Should I back down or not? - Page 4 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Wedding / Event Videography Techniques
Shooting non-repeatable events: weddings, recitals, plays, performances...

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 10th, 2007, 09:14 PM   #46
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 634
I back you 100% on this Travis and thank you for posting the situation. To suggest it's unprofessional to ask collegues their advice on a sticky position when the customer SIGNED a contract and now wants to back out of their word is absurd. If people want to point out the injustice, it's the customer in this case and just because other people have problems, bigger & smaller, is completely irrellevant to your situation and doesn't make you being wronged any better. Why won't people hold anybody accountable for their actions anymore??!?!

Frankly, I hope the bride and groom find this forum. You never mentioned a name (which was good, that *would* have crossed the line). If they know you are talking about them, they should see that you have support amongst your peers and that YOU are in fact a reasonable person and THEY are in the wrong.

Jon
Jon McGuffin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 11th, 2007, 08:23 AM   #47
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, & surrounding areas)
Posts: 301
Travis,

Just to add my 2 cents...

I require a 50% retainer fee at the time of booking. It's non-refundable, and if they "change their minds" or cancel my services for any reason, I still get paid something for the day, as opposed to getting nothing. The balance is payable before I pull my cameras out on the wedding day. For my clients, this gives them weeks or even months to pay the balance as their budget permits, in amounts that they can afford.

Mark
__________________
These are my own opinions, based on my own mistakes...
Mark Holland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 11th, 2007, 11:57 AM   #48
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Nevada City, California
Posts: 499
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon McGuffin View Post
Frankly, I hope the bride and groom find this forum. You never mentioned a name (which was good, that *would* have crossed the line). If they know you are talking about them, they should see that you have support amongst your peers and that YOU are in fact a reasonable person and THEY are in the wrong.

Jon
Well you centantly do seem to have support from fellow wedding videographers. I guess I am alone in my opinion. I come from a commercial broadcast background and really have no experience with 'Bridzilla'. The part where you were hoping that the brides wedding was rained out just bugged me.

I am still confused about the retainer you received. You kept that right? So you walk away with a little change, you avoid dealing with someone you feel is unreasonable and I hope you both live 'Happily Ever After'.
Glenn Davidson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 11th, 2007, 01:40 PM   #49
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 2,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Holland View Post
Travis,

Just to add my 2 cents...

I require a 50% retainer fee at the time of booking. It's non-refundable, and if they "change their minds" or cancel my services for any reason, I still get paid something for the day, as opposed to getting nothing. The balance is payable before I pull my cameras out on the wedding day. For my clients, this gives them weeks or even months to pay the balance as their budget permits, in amounts that they can afford.

Mark
I tend to doubt I could get away with a 50% retainer, but my retainer is large enough that people won't walk away from it without a really good reason. That's also why I charge an additional fee 30 days before the wedding, it's just that this couple backed out 31 days before. How long have you been using the 50% retainer?
__________________
Black Label Films
www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com
Travis Cossel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 11th, 2007, 01:42 PM   #50
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 2,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Davidson View Post
Well you centantly do seem to have support from fellow wedding videographers. I guess I am alone in my opinion. I come from a commercial broadcast background and really have no experience with 'Bridzilla'. The part where you were hoping that the brides wedding was rained out just bugged me.

I am still confused about the retainer you received. You kept that right? So you walk away with a little change, you avoid dealing with someone you feel is unreasonable and I hope you both live 'Happily Ever After'.
Apologies about the "rain" comment. That was for humor's sake. I don't really wish that for them. I'm not that kind of person. However, if it did rain that day, I wouldn't necessarily feel bad either.

And yes, I kept the retainer. It's nice to have that and not have to deal with someone unreasonable, but at the same time it's a substantial loss of income as well. Tough situation.
__________________
Black Label Films
www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com
Travis Cossel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 12th, 2007, 08:08 AM   #51
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 63
Hey Travis, don't feel bad about making the rain comment. . . .I thought it was really funny and exactly the way I have felt when similar things have happened to me.
You never mentioned names and were just venting to your peers. . . . don't apologize for having a sense of humor ;-)

Cheers, Mark
Mark Sudfeldt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 12th, 2007, 12:30 PM   #52
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 2,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sudfeldt View Post
Hey Travis, don't feel bad about making the rain comment. . . .I thought it was really funny and exactly the way I have felt when similar things have happened to me.
You never mentioned names and were just venting to your peers. . . . don't apologize for having a sense of humor ;-)

Cheers, Mark
Thanks, Mark.
__________________
Black Label Films
www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com
Travis Cossel is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:17 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network