Check to see that your other social media accounts give the right impression. Clients may even view your LinkedIn profile, so make sure it is up to date.
Prospective clients want to see samples of vendors’ work, plus testimonials. It’s a simple way to build trust and make them more likely to be happy about making an upfront payment. If clients do some research on you prior to hiring, what will they see? You should come across as a reliable, competent professional. Here are some keys to make negotiating with buyers for upfront payment easier. This means you have to find other ways to reframe your fee as an investment in their success. It’s not always easy to ask for payment upfront and if all your clients see is another expense, they may just walk away. When you don’t have to struggle for covering out-of-pocket expenses, such as materials and outsourcing, you can focus on providing excellent product quality and service. When you work on a long-term project, asking for a deposit upfront guarantees that you have enough money to cover your monthly overheads. However, good negotiation skills are required to make this happen. Some form of upfront payment is beneficial to both parties. In most cases, this is in the form of a deposit with the rest being paid on completion. One of the ways to avoid this is to get clients to pay you upfront. This could happen for various reasons, such as working with a new client, or not having a binding contract. You’re not losing anything, but you are applying quality control.Do you know what can be the worst feeling of being a freelancer? It is most discouraging when a freelancer is not paid for his or her work. It’s always worth trying to negotiate, but if there’s no flexibility on the promoter’s behalf, and the deal isn’t right for you, don’t do it. 6. Remember you have the power to say “no” If a gig goes well, speak to the promoter straight after your set, with regards to another booking – it’s a good time to negotiate a higher fee or better deal. Using our Specimen letter is a simple way of getting the important details of a booking confirmed in writing. If you can’t get the booker to sign an MU contract, we recommend you get a letter or e-mail from them confirming the booking and including details of the date, time and place. Get your booking details confirmed in advance We also recommend reading our guidance on completing the contracts before filling them out. Make it clear to the venue or booker that there is no agreed booking until the contract is signed by both parties. We advise you to use our Live Engagement Standard Contracts. If you are having trouble with not getting paid, get our assistance in fee recovery. Without written evidence of the contracted terms, if a problem arises, recovering your fee is made far more difficult. Having written confirmation of the terms of the gig ensures both sides know what is expected e.g., what time to arrive and how much you’re going to get paid etc. There is both a Casual Stage rate and a National Gig rate. Check the recommended minimum gig ratesĪlthough gig fees will always vary, and most should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis – the MU does have recommended minimum rates that could serve as a helpful guideline. Here are six top tips to consider when securing a paid gig: 1.
MU members have access to a number of resources both online and offline to help make the negotiation process as straight-forward as possible, and remember your Regional team are always there to offer advice and support.