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Ultimate sample typical contract for newbies
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Hahahha! I had a client last month who needed some education about DVD creation.
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This may require an entirely new thread… but I ask this is half seriousness… what do you charge to educate a client? I actually have to do this quite often. Usually I just bill based on whatever hourly rate is budgeted for the gig. But sometimes they just expect you to keep educating them even after the project is delivered and done (ex. educating them on how to burn a DVD or zip/unzip files).
Fine Art Drawings | Photography | Compositing | VFX | Titles | Keying | 3D -
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No, no, no… according to the client it’s “just a quick question”.
Fine Art Drawings | Photography | Compositing | VFX | Titles | Keying | 3D -
Exactly! Which is why you need to refer to the following insightful article:
https://magazine.creativecow.net/article/clients-or-grinders-understanding-the-three-market-types
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I once had a contract from a client that contained a clause stating that I gave the client the right to go “outside the law” to secure satisfaction! I find that I get along just fine without kneecaps.
But seriously, client’s can only get away with this kind of crap if we allow them to. Check out the recommendations from AICP in conjunction with AAAA… they recommend a 75%/25% pay schedule. I haven’t tried this schedule yet, but I ALWAYS have 75% of the budget in hand before delivery, and ususally 100% as we do COD. I’ve worked for everything from Mom & Pops to huge Multinationals, and most of them have ever balked. The ones that do, you don’t want to work with. I’m in my 20th year of business so what do I know?
Finally, something that you give away has a value to a client of precisely zero. They won’t appreciate you more unless they KNOW that you are doing them a favor. If you are going to give something away, invoice them for it at rate card and then mark the invoice as complimentary. This way, they learn what the actual value of a service is and they know that you did them a favor.
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You forgot “The Dummy” has no right to claim he or she is a professional because no matter what their work experience is… any ol’ idiot can just buy a camera and do it themselves 🙂
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Also, there’s the ‘non-snicker’ clause for when the elderly, “Thinks He’s a Producer” client contact, brings a different young niece to every shoot and edit session.
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OOPS! We all forgot this one!
“Dummy” understands that RENDERING IS FREE. After all “Dummy” is now taking a sip of his coffee and talking to the client about the project while this is happening. “Dummy” understands that even though he spent $10,000 more on fast equipment so the client wouldn’t have to wait/pay 2 hours more for the project to render IT IS WORTH NOTHING!
Playroom Creative
http://www.playroomcreative.com -
Heh heh..”free” rendering..that is funny…
Franklin
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