Mailing List AE-List@media-motion.tv ? Message #52407
From: Steve Oakley <steveo@practicali.com>
Subject: Re: [AE] day rates including renting own equipment
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 20:52:24 -0600
To: After Effects Mail List <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
you know the account rep asked me " please make sure you don't book yourself out... " as if the production day, 8-10hrs of pre-pro booking everything, and a couple days of post mean I can't fill the rest of my time up. I'm 50% convinced because they see me on FB and I've posted production shots the last day or two its part of the equation. you want a great rate for the project, you want me to sit on the edge of my chair waiting for you to feed me maybe 1-2 hrs of work for the entire day, each day, rather than everything in one day... and I can't do other work ? ok, my hourly just went up by 8X. Now I don't care if I only work 1 hr per day for you and don't do anything else... in fact, bring it on ! I'll gladly bill out 10-20 days for 10-20 hrs of actual work, anytime.

S

On Jan 7, 2014, at 7:31 PM, adam mercado <adam@influxx.com> wrote:

well thats a nice place to be in, in all sincerity and not facetious. So many clients I've encountered, especially on the agency side, expect you to give them your unwavering attention at all times. When working on their projects you dont mention any other clients, punishable by death. The reality is when I'm juggling several projects at once its impossible to focus on any one project. Especially when revisions come into play. Geez, they expect me to be sitting around idle just waiting to jump on their last minute changes. "What do you  mean the past 3 days you've been working on something else...we need you to finish this NOW!"

anyhoo, good for you to be in that position and have that relationship with them.



On Jan 7, 2014, at 4:20 PM, Greg Balint wrote:

Honestly. I tell my clients I'm busy with other clients projects and cannot help.  I do get busy and what am I supposed to do when I am?   So when I do want time off "I'm busy".  They don't "leave" me because I have other clients and keep busy with other projects.

///Greg Balint
//Art Director / Motion Graphics Designer
/321.514.4839
delRAZOR.com/
   

On Jan 7, 2014 7:09 PM, "adam mercado" <adam@influxx.com> wrote:
Thats interesting Greg. How do you manage to turn away clients confident that will come back to you. I think most people in the freelance situation take on too much work when it all comes at once for fear of losing a client to someone else if they turn them away. I speak from experience here too so its once bitten twice shy for me.

Unlike Greg I make a fraction of what I did when employed, but like Greg says the time I now have to take an active part in my sons life is priceless and a sacrifice I'm happy to make. My wife on the other hand is really tired of the roller coaster ride :-\



On Jan 7, 2014, at 2:21 PM, Greg Balint wrote:

I had the most lucrative year in my career last year. Not so much busy, but I made the highest in one year so far. I learned to not keep myself super busy constantly, but instead make sure I make enough money to be happy and comfortable and take some time to enjoy things.

I'm probably the farthest from a normal solo at-home freelancer. There are workweeks which I take days off even though work is on the table, just to have some time for myself. I even turned-off the light and took a one month hiatus to try and learn game development some, while turning away projects. It felt weird to do so, but I'm thankful I tried it out.  I feel I have more time off since I became freelance than when I worked a 9-5 at an employer. And I make more doing it.

I'm not trying to be braggy here. I don't make anywhere near the yearly amount other listers on here make, but my family is comfortable most of the time, and I have time to spend with them, which is something I really value.

That said, there are still down times which I really need money coming in and can't find it sometimes, but they don't happen too often.

I have a client pool of about 7 companies and have been lucky that in most cases, when I'm finishing up one project, another client comes calling. I didn't have one moment this year where I needed to peruse a job board or try to drum up business. My clients constantly come to me alone and know I'm there for them when they need it. (Except when I decide to be "too busy" which isn't often)

I would say the one thing I need to work on most is sacking away money for taxes and keeping my receipts in order.

///Greg Balint
//Art Director / Motion Graphics Designer
/321.514.4839
delRAZOR.com/
   

On Jan 7, 2014 3:31 PM, "Carey Dissmore" <carey@imugonline.com> wrote:
Last year was a real roller coaster.
Heck, its always a roller coaster, but last year was extreme.
Coming off a long slow December (which promptly filled with family and domestic stuff!) but booking a lot of stuff now that will keep me busy at least a couple of months. Good.
Need it. Even though I see a few all nighters coming near the end of the month.

LOL and so it goes….

carey


On Jan 7, 2014, at 12:08 PM, Rob Birnholz <absolutemotion@birnholz.com> wrote:

> It's always up and down. I'm getting my ass kicked with work right now, but check back in three months and I'll probably be one step away from standing on a corner with a sign "Will do Post Production for Food". Then just as things look bleakest the phone will ring again. Last year was the rockiest I've had since 2002, but I'm developing new clients and hope this year will be a bit smoother.
>
> Seems if the AE list were one cooperative we'd cumulatively be busy every day of the year. ;-)
>
> Rob Birnholz
> ABSOLUTE MOTION GRAPHICS, Inc.
> -digital design and post-
> Longwood, Florida
> www.absolutemotiongraphics.com
>
> "If you read a lot of books, you're considered well-read.
> But if you watch of lot of TV, you're not considered well-viewed."
>
> On Jan 7, 2014, at 7:32 AM, Mike Janson wrote:
>
>> is everybody busy but me? haven’t had a decent gig since thxgiving :(
>
>
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