On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 5:28 PM, Brains Matter
<brainsmatter@...> wrote:
>
> The basic run down is one or more (not sure yet, meeting with them
> next week) podcasts talking about their organisation, what they do,
> interviews with senior people etc. etc. - so I'm assuming a few 20-30
> min podcasts for their own website.

Sounds good. It'd probably be a good idea to get the expectations set
a bit more clearly in writing, perhaps with a proposal or a scope
document.


> a) What are the 'gotchas' in doing this for a commercial organisation
> - eg. IP

Have a contractor's agreement in place before you start. I can't tell
you what your agreement should say because I don't live in your
country; about half of such an agreement in the U.S. would be about
the tax differences between contractors and employees. As for IP, the
expectation of most such agreements would be that you're performing
this as work-for-hire, and they own the stuff you produce. Which is
entirely reasonable, but ought to be in writing and you ought to be
paid properly for it.


> b) How much would seem like a reasonable cost? I'm not a
> 'professional' audio/media person, and I know professionals charge an
> arm or a leg, but at the same time don't want to be a quick and dirty
> solution just in case this leads to other things in the future

Again, I have no idea what's reasonable for _you._ The relevant
question isn't really "What's the market rate," but rather, "What is
my time worth?" Figure out what you need to be paid in order to
maintain the life you're living and make the time you'd spend
worthwhile relative to other things you could be doing in the same
time. Then charge a small to moderate premium above that. If they
want to negotiate and you've left room for negotiation, fine. But if
they can't pay you what _you_ decide you need to make the time worth
it... Then it just isn't worth it, and it's a bad fit for you.

In all the contracting work I do, whether it's podcasting or software
development or anything else, my base rate is $60/hour. Colleagues
tell me that's too cheap. But it's the rate I decided would make the
time worthwhile, and would cover a reasonable salary if I was at 50%
utilization. It's also a lot easier to _find_ work when I want it at
$60/hour than it would be at $100/hour, and it lets me work for
smaller businesses, which I like better. I don't know what the market
rate is and I really don't care. This is a fair price for what my
time is worth.


> c) Any other comments/hints you may have (-:

1.) Avoid fixed rate on an open-ended project. (Actually, "avoid
fixed rate" is good advice in general.)
2.) Perform agile development. Don't just get the requirements, go
away for a long time, and figure you'll show it to them when you have
complete episodes in the can. Get as much client feedback as you can
every step of the way. You're more likely to deliver the podcast they
_want_ that way, and both of you will be more satisfied.

--
Have Fun,
Steve Eley (sfeley@...)
ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine
http://www.escapepod.org