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Quote Today
Hi there my name is Lisa and I read these boards often – it’s a great place. Anyway, this is my first post, I’m new to the field, a recent college grad, but a 40 year old woman. 🙂 I’m a freelance video editor, shooter, voice actress, and do a little web-design.
I went on a job quote today for a little job. It was a small company who wanted to take a 7 min Power Point presentation and turn it into a movie for the web. However, they also wanted to add a voice over, which I would do, and they needed to lay down a music track (music they paid for). I had a very difficult time in trying to figure out how much I’d charge, and so I called one of my old professors who also owns his own production company. He suggested nothing lower than 1K, and said he can sometimes charge 15K for projects like that! I at first was thinking that I’d be happy with just around $500.
So, ok, I go in, I hit it off with the people, all is great, and then they want an idea of price, I say 1K, and I can deliver by monday. They say, wow, we can’t go that high. Now, I’m really wanting this gig, so I go down to $700, and they still are like, hmmmmm. I left it at 700, but part of me wishes I went ahead with my first feel of $500, but then the other side says, no way, you deserve more! They said they’ll get in touch with me.
Any help? What does something like that really go for? I really wasn’t going to have much edting to deal with (I work in Final Cut Pro), just fine tune some of the slides, for the text was wacky, and then also record the 7 min script in my own home studio.
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33 Replies
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You probably should have said $2500 and then the $1000 would have been a bargain… its all a game. Never lower your price, just reduce the number of hours to what they’re willing to pay for and still produce some sort of presentation. Sometimes you will never be able to produce anything for what the client wants to pay.
The problem is its powerpoint. Sometimes easy, most times a bugger. Can you tell us how many slides (and are they building bullet points) and if there’s lots of animated transitions that they want to keep in the finished movie. Are you working on MAC or PC? I can respond better with that info. Steve
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Hi Steve, I’m workin on a Mac Book Pro. The client is on windows. I do have the files already believe it or not, because during the meeting we loaded them into my laptop. There’s 26 slides, no bullets, and actually just one animation. I see 4 slides where pics are missing, even though they’re there, and I do see some slipped text, no where it should be. So yes, I’m guessing PP will be problematic. But lets say I charge $50 an hour, in all honesty, I can’t see a project like this actually taking 20 hours to complete. But then again, who knows. I find it hard to figure such out.
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Lisa,
This one is easy…
First, you should have closed the sale before leaving. As with any sale, now you’re in a much tougher position, simply because the foot you had in the door is now back on the outside.
In the position you were in, I would have said something such as, “well, we don’t really know each other yet and I really want to show you what I can do, so tell me what you have in mind for the budget. I’ll see if I can do it for that number this time as a way to get to know you better.”
Then, after hearing their number, I would have again mentioned my normal rate, and let them know that its the customary rate that I charge all of my clients, and if they like my work its what they should expect to pay on future jobs.
You could call them and do the same…
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Hi Dave, thanks for your response. The 2 individuals that I met with today claimed from the get go that their “boss” was in a big meeting, and how they wished he could’ve joined us, and that the financial decision was his. So, I pretty much knew I’d have to wait. As far as your suggestion, a girl friend of mine today, one who is in sales, suggested that very same approach! I think I like it, and I guess I’ll use it if I find I’ve been passed on. I’m guessing I can call in a day or two and ask of their decision, right?
Thanks.
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[Steve Kownacki] “Never lower your price”
I’m with Steve on that – it’s makes you look like a bandit.
I with David on saving the thing by his suggestion.
Depending on how good your voice work is – 7 minutes of narration might be worth $500 alone.
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Why hesitate? Call them tomorrow and see what you can make out of it. Remember, one of the great things about being grown-up that separates you from the the twenty-somethings is that you can simply act secure even if you’re not. It works for me…
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Hey Randall. Here’s a link to some of my demos, voice included. You tell me. Like I said, I’m new to this. https://www.kozamediaarts.com/videos.htm
Also, I had asked what their budget was, and they said they didn’t have one, but that the “boss” only wanted to spend a few hundred. I then asked if they got any quotes, and they said only for the voice work, and that was $300 (from a local radio jock, but that of course was just an audio file, no placement). Having said that, and knowing such, I really don’t believe my price is horrible, at all, but……BUT, I would’ve easily done it for $500 because it would’ve taken me very little time, and I’ve got lots of new equipment to pay off! 🙂
Lisa
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[Lisa Koza] “Having said that, and knowing such, I really don’t believe my price is horrible,”
I don’t either. I think David pointed out the problem of not getting a read on what the budget was. Always try and get that read before ANY meeting.
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[Randall Raymond] “I think David pointed out the problem of not getting a read on what the budget was. Always try and get that read before ANY meeting.”
In fact Randall, I’m in the process of writing an article on “qualifying the customer.” That’s the term salespeople use for determining the type of fish they’re dealing with, the type of bait the customer’s really looking for, and the price they’re really looking to pay. All of which should happen before the sale even begins…
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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[David Roth Weiss] “being grown-up that separates you from the the twenty-somethings”
right on! AND if you’ve been reading the “recession” thread, just be honest and take care of them. I think you’ll look more professional to go back and say “now that I’ve had time to review your file (that’s billable too by the way, plus the initial meeting time) I can give you a scope of work and an accurate bid.”
I’d price it this way:
meetings/reviews/producer stuff: 4/5 hours@90 = 360
adjust ppt problems(fonts/images): 1 hour @ $90 = 90
export using MAC Pages or MAC PPT (this is best)& batch in pshop with 50pxl border for video safe: 1 hour @$90 = 90
2 hour audio studio: $180
announcer: $150
FCP edit: 2 hours @150 = $300
Various web versions for approval ($15/min x7=$105per review): 3 reviews: $300
Archive all the stuff to a data DVD: $100.
SUBTOTAL : $1570.
profit: 15% $235.50
TOTAL: 1805.50 PLUS TAXObviously this is what it SHOULD be. You’ve got play room because you may have lower hourly rates, but be competitive. You’re an expert. If you’re not, at least you’d be paid like one while you learn this stuff. Even if you didn’t charge them for your voice talent or the various approval versions, your price only comes down $450. But I wouldn’t do that. This is about as bare bones as it gets. You could do really creative edits and add a few hours.
And don’t forget to tell them that revisions are extra after things are approved. They will have spelling errors on slides they give you. Make sure the music they provide has proper rights. You could even pad your time another 20% and then “come in under budget!”
Hope this helps. Don’t sell yourself short.
Steve
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