Steve Wargo
20
COW Coins
4
Premiere Pro Coins
Forum Replies Created
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Sorry about the mispell.
It’s http://www.buyproductioninsurance.com
I just noticed that the option to make the line above it 2a URL is not here on the page. Has there been a change to the page?
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
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It’s time. But you know that, don’t you.
Send them an invoice that properly reflects the time and effort that you have put forth, just as though everything is proceeding in a normal fashion.
In an accompanying letter, list the timeline exactly as it took place, as you did for us. Leave emotions elsewhere.
Simply explain that there seems to be a problem communicating with the client and that you feel that the client/vendor realtionship has run it’s course.If he owes you money, invoice him.
If he’s ahead, send him a check.Keep a level head and a professional demeanor. If you should somehow end up in small claims court, you’ve done what the law expects you to do.
I had the same problem with a client about 10 years ago and we landed in the judge’s chambers. He said that there was no real way to figure out exactly who owed what to who but we were pretty close. I had asked that we finish the project and the client wanted his money back. His decision: I kept the money that I was paid and the client got his raw footage tapes and the master. It was pretty fair and we both just walked away.
Your time and efforts will be better spent courting a new client. Take your wife to dinner and celebrate.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
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To begin, I have been screwed in every way possible more times than I even want to admit, so here goes…
It sounds like they are counting on you being hungry and simply caving to their new guidelines. Don’t do it.
Pick 135 out of the 190 and advise them that you are prepared to get going.
Cash the check. Do not deposit the check. They know how to stop payment and pull the money right back out of your account.
We usually go to their bank and get a cashier’s check. Cash the check and put the money in your accont in chunks.
Stick to your contract. Stick to your contract. Stick to your contract.The VP or whatever you are dealing with is probably very good at getting employees to work overtime, give up days off, do twice what they were hired for, etc, etc, etc. He is probably a corporate con artist. And a very good one at that. That’s how he got to be VP, after all.
Read the book “Winning by Intimidation”. It will enlighten you on marriage, parenting, business and all aspects of life.
Don’t be afraid to fire them if they don’t stick to their end.
Read Ron Lindeboom’s paper on “Clients and Grinders” (help me here, Ron)
Find contracts to have clients sign as soon as they ask for credit. The contract must allow you to sue them, their spouses, their clients and everyone else under the sun as well as making them responsible for all reasonable attorney’s fees. Copyright law says you own the footage you shoot. When someone tries to stiff us, you should see how fast the check comes when we inform their client that they can no longer use the footage we shot for them. Sure, you’ll never work for them again but why would you want to. If they want 30 days credit, have then fill out a credit app and watch what happens when they need to put their personal financials on a piece of paper for your files. Get their Social Security number the first time they ask for credit.
Con artists get their way by smiling and making you feel like an ass for not wanting to do it their way.
Important: Do a daily Google on your self. You may be shocked to find your COW posts pop up when you look for info on yourself. Hey, if I’m reading this, they might be doing the same. We have no secrets anymore.
My biggest beef is when a client calls, describes a job and asks if you can get it done by X date. It’s two months away so you say “Of course”. It takes a week or so for them to make up their mind, another week to chat back and forth about the details and another week to get the paperwork signed. They send everything over except for the stuff you need to get started. A few more delays and you’re down to 3 weeks. You get it done in two weeks but Bob, who needs to approve the finished product has come down with a urinary infection and will out for a few days. He gets back to work but has a few changes. It takes a week to get the changes to you and you now have 10 hours of work to do and it’s the day before Chrismas Eve. Of course, they need it for the company party and you can get it done if you go without sleep and ditch the wife and kids to go all out for the client. The best part is when the big guy says “John, you told me it wouldn’t be a problem to have it done by the 23rd and we’re not happy”. I’m afraid we’ll have to dock you on your invoice because our shipping department has to work overtime to get the job out.
The out is to put a time element on their delivery responsibility. In other words, Job X will be completed 10 days after the last element has been received.
Do everything by e-mail. Have everything in print. NO VERBAL CHANGES. We NEVER take instructions over the phone. We did a custom DVD last year and the client found some misspelled names (theirs) on the 5000 units and demanded that we replace the DVDs at our expense. Their people spell checked the names. Because we only accepted tracable e-mail with attachments instead of written documents delivered by hand, we were able to prove that the mistake was theirs, not ours. DO NOT do it any other way. When it comes time for the hammer to drop, the client’s rep that was your very best friend in the whole wide world yesterday will let you take the blame for everything today.
I need to turn this into a small pamphlet on “How to keep from taking it in the shorts”.
After all I’ve said here, I still let some of my clients slide because I am actually a softie (Don’t tell Tichelli) and I have to have an office manager lay down the rules and enforce them. I got into this business to produce great product, not chase money, but we still spend way too much time trying to collect.
Steve Wargo
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need I say more?
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Make that a 1/4 black pro-mist and an 812. They also have a warm pro-mist that will probably take the place of both.
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We use a 1/2 black pro-mist and an 812 warming filter. a .3 and .6 are a necessity in every kit. Because we are in Arizona and have gobs of sunlight, we use .3 and .6 grads to lessen the sky outside.
No matter what, always use some kind of glass in front of your filter. We found three tiny nicks in the front glass of our $30K HD lens a week ago and it’s going to cost $1500 to fix it. On a feature film shoot a while back, we had to shoot a helicopter landing in a field. We had a large, polycarbonate shield in front of us but the PAs got scared and dropped it and we got hit with a blast of dirt. It only took a few seconds for the damage to happen.
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It’s safer for the insurance comppany to say “no” of course. But, there’s more than one insurance company out there and having a carrier who has done their homework and is serious about the business would certainly be a step ahead. And remember, the further an employee is down the ladder, the more prone they are to deny in order to cover their butt.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
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Freelancers do the work of one individual. A company owner hires others to do the work for them. You can always say “I like your project so much that I’ve decided to shoot it myself instead of Dan, my usual shooter”. It’s OK to lie. (no reference to Dan C.) Lightning will not strike you. Lying can be better titled as Creative Verbal Manipulation.
Also, if you’re going to be a company, become an LLC or a sub chapter S corportation and apply to the IRS for an employee identification number, better known as an EIN. When a client goes to pay you, if you give them your social security number, you run the risk of being their employee. If you can give them an EIN, they simply write you a check and you are then responsible for the tax thing. Ask your CPA about this. It’s all really easy.
Yes, you are a raving lunatic, so therefore, you probably are a candidate for becoming a business owner.
I’ve preached for years that a successful video production will “flow”, like music, along with a flowing hand gesture. When you tell someone the name of your company, say Flow very distinctly, with the hand gesture and they’ll get it. If they don’t, slap them while you’ve already got your hand thing working. Work on this in front of a mirror. After enough time, you’ll also be able to label yourself an actor.
Sound business advice (IMHO): 10. Do not ever get behind in your taxes. 9. Do not slap anyone in front of a witness, unless you slap the witness too. 8. Pay people quickly and fairly. 7. Always charge enough. 6. Do not let anyone screw you out of money. 5. Enjoy the business. It can be a blast. 4. Raise your prices till some people cry about it. 3. Do more than you get paid for. 2. Carry enough insurance. (Companies carry insurance) 1. Be honest. Everything else will fall in line behind this.
Go get em’
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
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I was told by a top Sony engineer sevaral years ago that they believe all of the small tape transports will fail over time. However, the cameras are so inexpensive that by the time it wears out, it’s time for a new one anyway. Three tapes a day is around 1000 hours per year. The camera should be good for 1500 hours before any repair work is necessary and 3000 hours before it’s time to replace it. This is an amortization of about $1 per hour. That’s almost free in my book.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
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Sorry. I ment to say “Maybe you should have posted it here first.”
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!