I have a problem then.
I have always assumed you could charge more for a "rush" job. I just expected that this was a normal business practice. If a client wants a rush job by tomorrow you increase your rates.
My current client won't do this. If I charge him a rush rate he loses money because he won't pass this on to his clients. It makes me feel bad... but not bad enough not to do it. What I do now instead of increasing my rate is add a percentage markup for "rush" so at least he knows what I am charging extra.
We have had some big arguments about this. His fear is he will lose the client if he charges more or adds rush charges. He is trapped by fear to being a "slave" to his client, doing whatever they ask whenever they ask without getting more money out of it. He feels they will just find someone cheaper to do it. He believes this is the way everyone works and it is the only way to be competitive. I have pulled out miracles, doing projects in two days that would normally take a week and still maintaining quality. I think I deserve to be paid for that.
He has told me on several occassions that the client was falling all over themselves thanking us for getting the job done so well and so quickly.
I have asked around with people I have known for years in the advertising/design business. They all say the same thing. Everyone works at the same rate and doesn't charge extra for a rush job anymore because that is the business... if the client wants it rush they get it at the same price as a normal turnaround.
I just don't understand this. When did the rules change? Or did they change? Am I crazy? Should I not expect to be paid extra for working a 15 hour day to get something done in an emergency?
-vern
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synthsin75
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Stick to your guns Vern. It's people who fold under that sort of pressure, that make people think they can get away with it. If we allow that sort of trend to continue, we'll all be working eighteen hour days for half the pay.
I say bully the client! Who's gonna break first? The client who has a deadline or has to accept inferior work, or the fellow who can always pick and choose his jobs?
The bussiness world now days acts like there is a shortage of money, and they should be happy with any little bit they get. You know what you call someone who will do anything for money (including trying to short change the worker)? At best, a whore.
Sorry for the rant.
I say bully the client! Who's gonna break first? The client who has a deadline or has to accept inferior work, or the fellow who can always pick and choose his jobs?
The bussiness world now days acts like there is a shortage of money, and they should be happy with any little bit they get. You know what you call someone who will do anything for money (including trying to short change the worker)? At best, a whore.
Sorry for the rant.
We've seen that in the music industry, where the newly signed artist is treated with a dinner with his new boss... paid out of the artist's pocket. "You have the fame and the girls. I take care of the money." No wonder so many artists are cutting out the middleman and publish their music on their own website and use podcasting and such to freely promote their music. If you let a music company take care of everything, you're lucky if you'll get 2 cents out of every dollar the fans pay to buy your records.
Unfortunately, this model does not apply to animation, where you rely on several specialists to create a finished product. Enter the money pimps, and the obligatory whores who do anything to get a job in animation, even if they're screwed...
I'm not saying that it is the case here, though, but I read it happens more often than you'd like to know.
Unfortunately, this model does not apply to animation, where you rely on several specialists to create a finished product. Enter the money pimps, and the obligatory whores who do anything to get a job in animation, even if they're screwed...
I'm not saying that it is the case here, though, but I read it happens more often than you'd like to know.
Part of the problem could be that it's so much a rush job that there's no time to sign decent contracts.
A project on normal speed allows for negotiating a lot before starting the actual work, and in a bigger project I not only write a deadline into the contract about delivering the finished work, but also deadlines for necessary information to be given by the client, feature freeze dates, review dates, and so on.
All this doesn't happen if you actually start working before the contract is signed, or there's no contract at all. And this is where the trouble starts. I've seen this in big companies and big projects as well as in small firms or with freelancers. It's even worse if you don't get to meet anyone by person, but just phone or email to total strangers. Now try and get your money from those!
A project on normal speed allows for negotiating a lot before starting the actual work, and in a bigger project I not only write a deadline into the contract about delivering the finished work, but also deadlines for necessary information to be given by the client, feature freeze dates, review dates, and so on.
All this doesn't happen if you actually start working before the contract is signed, or there's no contract at all. And this is where the trouble starts. I've seen this in big companies and big projects as well as in small firms or with freelancers. It's even worse if you don't get to meet anyone by person, but just phone or email to total strangers. Now try and get your money from those!
Message in a Name?
I don't mean any lack of respect, so please, no one take this negatively. Has anyone else noticed this producer's name and it's possibilities for some kind of coded meaning? Anyone who bothers to read occasional news coverage of India will be familiar with the Dalit cast. When this is combined with Fresco (meaningless individual tiles that ultimately construct a scene), one can't help but imagine some kind of intricate Byzantine-Like riddle.
I'd need a contract.
I'd need a contract.
Also, I think that potential contractors in a hurry are better off posting in the AWN Business section of that forum. Many of the professional animators that post (and lurk) on this forum, also do so on the AWN forums.
Of course, the animators in that forum are somewhat more seasoned than in this forum, and probably ask for references before committing to a fast gig.
Of course, the animators in that forum are somewhat more seasoned than in this forum, and probably ask for references before committing to a fast gig.
Uh... yes, of course
If I can have an excuse here, I've been dealing with a very bad case of the flu. My head has felt a lot like cold, wet plaster. Thanks for the correction.jahnocli wrote:I hate to ruin a perfectly good metaphor, but "Fresco" doeas not mean lots of tiles. That would be a mosaic. Fresco is a mix of paint and plaster.
One more note that's actually on topic. In the past I've checked out employers through the business desk of my public library. You can get a lot of the same information that business research firms charge big bucks for. It could ad a layer of comfort, or skepticism when considering new business. Hopefully our (US) libraries continue to have funding for things like this.
Think I've only ever signed a couple contracts. i worked for a YEAR for a company and never signed a contract. Then I left.
I totally agree that a contract really takes out most of the nervous energy of "oh man, will I get paid for this job? Guess I better get it done quickly or the client will forget that he asked me to do a job. If I ask for a contract maybe I won't get the job" when instead energy should be focused on working.
BTW, is there a generic contract somewhere on the Internet that I could download and use for my OWN purposes, because I don't think a lot of production houses actually HAVE contracts.
I totally agree that a contract really takes out most of the nervous energy of "oh man, will I get paid for this job? Guess I better get it done quickly or the client will forget that he asked me to do a job. If I ask for a contract maybe I won't get the job" when instead energy should be focused on working.
BTW, is there a generic contract somewhere on the Internet that I could download and use for my OWN purposes, because I don't think a lot of production houses actually HAVE contracts.
Gene Deitch has written something about this on AWN: We Hereby Agree.
I believe the point he makes is that your local lawyer can create boilerplate contracts as thick as a hardcover book, but if you don't understand the legalese, it will not do you any good. You need to have the skill to write your own contracts. I would say: read the article and learn.
I believe the point he makes is that your local lawyer can create boilerplate contracts as thick as a hardcover book, but if you don't understand the legalese, it will not do you any good. You need to have the skill to write your own contracts. I would say: read the article and learn.