Hi All! New to the forums but have been reading A LOT over the past few hours! Excellent forum.
I'm currently 19 years old and own 2 HOG iPC's along with a netbook running HogPC. At 17 I started working for a local production company (full service lighting, video and sound) in their warehouse, just keeping track of inventory and repairing colorblasts and Mac2K's mainly. After 6 months I left that company and started working as a LD/LP for a small lighting company which I enjoyed a lot better (hated being in the warehouse always!). I then went out and purchased an iPC and then a few months later purchased a 2nd console so I can rent as a back-up. I also have HOG PC for small shows.
Anyways, long story short, I would really really like to talk the business side of things with some industry veterans.
When I first started with this small lighting company, I told them I was fine with $ 25.00 per hour for concerts. Great, I started doing shows and on average would work an entire day and go home with $250-$275. Basically as their lighting tech, I would have to tell the other techs where to place movers and what to address everything at, then I would go and usually just focus lekos, etc. and leave. I guess you call this a "lighting director".
Then I purchased my iPC's and started renting them the 1st iPC for $ 300.00 and the 2nd back-up for $ 150.00. Total was $450 for the 2 consoles plus I would usually take my laptop and HOG iPC so they could use as well (++ I have a UPS, and extra wing). I thought $450 for everything was extremely reasonable considering I've spent about $25k building my system! I guess I was wrong...
Long story short, I arrived at a show a few weeks back and they had me carrying truss out of a semi and then asked me to assist with sound side of production (I do have some knowledge in this area from my previous experience at the other production company). I ended up having to run a snake from the stage to FOH and do power drops for stage power. I went from 4 months of a lighting tech/director for them to freelance labor. Basically that entire show was just conventional's and they felt I wasn't needed to assist in the lighting area. When I received my check I noticed I got paid $12.00/hr! I called up and they explained that since I wasn't doing anything lighting & technical related the pay was $12/hr. I worked a 16 hr day on this show and feel like I've been ripped off now, especially since my back is almost out at 19! haha
For the cherry on top...they just told me that they can get 2 iPC consoles for $350 now. Will no longer be working for this company anymore and now I'm on the hunt for my next gig but need a lot of advice from the pros!
Here come the questions!
1. What should I be charging for my equipment? 2 HES iPC's, UPS, Keyboard/Mouse, etc. Is there some sort of percentage rule?
2. Was my hourly rate low/high for the lighting tech work I was doing. ($25.00/hr).
3. Do freelance lighting techs/directors/designers usually carry there own form of a contract? Is there an industry standard copy that's going around, that someone can recommend? What are the basics it covers normally?
Any type of advice would be greatly appreciated!! (sorry for my English too)
I'm currently 19 years old and own 2 HOG iPC's along with a netbook running HogPC. At 17 I started working for a local production company (full service lighting, video and sound) in their warehouse, just keeping track of inventory and repairing colorblasts and Mac2K's mainly. After 6 months I left that company and started working as a LD/LP for a small lighting company which I enjoyed a lot better (hated being in the warehouse always!). I then went out and purchased an iPC and then a few months later purchased a 2nd console so I can rent as a back-up. I also have HOG PC for small shows.
Anyways, long story short, I would really really like to talk the business side of things with some industry veterans.
When I first started with this small lighting company, I told them I was fine with $ 25.00 per hour for concerts. Great, I started doing shows and on average would work an entire day and go home with $250-$275. Basically as their lighting tech, I would have to tell the other techs where to place movers and what to address everything at, then I would go and usually just focus lekos, etc. and leave. I guess you call this a "lighting director".
Then I purchased my iPC's and started renting them the 1st iPC for $ 300.00 and the 2nd back-up for $ 150.00. Total was $450 for the 2 consoles plus I would usually take my laptop and HOG iPC so they could use as well (++ I have a UPS, and extra wing). I thought $450 for everything was extremely reasonable considering I've spent about $25k building my system! I guess I was wrong...
Long story short, I arrived at a show a few weeks back and they had me carrying truss out of a semi and then asked me to assist with sound side of production (I do have some knowledge in this area from my previous experience at the other production company). I ended up having to run a snake from the stage to FOH and do power drops for stage power. I went from 4 months of a lighting tech/director for them to freelance labor. Basically that entire show was just conventional's and they felt I wasn't needed to assist in the lighting area. When I received my check I noticed I got paid $12.00/hr! I called up and they explained that since I wasn't doing anything lighting & technical related the pay was $12/hr. I worked a 16 hr day on this show and feel like I've been ripped off now, especially since my back is almost out at 19! haha
For the cherry on top...they just told me that they can get 2 iPC consoles for $350 now. Will no longer be working for this company anymore and now I'm on the hunt for my next gig but need a lot of advice from the pros!
Here come the questions!
1. What should I be charging for my equipment? 2 HES iPC's, UPS, Keyboard/Mouse, etc. Is there some sort of percentage rule?
2. Was my hourly rate low/high for the lighting tech work I was doing. ($25.00/hr).
3. Do freelance lighting techs/directors/designers usually carry there own form of a contract? Is there an industry standard copy that's going around, that someone can recommend? What are the basics it covers normally?
Any type of advice would be greatly appreciated!! (sorry for my English too)
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