How much should I be charging a client?

[jive]

I made a motion typography video for a uni project - it includes the first verse and chorus from a song by an artist on a smallish label (they're from NY but tour across Europe once or twice a year and have recently been featured as an upcoming myspace bands).

As it was finished and as I'm a member of the artists forums I emailed it to them just to show it to them and as an afterthought I added that I'd be willing to finish it if they would hire me (thinking the chances of them saying yes would be slim).

Now, they've emailed me back saying they'd be willing to go ahead with it depending on my price. This is where I need experienced people to help me. It's taken me about 2 weeks to do the planning (of the whole song) and to animate the first minute or so. I reckon that I could probably finish it in about 4 weeks (maybe 6 depending on uni work etc) and it's the sort of thing that you get better at the more you do of it.


So what do I do from here? I also plan on asking a lecturer on Monday to see if they have any advice.


Cheers!

 

[iGav]

Even though you're a student, you'd be selling yourself very short for anything less than a £100 an hour.

A quality freelance motion graphics designer is going to be pushing £200+ an hour for that type of work, and a post house probably nearer £300 an hour (ratecard).

What are you creating it in?

 

[jive]

I feel I'd be over charging if I was charging more than £20p/h. I feel £100 would be taking the piss >_>

http://www.b3ta.cr3ation.co.uk/data/mov/signlanguage1min15sec.mov


Anyway, that's what I've done for Uni (the client would obviously want the full song)

 

[creator2456]

I would ask the artist (music) what they think is fair for the amount of time/work you are spending/doing. That way you don't grossly overbid what they believe is appropriate and lose the job.

 

[iGav]

I feel I'd be over charging if I was charging more than £20p/h.

Then you already have your answer.

I feel £100 would be taking the piss >_>)

Believe me, it isn't. Not even close.

But I can understand and appreciate though that at this early stage of your career that remuneration is perhaps of less importance than securing a commercial project for your portfolio.

Anyway, that's what I've done for Uni (the client would obviously want the full song)

May I make a couple of observations...

If I was your lecturer, I'd be inclined to suggest that you perhaps need to consider tweeking the tracking, and then re-kern the type, because some of it's a little too condensed, especially for a motion piece.

Have you maybe considered experimenting with a little motion blur to the type when it's in motion, to soften and smoothen the movement, much like the motion in this piece that deals with a similar typographic animation.

But nicely done all the same though!

That way you don't grossly overbid what they believe is appropriate and lose the job.

No, that way you end up being grossly underpaid.

 

[design-is]

No, that way you end up being grossly underpaid.

If they say an amount that is better kept in dream world, you can always correct them by saying that's a little unrealistic and explain the effort and skill needed to produce such a product. Ending by suggesting an amount which is more based in reality.

Or, if they plan to sell it in some way, you could negotiate a royalties agreement on top of a relatively small up-front payment.