Haideez Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Hello Blue Room, I am a London based freelance AV technician and one of my employers (a decent sized AV company) has contacted me recently to say they have secured a contract for some Olympics work and they want to book me for a bunch of days leading up to and during the Olympics. Obviously as a freelancer I'm glad for the influx of work - what they want to know is what my special rate would be if they could book me for a block of time. I.e Can I give them a discount. This makes perfect sense, but I am wondering what my rate should be in the first place for Olympics related work? What are other freelance AV Tech's charing during this time? What do people think is reasonable and what is unreasonable to ask for? This project manager told me they are looking for technicians who can give the best rate, but how can I make sure I get paid properly for this without pricing myself out of the job? (sorry have just realised this query may be better suited to The Office forum, moderators please feel free to move) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nothingatall666 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 what they want to know is what my special rate would be if they could book me for a block of time. I.e Can I give them a discount. This project manager told me they are looking for technicians who can give the best rate, but how can I make sure I get paid properly for this without pricing myself out of the job? By pricing as you would any other job? - though if its the olympics, chances are they will just choose some pansies to do it for free.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Daily rate + 20%, well they can pay a stagemanager around £80k pro rata (job advert in the stage a few months back),and I bet those at the top of the food chains rates aint discounted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 It also depends on what you'll be contracted to do. I know a few techs who'v had just such a contract where they're booked for a fixed period during the run up to and during the Games, but the contract stipulates that they are NOT allowed to engage in ANY other non Games-related employment, and that they will remain 100% available during the term of said contract.If that is the case then your normal rate plus at LEAST something like 20% does not seem unreasonable considering the restrictions.Asking for a DISCOUNTED rate under the umbrella of the Games makes it sound a bit cheap - I'm not normally one to advocate bumping up the rates just because you can, but with the handcuffson that sort of job, they'd better be golden ones... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Read the T&Cs that are applied, some T&Cs seem to prevent you ever mentioning that you worked there. All T&Cs prevent you discussing the site and the job in any public place or on the www - no twitter/fbook etc. Remember that you will have to get there (wherever) and parking is NIL and public transport will be your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I agree - the job although superficially attractive is very expensive to actually do - from food, drink, travel, accommodation and other perspectives it's got to attract a premium, not a discount. I'd also make sure the people dangling the contract are talking about the extras? If they will do the accommodations and other stuff and give you a sensible pd, they discount perhaps. I suspect they might want discount AND not pay expenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Actual work for the Olympics (in/on an official site) or at an event piggybacking on the Olympics but without actually being in the control of them? The most important factor to your pricing on this job is the "extra's" - this late you WON'T get accommodation in east London at anything other than crazy prices (and if you're not within walking distance of your site you should expect a 2 hour transit time each way) plus the general cost of living is going up noticeably in the area as everyone seeks to capitalise on the games / inconvenience. If it's an official event then they should have accommodation and hospitality solutions in place and fully available. If it's not an official event then you need to ensure there's proper budget for accommodation in place and a good per-diem (nothing less than £25/day) to cover meals and drinks and then after all that charge your normal rate. T (sitting in the shadow of a big stadium thing) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 This project manager told me they are looking for technicians who can give the best rate So they don't care whether they are any good or not just as long as they race to the bottom of the pay scale? Do you really want to work with a bunch of low-paid people? If you think you are cheap then go ahead and give them discount but don't expect an easy time of it. From everything I have heard this week I am ever so glad I'm not there. If the work is on the Olympic Park then a reasonable rate would be double normal with added clauses on catering, guaranteed hours of rest and good quality accommodation. Paying £8 for a burger and a drink is not my idea of fun. Edit to add after Tom;If it's an official event then they should have accommodation and hospitality solutions in place and fully availableOnly for primary contractors. Secondary and down the chain have to organise their own accommodation and transport. Been discussing it tonight and one catering company is travelling in from Colchester, another is still looking for beds for 2,000 of the 8,000 chefs on the Park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 If I may offer some advice from a city that did an Olympic Games in recent memory: Before everything started, people fluctuated between assuming that crew would be able to command 5-6x regular rate, to attempting (as we see here) to book at reduced rates. The truth of the matter rested somewhere inbetween. Crew rates ended up at a small premium: maybe 1.1 or 1.2 x regular rate. Certainly not discounted, but no-one was getting rich either. I secured my staff by offering to employ them 6 days a week guaranteed, on the condition they didn't work for anyone else. Many similar agreements were struck. Several companies overextended themselves both in terms of how much work they could take on, but also how much credit they extended to unproven clients. That ended badly in a few cases. Lots of un- or lightly skilled labour suddenly found themselves elevated way above their skill level. One lighting contractor sent "lighting technicians" to my venue who didn't know which way was up on a Source 4... In short, if you're reasonably skilled and already working in the industry (and have somewhere to stay..) then you can probably reasonably expect to work very steadily. But you're not going to get so rich you can retire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 They could be long hard days with 2+ hours each way for transport, How many long days can you handle without falling over? Food and drink will be at premium rates, accommodation will now be at far county range and silly money. Will other days be "reserved" but unpaid. LOTS to think about, not least is whether the work provider can afford to pay you,. Remember that ONLY VISA cards will be accepted on the sites as VISA is a sponsor. All other machines are being removed from service. If you need access to the olympi park and even more so some areas of it, you will need to get security approval to be there -these will cost you both money and time in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 To add to Jive's "2 hours each way", LOCOG estimates travel times to and from the Olympic Park will triple during the period of the Games. It also does not help when TfL response to the recent Jubilee Line breakdown, where passengers had to walk through the tunnels was; "Ah well, these things happen when the system is under stress. There will inevitably be tube breakdowns during the Olympics."Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 A major concern is that if you are working 12 hours on site and you have several consequtive days each with a three hour journey each way how long can you actually do it for? I know the area round the park very well, but for those who don't trying to catch the last train could be hard work. Walking to West Ham station may take half an hour, more in busy times. Learn your public transport options and the alternatives and the next alternatives. All official cars are Mercedes so if you call a cab expect a merc and a merc size fee! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pisquee Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 depending on what tools/equipment etc you need (or are allowed to take in/out of site) each day, then cycling is probably an option to consider for you commutes between accomm and site, but depends on your stamina/energy levels, and how long/hard your actual work days are. I normally think it is the best way to get around London, but am predicting this to be even more the case during the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody2 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I wont go into any details but make sure you get paid in full BEFORE you start any work ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 without any details, Woody, that makes NO sense at all! I doubt very many people will get paid up front! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.