When do you know?

[amoildani]

When do you know you can start charging for video gigs?

I know this question is probably gonna be answered with "if you're asking this question, you're not ready" but I'll still give it a try.


I've been doing a few stuff the last few months for free (dp'ing student films, local tvs how stuff, vacation videos) and can maybe spruce up some sort of a demo reel. But how do you know you're prepared for something you're getting paid for?

 

[galt]

"if you're asking this question, you're not ready",

Really

Try reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

When someone is willing to pay you, you are ready to get paid. But its not all about talent. Marketing counts too. For the first 10 years of any career, you get paid to learn. Get over it.,

 

[Alexa]

-when you are able to do things better than they could do themselves (or what they think they could do)

--when you do stuff that looks "pro" to the average joe bloe.
--when you can do what people want with no major mistakes ( or mistakes they can SEE)
--when you do things that even if they went out and bought your equipment, you could do it better than them or many others they might consider.

 

[smithgallTV]

You are ready now

You are ready now

You are ready now. however WHAT you get paid is really the most important question. Think about cutting someones grass. You could use their equipment and do a basic mow and charge $20. you havent done anything they couldnt do but you did free them up to go to the beach so while they relaxed at the beach you sweated in their yard and you got $20 bucks. Now instead of just mowing you took solil samples analyzed them and then put just the right chemicals down to strengthen their root system. kil off some weeds and made their grass greener in addition to your mowing then you maybe charge $100. because now you provided not only a convenience but also an expertise.

Showing up to hold someone elses camera may mean that you charge them a pizza and a bottle or two of beer. Shwoing up with your camera, an accomplished set of skills and a ken eye for artistic composition may mean that you charge 500 for the day. you are probably somewhere inbetween but you will have to test it out.

 

[Sherman]

Actually,---you'll know it's time to start charging when you've invested several tens of thousands of dollars in equipment,---your savings is/are beginning to dry up,---your daughter's getting married and you're helping out with the downpayment for her first home.
That pressure will inspire you to become a creative marketer.
Get you name out there,---do a kich bum demo reel and start handing it out with smile and a handshake.
Meet people,---get jobs and make them happy.
They'll tell others
Look like a pro,---act like a pro,---produce like a pro.
Guess what you ARE a pro.
Pros can charge.
Set reasonable prices for your services and hold out,---even if that means walking away from a few jobs.
Don't sell yourself short.
There is a lot of free consultation on this site,----and others.
Also,---consider working with other like-minded people.
You can have alliances that make you much bigger to bid on bigger projects.
Three cameras with a graphics designer and a radio announced who can not only shoot and edit but do VOs.
There's much work to do out there.
Go an get it.
Don't over-study the situation,---like I've always be prone to do.
Kick youself out the door and get on with your dream.
Just cc'd myself on this one.