A potential client called me on a few day's notice to shoot some event he's covering this weekend. It's several hours away, and two days, so the compensation would have to be enough to cover a hotel, and driving, and still come out having made something of it.
CLIENT: I've rented equipment, I just need someone to shoot it. What's your day rate?
ME: Well, my day rate is around $800, but that's with my equipment.
CLIENT: How much without?
ME: Well, I usually shoot with my own equipment, so I don't really have a set...
CLIENT: You have 2 seconds to give me an answer or I hang up and call the next day.
ME: Have a good day!
And he hangs up.
"KEY WORDS, PANSY, AND TWO SYLLABLES OF LESS OR I START DIALING CURSES IN MORSE CODE."
I guess people like this save me the time of dealing with their inane bullshit later, but I hate turning down work. I also get the distinct feeling that he'd be the kind of lunatic that makes doing this kind of work such a stressful wasteland of hate and chapped asses.
So, thanks for at least being straight forward, I guess?
Hey man, this blog is fantastic. Are you going to keep it going, or have you found gainful employment. I'm an artist/illustrator out in Los Angeles and a lot of these stories hit (painfully and hysterically) close to home.
ReplyDeleteHey there, Sam. Actually, there are several stories I haven't posted because they're too just... depressing. I might be done with video stuff. It's way too much work just to scrape by and have trouble making rent much less a life.
ReplyDeleteRough, man. Sorry to hear that but totally understandable, the freelance grind is brutal. Hope you can at least continue to enjoy the video/art for yourself Best of luck in your future endeavors, whatever they may be!
ReplyDelete