What to do?

S

Stussey

Member
Does this happen everywhere, or am I a pariah? I'll get a call, get told I'm perfect for the job, am I available these dates, etc. Then I don't hear back, or get no response when I try to contact them to confirm. Then another job comes up, so I agree to that, then the first job finally calls back. But now I have another commitment I lose the 1st one. Then the 2nd one isn't for as long as originally planned or because just a possibility. It's kind of hard to get contracts when it's hasn't gotten to that stage yet. It's just frustrating.

Is this leaving people out in the ether a nationwide or just a regional thing. It's hard to try and schedule work if you're never sure it's definite. I've been told I was perfect for the job, had the right camera, shot on the show before, didn't have a contact email, called me with an unknown # but said they'd be in touch in a day or 2. Then nothing. Guess I wasn't perfect.

How long are you supposed to wait until you take another job? In Atlanta, it's feast or famine, so it's better to take the definite gigs in case things fall through, but is that the nature of the business, just roll with it? Any advice, tips, tricks?
 
I've had this happen mainly when we start to discuss pricing and the client might say something like, ok, well let me talk to the other guys about it and see what we think and I'll call you back. That has happened with bands before, too, where they seem all excited by my work and want to do something until they realize they can't afford my services. Now I just know no band can afford my services unless they are signed, or unless one of the members has a rich uncle / dad / inheritance, etc. Bands don't have $8,000 lying around usually.
 
Stussey said:
Does this happen everywhere, or am I a pariah? I'll get a call, get told I'm perfect for the job, am I available these dates, etc. Then I don't hear back, or get no response when I try to contact them to confirm. Then another job comes up, so I agree to that, then the first job finally calls back. But now I have another commitment I lose the 1st one. Then the 2nd one isn't for as long as originally planned or because just a possibility. It's kind of hard to get contracts when it's hasn't gotten to that stage yet. It's just frustrating.

Is this leaving people out in the ether a nationwide or just a regional thing. It's hard to try and schedule work if you're never sure it's definite. I've been told I was perfect for the job, had the right camera, shot on the show before, didn't have a contact email, called me with an unknown # but said they'd be in touch in a day or 2. Then nothing. Guess I wasn't perfect.

How long are you supposed to wait until you take another job? In Atlanta, it's feast or famine, so it's better to take the definite gigs in case things fall through, but is that the nature of the business, just roll with it? Any advice, tips, tricks?
Click to expand...

It's the nature of freelancing. When you are in conversation with potential (or even current) clients about availability for a certain set of dates, make sure to be clear that booking reservations are first come, first served and the dates being discussed cannot be guaranteed until there is a signed agreement in hand. You might want to include that a cancellation fee would be charged if the booking is subsequently cancelled too close to the reserved date for you to be able to replace it, say with less than 5 business days notice a half-day rate would be charged and less than 48 hours notice the charge would be full-rate.
 
If they want you, it takes a deposit to guarantee those dates. If no deposit, no job and no commitment. If they suddenly decide last minute, fine... but last minute commitments cost more.
 
I've been trying to find a commitment agreement online, but haven't really found any that are entertainment oriented. Anyone have any sites, listings, sources etc., that you use.

thanks again,
 
I have those, but I thought it was more of like a letter of intent not a form. I thought I had seen somewhere before an agreement that wasn't so formal, especially when only dates have been talked about. But if a standard deal memo is all I need, I'm good to go.

thanks,
 
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