((( Price Tag for post work )))

[Flipsid3]

I'm just curious but how much do post houses charge to do post work for tv commercials? I know a friend of a friend who works for a post house but is 1 out of 5 composers / sound designers. They all compete over the project or is asked specifically by the director to take on a project depending on the composer's style or genre. And when they have completed the project they still have to compete against other post houses ultimately leading to the advertiser / media's decision.

I never asked my friend what they charge but I'm kind of curious...He seems to be doing pretty well. Even though they are a small shop what would the price tag come out to? I know I could ask him directly but I don't want to impose since I'm really not that close to him.

[soundguydave]

Every shop is different, especially by region. And every project is different, but it can be anywhere from $450-$800 an hour. Music is a whole different ballgame.

[Flipsid3]

There region is Miami and primarily deal with GMC / Chevrolet. Work is top notch and a good amount of their work 50 % Spanish.

$450 -$800 an hour is a lot of cake

[RecRoom]

Originally Posted by Flipsid3

$450 -$800 an hour is a lot of cake

It can be, but remember we're also talking about video post. A single HD deck can cost upwards of $75,000. Which you need if you want to do your own laybacks.

Now THAT'S a lot of cake.

[soundguydave]

Originally Posted by RecRoom

It can be, but remember we're also talking about video post. A single HD deck can cost upwards of $75,000. Which you need if you want to do your own laybacks.

Now THAT'S a lot of cake.

Not to mention rent/lease in a downtown location, support staff, furniture, gear, client services, advertising etc. $450-800 isnt so much then.

Also, it sounds like your friend does more music than post work, like what I do. They are usually more of a per project basis. Plus if they are part of the musicians union, they can get session fees and usage.

[soundfx]

I'm confused. Are you talking about mixing/sound design or composing? It varies depending on the project, of course, but here in Atlanta, it varies from $175-350/hr for straight-up audio post. $450-800 sounds more like online rates. No one would pay that rate for audio post here, unless there were some very specific and unique criteria. Of course, composing is different and absolutely varies. I've only taken it on a whole-project basis and never by the hour. Anyway, just a little confused on specifically what you were asking. Forgive me if I missed the boat.

-S

[Flipsid3]

Originally Posted by soundguydave

Not to mention rent/lease in a downtown location, support staff, furniture, gear, client services, advertising etc. $450-800 isnt so much then.

Also, it sounds like your friend does more music than post work, like what I do. They are usually more of a per project basis. Plus if they are part of the musicians union, they can get session fees and usage.

My friend is more on a project basis. Not too sure about the union part. As for them having all the overhead his partner has all of that in the NY office.

Originally Posted by RecRoom

It can be, but remember we're also talking about video post. A single HD deck can cost upwards of $75,000. Which you need if you want to do your own laybacks.

Now THAT'S a lot of cake.

Definitely.

Originally Posted by soundfx

I'm confused. Are you talking about mixing/sound design or composing? It varies depending on the project, of course, but here in Atlanta, it varies from $175-350/hr for straight-up audio post. $450-800 sounds more like online rates. No one would pay that rate for audio post here, unless there were some very specific and unique criteria. Of course, composing is different and absolutely varies. I've only taken it on a whole-project basis and never by the hour. Anyway, just a little confused on specifically what you were asking. Forgive me if I missed the boat.

-S

I'm talking about sound design/composing/ and mixing. I wasn't really asking about an hourly basis originally....I wanted to know how much for a project.
For example....since they do GMC/Chevrolet how much would you think that project would cost?

$10k - $20k???

[darkwater]

Everything is negotiable, but a music budget for a national spot can be more like 30k.

Nice work, if you can get it.

[soundfx]

Oh, I see. Well if its just sound design/mix for advertising, then its going to be significantly less than composition (although advertisers can't make a decision to save their life, so they might take 3 times as long in the studio ). It all depends on the project and your relationship with the client. If just composition, I would think a national GMC spot would be in the neighborhood of 10-30K.

[Flipsid3]

Originally Posted by darkwater

Everything is negotiable, but a music budget for a national spot can be more like 30k.

Nice work, if you can get it.

They get it alright. Don't know how they get the deal but they do. I believe they deal with the video company / advertiser directly.

As for the price...thats what I was thinking as well.

Just like you said its nice money if you can get the work

Originally Posted by soundfx

Oh, I see. Well if its just sound design/mix for advertising, then its going to be significantly less than composition (although advertisers can't make a decision to save their life, so they might take 3 times as long in the studio ). It all depends on the project and your relationship with the client. If just composition, I would think a national GMC spot would be in the neighborhood of 10-30K.

Thats a nice paycheck