my first quote

[KayTee]

Hi there, I have just started to do freelancing and have been invited to provide a quote for a 6 x permanent display panel design job covering 150 years of history for a building. I suspect the job will entail a lot of looking at and through historical images and perhaps image enhancements so they can be used for the display (enlarged and printed). They have all of the text (though it seems like 3 times more than you would want to use (so... a bit worried about that). I have done some pay by the hour work thus far, but this is my first quote for a complete project and it seems to be a little bit of an unknown quantity. I have done this type of thing as a paid employee and these types of projects would take months sometimes. Do you have any suggestions for me as to how much I should charge? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

[hankscorpio]

1. 6 x permanent display panel design
2. I suspect the job will entail a lot of looking at and through historical images and perhaps image enhancements so they can be used for the display (enlarged and printed).
3. They have all of the text (though it seems like 3 times more than you would want to use (so... a bit worried about that).

1. 6 panels - how many hours per panel then multiply x 6 - for example 3 hours work on each would be 18 hours

2. No - it won't, and that's not your job - they look through the images and send them to you. You then tell them if the quality is good enough.
Have an hourly rate for photo retouching - whatever it is - you can use online tools for recording time so it's transparent.

3. Try fit it in - but if you can't let them know it's too text heavy and then they need to copy-edit to make it better or live with it.

 

[KayTee]

Prior to the actual work on each panel, they are wanting me to provide them with a "concept" for the project, which, whether I get the job or not they would pay me for this time and I need to factor in this part of the quote as well. Getting the concept/design is the hardest part (for me anyway), once that is done, then making the actual design panels should be fairly easy. They are getting another designer to also provide a quote and concept and pay for that time also. As far as image work goes - I will need to factor in any photo/image manipulations and retouching as part of the quote, and this is without being able to see what images they have and what the original and source images are actually like, and how small they are etc. It's not a straitforward job - here's the text, here's the images - design it.

 

[KayTee]

OK, I get what you are saying, just quote for the design, and add an option of image retouching/digital enhancement at an hourly rate if this service is required?

 

[hankscorpio]

Yeh - it would be up to them if they want them retouched/fixed up etc. all you can do is advise and give them a pricing to do that work. It would be up to them.

It's fairly straightforward job.

I don't like the part where they have another designer also quoting and coming up with concepts... that seems dodgy. But if they are paying for your time. Give them a day rate to complete the concepts. Whether it takes 1/2 a day, 1 day, or 2 days.

Once they pick you - and your concept, you have the bulk of the work done already - and paid already + they will pay you more to complete the project.

So on that basis - concept quote = 1 board.
So you are quoting for the remaining 5 boards.

 

[Naheed]

Hi KayTee,
It seems a long term project and you should charge as per the hourly rate. At first try to know what the buyer will pay you for an hour. If not, tell him yourself and multiply it 6 times. For the time proof use some online time recorder and let him know how much time you will finish the task.
Sometimes, we come across very professional clients who value our work and time, sometimes the clients are too moody.
So set time and budget before you get started.

Thanks

 

[KayTee]

Hi KayTee,
It seems a long term project and you should charge as per the hourly rate. At first try to know what the buyer will pay you for an hour. If not, tell him yourself and multiply it 6 times. For the time proof use some online time recorder and let him know how much time you will finish the task.
Sometimes, we come across very professional clients who value our work and time, sometimes the clients are too moody.
So set time and budget before you get started.

Thanks

Hi Naheed, thanks for the advice. In this instance they required an upfront submission for total cost, so time tracking my hours for billing was not an option. In my experience working on this type of job it would take months. I quoted for less than half of what I thought a conservative hourly rate would be and the time it would take. They just got back to me and I didn't get the job, I assume the other person they asked to quote on it gave a lower price. ... sigh.

 

[hankscorpio]

Hi Naheed, thanks for the advice. In this instance they required an upfront submission for total cost, so time tracking my hours for billing was not an option. In my experience working on this type of job it would take months. I quoted for less than half of what I thought a conservative hourly rate would be and the time it would take. They just got back to me and I didn't get the job, I assume the other person they asked to quote on it gave a lower price. ... sigh.

Sounds like you got away with it.

I know it is tough and need money etc. But these sorta clients not worth it. It would have been hell on wheels if you got it and wish you charged 4 times you quoted. Instead ypu would have lost money,, sanity and respect.

I know it is tough.
Chin up. Get more clients.

 

[KayTee]

Sounds like you got away with it.

I know it is tough and need money etc. But these sorta clients not worth it. It would have been hell on wheels if you got it and wish you charged 4 times you quoted. Instead ypu would have lost money,, sanity and respect.

I know it is tough.
Chin up. Get more clients.

I actually decided I didn't want the job after I sent the submission in for it as I could see it would be a nightmare - a lot of work and not being paid for it. It was a large church that was run by a trust that hand many people all having their say and opinion in what was meant to be happening etc- there was no one boss or leader - so even more complications. They also had really high expectations - they wanted cutting edge national museum level final product - and apparently wanting it done in a couple of weeks from go to wo also. You are totally right. Thanks for the encouragement

 

[sprout]

I’d say you dodged a bullet on at least two counts there.

Firstly, working for committees is a nightmare in itself, at the best of times. I’ve done enough if it over the years. Everyone has an opinion and they are all qualified to give it, as they all ‘great in art’ at school.

Secondly, in my experience, committee members for such trusts are often (though not always, obviously) retirees, which often brings with it a super-conservative, MS Word-led, design aesthetic. You end up spending more time trying to convince people why they really don’t want tasteless adornments and why they won’t work, than you do actually designing.

When you finally get agreement, in the end it’s usually not work you’d put in your portfolio anyway – or even put a credit on.

 

[KayTee]

I’d say you dodged a bullet on at least two counts there.

Firstly, working for committees is a nightmare in itself, at the best of times. I’ve done enough if it over the years. Everyone has an opinion and they are all qualified to give it, as they all ‘great in art’ at school.

Secondly, in my experience, committee members for such trusts are often (though not always, obviously) retirees, which often brings with it a super-conservative, MS Word-led, design aesthetic. You end up spending more time trying to convince people why they really don’t want tasteless adornments and why they won’t work, than you do actually designing.

When you finally get agreement, in the end it’s usually not work you’d put in your portfolio anyway – or even put a credit on.

You are totally right about that it was a Trust with and retirees. You have hit the nail on the head! Also I was shown the text for each of the 5 panels. It was a full page of text for each panel, top to bottom, left to right, hardly any margin space with no space between any paragraph - the most condensed text I have EVER seen. There was no way I could make that look good and readable on a large scale AND include images. So yes, I thanks for your comments - I have dodged a couple of bullets and quite a nightmare along with a "I wouldn't show this to anyone" I suspect at the end of it.

 

[Naheed]

Hi Naheed, thanks for the advice. In this instance they required an upfront submission for total cost, so time tracking my hours for billing was not an option. In my experience working on this type of job it would take months. I quoted for less than half of what I thought a conservative hourly rate would be and the time it would take. They just got back to me and I didn't get the job, I assume the other person they asked to quote on it gave a lower price. ... sigh.

Sad to know. But no worries, it's part of the job.
Win more clients.

Good times.