Richard Ragon Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Last Saturday.. I'm asleep in my nice warm bed. The phone rings about 5am. A producer calling. I couldn't make it out of my bed fast enough, but I called him right back. He says that his sound guy just got into a bad accident, and just totalled his car on the freeway. Can I make it there by 8am? So, this makes my brain start searching, trying to think about all the stuff I wanted to get done that day, or appointments that I had, or any other commitments I might have made. I asked him about the gig, and what does it entail. And I then asked what does the gig pay? The voice on the end says, $50 bucks.. I said, 50/ per hour? He says.. no, $50 bucks.. I reach my window, and look outside.. It's pouring down rain.. So, I say.. "Hey, you know what.. I've got some stuff to do today.. But thanks for calling me anyway.." I then promptly got back in my nice warm bed. Somewhere out there, was a sound mixer, working for $50?? And he crashed his car on the freeway? I don't even know what to say... -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toy Robot Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Wow. Just... wow. This reminds me of a call I got at around 6AM a couple months ago. This is a re-post from my FaceBook page so I'm quoting myself: **Really? MOS all day?** 8:30AM Caller: (flustered) Hi, we're looking for a last minute sound mixer for today. We're about 20 minutes outside of NYC and need you now. Are you available? Me: I might be able to help you, but it's going to b... Caller: (interrupts) Yeah, we're working with $100. That's what I have to tell you. Me: ... 8:31AM Me: I'm so sorry, I won't be able to work with that. Caller: Yeah, okay, thanks anyway. Somewhere out there, someone either took that gig for $100, drove 20 or more minutes with their gear and worked a 12 hour day, or they shot MOS all day. Either one of those outcomes is despicable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan H. Chang Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Speechless ... Producers know you've been on the top ropes and he calls for you to help out down in the trenches on a rainy day, and whoever this $50 guy that took the gig thumbs up to him! Karma bites. I mean, last week I was down in OC shooting a SAG film and the only crew outside of SoCal to be coming in for this gig. The AC, who used to do sound before with a 744/302, had some ego problems and thought it was such an easier position than doing AC. Kindly asked him if he had any boom ops helping him and he replied with a certain "NO." Some people just don't get it. Reading these kinds of war stories makes you appreciate the amount of No's you say to productions every year. Keep these coming Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Last Saturday.. I'm asleep in my nice warm bed. The phone rings about 5am. A producer calling. I couldn't make it out of my bed fast enough, but I called him right back. He says that his sound guy just got into a bad accident, and just totalled his car on the freeway. Can I make it there by 8am? So, this makes my brain start searching, trying to think about all the stuff I wanted to get done that day, or apointments that I had, or any other commitments I might have made. I asked him about the gig, and what does it entail. And I then asked what does the gig pay? The voice on the end says, $50 bucks.. I said, 50/ per hour? He says.. no, $50 bucks.. I reach my window, and look outside.. It's pouring down rain.. So, I say.. "Hey, you know what.. I've got some stuff to do today.. But thanks for calling me anyway.." I then promptly got back in my nice warm bed. Somewhere out there, was a sound mixer, working for $50?? And he crashed his car on the freeway? I don't even know what to say... -Richard sounds a lot like the call I got around 5:30 last saturday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 a couple months ago I helped a friend out with a film for a really low rate. I was only able to do a few of the first of 8 days. about 2 weeks ago I got a call from their post guy asking where sound for day 7 and 8 was. "I wasn't there" I replied. "It is probably with whoever recorded it" After arguing with them for a good 15 minutes about why I don't have a copy of the sound for days I wasn't there I finally hung up. A different person from that production calls me every couple of days asking about what they can do about the missing sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den Nic Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 A different person from that production calls me every couple of days asking about what they can do about the missing sound. ADR!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 ... A different person from that production calls me every couple of days asking about what they can do about the missing sound. Learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Good call. The tuna Subway would get wet in the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Learn. last time I told them one of the best things they can do is stop calling the wrong person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanross Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 a couple months ago I helped a friend out with a film for a really low rate. I was only able to do a few of the first of 8 days. about 2 weeks ago I got a call from their post guy asking where sound for day 7 and 8 was. "I wasn't there" I replied. "It is probably with whoever recorded it" After arguing with them for a good 15 minutes about why I don't have a copy of the sound for days I wasn't there I finally hung up. A different person from that production calls me every couple of days asking about what they can do about the missing sound. Hahaha that is really funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 I've heard producers tell me, 'well.. we are all learning in this biz.." I was going to respond with, ".. about the only thing anyone is going to learn here, is too NOT do fu$ked up gigs like this anymore.." But, I thought I'd better shut my month. -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toy Robot Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Richard, you're totally right, and I know you didn't, but part of me just wishes you had just said it to them. I always bite my tongue as well, since this is a small world we work in and being professional is all part of the gig, even when they make you nuts, but man that would have felt good, huh? It reminds me that just like it is our fault when we accept projects at low rates, it is the producer's fault when they accept projects that are under-funded and cannot be completed adequately. But alas, the entire industry (read: world) is pressed right now, and most people lose their senses when they are under pressure. And so the most wicked amongst us take advantage, and these The Lions roam the streets in search of prey. "Oh deer, what shall we do?", people think... Not negotiating with the metaphorical terrorist is a good way to start. As Crew and others have said time and time again. Saying 'No' is the only power we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelo Waldron Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 The voice on the end says, $50 bucks.. I said, 50/ per hour? He says.. no, $50 bucks.. You need to send a bill for $50 just for that phone call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Kennedy Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 You need to send a bill for $50 just for that phone call. +1 to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 How much do you want to bet the $50 mixer looked out his rain-spattered window at 5am and said to himself, "I wonder if they'll believe I crashed my car?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylormadeaudio Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 How much do you want to bet the $50 mixer looked out his rain-spattered window at 5am and said to himself, "I wonder if they'll believe I crashed my car?" +11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toy Robot Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 How much do you want to bet the $50 mixer looked out his rain-spattered window at 5am and said to himself, "I wonder if they'll believe I crashed my car?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT Groove Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Should have told him you charge $50 just to answer that phone call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Heath Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 I got a call a few weeks ago, to do a Boom/playback gig on a puppet show. They told me it was 4 days of shooting, and 3 days for set up and dance rehearsals. I would also had to supply the playback audio gear. I asked what was in there budget for all of this and they said. "400". I quickly did the math and said thats under 60 bucks a day(57.14 per day which will probably be about 12hr day) Knowning that it was gonna be about 12 hours per day, means i would be only making 4.75 an hour...... I think thats illegal. haha Let alone insulting. Plus to throw the play-back gear in for a free kit rental. No thanks, i could use the 400 bucks but, i think i will sit around and work on my taxes instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Nault Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 How much do you want to bet the $50 mixer looked out his rain-spattered window at 5am and said to himself, "I wonder if they'll believe I crashed my car?" LOL will not do this comment justice, so I will spell it out fully... Laughed. Out. Loud! Getting back into chair now. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Nault Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 I got a call a few weeks ago, to do a Boom/playback gig on a puppet show. They told me it was 4 days of shooting, and 3 days for set up and dance rehearsals. I would also had to supply the playback audio gear. I asked what was in there budget for all of this and they said. "400". I quickly did the math and said thats under 60 bucks a day(57.14 per day which will probably be about 12hr day) Knowning that it was gonna be about 12 hours per day, means i would be only making 4.75 an hour...... I think thats illegal. haha Let alone insulting. Plus to throw the play-back gear in for a free kit rental. No thanks, i could use the 400 bucks but, i think i will sit around and work on my taxes instead. Tell them you're better off buying a Southwest Airlines ticket to take a minimum wage gig @ McDonald's in Wyoming. They pay more than the puppet gig. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 He says that his sound guy just got into a bad accident, and just totalled his car on the freeway. Can I make it there by 8am? Oh, I've gotten a few of those calls. Usually what happens to me is, they call at 10PM at night and say, "ummm, our sound guy just cancelled, we remembered your resume... do you think you could make our call time at 6AM?" I ask how much, and it's typically lower than I'll get out of bed for (raining or not), and I tell them, "I mean no disrespect, but the gear rental alone costs more than that." I try very hard not to be hostile about it, tell them to please keep me in mind if and when they get a bigger budget, and I'll be glad to work out a reasonable rate for both of us. I figure, I'm probably the fourth or fifth guy he's called, and the guy's probably gotten his head bit off already. I try to be nice that way. I asked what was in there budget for all of this and they said. "400". I quickly did the math and said thats under 60 bucks a day(57.14 per day which will probably be about 12hr day) Knowning that it was gonna be about 12 hours per day, means i would be only making 4.75 an hour...... I think thats illegal. Is that with or without the Subway Tuna? In a few extreme cases, I've sent producers the link to my little cartoon. The nice ones will tell me, "hey, that's pretty funny and very true! Sorry that we have no money." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toy Robot Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Oh, I've gotten a few of those calls. Usually what happens to me is, they call at 10PM at night and say, "ummm, our sound guy just cancelled, we remembered your resume... do you think you could make our call time at 6AM?" I ask how much, and it's typically lower than I'll get out of bed for (raining or not), and I tell them, "I mean no disrespect, but the gear rental alone costs more than that." I try very hard not to be hostile about it, tell them to please keep me in mind if and when they get a bigger budget, and I'll be glad to work out a reasonable rate for both of us. I figure, I'm probably the fourth or fifth guy he's called, and the guy's probably gotten his head bit off already. I'm nice that way. You're smart that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted February 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 How much do you want to bet the $50 mixer looked out his rain-spattered window at 5am and said to himself, "I wonder if they'll believe I crashed my car?" You know Robert.. That thought had occurred to me.. I've heard.. "previous Sound Mixer had a family emergency" one too many times now too already. -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted February 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 I once told a low ball producer that on that day he wanted me.. I was washing my hair.. Probably a bit rude I guess.. -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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