Prices for Indie Music Videos

[The SkyLight Studios]

hello guys, i'm on a bit of an issue, right now I'm working on making music videos for indie bands, the thing is... i am pretty unsure about my prices, because i'm still an indie filmmaker and most of my clients are indie as well. Right now i've made 4 music videos so far the first one was an experiment so i made it for free , the next two were kind of introductory so i only charged around 70 dollars, but in my fourth video I decided to upgrade my lighting gear and all the production so I increased my price to around $210, but i'm a bit concerned because this is my only income and I'm trying to upgrade my gear again, i believe i'm not making enough money for all my hours of work :/ , but i'm not sure how much is reasonable to charge on my level! here is my latest music video so you can have an idea of the quality of my work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfdpQNw0oBg

well i would really appreciate your advice or any personal experience you have on the subject, Thank you!

 

[directorik]

hello guys, i'm on a bit of an issue, right now I'm working on making music videos for indie bands, the thing is... i am pretty unsure about my prices, because i'm still an indie filmmaker and most of my clients are indie as well.

It’s always difficult to decide what to charge. Charge too much
and you won’t get the job. Charge too little and you are not
getting what you deserve. I can’t give you an appropriate number.
What I charge, what someone else charges and what you can get
away with charging is going to be very different.

i believe i'm not making enough money for all my hours of work :/ , but i'm not sure how much is reasonable to charge on my level!

At your level you need to charge what the bands can afford. You
will not be getting a fair day rate until you move up to bands that
can afford to spend more money.

There isn't a "reasonable" amount to charge in your case. You need
to get the most you can - the band will try to spend as little as they
can. So you negotiate with your clients. In my opinion $210 for a
music video is way, way, way too low. But if that's all that the local
bands can afford then that what is reasonable to charge until you
build a larger client base.

 

[wheatgrinder]

on thing to keep in mind, and makes it easier on your small budget..

let the bands know, that for $250 they don't get a any "say" in the video. They get a package deal, no special complications, fancy effects etc.

The more they want to invents, the more they have a say in what happens.

For example:

For $250 you can have the "rock god" special.
Includes:
2 hours of shooting the band lip syncing to the recorded track in one location
2 hours of editing the shots
1 hour edit revisions
One data DVD
One Playable DVD
Thats the "Rock God Special"


Then you can have ADD ON's

The band wants to shoot in additional locations?
You Add $100 for each additional location ( 2 hour shooting)

The band wants an attractive model.. Add $120 ( you pay the model $100 )


Anything beyond the "Rock God Special" is a separate film project and requires time \ materials at some decent rate like $50 an hour..

You of course can develop your more "package deals"
Maybe you have the "Rock God DELUXE" which includes blowing back hair in slow motion etc..

 

[MetalRenard]

Wheatgrinder's message is epic - informative and funny. I love it. Haha
I agree pretty much with what he said too and I'm a composer/musician etc.

 

[Cracker Funk]

Wheatgrinder's advice is very good, in concept. But the particulars don't quite bear out for me.

2 hours of shooting, with 2 hours of editing, and 1 hour of editing revisions. That's gonna be a really shitty video.

Bare minimum is a full day of shooting, and a full day of editing. And that's a really slap-dash, simple music vid.

The harsh reality is that there are a ton of people willing to make music videos for free. Almost all of them have absolutely no clue what they're doing. But the band doesn't know anything about filmmaking, so they trust their friend, not realizing that their friend is clueless.

Point being -- if you're dealing with start-up bands (those who are not making money), I think you can only charge the absolute bare minimum to make it worth your while. I can't answer what that is for you, but for me, I've set my price at $100/day. I've got a few people knocking on my door, but none of them have actually hired me yet.

Right now, I only shoot music vids for friends, and I do it for free. And I expect/hope that they'll help me on my filmmaking projects (they have). So, it's an informal un-written exchange of services on one level, but actually just friends helping each other out.

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

my new situation

Thank you! these have been the most useful and realistic advice i've recieved, I hope to get a good response from my clients, i'm totally trying that out!

So here's ny new situation, recently i got a new offer, tomorrow i'm meeting the manager of a small pop indie band to make an agreement for me to direct their first music video, so the manager told me that this band was going to get big in the future, they're about to release their first album next month. So here was the guy's deal, he asked me as a "favor" to keep the price pretty low (he doesn't know how much i charge, he didn't mentioned a specific amount) and if i help them out with the cash, they would help me out on publicity with other bands, the manager said he was especulating the video to get on national (I'm from Mexico) TV, so that would be an amazing favor for me, I'm not sure how much should I trust on this. Tomorrow i'm meeting the guys, and will talk about the price with the manager, how much do you guys believe i should charge on this specific situation?

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

on thing to keep in mind, and makes it easier on your small budget..

let the bands know, that for $250 they don't get a any "say" in the video. They get a package deal, no special complications, fancy effects etc.

The more they want to invents, the more they have a say in what happens.

For example:

For $250 you can have the "rock god" special.
Includes:
2 hours of shooting the band lip syncing to the recorded track in one location
2 hours of editing the shots
1 hour edit revisions
One data DVD
One Playable DVD
Thats the "Rock God Special"


Then you can have ADD ON's

The band wants to shoot in additional locations?
You Add $100 for each additional location ( 2 hour shooting)

The band wants an attractive model.. Add $120 ( you pay the model $100 )


Anything beyond the "Rock God Special" is a separate film project and requires time \ materials at some decent rate like $50 an hour..

You of course can develop your more "package deals"
Maybe you have the "Rock God DELUXE" which includes blowing back hair in slow motion etc..

Thank you!I think this is a very complete and i general amazing advice, I'll try this out!, but honestly I'm a bit concerned about how the quality of my videos may decline, after all my name is in the credits of the video, so I'm a bit worried about the band being very cheap and their video ending up being pretty lame( because that's what they paid for), so I get bad reputation with other possible clients, how do you think i should handle this concern?

 

[Sucramdoow]

Thank you! these have been the most useful and realistic advice i've recieved, I hope to get a good response from my clients, i'm totally trying that out!

So here's ny new situation, recently i got a new offer, tomorrow i'm meeting the manager of a small pop indie band to make an agreement for me to direct their first music video, so the manager told me that this band was going to get big in the future, they're about to release their first album next month. So here was the guy's deal, he asked me as a "favor" to keep the price pretty low (he doesn't know how much i charge, he didn't mentioned a specific amount) and if i help them out with the cash, they would help me out on publicity with other bands, the manager said he was especulating the video to get on national (I'm from Mexico) TV, so that would be an amazing favor for me, I'm not sure how much should I trust on this. Tomorrow i'm meeting the guys, and will talk about the price with the manager, how much do you guys believe i should charge on this specific situation?

Definitely more than $250. If you make them a video that has the possibility of going on TV, and you charge $250 with them saying "Oh, we'll let other bands know" is a pretty shit deal, considering that they could just not return that favour.

How are you going about making the video? Are they coming up with the idea, or are you? Because that would factor in to whether how much you would get paid. For instance, if they wanted a certain location, and you had to go out to that location for a whole day of shooting, it would cost you money & time. And I'm assuming you'll be using your own equipment, so you should consider that as well.

In any case, make sure you get a contract with them.

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

Wheatgrinder's advice is very good, in concept. But the particulars don't quite bear out for me.

2 hours of shooting, with 2 hours of editing, and 1 hour of editing revisions. That's gonna be a really shitty video.

Bare minimum is a full day of shooting, and a full day of editing. And that's a really slap-dash, simple music vid.

The harsh reality is that there are a ton of people willing to make music videos for free. Almost all of them have absolutely no clue what they're doing. But the band doesn't know anything about filmmaking, so they trust their friend, not realizing that their friend is clueless.

You got my point pretty well! this is actually my biggest concern specially i'm trying to keep a quality standard, and mantain a reputation with other possible clients

 

[MetalRenard]

My view when I make music is "no matter what you pay me, I always do my best" because, like you said, my work represents me as a professional. Doing any less than that will damage my career in the long run.

So yes, very valid point there, maybe that advice sounds good on the surface but in the end it's what you think you need to do for your career.

 

[directorik]

So here's ny new situation, recently i got a new offer, tomorrow i'm meeting the manager of a small pop indie band to make an agreement for me to direct their first music video, so the manager told me that this band was going to get big in the future,

Do not go into the meeting believing that the managers feelings
are absolute. He deeply believes that someday his band will be big
- otherwise he wouldn't be managing them - but YOUR only goal
is to make an excellent music video. Do not be swayed by the
managers enthusiasm or his promises. And do NOT make your
business decisions based on this guys hopes and dreams.

If you can make an excellent music video using wheat's method
and price then that's what you should charge. For me, 2 hours of
shooting and 3 hours of editing isn't enough. Sure, you can present
that "special" and hope the manager decides to take some of the
add-on's - but what if he doesn't? What if the manager doesn't
understand what you can do with two hours of shooting and three
hours of editing? What if he thinks you can deliver a top of the line,
up to your talent music video in five hours total? Frankly, that's my
concern about wheats method. Clients (even band managers) simply
do not know what it takes to make an excellent music video. They
see the $250 and then are blinded. Until they see a music video shot
in 2 hours. No offense to wheat but that package is a misunderstanding
waiting to happen. And I get the impression you asked this question
because you are tired of shooting on the cheap.

SkyLight, if $210 or $250 is a fair price to you to do it right, then that
should be your quote. Don't buy the "carrot-on-a-stick" deal - make
a music video for this band at the price you can afford or don't make
it. Tell the manager you appreciate his offer to recommend you but
you must stick with your rate. If he chooses to not hire you or
recommend you because you have a set rate and stick to it - so be it.
You lose the gig.

On the other hand if this gig is important to you then do it for the
$70 you've been working for in the past. And cross your fingers that
this cheap manager can push his band into a big hit and knows other
managers who can actually pay you what your worth.

It ain't easy is it? Charge what you need and maybe lose a gig, or
keep shooting on the cheap and hope that someday you move up
to bands that can pay.

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

How are you going about making the video? Are they coming up with the idea, or are you? Because that would factor in to whether how much you would get paid. For instance, if they wanted a certain location, and you had to go out to that location for a whole day of shooting, it would cost you money & time. And I'm assuming you'll be using your own equipment, so you should consider that as well.

In any case, make sure you get a contract with them.

Thanks for the advice! That's something i will discuss tomorrow, let's see how everything goes!

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

My view when I make music is "no matter what you pay me, I always do my best" because, like you said, my work represents me as a professional. Doing any less than that will damage my career in the long run.

So yes, very valid point there, maybe that advice sounds good on the surface but in the end it's what you think you need to do for your career.

you have the same view as me my friend, I always try to do my best! i'm trying to keep a good reputation

 

[The SkyLight Studios]

SkyLight, if $210 or $250 is a fair price to you to do it right, then that
should be your quote. Don't buy the "carrot-on-a-stick" deal - make
a music video for this band at the price you can afford or don't make
it. Tell the manager you appreciate his offer to recommend you but
you must stick with your rate. If he chooses to not hire you or
recommend you because you have a set rate and stick to it - so be it.
You lose the gig.

On the other hand if this gig is important to you then do it for the
$70 you've been working for in the past. And cross your fingers that
this cheap manager can push his band into a big hit and knows other
managers who can actually pay you what your worth.

It ain't easy is it? Charge what you need and maybe lose a gig, or
keep shooting on the cheap and hope that someday you move up
to bands that can pay.

Everything you said is true, that was pretty much what i was thinking actually, by now i've done the numbers of how much I'm spending and how much do i need to recover all , and I've realized that the least I'm suposed to charge (gaining the 35%) is around 450-500 dollars, so i'll try to make a deal around that, right now i'm just hoping for the best, I decided it is better to loose the gig than devaluate all my work, so that's what I'm going to do, I'll do my best. I'll let you know how all of this turns out, Thank you!

 

[WalterB]

If the band gets big, they should be able to 'thank' you with more than exposure alone.
Because exposure is vague.

Just a question: do you know who directed the first Artic Monkey video?
Bohemian Rhapsody?
Just Dance by Lady Gaga?
Umbrella?
Losing my Religion by REM?

(I know the last one. Not thanks to the video, but thanks to his later work.)
If someone wants to know: they'll Google it

In the 90's you could say: we make the video at a low price and if it becomes a hit, we get a piece of the revenues. But times have changed a lot for selling singles.

 

[jax_rox]

If the band gets big, they should be able to 'thank' you with more than exposure alone.
Because exposure is vague.

Just a question: do you know who directed the first Artic Monkey video?
Bohemian Rhapsody?
Just Dance by Lady Gaga?
Umbrella?
Losing my Religion by REM?

I agree with this, but I also disagree. I know a Director/DoP team who made a video for an unknown artist they contacted for a project in their 2nd year of film school. They cobbled enough money together to shoot it on S16, and it just happened that the artist cracked the market and became a big success (for those in the US, she's about to tour there, and was recently featured on another Australian artist's smash hit single that was at the top of the Billboard charts for a stupid number of weeks). As she became more popular they were able to charge more for their video clips - they now shoot all music videos they do on 35mm.
From that, they've landed deals with at least three major Australian artists/their record companies to shoot their clips, and are flying out with their original artist to shoot her US tour on S16 and Red Epics.

They created some very impressive video clips to start out with, but if you happen to stumble on the right artist, then it can work out very well for you.

 

[elemental]

Hi I am from Finland(north of Europe). Sorry my bad English.

In Finland there is like 3 company's which can live with doing music videos. Music video business is very low here. We have one Tv-channel and of course internet. There is same problem that people don't understand what all cost. When they watching Americas music videos they see only the beautiful pictures, cars, lot of extras and effects. There is lot of good camera mans and directors like some where else, but those band's and small record company's think that if they pay 400 euros they get american dream lol. In Finland one camera man for day pays more than 400 euros. I am talking professional guys for 10-15 hours. Then it's suck if the band aren't happy for the final result and they can make you life hell. Want more extra filming days or effects or other things. One time I was have to film half video again be cos the shirt wasn't good. I did it be cos I didn't wan to that my reputation goes. Worst case they ask money back. Then you are like what did you think that you get with those money. Its hard situation. I was making today commercial one orchestra and when shooting was over the boss ask me is it Monday ready. I laugh and sayd that the post production takes time like 100 hours work and he was like what! It is very hard to understand for people who don't know anything of film making. Its not only import, klik klik and then its ready. I think that it is okey to get less money if the band is helping with producing like get cars to transport stuff and people, get locations, helping with the props, catering, asking extras and other basic things. Invent the story take lot of time. Its better if the band have some basic idea.

Here I don't see that people do it for money. Its more doing something else than those fucking reality tv-shows lol. If you are using your cameras, dolly's, lights only for making music videos I think that you don't get newer you money back using them. Okey some parts newer go old, but I think that way.

I have made couples of videos for friends and been helping others couples of times. There is always all most all people for free and the camera equipment are rent for other production's or borrowed to the music video shooting. I don't see any business potential here. Many schools do half of those music videos be cos there is people and stuff all ready. It is cheap to put school to do it. I think if you going to live doing music video you have to ask more money. You can 1-2 times ask you friends to help you do the videos, but not every week. If you have higher price you do list of what it includes. The story modify the cost, but the basic thing is the same.

Make basic list of thing that you need. Do you all ready have it or do you need to rent it.
I don't know the prices of your county but.

Camera and equipment's (rent) 500-600 euros( if you have it you can lower the price little bit)
lights and cables 2500 euros( if you have it .....)
Editin 150 euros(for hard disk and if you computer brakes you have some money to fix it)
make up 100 euros( if you dont have anything special)
Paychecks for 5 people 1200-1400 euros (600e for you becos you do the editin and get in bands. 200e to others)
other cost food, gasoline, etc
insurance for you camera stuff 100 euros

If the location is studio it cost more

then it is something like 5000 euros

but you have to think that you can do the music video in 1-2 veeks and then is it like 4 videos in month.
2400 euros for month. Some times there is not so much work and the realistic month pay is like 2000 euros.
In Finland normal pay check for cleaning and ware house work etc is 1600e - 2000e. You can think is it enough or do you need more. The differense is that the regular worker do 40 hour in week, movie maker do
more than 50-80 for week.


but if there is money 15 000euros is good price. With that you get professional actors, better color grading if you are not the best You can get better shooting location or props and more time to make effects. You can get more people to work and then the days are not so long.


or you can forget all that and ask what is the highest price that they can pay and live it

 

[InsomniaMusic]

Pricing has allot of variables
• who are you working for
• What are they requiring for the video
• Time and energy speant on the video
• Popularity of artist
• Popularity of you as a videographer

Really with music video shows gone off tv and everything going digital Pricing is going down

You can charge more when you notice the demand is there.
So it depends on your demand

And make sure to have some sort of imprint of all your videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNshQ-ElNTo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3J24ZWBgq8