Subject: Re: [AE] day rates including renting own equipment
References: <list-5337698@media-motion.tv>
From: Rob Birnholz <absolutemotion@birnholz.com>
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Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 22:48:24 -0500
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Sender:  Rob Birnholz <absolutemotion@birnholz.com>

Teddy, I'm not going to get into the specifics of what I bill on a public fo=
rum like this. I will say my average rate works out to higher than some on t=
his list, but I'm not the most expensive guy around either.

I'm a multi- purpose one man band, so depending on what services I'm perform=
ing at any given time my rate is variable (I only occasionally work outside m=
y own facility). The people I work with and those who have known me a long t=
ime appreciate my strengths and understand what I bring to the table. I agre=
e my reel is dated, but a good amount of my work is either proprietary or di=
fficult to show. I'm also not much of a web guy (obviously), so my site isn'=
t that shiny and new either. But the clientele I deal with appreciate my tal=
ents and the content on my site is directed at specific market-- and general=
ly they seem pretty responsive.

You said it seemed I was bragging. Hardly. In fact you'll notice I rarely ta=
lk about myself or my work around here. But I am proud that I've survived th=
is long, in spite of myself. So that must mean I'm doing *something* right.

I'm in awe of much of the talent in this community. I'm never going to be a g=
reat artist, but I'm not going to sell myself short either.

FWIW, age does bring a certain amount of wisdom (although I still try to imp=
rove my skills every day), and having a bit more experience than I did when I=
 was 30 helps justify a somewhat higher rate.

All that said, its not like I'm getting rich at this job. But overall I can'=
t complain too loudly.

(BTW, I'd be happy to talk about my rates - in private - with Rachel or even=
 you Teddy. Feel free to give me a call.)

Switching gears a tad (to get back on topic). I live in Central Florida, and=
 while its nice there are other parts of the country (or world) I wouldn't m=
ind moving to. But I've noticed that rates in this business don't seem to fl=
uctuate too much market to market. I'd probably earn the same $ amount if I l=
ived in NY, SF or LA, but my cost of living would skyrocket.

At 25 years old, that probably wouldn't be as important. But these days I'd h=
ave to seriously downsize if I moved, and I doubt my wife would go for that.=
=20

There's a lot more to what you earn (and what you're worth) than just the do=
llars and cents of an hourly rate.

/rant off

Rob Birnholz
Absolute Motion Graphics, Inc.=20
Longwood, Florida
www.absolutemotiongraphics.com

(sent from a mobile device)

On Jan 5, 2014, at 1:57 PM, Teddy Gage <teddygage@gmail.com> wrote:

> What's your rate Rob? Normally I wouldn't ask, but you have certainly rais=
ed the question with a statement like that