new can of worms

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Permalink Reply by J S Gilbert on November 19, 2008 at 12:05am

If you were to look at what a Sag/ AFTRA agreement would cost, it's a little shy of $600. Also, there's about another 40% on top of that for agent's fee, health pension & welfare and payrolling - so a total of around $840. That's at L.A. scale

On the low end, there are probably 23,678 people who would do it for $50.

And every price in-between

So do you charge the same for your spaghetti and meatballs as Chez Vinny or do you charge the same as Chef Boy R Dee?

I suppose if you live in Kentucky and your house is paid for and this represents an alternative to working at Starbucks, then $50 is mighty good money for you. Only you know. Perhaps yo might ask your potenjtial client if they had an established budget. Throw out some price point like $300 or simply tell them that people charge between $50 and $1,000

You might want to call an agent in your area and ask them what a non-union talent might get for a 30 or 60 second internet piece. Also, it might vary as to whether this is for Ye Old toffee Shop or for Microsoft.

The 2 biggest mistakes are undercutting and using someone else's price sheet.

Now if it were me, I'd see if I could get $250,000 for the job.

If I did, then I could go to Hawaii and relax for the next 4 months.

There are those that think it's folly to discuss price when you are the product. After all, isn't that what an agent is for? In other cases, husbands have had wives "represent" them in negotiations or vice a versa or Fathers negotiate for daughters.

Of course if you go this route you probably need to find someone who is business savvy.

My suggestion is to put together a business plan and marketing plan and establish budgets, expenses and figure out how much work you might have to do at $100 per hour vs. $200 per hour vs. $400 per hour.

This isn't to say you'll get your price, but it will give you a good concept for when it might be time to hang up the old microphone and go after a steady paycheck. (if this may be applicable)

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