Standard Kit Rental Prices

External Since: Dec 14, 2003 Posts: 1680

I would expect rates to be somewhat lower in a smaller market just like I'd
expect home prices, apartment rents, automobile insurance and many other
fixed expenses to be FAR lower as well. Also less non-reimbursed time spent
commuting to and from jobs. So in that regard it evens out a bit. As for a
gear package, I agree that $7,000 is not a realistic number for a
comprehensive bag setup. You need $12,000 worth of wireless to walk out the
door. I think you are looking at more like $20,000 to be in the ballpark for
a no compromises bag kit you can "hope" to get $200 a day for at best and
usually far less.

As for cameras and stuff...I think that any way you slice it up a camera is
a better investment than sound gear. $6000 HVX2000 brings in far more than
$6000 of audio gear. $30,000 worth of HDX900 with lens will pay for itself
much faster than $30,000 of audio gear any day of the week. You sure don't
need a $60,000 camera to work in market 136. Even with today's faster
obsolescence of camera technology over the "beta cam" dream days, which
returned more money than anyone could have ever imagined, a camera
owner/operator has a much better shot at getting ahead with gear than a
sound person.

You also can't keep renting the same RF systems for 10 years, nor the same
lav mics either. Most all of the gizmos keep changing and more audio gizmos
are expected on every shoot as time goes by.

wrote in message

> this conversation is almost funny if it weren't true. if you are in a
> top 10 market with a lot of work, you can get what you want, and if
> not, know the phone will ring later in the day with another gig.
>
> however, please consider that when you work in market 136, its a
> different world. $350/day with basic gear is average. don't like it ?
> don't worry, you'll stay home... for a long time. they will hang up
> the phone and call some one else. you will stay home, not make any $.
> if you think you can hold out, don't bother. I'd love to get more, but
> its not happening. not on network gigs, not on corporate gigs.
>
> I'm laughing really hard, $7k in gear ? thats chump change. most
> mechinics have that in their big roll around tool boxes. try buying a
> $50k camera thats worth $10k in 5 years. I've got more $ in lighting
> gear. your audio gear is a very safe investment that holds its value
> far longer then a camera does. thats why audio gear is in part cheaper
> to rent, you can keep renting the same mic for 10 years, how may 10
> year old video cameras are there ? well ok, in this market, there are
> some :( but in most markets you have a 400A and no one will give you
> the time of day. as a shooter, I carry a whole lot more then $7k of
> gear, which includes my full audio package. I think most top level
> audio people are carrying more then that anyways.
>
>

External Since: Oct 04, 2008 Posts: 6

Stacy Brownrigg, CAS wrote:
> Lots of people get $650 for ENG in Dallas. You just have to be one of
> the $650 guys. If your a $350 guy, you won't ever get the call for
> $650.
So how does a $350 guy move up to get those $650 calls? After all, you
don't start in the business at $650, so how do you move up?

--
Jim