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Repeat business.
Hello
I'm in the process of setting up as a freelance video producer/videographer after years of doing bits around a full time job.
As most of my start up capital is tied up in equipment purchases I'm waiting for the vatman to give me back some of my brass or the work to come in. Therefore i'm working on a tiny budget for my initial desgin work.
What has puzzled me is when i explain my design requirements (which will be really substantial over time) the designers don't seem to want to take into consideration the fact it's not just about the first or 2nd job i'm enquiring about.
If I have to pay the premium price for each peice of design work then there is nothing to keep me going back to the same designer especially when there are others who will always work cheaper or if i suddenly have money to invest i'm more likely go to get the work from someone with an established reputation.
Surely it's in a freelancer's best interests to look beyond the initial job or even look to build a partnership or collaborative relationship with a client to make sure they can pay the bills over a longer period of time.
As it stands i'm still looking for a realistic quote for some quite basic design work which at this rate is going to end up being outsourced to China or somewhere similar.
End of Rant
I'm in the process of setting up as a freelance video producer/videographer after years of doing bits around a full time job.
As most of my start up capital is tied up in equipment purchases I'm waiting for the vatman to give me back some of my brass or the work to come in. Therefore i'm working on a tiny budget for my initial desgin work.
What has puzzled me is when i explain my design requirements (which will be really substantial over time) the designers don't seem to want to take into consideration the fact it's not just about the first or 2nd job i'm enquiring about.
If I have to pay the premium price for each peice of design work then there is nothing to keep me going back to the same designer especially when there are others who will always work cheaper or if i suddenly have money to invest i'm more likely go to get the work from someone with an established reputation.
Surely it's in a freelancer's best interests to look beyond the initial job or even look to build a partnership or collaborative relationship with a client to make sure they can pay the bills over a longer period of time.
As it stands i'm still looking for a realistic quote for some quite basic design work which at this rate is going to end up being outsourced to China or somewhere similar.
End of Rant
- Contact in PM
glebe digital
Messages count : 105Likes count : 2Registration : 21 December 2006I appreciate where you're coming from Tony, but then again only the truly desperate will work 'for free' on the promise of more work in the future...........a designer 'working for pennies' will also not be motivated to do a good job maybe?
Loyalty to sub-contractors is to be admired, but business is business and there's nothing to stop you using any designer you like, not just the guy who 'did you a deal' the last time around.....
[Your plumber won't do you a cheapo deal on the promise of substantial work in the future, so why should a designer be any different?]
Just some thoughts, good luck dude. đCGI Specialist - Contact in PM
Tonyw1978
Messages count : 3Likes count : 0Registration : 26 March 2007I hear you.
but...
You usually would only need a plumber to fix a leak or whatever once every ten years.
Though if you were using one to fit your entire house with central heating, installing the new boiler in the cellar and move all your washing appliances into a new utility room then he is not going to charge you his standard hourly rate for the lot (as he would run the risk of being massively undercut) instead is more likely to take on the job lot at an agreed price with regular agreed billing/invoicing dates using his business brain to schedule the work in logical steps during the downtime from his other jobs.
If you see my point.
I've never asked anyone to do work for free. Everything has costs involved and working for free is usually actually paying to work. I've worked for costs & expenses before if i feel it would benefit my showreel.
Like i said before i'd rather build up a longer term relationship with someone in design (like i have done with facilities houses, art directors, camera operators etc etc) who will over time learn to understand what i want & need and the way i work rather than using the far cheaper but faceless designer from a different country everytime. Though as a new business trying to make limited funds stretch across every overhead is tricky and paying a premium to use the same UK designer for every thing isn't really an option
End of Rant (part 2) - Contact in PM
elastic
Messages count : 15Likes count : 0Registration : 28 February 2007Unfortunately the promise of work tomorrow does not put food on the table today.
If you donât charge consistently, you devalue your offering.
Iâve found that the best long term collaborative relationships come from quality of service, not from deals and discounts.
You said it yourself âthere are others who will always work cheaperâ, but I would suggest, you get what you pay for. - Contact in PM
andygan
Messages count : 5Likes count : 0Registration : 21 March 2007i go with elastic and what they said
quailty work and one to one contact with the customer is better than any discount,it shows your work and also that you take time and effort into your work.elastic, post: 825 a Ă©crit : Unfortunately the promise of work tomorrow does not put food on the table today.
If you donât charge consistently, you devalue your offering.
Iâve found that the best long term collaborative relationships come from quality of service, not from deals and discounts.
You said it yourself âthere are others who will always work cheaperâ, but I would suggest, you get what you pay for.