Corporate rental rates for small diaphragm condensors

[pbs]

I just agreed to do a corporate gig next week with a choir performing. I've been asked to bring out my own microphones, and am curious about reasonable rates. These are rates between the a/v company and a VERY large corporation, so I know I can ask for more than if an engineer was renting them for a studio gig or something.

The issues....

I don't want to overcharge because the bill will pass through the company that hired me for the gig.

I don't actually own a pair of sdcs, but I was in the market for some and this seems like the perfect oppurtunity/excuse to pick up a pair. I'm thinking maybe rode nt 5s....The job is too soon to take advantage of ebay, etc. so I'm looking for a pair I can find locally (GC, etc.) Any advice?

[hbphotoav]

Most corporate rental rates are somewhere in the neighborhood of 7% of the retail price of the gear, per day. Three days gets a week. So... a $10,000 projector rents for about $700/day, $2,100/week. Multiples (i.e., 5 projectors) gets a further discount. A $1,500 "simple" PA of a pair of EONs, a small mixer and a couple of 58s goes $150/day or so, $450 for the week. For that, folks usually expect delivery (within reason... driving the stuff 50 miles is good for a trip charge) and a basic setup.

I'd think you could bill $40/day for the pair, including stands and cables, and $120 for the week. Two more weekly rentals and they're paid for!

Oh. Yeah. It all has to work when you get there.

HB

[DannyL]

I think you may want to consider something other than the Rode NT's.

Especially if you are doing PA sound. If your mics are being split, ditto.

You might have a look at the AT 4033CL or the 4040.

I would pick the MT Gefel M930 myself, but you may want to spend a little less.


Danny

[Jim vanBergen]

Condenser mics rent, on average, from 20-150/day EACH depending on value of the gear.

Get something good (if you buy, buy something you WANT, spending what you can afford PLUS the money you will make on the rental. Figure out what you can charge as a reasonable rate - 10-25% more than a local studio rental place would charge a recording studio for the same piece, or the same as a corporate rental rate.

I bought plenty of mediocre mics, just to realize they weren't all that. Buy something quality and you save $ in the long run.

Gefell, Neumann, Schoeps, DPA- I don't regret buying any of these, and I have only sold of vintage units when I was desperate for $$, as they retain great value! Rode- won't retain value, and is not in the same league- though it may suit your purposes. Only you can decide whats right for you & your gig.

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by DannyL

I think you may want to consider something other than the Rode NT's.

Especially if you are doing PA sound. If your mics are being split, ditto.

You might have a look at the AT 4033CL or the 4040.

I would pick the MT Gefel M930 myself, but you may want to spend a little less.


Danny

Just my thoughts.. I have Sennheisers and Earthworks and also a pair of AT4033 and I wouldn't dream of using AT4033 on choir. They are relatively harsh and noisy and therefore better suited to closer miking on bassy sources.


/Peter

[NorseHorse]

4033s - harsh and noisy?

Are we talking about the same mics?.... I would happily use 4040s or 4033 on choirs. I do it for a cappella regularly. Very low noise and clean off axis response.

That said, I would not necessarily recommend them to the original poster, if only because I am more inclined to use smaller mics for live sound scenarios with a ton of people. Just lighter, more stable on a tall stand, and less intimidating. Think SM81s, NT5s, 184s, 141s, 930s, CMCs, etc. Or try some ribbons. Depending on the room and stage arrangement, they've got great monitor rejection.

On the other hand, I attended a choral concert on Thursday in which the live sound was fed with two AKG2000s. Worked out well... that is, after I snuck around the building to find the mixing board. I level matched the L and R and took off the 8db boost in the high band , and everything sounded much better.

[Corran]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

That said, I would not necessarily recommend them to the original poster, if only because I am more inclined to use smaller mics for live sound scenarios with a ton of people. Just lighter, more stable on a tall stand, and less intimidating. Think SM81s, NT5s, 184s, 141s, 930s, CMCs, etc...

This is a good point. Thursday I was recording a high school band concert, and after the concert all the parents kind of "rushed" the performance area. I was tied up handling something but from far away I could see my three mic stands, with two pairs of Schoeps CMC6 mics and capsules, bouncing around like buoys in an ocean. I could hardly breath, what with almost $8k in mics being jostled completely carelessly! If I would have had a heavier setup I guarantee it would have tipped over. Thank God it didn't.