Patrick Ortman
2
COW Coins
Forum Replies Created
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I’ve often referred work to others or backed out of a job rather than accept a gig that isn’t right for my shop. Sometimes it isn’t easy to treat people right, but in the end I figure it’s the best policy.
This past year, we referred one potential client to two different vendors for jobs we aren’t really set up to do. That generated enough good will that when the client DID have a job that was right for us they gave it to us, at our price, without having to go through a bidding process.
Of course, we gave them a very fair price for the work. But it’s important to build relationships in any business.
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I know you have your solution for this problem. Which is great!
I can imagine that you’ll never, ever let anyone call the shots again. I finally realized a little while ago that I am the director and unless the client has a specific, addressable problem they need help with, it’s my show and my vision (previously signed off on by said client, naturally). It doesn’t mean one shouldn’t be open to the input of others. Just that in the end, this is your show.
That’s what they pay us for, even if- depending on the shoot- we’re not just playing the director but also the DP, gaffer, production designer, and janitor.
This took me a while to figure out. That’s why I read the Cow. There’s always much to be learned from one’s peers- especially those who’ve been screwed before, which is pretty much all of us at one time or another. 😉
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Nick’s right. Work For Hire means they own everything.
Easy to get flipped, especially while AE is rendering… 🙂
Patrick
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We often (not always) do charge for rendering, otherwise it’s difficult to pay for all those machine and software upgrades to stay current.
It’s interesting too- when one guy says he charges $80 an hour for rendering it initially sounds like a lot to charge. Until you realize that he may have 10 octomacs running in his render farm. Then it’s a bargain compared to the one guy with a single G4.
I humbly put forth that if one wants to use an online render farm (say, for a big Lightwave project), that the render farm companies don’t offer the time on their systems for free.
🙂
Just my datapoint of the day…
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Outstanding link! But what about taxes?
Good stuff, thank you.
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It kind of reminds me of the old saw:
The manager of a manufacturing plant was unable to solve a mechanical breakdown, so he sent for the retired engineer who had installed the machinery. Following a brief inspection, the engineer took a hammer and hit a pipe. The problem was solved.
The next day, the engineer submitted a bill for $1,000 to a horrified manager. “$1,000 to whack a pipe?!?!” So the retired engineer explained, “it’s only $1.00 for hitting the pipe. The other $999 is for knowing where to hit it.”
For what it’s worth, eh?
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Ah, maybe I misunderstood. I’m not talking assistant editor. I’m talking editor.
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Hi Mickie,
We’re neighbors, how about that!
Actually, he really is my friend. Not my “friend” :-). And he is in the guild, yes. But he does a lot of freelance stuff around town and he never makes less than $50/hour, even on small indie projects.
Just like everything else, you can go with someone who’ll cut for far less. I’ve heard of folks who only charge $15 an hour. Of course, you get what you pay for.
It’s interesting to me that some people mention higher rates, from less expensive cities. After all, Los Angeles is a very expensive place to live.
I read an article a long time ago that said if you’re a freelancer, you can take your hourly rate and multiply it by a thousand- that’s about what you can expect to make in a year after expenses and overhead, etc. So, our hypothetical freelancer who only charges $15 an hour makes about $15K a year.
That’s pretty pathetic, no matter where you live.
Now, I’m not talking about people who work a “job”, and can count on 40 hours of consistent, paid work a week every week. I’m talking about freelancers, which is what this thread’s about. As a freelancer, a certain amount of time and money is spent on overhead- setting up jobs, finding clients, investing in yourself, etc.
I didn’t believe this formula when I first heard it, but it held my first year as a freelancer. My own situation has changed a bit, I actually employ people now. So I have no idea if the formula was just a blip or if it is something more than that.
I guess what I’m saying is, when you set your rate you really ought to think about what kind of lifestyle it’ll buy you. If you’re happy living in a cave and eating ramen noodles all the time, then yes by all means go for the lowest rate out there. I’ve never had a problem finding work, and I can tell you we certainly would never compete only based on price. And often, while we’re never the cheapest bid, we get the job. It’s about quality and the added value that working with us hopefully brings the client.
This helps us attract a better quality client, which allows us to do a better quality job, which then leads to still better clients… it’s kind of an upward spiral.
It makes things a lot more fun, too.
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http://www.geniusmonkeys.com
(818) 653-9144 -
A friend in the guild tells me he’s $50 an hour for friends and between $100 and $160 an hour otherwise. 🙂
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http://www.geniusmonkeys.com
(818) 653-9144 -
Not that I’m aware of, but the first 2 projects we did were pretty low-end and didn’t need it. We just used Desktop Cinema preview. ‘Twere web projects, they were 🙂
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http://www.geniusmonkeys.com
(818) 653-9144