I would at least bring up the talks of discount rate. But thats just me, im a bit more than supply and demand.
And that’s an excellent example of why you feel you were being extorted.
You look at the job through your personal prism - nothing terrible about
that. But the sound guy is looking at the job through hs personal prism.
As you can see from the replies here - it is just you. Others do not feel the
way you do. Perhaps it wasn’t extortion. Perhaps it is a more benign,
personal way of doing business. It seems counterproductive for you to
hope that everyone you deal with has your personal way of doing business.
I’m a freelancer. It’s how I earn my living so I can relate to the freelance
you hired. I’m also a producer and a director so I see that side. Perhaps if
you were a working freelancer in some field you could relate more to the
audio guys situation.
You are not wrong to have your method of working and being paid. I do
feel you are wrong in expecting others to also hold your, personal method
of working and getting paid. It wasn’t cheek to charge they way he charged.
But it is a bit cheeky to be pretty certain he had nothing booked. As
ItDonnedOnMe said, perhaps since he didn’t have a gig booked he had personal
plans. Perhaps he decided that a full days pay was worth breaking his plans
but half a day's pay wasn't.
I can tell you that I, as a freelancer, do not offer a half day rate. I ask for
my full day rate up to 12 hours. I will (and have) worked over my agreed
upon hours without charging more but to me a “day” is when I agree to
show up and I show up. If that “day” is 2 hours, 6 hours or 12 hours I get
my rate. It seem this audio guy works the way many professional freelances
work.
You as a director (or producer) can see that as unreasonable and hire someone
else. I feel it does you no good to hold poor feeling about those freelancers
who do not offer a half-day rate just because you would.
I am not unsympathetic to your needs to keep costs down. I, too, am a director
who often hires people. I hope you take this as farthing your knowledge and
understanding of the freelancers working in this industry and not continue to
feel you were being extorted. Respect is key. Respect the way the other person
does business even if your way is different. Sometimes people get bogged down
in the "but that's just me" way of thinking. Step out of "but that's just me"
and consider the other person. If that person isn't a good fit, move on to one
who is, but maintain respect for the person who isn't you.