[Nathan Dupriest]

Thanks, everybody, for your input! It has been insightful. I do like Ron’s idea of a “Service Level Agreement” – I may need to explore that. Mark’s thoughts about ways to justify freelance help are good too.

Mostly, I think the overarching theme from everyone is this: the General Sales Manager and I must constantly work to ensure that Sales and Creative are NOT rival departments – but two means to the same end (more station revenue). Bill and Mark each infer that I should avoid rules that “silo” departments. My GSM and I have a pretty good relationship, but we still need to work on communication. He has a good handle on revenue, but I’m more the one who calls for better organization, to avoid client issues or backlog.

I appreciate any experience you folks can share – keep the ideas flowing!

Thanks!

Nathan DuPriest
Creative Services Director – The Charlottesville Newsplex
http://www.nathandupriest.com

[Nathan Dupriest]

Thanks for your thoughts, Mark. In my line of work – video production for TV station advertising clients – “rush” does usually mean bumping other projects aside to work on a particular client’s commercial. Since I’m a manager within a TV station, I of course have to take into consideration how rates affect a client’s continuing relationship with our station. And our Sales Manager, of course, primarily sees things from a revenue point-of-view.

I’m trying to decide if I should create a special rate for turnaround less than 2 days. Because to me it seems like poor business to delay projects for other paying clients, unless I can charge more for my personnel’s time.

Any other thoughts, given this additional info?

Thanks again!

Nathan DuPriest
Creative Services Director – The Charlottesville Newsplex
http://www.nathandupriest.com

[Nathan Dupriest]

Hey folks,
I never received any answers to my question about the Ki Pro rack. Does anyone know if you can batch capture video using this device, rather than just one clip at a time.

Thanks much!

Nathan DuPriest
Creative Services Director – The Charlottesville Newsplex
http://www.nathandupriest.com

[Nathan Dupriest]

Thanks, Simon! It’s good to know that I’m not alone when it comes to these kinds of issues. I’ll check out your previous forum thread for some ideas/solutions.
I think the more perspectives I have from other video professionals, the more “ammunition” I can bring to the table when the topic of free production comes up. I’ve come to realize that I have to pick my battles. Some clients are too important to my station that whatever deal has been cut, it just has to be that way. But I can put my foot down to avoid some of these “built-ins”.
Thanks again for the support, and God bless in your video endeavors!
Nathan

[Nathan Dupriest]

Thanks for the feedback, Todd! I really appreciate it!

Everything you said makes perfect sense, especially the idea of not “nickel-and-diming” the client. It sounds like your competition down in Huntsville is a bit over-zealous with the details. Charging for gaffer’s tape is ridiculous!! I’m shocked they have any business.

On another note, I believe I was in contact with your colleague Phil Schmidt a couple years ago when you all were looking to hire. The economy tanked, and you had to reconsider bringing in someone new. Ask Phil if he remembers the guy whose email spit out a bunch of duplicate replies (I still don’t know why that happened!) I’d love to get back in contact, and get your feedback on my video samples:
https://www.nathandupriest.com

Thanks again!
Nathan

[Nathan Dupriest]

Thanks for the tips/info, Mark! Everything you’ve mentioned is very insightful and is a tremendous help. Your second post did touch on another question I had thought of…
Do you every negotiate your rates based on a client’s budget? Or is the rate card, the rate card? In other words, do you stand by your rates because you believe they are a fair compensation for your skills?

To clarify why I’m asking: this is something I deal with regularly in the TV station Creative Services world. My team’s services are often thrown in as add-ons. Whatever the Sales Manager and GM of the station deem necessary to sell airtime to a client, they will do (ie. free spots, free commercial production, etc.) So I was just wondering if the same sort of thing has to happen in the independent production house-type world.

Thanks again!