What do you ask the client?

[maria]

Sorry if this is a really dumb and obvious question to most of you but I'm fairly new to freelancing and I was wondering what sort of questions to you ask potential clients when they present their project and ask for a quote.

Cheers

Maria

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by maria

Sorry if this is a really dumb and obvious question to most of you but I'm fairly new to freelancing and I was wondering what sort of questions to you ask potential clients when they present their project and ask for a quote.

Cheers

Maria

Let's see...

"Tell me what it is you don't like about yourself" and "How much money do you have?".


No, actually, I ask them what they want to do and how big their budget is. Then I work up a multi-part quote, kind of a la carte: the cheapest having the fewest options and the most expensive having the most options.

We do video and audio, so the first question is, "do you want HD or DV?"

If they are really green and need a lot of education, I may hand them off to a former intern, someone who will enjoy taking time with them.

With bigger budgets, I hire video studios, PAs, grips, second and third camera, craft service, etc.

If it's a small audio project, I build lunch and snacks into the bill but don't show it as a charge. Or...I take the crew to lunch.

It has taken several years, but I've learned how to price a project so that the tire-kickers go away or that I feel like I've been paid at least *part* of my worth.

[maria]

Hi kk@jamsync.com, thanks for your answer.

Reading my question back now, it seems to very general

What I usually do, is ask what is the budget, if there is any ADR needed and how bad/good is the production sound, what is the duration, final delivery formats also if they need music, atmo and FX .

What I would love to know is, what other general questions do you pros usually ask a client?

Cheers

Maria

[georgia]

I generally chat for a little and find out:
1. format
2. duration
3. deliverables
4. time-line
5. list of stuff they are looking for

Then I ask the big question... What's the approx budget.
If they don't want to tell me, and they want a fast number. I tell them my rate as list price and then tell them if they want a lower number or a deal, I need to see the material and review it with them. So i normally get a DVD of the rough cut picture. I watch it and then we talk again. Now, I have an idea of whats going on.

After this I start to find out what EXACLTY is needed and/or wanted. From there I can generally give them a rough idea. If its a reasonalble number and meets there budget we move on to contract. If they have a lower budget and I can't make the work fit the budget, I tell them what I "can do" for the money they have.

Its all about client management and more importantly client expectations... They generally get more than they pay for, but the lowe the budget , generally the more problems there are and the more grief you can expect. So client expectations are critical for these projects.

cheers
geo

[maria]

Wow, thats an excellent answer.

Thank you so much Geo :-)

[Frank S.]

also, is it a supervised mix or un-supervised? will the client only be coming in at different stages for approvals or sitting over your shoulder the whole time?

(Don't put it like that to the client, but you get the idea.)