What to charge?

[Jerny]

Hey all,

Have to give a quote for a job where the client wants a character (primate like) to be modeled and textured for a broadcast cartoon character.
I will give them the model to be animated at their discretion. Once I give it to them they can use it for anything from ads to web sites.
They also want me to do some interior modeling of a courtyard (cloister like). They will use this the same way.

I am going to propose to them that I do the animation of the interiors (since I am experienced in architectural rendering) and then outsource the character animation (then drop it in my backgrounds. They want to outsource the animation to a specific animation house.

OK,
what do you think I should charge for the textured character?
For the interior textured model (if I give it to them)
or
For the interior if I render a)stills b)animations myself

I don't want to charge them too much because there is about 6 other characters and numerous environments that could come out of this job.


I know this is a big question but hopefully some folks with more experience than I, have some advise

thanks much

J

[Jenn]

Okay, if you've never figured out freelance rates before you should read these two articles http://www.lightwaveoz.org/BrainFood/Articles/freelance101.htm and http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/article2_DW.asp

Your rates are going to vary depending on your own situation and the complexity of the project. That said, there are a few things that I want to point out. The character that you are to model, are they supplying the concept art or are you also designing the character? The reason I ask is because if you design the character it is technically yours and they should pay you additional monies to buy the copyright for it. The same goes for the courtyard.

What really concerns me is your statement about not wanting to charge too much so you might get other work from them. Be very careful, do not under bid. If you under bid you hurt yourself because they will expect you to do work on the cheap all of the time and it will be nearly impossible for you to raise your rates with them. Even though you are freelancing, you are still a business and successful buisnesses make profits. Make sure you make a profit too.

[Jerny]

Thanks Jenn,

Yeah it is all their concepts.
I have given some quotes, just not sure about the price for giving the actual character model and ongoing animations and stills of a background for this type of project.
Guess i'll charge per minute for the background animation and a set fee per still shot after the initial modeling and texture fee?

Good point about charging too little.
I'll check out those sites

thanks again

J

[Jenn]

You will be better off if you charge for your time and not by the number of minutes of animation you complete. Consider this, would you charge the same rate for a bouncing ball animation as you would a fight scene?

[Jerny]

True, but If I know what they want animated (ie the background) doesn't per second work? Although it might sound expensive saying "xxx per second" rather than xxx.
Guess a set rate would work.

[Jenn]

It's your call. Either way works, I prefer to charge by my time but I do character work not backgrounds.