Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: money

Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: money - Recent Posts http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: money - Recent Posts en Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:12:05 +0000 Petar on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-74097 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:56:34 +0000 Petar 74097@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Me no expert but you need to do some projects for free for confidence and respect, only you can decide when you start charging people for your work. You dont have to be scared if you ask money for your work its how business works. vid-e-o-man on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-73829 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:58:52 +0000 vid-e-o-man 73829@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  Mark, you might start your search for a name for your company at your state's attorney general's office. My state has a fictious name registry. You decide on a name and check with them about it's use. Your state may be different but worth looking into. In my state the fee for name registry is nominal and is good for a number of years and easy to renew. Mark on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-73821 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:43:39 +0000 Mark 73821@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Earl - yes I do most of y forum searching at night, when the kids are asleep. And when I came up with this handle, I was a big wrestling fan. I am all over the internet as stonecoldmark, so I just keep running with it. It's not often someone calls me out on it. I am just starting to get my feet wet with the marketing. However I did run into a problem with a video company already having a name that me and my brother in law picked out. So we are going back to the drawing board. I've tried contacting a few of the places you recommend for video work, but so far nothing. but I am going to be working on getting my website, facebook and twitter all situated for all things dealing with Videography. I am also looking into the direct mailing that you speak of. I have made a list of 10+ places so far and plan on keeping a running log that I am eventually going to enter into a database and print off labels. I'm also going to be putting a reel together to show the different things I have recorded for people over this past year. It's quite diverse. Love the tips, keep 'em coming! EarlC on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-73053 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:45:10 +0000 EarlC 73053@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Running into you a lot tonight, well wee hours of a Sunday morning for me ... sleepless in Southern California. R U any relation to Stone Cold Steve Austin? Just kidding ... A day rate is good to have, depending on what you're working/bidding. So is a half-day rate. NOTE: half day rate is usually higher, on average, for 4-6 hours, than a day rate for 8-12 hours, sort of develops an incentive for the client to go with the DAY rate, as it saves them some money in the event production goes south and can't wrap in half-a-day. I keep my math simple and try to average a $70 per hour rate (used to have two, one for shooting, one for editing, but ...) and occasionally do better than that, but sometimes do worse. I usually use my target hourly fee as the basis for flat fee or turnkey estimates ... not always a win-win, especially if you're a bit too optimistic on how quickly you can get the work done. Mark on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-73046 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:05:57 +0000 Mark 73046@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ WOW! What a great topic to just stumble upon. I am at this stage right now. I decided to go back to school last Fall (2010), and during that time, I did not mind working for free, I was gaining experience shooting all sorts of different video, and recently did a job for a charity that turned out to be the most professional thing I have done. I am currently finishing up my last 2 weeks of schools, and I have two more obligations to do for free and I have decided that at the beginning of the new year I am no longer working for free. The other question I have is I have no idea what one would charge per day. It seems on here $500 is considered a 1/2 day of expenses. Does that mean that most Videographers are charging $1K/day? I find it hard to believe that there are that many people out there charging $1K/day. What about editing, I am also positioning myself to edit the content as well. That is a separate fee, what do people charge for editing? That of course is in many ways more time consuming than shooting. -stonecoldmark tyboulder on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients/page/2#post-71104 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:44:06 +0000 tyboulder 71104@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I really appreciate all of the wisdom and honest advice from the "vets" out there. It's great to find some people willing to take the time to help out the noobs and inexperienced. So much great advice. I don't have much to add, but did you keep in touch with the kids that studied web design (if there was a concurrent program) at your school? There's a chance you'll find clients who need web work-- so if you have contacts that need web work, you can probably help each other out. You could even give your web design contacts a small commission if you want (to really incentivize them to sell a video to their customers), but how that’d work would depend on your relationship with them. shootatwill on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-71028 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:41:46 +0000 shootatwill 71028@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Great info everyone. Thank you all for taking this topic seriously. Matheww, Find some video associations in your area. They are a great way to network and meet some great contacts that may need your services. Likewise, gives you great contacts/resources for you to hire. composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-71014 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:00:42 +0000 composite1 71014@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ "... When somebody finds your website and responds to Boston Film Student dot com they're not anticipating the kind of prices you're quoting." Wow! I didn't realize you had that on your site. You might as well have put 'I don't know what I'm doing.com' up. Earl's right. When people hear 'student' it translates to 'I don't have to pay this rookie!' Change your site name and get that student crap off of there. No wonder no one's taking you serious. It really strikes me that you aren't ready for freelancing or god forbid running your own joint yet. Your best bet is to crew up much as you can or link up with someone looking for a protege'. Interning is another way, but you'll be working for free or very little going that route. EarlC on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-71003 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:16:04 +0000 EarlC 71003@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I suspect, also, that when somebody finds your website and responds to Boston Film Student dot com they're not anticipating the kind of prices you're quoting. They're expecting a "starving student" "starving artist" willing to do a LOT for very little, something more in line with CraigsList listings. "Student" implies you're still getting an education, have very little practical experience and are an easy touch for cheap labor. Just saying ... composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-71000 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:36:10 +0000 composite1 71000@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Matthew, As I and others mentioned, part of your problem is you don't have a reputation yet. Okay, you've got a site but what's on it? How many projects have you worked on outside of those you did in school? You're going to have to get out there and shoot while you're not doing paying gigs yet. The footage you get will build up your material you can present on your site so potential clients can see what you are capable of. And initially, you'll need to do a couple of freebies or quid pro quo projects. Your website and marketing are fine to get the interest of clients trawling for someone to shoot something. Problem is; most of those folks are just window shopping. Where a good deal of your customers will come is from referrals. How many times have you asked a friend, 'hey you know someone who can.... for me?" Production companies and freelancers get over the same way by people who used the service and told their friends. In the meantime, beef up your knowledge and skills so you can get picked up for crew gigs. Working with others is a great way to build up a strong referral base. Finally, when it comes to doing freebies 'pick your battles'. Don't just give a client a freebie out of the blue. Pick something on a scale you can complete without putting a strain on your limited equipment and resource. Something like shooting a small charity event and so on. You're trying to make contacts and get yourself out there. If you just can't pull off a freebie, try doing the project for cost meaning you 'break-even'. You don't make any money, but you don't lose any either. Do it as an 'introductory offer' and do your best at it. You'll be surprised at how often that works. Of course you let the client know you'll charge full (or discounted for regulars) price for the next one. Also, don't be so quick to mention price. Most callers who ask about money are just on 'fishing expeditions'. They'll waste your time because once they know 'how much', they'll move on. Save the 'how much' for the submitted proposal. Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70998 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:44:48 +0000 Matthew Costa 70998@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I've come across a new dilemma, I've followed the advice you guys gave me. I've been using my other website to promote myself as a video service provider (<a href="https://www.bostonfilmstudent.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.bostonfilmstudent.com</a>) and so far its attracted a few people. One whom requested I work on 4 PSA's and I sent them a quote based on a 4 PSA contract. The quote came out to be at $7,800 and I've not since heard from them. And its been like two weeks. The other, requested a quote for a one day shoot on an exercise video (supposedly a pilot for a series of videos?), the total $1,700. Haven't heard from him either. I now garner interest, but scare people away with the price. Which I don't post on the website, I just show off what I offer. But its based on these numbers. $500 per day $300 per half day $50 per hour (Post) - Based on 6 hour days (ie $300 per day) Is there any way I can boost a clients interest, or find a multitude of clients who will pay? Coming from a student who doesn't have the money for direct mail, or anything but using SEO optimization and some internet videos to promote myself. hmueller on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70632 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:26:09 +0000 hmueller 70632@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Matthew, for the types of video work you mentioned in your first post, I can recommend Earl's direct mail approach - it really works. But be patient, it is not easy to get work but it will become easier with time as you gain experience and become known. Don't limit yourself to the few types of videography that you mentioned. There are many other options like training videos, travel videos and more. Many of these you can do on spec during periods when you have no other work. michael9 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70626 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:50:01 +0000 michael9 70626@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Sorry to ... intrude .... Such great information for people like me too! I had no idea that information and assistance would be so focussed and so useful when I signed up. Think of me as a thirsty camel finding an oasis guys. John Tate on "Working for free" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/working-for-free#post-70624 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:10:39 +0000 John Tate 70624@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  If you believe you have enough work under your belt so you have good sample footage of your work, and your now confident/know the ropes. Then yes start charging. "Yeah i can edit this film for you, i'm going to have to charge a fee though" Work out a deal, if they insist on not paying say your going to have to pass then. Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70615 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:01:28 +0000 Matthew Costa 70615@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ @SteveMann All the advice is great. I take no offense. Problem is, my website works through Webs.com and I don't think their SEO settings really help at all. I can't seem to figure out how to make that work better. Unless you know something I don't. SteveMann on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70611 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:26:30 +0000 SteveMann 70611@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Don't forget - you asked. If your website is intended as your primary source of business leads - it's a barrier. Facebook on your home page? Really? Members"??? To what? You're not AOL, what is this "Members" stuff? Would you shop at a department store that takes your contact information just to walk in and look at the prices??? "Clients interested in work should go to the contact page for rates information and send an email. Serious inquiries only." Whoah - why don't you just say: "If you have to ask, you can't afford me"? Why are you throwing obstacles in their path when you should be doing everything you can to engage them? Your website is all about you. The client is there asking "What's in it for me"? And I don't see any answers. Your site is also weak in the area of SEO. Every page has the same title - Google doesn't like that. The title is where you want your best keywords. Your description is your first chance to convince them to look at your site. I your case - "I am just like every other videographer". Nothing in the description sets you apart except that you don't know the difference from filmmaker and videographer. Clients do NOT search for a filmmaker to shoot a commercial. They look for a videographer or video producer. Also, you are wasting the H1, H2, etc tags. This is one of the prime locations that Google looks for keywords. Your website address is not a keyword. Here's how you look in a Google search: <h3 class="r">Home - Rain Rider Productions</h3> <cite>www.rainriderproductions.com/</cite> - Cached Rain Rider Productions is a small East coast freelance production company residing in Boston and Cape Cod. Actively involved in projects like commercials, ... There's your page title and descriptions. See why they are so important? This is the first thing your visitors see. By the way, try searching for "Videographer Cape Cod" - you weren't even on the second page of search results. I had to specifically Google your website URL to find you, and even that specific, you were down in the middle of the page. Like I said - you asked for it. Hope this helps. Steve Mann Murani Lewis on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70550 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:23:05 +0000 Murani Lewis 70550@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/  The more you network the more job opportunities will present themselves.  Plus it eliminates the cold sell.  I now make sure that I have some kind of depository for my different works and direct people to my youtube channel for video work.  Most everyone knows how to work YouTube and then I have a blog for both Print and Video demos.  Very little wording on the blog because people are there for the demos not for my writing skills. grinner on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70540 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:04:16 +0000 grinner 70540@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ I don't put my location on my site as it just doesn't matter where I am... I'm an email away from any client on the world and I have a current passport if I need to shoot on the other side of the globe. I do list my social networking sites because I pitch turn key as campaigns and they can serve as examples or at the very least let new clientele know I am hip to their needs today. I keep in plain and simple with just images and html so it's friendly for all... especially mobile. NEVER have I put price points on my site. We can talk about it when they call me. Truth is, I don't work by the hour much anymore and flat bids are how I can bring my rates back up to where they were before the depression began. I boast my reel and list a small number of clients I have worked with over the years and those are what seperate me from other freelancers or production companies a browser my be seeking. I targeted my key words not based on what I do, but based on what I prefer to do. Therefor most of the new clientele that finds me through search engines are interested in original programming, motorsports, or EPKs/Music videos. Same with my reel. I show what I want to do more of. All this said, all we are talking about here is what kind of bait you use when fishing. That's not how to gain new clients. Yes they'll trickle in (just a few a year) but to obtain new clientele you'll have to market yourself much more aggressivly than just dropping a line in the water and waiting. If new in business, you'll flood your market with post cards week one. You'll know you'll not be getting any responses from these but you'll also know when you start cold0calling wekk two, your name will be familiar. You'll hit every schoozefest in town and there are plenty to hit every week. When you see a need... like a horrible local or regional spot, you'll know that's who you need to call because that's someone you can obviously help... they just don't know it yet. When they explain they got the production for nada because it was worked into the media buy, you'll politly explain that's why you are calling... because the bottom of the barell image is not how they really want to present themselves. You'll be flexible and creative with your flat bids and you'll always give em more than what they were expecting. Once ya get a new client in the door you'll know you have them forever... because you are better than anyone else in your market and you'll seal a new booking before they split that day. jackwolcott on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70538 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:06:01 +0000 jackwolcott 70538@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Matthew, here are some observations regarding your web site. People come to a web site because they're looking for something, because they have a specific need. They want to transfer film to DVD, or convert VHS to a digital format, or find someone who can shoot a wedding, etc. When they arrive at your home page they want to see if your company can do what they're looking for. They want to see where you're located -- perhaps to see if you're nearby or too far away for them to travel -- they want to know your phone number so they can talk about what services they need and they want your email address. The odds are they really don't care about Twitter, or Facebook or your blog; they just want their problem taken care of. And while video clips of your work are interesting, they're a very small part of your marketing. It's important that your services are listed right up front; that your address, phone number and email address are too. Pull down menus are great, but they create a needless layer of technology between the potential client and what he/she needs to know at a glance: can this company do what I need to have done? We ask every client who comes to us or calls us on the phone "How did you find us?" Almost without exception they say "on your web site. We needed someone to do (fill in the blanks) and found you." I'm always amazed at how many clients are doing research for someone else. A secretary, for example, whose boss has said "I need these 23 8mm and miniDV tapes digitized to my hard drive." Back in the day, the secretary would have picked up the Yellow Pages and looked for "tape transfer" or "digitizing tape." Today she heads for the computer and Google. If she doesn't see the solution to her problem at first glance, she's off to another page. Bottom line: if I were you I'd rethink the web site. Who you are -- a picture of you is a great idea, by the way -- what you do, where you're located and how to contact you directly, right at the top of the home page. You might take a look at <a href="http://www.videoccasions-nw.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.videoccasions-nw.com</a>; it isn't perfect, doesn't use Flash and doesn't have spiffy bells and whistles. But it has a great deal of content which, by the way, is important for search engine ranking; it usually ranks on the first search page, and it brings in an awful lot of money to our business. Jack composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70531 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:25:58 +0000 composite1 70531@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ 'Cat, Long as it's not 'denuded', you'll be okay! birdcat on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70523 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 04:49:57 +0000 birdcat 70523@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Better 'alluded' than 'deluded' That would be me Wolf... Or was that extruded? composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70510 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:53:16 +0000 composite1 70510@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Better 'alluded' than 'deluded' your Earlness! Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70487 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:52:22 +0000 Matthew Costa 70487@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Thank you both. It means a lot that I'm getting some great advice from such friendly people. You've all been a great help. And I hope I can properly put this new knowledge to good use. EarlC on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70486 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:41:33 +0000 EarlC 70486@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Now that we're both "alluded" ;-) composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70485 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:05:18 +0000 composite1 70485@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Matthew, The link I gave you was to give you an idea of what the average basic hourly rate for work done in your industry. It was only meant as a starting point for you to calculate how much you'll need to charge. If I remember correct, the rough sum was $29 an hour. However, as I said the chart from your state is not precise. Other states have more detailed info concerning photography and video production specifically. There probably is such info for Massachusetts, but you'll have to dig for that info yourself. As Earl and the rest of us told you, you're going to have to figure out what your costs of doing business are on a monthly basis and then make your pricing to fit your needs vs what your potential customers are willing to pay. Since I don't live in as large and competitive a market as you, my numbers won't fit your model. Even the numbers that Earl gave you may not fit either because his market is different than yours. Also you have to remember Earl, myself and others who've commented have been at this a while and have client's and reputations built up which you do not have. So based on the Massachusetts chart, $29 ph is the average amount people in your state get paid for work in the 'arts' in your state. That's your starting point. As Earl 'sort of' alluded to, you can't be 'super cheap' and profitable. That only works when you are working in vast volume which you won't be doing. Until you build your rep, you'll be working on one project at a time and that job will have to sustain you until you bring in other assignments. So your question was; How much should I charge? The answer is; No one can tell you exactly. You'll have to do some research specific to your location, overhead and tools available concerning your cost of doing business to figure that out. As time goes on, that number will shift according to how well your rep grows and the type of clients you're pulling down. Believe me, I asked the very same question years ago when I started and had to take all available info and figure it out myself. Picking a number arbitrarily is not smart and will cause you problems down the road. EarlC on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70482 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:27:39 +0000 EarlC 70482@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Three factors, basically, have an effect on your pricing decisions, Matthew: 1. ALL costs to do business (EVERYTHING from pencils and pencil sharpeners, to cameras, lenses, software, paper, envelopes, insurance, food, percentage of area of your home used strictly for business, portion of the phone used for same, dining with potential clients, gas, materials, supplies, the kitchen sink) That list sounded cute, weird, a bit over the top, but actually THAT and more gets left out of many expense calculations by independent businesspeople. But all these things and a million more reflect the REAL cost of doing business. I didn't touch on advertising, marketing, maintenance, salary, etc. 2. Local pricing, what the market will bear, what your competition charges, the rate reference Wolfgang provided a link to. 3. What you need to pay the bills and survive in a highly competitive marketing environment/area. OK, 4. What you want or need to make, whether it includes a salary, profit or even comes close to paying the bills for living, as well as the expenses for doing business. So, not only what the market will bear, but what you can bear. That being said. It isn't really rocket science. As all who have replied here have added factors and thoughts, realities and corrections, the IMAGE thing is important, but not always or necessarily, as Wolfgang "sort of" alluded to, etc. etc. Initially your equipment and presence, air of confidence, take command attitude (with moderation ;-), the way you look, dress, conduct yourself and what you drive, how your website, business cards, equipment and teeth (I'm missing a couple and I've no doubt that sometimes plays against me, but I'm still not totally ugly ;-) all have a bearing on your initial contact with potential clients. As the cliché goes, You only have one chance to make a good first impression. That quickly goes by the wayside if you do not produce, perform or deliver for a bounty of reasons, or excuses. BOTTOM LINE! Don't get into a habit of giving your work away; Do charge something. Don't be the the local K-Mart Blue Light Special; Do offer reasonable prices based on what others in your marketing/service area are charging (unless, of course, YOU, YOUR EQUIPMENT and PRODUCT are all demonstrably superior); Don't try to charge premium prices for mediocre work with consumer equipment and inappropriate or unprofessional behavior. I would suggest that you have the confidence to set a day rate (regardless of your equipment) of no less than $500 with a half-day rate of no less than $300, for shooting/acquisition. But then that also has to factor in any additional expenses YOU experience, hiring for sound, grip, equipment rental, etc.) So, rate plus estimated/anticipated expenses. I would suggest sticking with a $50 per hour editing rate, but get to the $100 level as soon as you can deliver ALL THREE, even though THAT cliché says you can't have all three: GOOD, FAST & CHEAP. At least be good, fast and affordable. I would add a fourth, dependable. I would suggest dropping a consultation fee, or reducing it to $25 per hour. I mean how much consultation are you really experienced enough to offer at this time? Just saying. Also, subtract your consultation fee from the final bill ... credit your client with that fee against the total bill when you're hired for the job. There are other considerations but first you need and want to get some work. You've been given a HUGE amount of information and seriously GOOD resources here. Enough to RUN with. Jump past the basic insecurities and go for it. Just do it. Get 'er done. Try and fly. Stop beating the matter, and yourself up. Essentially you're frustrated and a bit worried about going over the edge too much or not enough, screwing yourself or others. Mostly, OTHERS aren't going to LET you screw them, so just accept that what choices you make and GO FOR NOW will also be invaluable learning and experience. It NEVER gets perfect, but it does get a wee bit easier ... sometimes ;-) Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70475 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:49:36 +0000 Matthew Costa 70475@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ @composite1 I'm not sure if my question was answered. That was good insight on having a more professional look. But I'm not sure if the link you gave me really helped. Are you saying I should just charge 30 bucks an hour? I'm a slightly dependent student so I don't have to many expenses to base my own business charge on. And based on what I have? Based on the videos on my site? Or the equipment I own? Which of these is the reason I shouldn't charge any premium prices. It would be better for me to understand if I had an example of what you charge, or what you think I should charge. I don't mean to be playing 20 questions, I really appreciate the advice,I'm just trying to make sure I get this right before I go out and start marketing myself like Earl says. composite1 on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70474 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:29:17 +0000 composite1 70474@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Matthew, Right off the top I can tell you as is you will not be able to attract or charge clients premium prices with what you currently have. Unfortunately, we live in a 'cosmetic society' meaning 'looks are everything'. When you show up to a shoot with pro or pro-looking gear, potential clients recognize right away that you are serious about your work and they will have to pay for your services. Doesn't mean whether you're any good or not. When starting out your best bet is to base your initial pricing on your state's average hourly wage for your profession. Seriously take into account what your actual overhead costs are and what you need to make on a job to meet those costs per month. Don't be foolish and not include things like; cellphone, land line, rent (for apartment or house), utilities and so on. All those things are overhead costs when planning what you intend to charge. Another thing is to setup a budget to 'accessorize' your gear properly. When I got started on my own after working for a large production house, I only had a Sony Handycam (High-8!) However, knowing the limitations of the camera I picked up a few accessories like a good tripod with a Lanc-controller, extra lenses (wide and telephoto), plus some basic lens filters and simple mic's (lavalier and stereo.) My kit was straight consumer-grade, but the way I had it configured it looked much more professional. My gear didn't look like I was a hobbyist and I knew exactly what I was talking about when I dealt with clients. Oh yeah, I've had lots scoff at cost (even one's who had the money to pay!) But, you don't deal with them. They will be a pain and will bitch about the cost and try to whittle you down on everything from start to finish. You have to remember, you're out to convince a client that you are going to give them a product that's worth the money they'll pay. I constantly get calls for gigs and they ask, 'Hey we like the quality of the RED camera, do you use that?' My answer is, 'Sure can if you're willing to pay for it.' When they find out how much it's really going to cost, those who are willing go forward. Those who aren't are happy to hear about less costly alternatives. So you're using a Rebel T2i which is a consumer-grade rig with a prime and the plastic kit lens that came with it. You also say you have a tripod and a steady rig. With one shotgun mic and a Zoom H1. Do you at least have a Lens Hood for your prime? You also need to get a viewfinder to go on your camera for when you're shooting video. Zacuto and others make some fine viewfinders that will help you see your image better during the shoot and make your gear look more professional. Also, you need lens filters to fit both lenses. Tiffen makes some nice and inexpensive Digital Video filter kits with ND's, UV, Polarizers and others to help you get good images. Then there's your audio gear. Please tell me you use headphones and not earbuds to listen to your audio going into your H1? I use an H1 in addition to my regular audio gear primarily when I'm shooting video with a handheld point and shoot rig. Oh and do you use a slate with a clapper during shooting for audio sync? One it helps you sync audio with ease in post and has the added bennie of giving your shoot a more pro feel. Clients get off on seeing the clapper come out and it makes them feel like they're in a 'real' production. These are just a fraction of the things you'll need to give yourself a more 'polished' look with clients and also make shooting for you much easier. Now, don't run out and buy the most expensive junk you can find. Don't get 'El Cheapo' but don't pay through the orifices either for accessories. Remember, if you want people to take you seriously, you have to look pro, sound pro and produce professional looking work even if you didn't have high-end gear when you did it! Lastly, don't worry about what 'your friend' is doing. You'll have to find your own niche whatever that may be and set up your pricing accordingly. Here's a link to your state's Wage Averages by Industry. It's not precise as other states but it's a good place to start looking. Good luck. <a href="http://www.bls.gov/ro1/oesbos.htm">http://www.bls.gov/ro1/oesbos.htm</a> Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70461 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:44:08 +0000 Matthew Costa 70461@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ @chamberlane While I use Webs.com for my website, its SEO properties are a bit confusing. But your advice is very helpful. And I will most definitely look into my site and find out how to improve my SEO. Thank you so much. Matthew Costa on "Struggling to find clients" http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70460 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:41:41 +0000 Matthew Costa 70460@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ @composite1 - My gear consists of a Rebel T2i with a Audio Technica shotgun mic and Zoom H1. Usually with a tripod or steadycam. And one kit lens, and a prime lens. I edit on Final Cut Pro 7. How would I price this? Its become very hard for me to figure out whats appropriate for me and my work, and even when I get interested clients they scoff at the price I have. I have a friend who did do videos for free, and then started to slowly charge more and more for different people. Now he makes music videos for about $3,000 a pop (Last time I checked anyway) Its all now varying on the budget of the production. Should I follow his example?