Putting a price on your work is one of the hardest things for any creative to do. But the mistake that most young producers make is they’re not thinking about the long game. Figuring out the market price isn’t the same as figuring out your price.
And it’s not just money. There are other negotiating points that are just as important. And those other things have a lot more longevity than money.
Hands down, the most important is relationships. The relationships you forge will have a lasting impact on all the other negotiating points as well. They won’t just lead to more work and more money.
They’ll also lead to the third negotiating point, which is credit. And that leads me to the fourth, which is the one that nobody spends enough time thinking about. Money comes and goes, but your reputation, that’s forever.
Think really carefully about where you get your wagon, because all of those other points are related. Relationships, credit, and reputation. Consider the value of all of those when you negotiate your fee.
And when you negotiate your contract, those are the things you should protect.
