calculate rate + thanks

Hello everyone.

I have a question I hope someone can answer and if I didn't do it
right please let me know that also.

I am on a feature film crew as an audio mixer right now. And it's
been great . I'm not used to assistants to everyone and probably
assistants to the assistants somewhere. I seem to be holding my own
and no one has questioned my decisions yet. And to that I owe a debt
of gratitude to everyone here as I would save tips that I thought were
good - and there's lots more saved than a couple.

They must have had someone become unavailable because it happened
quick. I received a call early one morning and was made an offer.
Said it was a little low, but I'd really like to work with you and we
can talk. Told the I'd work up a rate and for them to come up. But
it would not be until evening before I returned the call as I was
right in the middle of something else that had to get done. Figured
I'd see their new offer and if it was not much of a move I'd just blow
it off.

I figured my day rate and gave them a 3 for five and figured what I
needed for audio and quoted that 5 for 5.

Anyhow they moved a lot. And came pretty close to what I figured.
As it is a 4 week shoot I accepted it straight off (I detest the
negotiation and $ part of the business).

Paper work - trees are dying here.

My price was for the whole project (24 days) and the pay sheets and
all that are per day.

My question is, How do I figure the day rate for something like this.
Is it just dividing the total $ (3 for 5 and equipment rental) by the
number of days? That is what I did and I was surprised at the true
day rate (3 for 5s really lower the dollars per day, a lot more than
what I thought it would - should have done the calculations early, but
like I said I tend to minimize negotiation part).

As the day rate appears to be what everything is based on I want to
make sure this is the right way to calculate it and not the true day
rate.

I'd appreciate any other suggestions you may have also. I don't want
to appear less experienced than what I am because I don't know my way
around a big production (to me) and all the paperwork, etc. that's
coming into play. It appears that union rules are being followed.
Hell, like I stated, I'm enjoyiog myself. Much more relaxed than most
projects I work on.

Thanks to all of you for passing info on to others who are dealing
with new things.

You've helped me a lot. Even when I first started out and was more
ignorant than knowledgeable I hated exposed lavs and would always try
to hide it. I've saved lots of tips about hiding them and am really
using them now. Stuff like the different "tapes" and putting down
tape that is easy on the skin and work off of that, etc.

Yesterday I was asked to wire people for a bedroom scene.

OK, how in the hell am I going to do that. OK, everyone has hair -
I'll hide it there and also make sure we have good boom channels. My
lavs were not the best for hiding in hair and (pulling from tips from
here) I said I'd like to work with the makeup artist on this and she
said sure and we pulled it off wonderfully. More a testament to her
skills than mine.

Also I'm trying something new here too. Usually I attach to clothes
but I decided to have skin as my default attachment site because then
I wouldn't have to change mikes with every wardrobe change. It seems
like there were 2 basic locations I've been using and I laid down a
base that is friendly to skin at each site and work off of those.
Checking and reapplying what is needed before sending them on their
way.

Seems to be working pretty good too as it is saving time in the long
run without sacrificing any quality IMHO. He changes clothes and I
repair what had to be stripped and relay the mic to the clothes and
we're locked and loaded and ready to rock and roll. If we have to
change the location to the other side it's half made already in most
circumstances.

I'm learning and pushing myself. And I went to thank all of you for
the tips and info I've gleaned over time that has allowed me to go
into this situation and feel I am capable of getting this done. No
one has questioned my decisions and when they get a listen they've
always said good sound.

Again, many thanks.

Eric
.

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