Billing practices for post – never a science is it?

[Walter Biscardi]

[Todd at Fantastic Plastic] ”
Not really, an hour’s an hour here. Calculating a weekly rate is easy here… hourly x 40.”

That’s one place where I do differ. If a client wants a weekly rate, it’s generally 9 hours for 8 so they are essentially getting 5 hours of editing time for free by booking for the week. but that’s a day rate and anything over 9 hours per day reverts back to the hourly rate.

That’s a pretty simple formula and no client has ever complained about it.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

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[Randy Wheeler]

Make them wait! If the client shows up an hour late, make them wait an hour before starting on their project. That gives you more time play your Nintendo Wii!

An eye for an eye…

Randy

[Brendan Coots]

#1. How do you bill for digitizing on an hourly or daily basis vs. your standard editorial rate?

I agree with everyone here that digitizing IS editing. However, we have a smaller edit station (an older Mac) that an assistant editor digitizes on, and we charge a lower fee for this than a primary suite with editor would cost. This way our fancier suites are not being consumed by this activity and the client feels like we are looking out for their budget.

#2. How do you bill for holding vs. working?

Generally we do not charge clients for holding. Of course that can add up if you are working with a less experienced client who doesn’t quite understand the cost implications of their delays – this can cause a job to be weeks behind schedule if you let them get away with it. Because of this, we are starting to push toward blocking out time and letting the client know that this is what they are paying for, late or no. It’s more preventive (punitive) to keep clients and the job in motion, and less about the money.

#3. day rate/weekly rate

We don’t offer a weekly rate, it’s day rate no matter how long it’s booked out. Our rates are very competitive in our market, so we’re comfortable doing this.

Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com

[Steve Wargo]

[David Roth Weiss] “#1. How do you bill for digitizing on an hourly or daily basis vs. your standard editorial rate? Is your answer universal for all clients or on a case by case basis?”

If we are digitizing everything as complete tapes, we cut the rate by 50%. A “helper” or student does this and will sometime log scenes as they go. If a technical person is required, it’s full rate. Because we have 5 systems, we usually digitize on one of our units that sits off to the side and does not occupy a suite.

[David Roth Weiss] “#2. How do you bill for holding vs. working? The client comes three hours late because their dog stubbed a toe, do you/can you charge the client full rate? What are the variables you consider in making your decision? Would you ever let them slide?”

This depends on the client. We will give them the first half hour and then they are on the clock, usually. However, we have several who abuse the system and they are clocked in at their appointment time. This depends entirely on who it is and their history. Our prime clients would never abuse the privilage and they are given the red carpet. Some have walked in late and said “Bill me from the scheduled time”.

[David Roth Weiss] “#3. If you start a job on a daily rate based on your standard rate card, would you consider adjusting to a weekly rate if the job stretches out to five days?”

Again, this depends on how much work they do with us and how they pay. One of our defense contractors pays in 5 days, while others take 45 days. The client has no right to expect a discount unless thay know that they are the ONLY client.

What irritates us is when someone is scheduled from say, 9am till 2pm and they walk in at 10;30 and can’t understand why someone else is wanting in the room at 2:30. They just think that the world will shift or adjust to their bad habits.

Anymore, when people pull that type of crap, I send them elsewhere. I Recently dumped all of my clients who caused me grief. Now, I just feel better.

I could also mention the morons who know that we close from 12-1 every day for lunch and they will show up at 11:45 and say “You’re going to lunch? But I need something right now.” I don’t understand how these idiots function from day to day. Or, how about the ones who call and insist that my office person get me on the phone because it is very important. I stop what I’m doing, everyone takes a break while I make my way to a phone to answer the 911 call and the person on the phone says “Hey man. Are you gonna be around for a while? I want to come by and borrow some gaff tape.” I hang up on them immediately.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut Pro systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck