Standard Kit Rental Prices

When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money. I
tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
beatdown.

Ron Stanley
32 Degree Audio
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

On Dec 4, 11:24 pm, ARPunk wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Would like some info.
>
> What do you guys charge for a basic ENG sound kit? (Boom, Mixer, 2 x
> Wireless)
> I'm talking basic gear, 3-ch mixer, 416...
>
> In addition, what would you charge for a higher-end kit with, say,
> schoeps mics and SD442 mixer, etc.
>
> I'm in NY, but I'd like as much input as possible.
>
> Thanks all,
>
> Mike
> 516 376 121five

I never take a mixer with less than 4 channels to work.. I know they
weigh more, but the extra flexibility is definitely useful..

Also, I bring more gear than your first note...I bring extra lavs,
mics, a couple more wireless rigs. These are not put to work in the
quoted price, they are available for special situations, and I charge
extra for them.


I almost never take jobs that want me to use "their gear" for 2
reasons:
1)I dont know the maintenance condition of their gear
2)I once found that the gear was not owned by production, but by a
member of another department, and that THEY were getting the rental on
some very obsolete and worn out junk!

There is no way I would be able to accept a network rate for my gear,
so I decline those jobs. We'll see what the recession does to my
standards of which client I accept...

I find that MTV wants to pay $150 for 1 wireless, a mixer and a boom
kit...

corporate jobs pay $200-$250 for bag to camera kit..
indie movie (add recorder) goes up to $400 for the kit..
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

On Dec 5, 8:51 am, r... RemoveThis @32degreeaudio.com wrote:
> When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
> usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
> this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
> want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
> Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money.  I
> tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
> to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
> usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
> beatdown.
>
> Ron Stanley
> 32 Degree Audio

What do you get for the roll it all in one price?
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

On Dec 5, 10:56 am, "Stacy Brownrigg, CAS"
wrote:
> On Dec 5, 8:51 am, r....RemoveThis@32degreeaudio.com wrote:
>
> > When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
> > usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
> > this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
> > want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
> > Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money.  I
> > tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
> > to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
> > usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
> > beatdown.
>
> > Ron Stanley
> > 32 Degree Audio
>
> What do you get for the roll it all in one price?

Ron,
My kit is always seperate from my dayrate equipment does get overtime
only I do!!!
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

wrote in message

> When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
> usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
> this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
> want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
> Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money. I
> tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
> to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
> usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
> beatdown.
>
> Ron Stanley
> 32 Degree Audio

I stay away from that all in one pricing scheme. I think it's one of the big
problems in our freelancer side of the industry for getting a fair rate. Far
too many producers think of sound as ONE number and everyone else as two. DP
is separate from camera rental, gaffer is separate from grip truck rental
etc. When they think of us as ONE number they compare our combined rate with
the other crew's individual rates and get the impression that we are
overpaid. I had someone once tell me "we don't even pay the camera person
that much money." I also find that keeping my labor and equipment as
separate lines gives me a clear path for making adjustments and showing
discounts if needed on an invoice. My rate and standard gear charges always
remain the same price and I discount and show it as a discount on my
invoice. Much cleaner, and the client always knows that you gave them a deal
if in the future you work for full equipment rate etc. When they say you
"did it for $100 last time" you can say that it was a 50% discount and you
have the invoice to back it up.

If you don't want to use someone else's gear, don't take the job or tell
them no. Pretty simple and it's better than jamming something down their
throat they don't want. I also cannot morally charge a client overtime on my
gear package so I have no problem with that aspect of working for a wage. If
you want more for your labor, charge more for your labor but don't try to
make it seem like your gear is part of your price...I think it only leads to
misunderstandings down the road.

Charlie - Seattle.
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

On Dec 5, 12:25 pm, "Charles Tomaras" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
>
>
> > When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
> > usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
> > this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
> > want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
> > Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money.  I
> > tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
> > to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
> > usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
> > beatdown.
>
> > Ron Stanley
> > 32 Degree Audio
>
> I stay away from that all in one pricing scheme. I think it's one of the big
> problems in our freelancer side of the industry for getting a fair rate. Far
> too many producers think of sound as ONE number and everyone else as two. DP
> is separate from camera rental, gaffer is separate from grip truck rental
> etc. When they think of us as ONE number they compare our combined rate with
> the other crew's individual rates and get the impression that we are
> overpaid. I had someone once tell me "we don't even pay the camera person
> that much money." I also find that keeping my labor and equipment as
> separate lines gives me a clear path for making adjustments and showing
> discounts if needed on an invoice. My rate and standard gear charges always
> remain the same price and I discount and show it as a discount on my
> invoice. Much cleaner, and the client always knows that you gave them a deal
> if in the future you work for full equipment rate etc. When they say you
> "did it for $100 last time" you can say that it was a 50% discount and you
> have the invoice to back it up.
>
> If you don't want to use someone else's gear, don't take the job or tell
> them no. Pretty simple and it's better than jamming something down their
> throat they don't want. I also cannot morally charge a client overtime on my
> gear package so I have no problem with that aspect of working for a wage. If
> you want more for your labor, charge more for your labor but don't try to
> make it seem like your gear is part of your price...I think it only leads to
> misunderstandings down the road.
>
> Charlie - Seattle.

Mike, here in Nyc I rent my small package for$100-$150. I own a
package exactly as your description, SD 302+ 416+2 lectro kits and a
couple of extra lavs. I mostly do just docs and almost never reality.
I work mostly for the same group of companies and long projects, so I
give them breaks on the rental according to how many days of work I'm
getting from them. When I get the whole week I do 3/days rental.
I found than keeping the rental separate from labor give me a better
negotiation power.I got a job once to go on a cruise for a week, but
just shooting two days, but they didn't have any way to get me out of
the ship earlier, so they were crazy asking me fro breaks and told
them that I was going to give them the gear for free. It worked out
great for me. I got my full salary for a week while I was snorkeling
in mexico, just shoot two days and they were happy too.
rafael
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

Charlie,

I see your point, there is an effort among some of us to get our rates
up and it has not been easy. I charge $450 for 10 hours and provide a
302, boom with 416 and 2 radio mics. I always bring extra stuff like
an RE50 with Tx, Comtex, recorder, loads of cables and adaptors, and I
charge for them when I use them (stick mic is included as one of the
wireless.) I can say that since I have been insisting on min $450, I
have worked less. (exception for a crewing company who I am friends
with gets me for $350, and the jobs are easy usually). I dont know if
it is slower, or if I priced myself out of work, but I have other
things to do. I charge $450 to $500 for live audio gigs, which I
don't use any of my equipment, so you could say I am giving away my
kit for free and they will feel like they are getting a great deal.




On Dec 5, 11:25 am, "Charles Tomaras" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
>
>
> > When a client wants to pay for the basic kit rental separately, the
> > usual going rate is $100 / day here in the Dallas area. I try to avoid
> > this because if they want to separate the kit fee it is because they
> > want to only pay overtime based on your rate minus the kit rental.
> > Also, sometimes I get asked to work with their gear for less money.  I
> > tell them that my rate is with or without gear. The last thing I want
> > to do is work with unfamiliar gear for less money. These issues are
> > usually only with reality productions that they know will be a 16 hour
> > beatdown.
>
> > Ron Stanley
> > 32 Degree Audio
>
> I stay away from that all in one pricing scheme. I think it's one of the big
> problems in our freelancer side of the industry for getting a fair rate. Far
> too many producers think of sound as ONE number and everyone else as two. DP
> is separate from camera rental, gaffer is separate from grip truck rental
> etc. When they think of us as ONE number they compare our combined rate with
> the other crew's individual rates and get the impression that we are
> overpaid. I had someone once tell me "we don't even pay the camera person
> that much money." I also find that keeping my labor and equipment as
> separate lines gives me a clear path for making adjustments and showing
> discounts if needed on an invoice. My rate and standard gear charges always
> remain the same price and I discount and show it as a discount on my
> invoice. Much cleaner, and the client always knows that you gave them a deal
> if in the future you work for full equipment rate etc. When they say you
> "did it for $100 last time" you can say that it was a 50% discount and you
> have the invoice to back it up.
>
> If you don't want to use someone else's gear, don't take the job or tell
> them no. Pretty simple and it's better than jamming something down their
> throat they don't want. I also cannot morally charge a client overtime on my
> gear package so I have no problem with that aspect of working for a wage. If
> you want more for your labor, charge more for your labor but don't try to
> make it seem like your gear is part of your price...I think it only leads to
> misunderstandings down the road.
>
> Charlie - Seattle.
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

wrote in message

> Charlie,
>
> I see your point, there is an effort among some of us to get our rates
> up and it has not been easy. I charge $450 for 10 hours and provide a
> 302, boom with 416 and 2 radio mics. I always bring extra stuff like
> an RE50 with Tx, Comtex, recorder, loads of cables and adaptors, and I
> charge for them when I use them (stick mic is included as one of the
> wireless.) I can say that since I have been insisting on min $450, I
> have worked less. (exception for a crewing company who I am friends
> with gets me for $350, and the jobs are easy usually). I dont know if
> it is slower, or if I priced myself out of work, but I have other
> things to do. I charge $450 to $500 for live audio gigs, which I
> don't use any of my equipment, so you could say I am giving away my
> kit for free and they will feel like they are getting a great deal.
>

Better to work less for more than more for less! We all have to figure out
what works best for us and the people we work for but the guiding force has
got to be fair for all involved. Whatever your rate is, it should move
upward a bit every once in a while to keep up with the cost of living and
the rest of society. Now I don't know what the next year or two are going to
bring...I'm certainly not going to raise my rates again on the 1st as I've
done every couple of years. But you can at least stop giving away equipment
wherever possible and try to get paid fairly for what you use.

Go call a few plumbers and see how much they want to come out and fix your
toilet and then you will feel much better asking for your $450 for 10!
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

On Dec 5, 4:36 pm, "Charles Tomaras" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
>
>
> > Charlie,
>
> > I see your point, there is an effort among some of us to get our rates
> > up and it has not been easy. I charge $450 for 10 hours and provide a
> > 302, boom with 416 and 2 radio mics. I always bring extra stuff like
> > an RE50 with Tx, Comtex, recorder, loads of cables and adaptors, and I
> > charge for them when I use them (stick mic is included as one of the
> > wireless.) I can say that since I have been insisting on min $450, I
> > have worked less. (exception for a crewing company who I am friends
> > with gets me for $350, and the jobs are easy usually). I dont know if
> > it is slower, or if I priced myself out of work, but I have other
> > things to do.  I charge $450 to $500 for live audio gigs, which I
> > don't use any of my equipment, so you could say I am giving away my
> > kit for free and they will feel like they are getting a great deal.
>
> Better to work less for more than more for less! We all have to figure out
> what works best for us and the people we work for but the guiding force has
> got to be fair for all involved. Whatever your rate is, it should move
> upward a bit every once in a while to keep up with the cost of living and
> the rest of society. Now I don't know what the next year or two are going to
> bring...I'm certainly not going to raise my rates again on the 1st as I've
> done every couple of years. But you can at least stop giving away equipment
> wherever possible and try to get paid fairly for what you use.
>
> Go call a few plumbers and see how much they want to come out and fix your
> toilet and then you will feel much better asking for your $450 for 10!

Exactly..,
I have a 10 hour rate, and my gear is separate.. I get OT on the hours
worked, not onthe gear.
An this year I have found that I worked for much better clients who
agreed with to my rate. I do indeed occasionally offer discounts on
the gear, and so describe it onthe invoice.
In my market, there probably are people who agree to work for less
than $450/day for labor, and less than $200 for the ENG kit, but
considering that you need to buy about $7K of retail priced gear, and
maintain it, and obtain spares when needed, you are losing your a*s to
let the gear and your labor go too cheap...
you are running two businesses after all.. your labor, and your kit
rental.
And they are both taxable enterprises..... yeah, that $450 a day looks
a lot smaller now, doesnt it, when you relaize you owe at least 15% of
it to the IRS....

C'mon guys.. I know this reads like a rant, but don't sell your skills
or tools short. Our job is challenging and can be fun, but it is not
easy to prepare for or to deliver.

Best of luck to you all, because I believe there is ALWAYS room for
one more good one of anything!
Chris M in ATL
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

charles has a great point. if you rent your gear out for less than
normal, then indicate the discount on your invoice!
maybe it's just me, but i base my gear rates on what i would pay at a
rental house, or rather slightly less. if production complains, i'll
work out a discount.

for an SD 302, 416 or cs-3e or shoeps, plus 2 lectro wireless and
breakaway cable should be roughly $150 imo. maybe even a little
more. that said, i do carry extra gear with me - a backup wireless
system, an extra shotgun, extra lavs, an re50. sometimes i'll bring a
recorder and sometimes just roll it in case i think they might need to
use a backup for some reason - or we get to some shot where sound
cannot be wired to camera.

as some here have pointed out before: it might also depend where you
live. in some cities productions expect to pay more for your time and
gear.

my .02

-greg-
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

I'm not familiar with other markets, but unless it's a friend, or a
favor, or a 2 hour day, I don't leave the house for less that $650
with gear. I usually pitch $500 and $150 for a 2 wire 1 boom package.
Backup recorder, IFB's, Deva, etc adds. Don't sell yourself short.
$450 with $10,000 worth of gear is too cheap in my opinion. Newbies
included.
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

I don't think anyone is getting $650 for basic ENG in the Dallas area.
Maybe with dual system and hops and IFB, but the basic sitdown
interview or talk show segment type of thing I would be Surprised if
anyone was getting more than $500 tops with gear.

Stacy, do you get $650 for TV, or film / scripted productions?


On Dec 5, 4:44 pm, "Stacy Brownrigg, CAS"
wrote:
> I'm not familiar with other markets, but unless it's a friend, or a
> favor, or a 2 hour day, I don't leave the house for less that $650
> with gear. I usually pitch $500 and $150 for a 2 wire 1 boom package.
> Backup recorder, IFB's, Deva, etc adds. Don't sell yourself short.
> $450 with $10,000 worth of gear is too cheap in my opinion. Newbies
> included.
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices 

Ron,

You guys down there need to talk with the camera guys a bit. Time and time
again I've found that I'll get hired by say a big sports network directly to
work with one of their staff camera guys and bill out $500 for labor and
$200 for gear and have no problems at all. Then a couple of weeks later a
local camera guy will call me to do a shoot for the same network and all of
a sudden the camera guy is offering me $500 for everything and thinking he's
doing me a favor. It's the camera guys who are driving down the prices. They
are either too fearful to ask for reasonable money for a 2 person crew with
gear or they are too greedy to give a sound guy a fair portion of the pie.

wrote in message

I don't think anyone is getting $650 for basic ENG in the Dallas area.
Maybe with dual system and hops and IFB, but the basic sitdown
interview or talk show segment type of thing I would be Surprised if
anyone was getting more than $500 tops with gear.

Stacy, do you get $650 for TV, or film / scripted productions?


On Dec 5, 4:44 pm, "Stacy Brownrigg, CAS"
wrote:
> I'm not familiar with other markets, but unless it's a friend, or a
> favor, or a 2 hour day, I don't leave the house for less that $650
> with gear. I usually pitch $500 and $150 for a 2 wire 1 boom package.
> Backup recorder, IFB's, Deva, etc adds. Don't sell yourself short.
> $450 with $10,000 worth of gear is too cheap in my opinion. Newbies
> included.
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Kit Rental Prices