Another Ridiculous Rate Offer

[Amando Crespo]

When you take a low rate with that employer, you will most likely never get more. Not saying you won't EVER, but unless you have fertile grounds to create a long-lasting relationship with them where you take care of each other, then your investment is a bad one.

 

Think of it this way: you walk into a barber shop, and the sign on the wall says "haircuts $30". You then start going to that barber for the next 2 years, and every time you pay $30. After 2 years of going, you'll never ever say to that barber: "You know what... you do such a good job cutting my hair... I'm going to pay for $45 from now on."

 

Now, within the same analogy, you get 5 years down the road paying the same barber $30 per haircut, and one day you walk in to see his rates are now "haircuts $50". You're might say, "Damn, but this guy is such a great barber, he's worth the extra money." However, you can bet a large amount of his clientele will say, "Nah, no thanks, I'll go find another $30 barber. You're the low cost barber, I don't see you as a $50 barber."

 

So logically, it makes sense to bring your rates into congruency with your peers as soon as possible. Otherwise, you're robbing them of work, you're lowering the bar, giving them the impression that lower cost work is out there (and somehow desireable), and worst of all: you'll NEVER get above it. Your clients think of you as "cheap" and your peers at the "next level" see you as a low-baller.

 

"No" is a powerful word. Take it out for a spin. Bad negotiators agree to the first thing on the table unless it's absolutely optimal and unprecedented at THAT level (not at YOUR level).

 

You´re so plenty of reason that I just get cry!!!... :( :( :(

Take a look for the rates above I wrote,,,

[RonBaldwin]

You´re so plenty of reason that I just get cry!!!... :( :( :(

Take a look for the rates above I wrote,,,

 

how much do plumbers make in Spain?

[Dean Smollar]

I have heard plenty of times about operators who thought they "nailed it" "rocked it", "they loved my work" etc, only to later hear quite the opposite from the director or the DP. It's probably happened to most if not all operators at different times. Plenty of DP's will smile and shake your hand and say "good job" and then turn to their 1st's and say "lose that guy's number". Our business is a passive/agressive one!

 

You have no idea how much this terrifies me.

[Mark Baluk]

I'm very knew to "professional" operating.. so I just spoke with a producer. I quoted a going 10 hr rate for their project... get an email back. Saying they want to hire me and to confirm back with them.

 

Cool - my first serious gig.

 

 

Only one caveat, they can only pay 300$ instead of my rate. Oops, they mention that at the end.

 

...sigh.

[Ryan Brooks]

So, I'm very new to this as well. My question is how do I set my rate in my area that has no Steadicam market? I am trying to create a market here, but I also don't want to set a rate so low that it is offending other operators and under cutting them. But I am certainly in danger of setting it to high and never getting a single gig. The producers and DP's haven't ever had a regular Steadicam operator in the area, so how do I get them to put me on a gig without scaring them off? I'm not so much asking about a price, more of how to market myself to show the value of the Steadicam shot? Thanks for the time and help.

[William Demeritt]

So, I'm very new to this as well. My question is how do I set my rate in my area that has no Steadicam market? I am trying to create a market here, but I also don't want to set a rate so low that it is offending other operators and under cutting them. But I am certainly in danger of setting it to high and never getting a single gig. The producers and DP's haven't ever had a regular Steadicam operator in the area, so how do I get them to put me on a gig without scaring them off? I'm not so much asking about a price, more of how to market myself to show the value of the Steadicam shot? Thanks for the time and help.

 

First, I would suggest that you are in a Steadicam market. I can't think of any state, any area that has not been serviced by a Steadicam operator working as local in this day and age.

 

Beyond that, looking on the SOA website, 3 operators identify themselves as working as local in WI. Furthermore, you're 90 miles north of Chicago, IL, where 6 other operators work as local and are probably capable of driving up to WI for a gig (or maybe they're not).

 

I'd caution you not to think you're so isolated, because you're more likely to upset those 9 operators (and however many more aren't on the SOA website) than you are to price yourself out of work.

 

Furthermore, they may never have had a regular Steadicam operator in the area, but I'd be willing to bet some precedent for Steadicam exists. Perhaps reach out to the other operators who've worked in Milwaukee and ask their opinions on rates. What are the budgets? What are the rates you can get? What pays for your gear and lets you work and live?

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

 

Furthermore, they may never have had a regular Steadicam operator in the area, but I'd be willing to bet some precedent for Steadicam exists. Perhaps reach out to the other operators who've worked in Milwaukee and ask their opinions on rates. What are the budgets? What are the rates you can get? What pays for your gear and lets you work and live?

 

 

Well I'd say that Greg Bubb used to be local there, then like you said the Chicago guys also cover that region as did I when I lived in St. Louis and Steve Fracol did when he lived in KC

[Ryan Brooks]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the advice. I come from the grip background and we have a different definition of local. So for the Steadicam world I need to re think the word "local". But I'll definitely reach out to other operators to get an idea of rates.

[Alan Rencher]

I worked an MTV reality pilot a few weeks back. There first offer was $300 / $12 hours flat... no word on Rental, so I ask. He says, "We can give you $100 for it." ... yeah... You're right about not having a budget set in stone.

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

I hope to all that is good in this world you turned down the first offer!

MTV pays reality shooters low but more than 500/12 so offering less for steady with gear is just the line producer wanting to test the waters.

[Amando Crespo]

I worked one time for MTV...

They called me by urgent, the op was ill. I tell him that my rate with assistant and sled was 800€ and answered to me that they pay 500€ for the regular steadicam service...

I did the work (800€, of course) and never called me again... :huh: :huh:

[Alan Rencher]

I hope to all that is good in this world you turned down the first offer!

MTV pays reality shooters low but more than 500/12 so offering less for steady with gear is just the line producer wanting to test the waters.

 

They reluctantly brought it up, but they sent me a check for about 60% of what was negotiated. I'm still trying to get the rest from them.

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

Funny you mention they sent you a check for less. A deal memo will clear that up next time.

I had a client that had hired me before, hire me for a job I had clearly stated my rate for and they agreed. The job went 16 hours, my rate then was for 12 (now its 10). So I charged the 4 hours. After 30 days,i called about the check. I was told the owner wanted t speak with me. He told me he was not happy with the rate and to tell him what would be fair fo him to pay. I explained that he knew about the rate and that it was no fault of mine they went over. He continued that he could just not pay that. I was so upset I just said " That's fine you can keep the money, this one is on me.". He tells me he'll send me what he thinks is fair. I got a check 2 weeks later for 40 percent. I returned the check immediaely. They still continued to call me for steadicam work. And whenever they would call Id quote regular rates and would say I needed a deal memo stating the rate I quoted and OT rate and. Of course they wouldn't. Mind you I shot for them for 10 years before that all over the world. Some folks just are not ready for steadicam. I'm friends with them still I just don't do any work for them anymore even though they still call.

[Janice Arthur]

Hi guys;

 

This last few posts comes under the heading of "a pound of flesh".

 

You either had a deal or you didn't.

 

You give it a good shot to get the money due, or agreed upon, or deal memos or whatever.

 

When that fails you never make threats you can't make good on.

 

You hang up and you a make 10 phone calls. You call every operator in 100 miles of your location and you tell them of your experience.

 

Now the owner, whomever, has no idea when no one will take his jobs.

 

Don't put it in an email etc.

 

We start/continue the solidarity of "keeping your word" that has been the hallmark of the world for thousands of years.

 

This is our best bet, to just keep the freelance world safe for the business we're in.

 

Deals are fine, as long every gets paid for what was agreed.

 

JA

[Joe Lawry]

$1000 a day for a music video? Man I wish I got offered that.

 

Im lucky if I get $500 NZD, around $400 USD.

 

Got a phone call the other day that started with, "The other op that had to cancel on us was going to do it for free because he knew the band.."

 

It was a fully loaded Epic job with Ultra's. Wouldn't have fit on my Flyer LE and im not pulling my pro out for that money.

 

Next.

 

I unfortunately don't get any steadicam at work at the mo.. my $1500 day rate inc kit is apparently too high.

 

Edit: just to put it in perspective.. the average New Zealand Music video has a budget of about $6000 USD for the entire thing..