Bob Marts Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 The Commercial IA scale for Mixer and Boom Op has quite a gap. Can somebody tell me what the current average L.A. boom rate (above scale) for a national commercial is? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordi Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 Not to discourage you.... But down here in the SouthEast, I have yet to have a boom op on either the national commercials I have done or the reality TV. I hope it is better in LA... But at the same time, I got undercut on a feature that a friend was trying to get me on, by an LA mixer willing to do the project for $600 / day including gear. I got paid LA scale for another project, plus a gear rental... And that has been the highest rate I've cleared to date. This can be depressing at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonO Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 LA union boom commercial scale rate is 550/10. I haven't seen the boom rate on commercials negotiated "above scale". -Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 LA boom op is $550.00 for 10 but scale under the commercial contract is less. $480.ish. I don't know for sure the exact number. Some LA boom ops get $575. for 10. CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Marts Posted July 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 Thanks, guys, for your input. Here in Seattle, most boom ops make no more than 500/10 & I thought 550 would be more comparable to what other department departments make. It took a long time for producers around here to sign and a lot were quite shocked at the scale wage for a sound mixer. Not exactly the same as non-union, and I think many producers don't care to offer more to the boom op than is dictated to make up the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gilchrist Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 I just checked the contract, for both boom and utility the scale rate is $45.68 inside LA and and $42.22 outside LA. That's $502.48 inside LA and $464.42 outside LA. The going rate in the DC/Baltimore area is ~$525/10, the best get $550/10 most of the time. Best regards, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomhead Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 In the SF Bay Area I typically get $550/10 but sometimes can get $600/10. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 Mike those are some great boom op rates for bay area. What are you working on up here, mind I ask, that pays that to boom only? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomhead Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 National spots, usually LA or NY companies, and if they have a boom op at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan H. Chang Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 In the SF Bay Area I typically get $550/10 but sometimes can get $600/10. Mike make it 550/8... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keenan925 Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 Most of union commercials in SF I've been on have been $550/10, and the non-union vary from $500-$600 and $600 is a good day. Keenan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 Ya I agree with that rate for majority of work but I thought we were talking "boom op" not mixer with gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomhead Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 I'm talking about "boom op" rates for commercials. No gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordi Posted July 22, 2012 Report Share Posted July 22, 2012 and if they have a boom op at all. And THIS is the biggest problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted July 22, 2012 Report Share Posted July 22, 2012 National spots, usually LA or NY companies, and if they have a boom op at all. Thats right, weren't we on candle stick grass the other day together, but I didn't see you with a boom op : ) Anywho I had no idea that position even existed. I've always one man banded (well boom boy counts for something doesn't he?). Well if anyone needs a boom op for comercials hit me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesstar Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Wow, that is crazy. Here in the Dallas market, an ENG sound mixer (bag setup, recorder, boom) one-man band averages $450-$600 and that includes gear. I usually get $450-$500. Of course, this is not a sound cart setup or anything, I actually don't know what the rate here is for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewFreedAudio Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Wow, that is crazy. Here in the Dallas market, an ENG sound mixer (bag setup, recorder, boom) one-man band averages $450-$600 and that includes gear. I usually get $450-$500. Of course, this is not a sound cart setup or anything, I actually don't know what the rate here is for that. How much gear? If you are doing an all-in gig with a mixer, recorder, multiple wireless, boom, camera hops, and IFB for that rate you're only shooting yourself in the foot...and all the other sound mixers out there. Production Sound Mixing for Television, Films, and Commercials. www.matthewfreed.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesstar Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 That's a typical rate here in Dallas, I know a couple of other sound mixers, and they charge around $500 with gear. This would typically be a mixer, 2-3 wireless mics and a boom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProSound Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 That's a typical rate here in Dallas, I know a couple of other sound mixers, and they charge around $500 with gear. This would typically be a mixer, 2-3 wireless mics and a boom. How much gear? If you are doing an all-in gig with a mixer, recorder, multiple wireless, boom, camera hops, and IFB for that rate you're only shooting yourself in the foot...and all the other sound mixers out there. Jacques you should be charging at least 400/10 for labor and 200 for 2 wireless boom and 3channel mixer so 600/10 should be your bottom number. It is frightening recently the amount of jobs I have gotten calls for that are 600/12 or flats with 4 wireless recorder camera link and many IFB. I always tell them no professional with that amount of gear would work at that rate however people must be doing it don't shot yourself in the foot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewFreedAudio Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 That's a typical rate here in Dallas, I know a couple of other sound mixers, and they charge around $500 with gear. This would typically be a mixer, 2-3 wireless mics and a boom. You aren't charging enough. Plain and simple. Production Sound Mixing for Television, Films, and Commercials. www.matthewfreed.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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