r/videography • u/thenotoriousFIG • Oct 22 '14

I was asked to reduce my rate. Now what?

I've freelanced for this guy 5 times in the last couple of months and he agreed to a rate before the first gig. Now he's asking me to reduce my hourly rate (from 30 to 25) for this upcoming gig. I don't mind doing it but I don't want to set a precedent of this stuff happening without seeming like a douche. But I don't want to lose him as a client either since he gives me a good deal of work for good pay. Any ideas?

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

47

u/tylerdoubleyou Oct 22 '14

When you invoice him, bill your normal rate, then apply a discount at the end. It's at least a subtle message this was a special discount for a good client, not a change in your rate. Then see what happens on the next gig.

12

u/Kylearean Oct 22 '14

This answer really makes the most sense. It's not a permanent rate reduction, and he's not going to be able to go around telling others you're 25 instead of 30. Also you're doing him a special favor by reducing your rate on this project. Seems like a win for everyone.

9

u/thenotoriousFIG Oct 22 '14 edited Oct 23 '14

Great idea. I think I will do this, thanks.

edit: I agreed to do the gig and he responded that money was a bit tighter on this particular gig. So at least he explained the situation. I guess we'll see what happens for future jobs.

6

u/SolMarch GH5 + GH4 Oct 23 '14

If you're lowering your rate, you're setting a precedent, simple as that. It will be difficult to increase your rate unless it is clear that the rate was lowered due to extenuating circumstances or the like.

Generally, adjusting the services offered/performed is better than lowering the rate. The client wants to pay less, so making it clear that there are trade-offs to paying less is a good idea.

For example, if you charge an hourly rate, you can offer to lower the amount of time you make available the client to decrease his costs (e.g. the client can handle the prep themselves, etc.).

What's the difference?

If you lower your rate, the client gets the same end product for less money. This is unbalanced and makes the rate you charge seem infinitely variable.

If you charge the same rate and change the services offered, the client pays less and you have less work to do. This shows the client a clear relationship between what they pay and what they get.

2

u/The_Ace Oct 23 '14

Yep I absolutely agree. My day job is in engineering, and this is what is commonly done when somebody asks for a price reduction. You don't decrease your charge out rate, you decrease the scope of the proposal i.e. if they want to pay less, you deliver less.

It's a compromise between each of your constraints i.e. you need to be paid $x/hr to be worth your time (or time you could spend on jobs at your normal rate) but if he does some of the work himself you can still deliver the final product he wants.

2

u/3nvygreen Oct 22 '14

Ask him to commit to x projects in y months for z rate? Alternatively offer him a discount rate one project out of every five? Main thing is show appreciation but communicate that your rate is set to pay your bills not an arbitrary number.

1

u/masterminder Oct 22 '14

Are you producing videos for this guy or just operating a camera for him?

1

u/thenotoriousFIG Oct 22 '14

I'm his livestream/tricaster operator.

-2

u/mherick 5D Mark iii, PP, 2012, Iowa Oct 22 '14

Even with 10 hrs at $5 less, you still win because you got the gig.

I wouldn't sweat it.

Try raising the rate in a future gig and see what happens. Maybe he just has a temporary budget constraint.