Jump to content

rental rates race to the bottom


Recommended Posts

Back to School Audio Rental Specials for All!
 
A sound mixer never stops learning, so for any audio rental package booked for August*, we are extending our standard 25% student discount for everyone!
 
Not sure what you need? Give us a call, email rentals@gothamsound.com, or check out some of our ideas below! Remember, Fri to Mon rentals count as one day and we offer lower rates on longer rentals!
 
*Applies to any audio rental with pick-up and return dates from August 3rd, 2015 to August 31st, 2015 (inclusive), Does not apply to walkie and communication rentals. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
 
 
Production company I'm working with saw this promo on Gotham's website. Thanks a lot for promoting these rates... production compared my prices after seeing the promo and now I might lose the gig and am in a very awkward position. I told them I only use my own gear, and that I wouldn't use someone elses shitty equipment, and my rates for MY gear remain the same, but I'm still waiting for the call back... Please don't advertise these rates and make them available to everyone, it hurts us all. How am I supposed to buy from you when you directly undercut me...
 
Thanks a lot for driving the rental rates into the ground this month,
 
 
Edited by CrouchingTigerHiddenLav
Link to comment
Share on other sites

25% off what?

I found our rates as owner operators to be far lower than rental house rates, considering the amount of extra gear we bring to cover the unknown. 

Have them research the book rate on your entire package. I bet your rate is still better than 75% of Gotham's book rate on all the same gear. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't speak for daily rental rates since almost everything I do is in the feature world where the deal is always a weekly package deal. Several times I have gone through the exercise of itemizing all of my gear that the production gets in my basic package for a charge of $3000. per week (example). The same list submitted to ANY rental house will always come in at a minimum of $5000. per week. Many of the items, of course, are not even available from the rental house at any price, things which are vital to my work as the production sound mixer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out bid by Adorama (of all places) for 2 reality kits on a 2 month rental. Their price was unbelievably low - I am assuming so they could get the show's camera rental out of it as well. I had to turn down the job because I refused to match their ridiculous price. I lost a ton of money from that experience. 

 

Cheers,

Evan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hence why companies like VER and RGear go after cut-throat reality companies: Get the camera rental, throw in a beat up sound package, your producer won't know the difference, and if anything goes wrong, it's the sound mixers fault. Everyone wins!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was caught in one last summer.  On extended shoots I will go 4 for 7 on the weekly and 3 for 4 monthly.  The production company had been checking around and said I was too high, so I dropped to 3 for 7 on the weekly and I was still under cut by the local dealer here in Nashville.  I believe it was either 2 for 7 or 1.5 for 7.  I told the producer no thanks and there went 11 weeks.  Thankfully some other jobs came along and I worked fewer days for about 75% of what I would have made.  Not great but not the end of the world.

There will always  be dealers and rental houses that will under cut the average soundie.  They have deeper pockets and because they can also sell you the merchandise they win either way.  In such cases my only suggestion is take your business elsewhere.

 

David

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If enough people will just say I'm not gonna work without my gear, it will take care of itself. I know some of the newer guys have a hard time with that philosophy, but as you get older, you see how important it is. If they don't care enough to hire qualified sound mixers, then you don't want to be associated with them. 

Edited by stacysound
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
Production company I'm working with saw this promo on Gotham's website. Thanks a lot for promoting these rates... production compared my prices after seeing the promo and now I might lose the gig and am in a very awkward position. I told them I only use my own gear, and that I wouldn't use someone elses shitty equipment, and my rates for MY gear remain the same, but I'm still waiting for the call back... Please don't advertise these rates and make them available to everyone, it hurts us all. How am I supposed to buy from you when you directly undercut me...
 
Thanks a lot for driving the rental rates into the ground this month,
 
 

a: send this to the posted email address and the sales manager
b: working w/o ones own gear increase the labor rate and you get the producer's autograph on a letter that you are not responsible for any problems with the gear supplied

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the gear rate is going to be one of those fractional days-for-a-week then I can't be in this business any more.  I don't see how an individual soundie can sustain and upgrade a package at those rates, while living in a major city.  If we want to hang onto the rental part of the business then you have to refuse to work without your own gear on the job, don't sell your labor separate from the gear.  In my early days I did this and was constantly being sand-bagged by crappy rental or prod. co gear, I realized it affected my rep even though it wasn't my fault.  Then some more experienced sound people took me aside and told me that the only way I'd make it, would stay in the biz not to mention get any referrals from them was to start working my own gear exclusively.  I've had to contend with producers and camerapeople unhappy with this, as well as my own union local, but the perseverence has been worth it.

p

Got a call from producer down in LA several days ago.  We need 4 wireless, 4 comteks, 2 hops, 2 booms, 2 lockits, smart slate, all for $250 gear rental.  "My LA sound mixer provides all this for $250, what's the problem?"

We're not talking shop or rental house cutting here.

You know what to tell him…bring that dude up here then, pal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Producer: "and we have this equipment we just rented, use this, and drop your gear rental rates"

Me: "sorry I only work with my own gear"

Producer: "But, but, but--"

Me: "Do you want me to use gear that I'm familiar with, or some models I've never used? What do you think will be more productive and safer and get better results? Even if it's exactly the same gear, I would still use mine, as I know it intimately, I know if it's working and its quirks, and I know it's in working order - do you prefer that, or do you prefer that I take a chance on equipment that may or may not work? I come in a package. Let me ask you, if you're hiring an assassin, doesn't it make sense to let him/her choose their own weapons for the job? Sound work is like that: sometimes all you have is one chance and a very high value target". 

Producer: "OK, ok".

Me: "Good." Look him in the eye - "and I get paid cash, half up front, half after the job"

OK, I'm kidding with that last one, but only a little :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another factor for this argument is the amount of backup gear we have on hand in case of failure.  If you count what we bring just in case, the rates we charge are extraordinarily  reasonable.  Gear always fails.  Just a matter of when- not if.

Good producers know this---

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...