First gig...help!

[koolpenguin89]

okay. So i found a guy on craigslist looking for some editing. i need some extra money, so i told him that i would edit for him. Its nothing professional or anything (macbook running FCS1, minidv editing.) Also, he knows my situation (im only 16 and i live with my mom, and ive been editing for 3 years.) so my question to you guys is, how much (per hour) should i charge?

thanks
dylan

[Zacatac]

sorry for quoting my broadcasting teacher, who doesn't know squat... but say for every minute of finished video it takes 3-5 hours of process... and/or charge maybe 10-20$ per hour of editing the actual thing... and any additional for filming and/or expenses

so making a 10min video, look to get 200-400 out of it

[koolpenguin89]

Thanks for your help. I was thinking of charging something in that range. Does anyone have any advice for making the whole experience as professional as possible?

[Ivan Fuentes]

be aware that if you charge as a pro, your results must be 100% pro. if he does know you're not a professional, he might expect a lower price than usual.

about making it look more professional... what was this video about?

[Lunchbox]

I also have to agree to Ivan. You might want to start low to build up your profolio. If you charge more, people except more.

[Kyleman]

I agree with Taky and Ivan.

[skiltrip]

I also agree with Kyleman, Taky and Ivan.

Your true payment on this will be experience and not monetary. Definitely make it worth your time, but keep it very very reasonable for the customer. If it's cheap and they really like it, they might send you more work or give you more themselves.

[Erik Bien]

Me too: the time-honored formula in film and video production is "build your reel," i.e., take projects at a low rate, do a great job, use those clips to sell your services on higher-profile gigs at higher rates, repeat.

[koolpenguin89]

Thanks for all the input, and let me just say that i couldnt agree with you guys more. Also, Ivan, i wasnt really looking for help with making the product look better (surprisingly im a pretty good editor (i say surprisingly because im surprised myself)) but thanks anyways. I was just looking for advice on making the whole experience more, for lack of a better word, businessy.

thanks alot guys
dylan

[Ivan Fuentes]

oh right!

you can always detail your budget... for example,

"x hours of shooting: $x per hour, total $"
"x hours post", "editing", etc etc, not those names i wrote maybe, since it WILL vary from product to product, plus I don't know how you call it in english, but what's important is that you're detailing how much you're charging for each process.

This might help for your client to know exactly what he's paying, plus if he drops from the deal, he will have to pay what has already been done anyway. And this DOES happen sometimes, there is people sometimes coming, saying they haven't got the money, or that the project has been cancelled.

Plus, you might want to consider some terms, for example, how much has to be paid with anticipation, or if you din't want to detail the budget at all, you might want to set a minimum fee to pay, plus a certain amount of corrections considered. Some customers don't know s#it of what they want, and will fool around with your time, watching the video, telling to correct this, then changing their minds, or thinking something new, and you WILL hate them. "Fee includes X revisions" will secure you with a nice editor-client relationship.

Some other important terms may include dates: Revision dates, and final delivery date. And about delivery, you tell him what will you deliver exactly... DVD, with a nice booklet or whatever. I have found that people tend to fall for lightscrbe printed DVDs, with nicely printed booklets.

[nolonemo]

If you do want to use some of what you edit to build up a reel, be sure to discuss that with the guy up front.

[koolpenguin89]

Wow ivan, thanks alot! Im not doing the shooting for him, just the editing, but your template is good to have for future projects.

dylan