paycheck steady and work a 40-50 hour week.
Anything less than that and you're being criminally exploited :) Thats just
for someone thats just not going to break the hardware... if you know how
to use it, it should be *substantially* more. Now if you're actually good at
using it.. the sky is the limit.
 
If I could borrow a principle from the book "From Reel To Deal...",
a good piece of advice was that the first person to mention a price looses.
As soon as you mention a salary range, you may have saved them money, and you have set your salary range for years to come (from my own experience).

I'd say make a good presentation of yourself and your material, and ask them how much they feel you are worth. Sit back and wait for the answer. Perhaps ask them what salary range they were considering for the job. As soon as they answer- you win. You now have a barganing chip.

Good luck,

Jeff Patnaude:kali:
 
Yeah, I fall into the "criminally exploited" category and have known I've been there for a long time.

Thanks for the advice guys... I'll keep all this in mind when asking for/demanding a raise. Knowing the kind of people I'm dealing with, I think its time to update my demo reel and resume and buy some stamps. :)
 
If you don't do it, who will? If they don't have anyone else, they are stuck. If they do, that person is going to ask to be paid, especially if they are a professional.
 
JPatnaude said:
I'd say make a good presentation of yourself and your material, and ask them how much they feel you are worth. Sit back and wait for the answer. Perhaps ask them what salary range they were considering for the job. As soon as they answer- you win. You now have a barganing chip.

Good luck,

Jeff Patnaude:kali:
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Man, that is some fantastic advice.

Also, just because you are working for a non-profit who possibly relies on donations, doesnt mean you have to suscribe to that point of view. You do NOT have to donate your time. They have the $ to buy this equipment, that means they have a plan to get somebody to use it. And they definitely have the budget to pay for it.

I also agree with Greggl...Many non-profit organizations are loaded. They have different tax guidelines and are usually given all sorts of $ as donations, etc. Check out the CEO of your company. I'll be he's raking in 7 figures.

Rick
PS Just a little side story...my buddy makes a pretty decent living heading up a media department for a Fortune 500 company. He has been asking for DVXs (now HVXs) for years so he can do many of his own video projects for the company.

His leadership team CONSTANTLY tell him that its not in the budget. "We don't have the money to spend $10,000 dollars for camera and equipment." Well he was here the other day and showed me the corporate video (it was a commercial targerted to in house executives. Literally 1 minute long) that his same leadership team outsourced to an outside vendor company (I should tell you he works for a big Insurance company. So, as a whole, the company has little clue regarding marketing or videography). The cost? $200,000 dollars. I kid you not...and there was NOTHING special about it.

He was a little furious and insulted that his people lie to him because they dont want to deal or because they want to look good and look as if they are saving the company money. When its all smoke and mirrors and about saving their own a$$es.

The moral? Do NOT sell yourself short. They ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS say, "we dont have it" and they always do, and then some. Even a non-profit company. Please let us know how it goes...
 
Man, that is some fantastic advice.

Thank you!:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)


its not in the budget. "We don't have the money to spend $10,000 dollars for camera and equipment." Well he was here the other day and showed me the corporate video (it was a commercial targerted to in house executives. Literally 1 minute long) that his same leadership team outsourced to an outside vendor company (I should tell you he works for a big Insurance company. So, as a whole, the company has little clue regarding marketing or videography). The cost? $200,000 dollars. I kid you not...and there was NOTHING special about it.


That's funny. I work for an insurance company/corp broadcast facility. Hey, we just had corporate people from New York.....:huh:
 
Well, my co-worker beat me to speaking with "the suit" about our money woes. And it went as expected....

Suit - so what can I help you with?

Co-worker - I need a raise.

Suit - We just gave you a (annual merit) raise in April...

Co-worker - (handing him a detailed list of living cost) And now I make $50 dollars more a month; if you look at my expenses you can see I'm only left with $100 dollars a month, and even with that something always happens; doctor's bills, car maintenance, something. How can anyone get ahead on this? I can't provide for my wife. I can't save any money. I can't do anything? I can't even buy clothes let alone imagine someday buying a house.

Suit - (looking at the sheet) Well there are lot of changes going on at the office, people leaving and changing positions, but I want you to know that you and DJ's jobs are safe.

Co-worker - Safe?! Safe?! That doesn't matter if I can't live!

Suit - Ok, ok... The new budget rolls around in September and your going to have to give me some time to see what I can do.
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September! I don't even want to bother talking to the guy. I know him, and how he is. He's a manipulator. Promises are often made, but never, ever happen. And it gets worse...

Even if he wanted to give us what we deserve, the organization as a whole is cutting funds and corners. My immediate boss, the "coordinator for video comm," is leaving in two months, and instead of filling his position they are giving the "internet supervisor" (no video exp) his responsibilities, so they don't have to hire anyone else.

Our secretary has it made up in her mind that they will split my boss' salary between me and my co-worker and insist that I talk to the suit, but I rather not waist my time at this point knowing how it will end.

oh yeah, co-worker has already confirmed he is leaving.... he can't do this anymore. If I stay, that means I can probably name my price, but I don't know if I want to stick around that long.
 
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Give him an ultimatum when you're buddy leaves, either cough up what you want, or it's splitsville. These guys thrive on manipulation and stomping all over the little guy, they're just trying to preserve their lavish lifestyle they've grown accustomed to. Once you become a viable threat to that lifestyle, they should listen...

If they don't, well he's a moron if he doesn't and you'll do better elsewhere.

:thumbsup:
 
Nah.. start shopping... let them know, subtely.

Come september, they will/may have an offer for you... make sure you have something
to compare it with and be willing to take that offer. Always be willing to walk.

Hehe... I was in contract negotiations with 'the mouse' a few years back. The HR
and contract lawyers were playing the game that it was a soft market and the box
office was down. I worked up a chart of all the competing films in pre production,
printed it out and handed it to 'em. Word has it that the document 'got around'.

Not only did I get what I was asking for, I got it in spades. I did eventually walk,
then went back for EVEN more :) They only see you as valuable if youre validated
by somone else wanting you.

Hehe.. I just checked, that ancient chart is still here: http://www.matchmove.com/projects.html
 
Thanks for all your advice guys. It will have to come in handy with the next company... I'm done with this one. After recent altercations where I was told that my very exsistence is less important than my supervisor's and being asked to have my mom's surgery moved so that I can get their project done..... well, I'm sure understand my frustrations.

Now the question is what to put on a demo reel when all the footage I edit is not that great?
 
DJ Lewis said:
Thanks for all your advice guys. It will have to come in handy with the next company... I'm done with this one. After recent altercations where I was told that my very exsistence is less important than my supervisor's and being asked to have my mom's surgery moved so that I can get their project done..... well, I'm sure understand my frustrations.

Now the question is what to put on a demo reel when all the footage I edit is not that great?
Click to expand...

"DJ Lewis - Editor"
 
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