CompuServe Thread

#Pricing Toaster Services

14 messages in this thread
#65994From: William R. AldrichOct 11, 1993 3:33 PM
To all active production facilities using the toaster: What do you charge?? I am compiling a list of service pricing. Please let me know. Interested in hourly rates for Rendering, Designing Logo's, Switching, Post Production, Package Rates, etc…. Thanks in advance. M. Holloway
#66077From: glen millerOct 12, 1993 11:08 PM
Hey, I'll sum this up in a few words… charge as much as possible without cheating whoever it is you're working for! Ask yourself 1.) What will the market bare?, 2) How complex is the current job, i.e. how long will it take the first time, the second time when the client wants you to redo the anim, 3) Is there anyone else around you, regardless of talent and equipment who will undercut you? I know these questions and statements seem to chase themselves, but you must answer them. One company I used to work for charged 40 to 60 thousand dollars per 30 second client run (which may of contained elements for 4 or 5 spots) because of A) the league of the clients (Pepsi, Taco Bueno, etc) and B) they had to think about two or three months down the road when these guys wouldn't be back through the doors in a while. Personally, I wouldn't charge less than 500 dollars for anything… my simple formula is RENT + 1/2 Rent + Months Food + Months Bills + 20%! Hope it helps!
#66350From: Doyle CalvertOct 16, 1993 9:55 PM
Hi Glen! So you finally made it to CIS, eh? How you doin'? I got your fax a while back. Sorry I didn't give you a call. I've been very busy lately. Work's been very steady. How 'bout you? I'm getting my Toaster/Lightwave workstation in a couple of weeks. I've been lurking around here for the past few months. Lots of good info. I'm sure I'll have lots of stupid questions once I get things up and running.
#66393From: Peter GreciOct 17, 1993 1:14 PM
ASK em ask em ask em hehehehehehehe sorry couldn't resist. The only Stupid question is one that isn't asked.
#66724From: Doyle CalvertOct 21, 1993 11:31 PM
Thanks for the reply! I've been hanging out here for awhile. I'm a regular in the MultiMedia Forum, the MacMedia Forum, and Macromedia's Forum but I'm just starting to get my feet wet in LightWave. I've played around with it enough to know that it's the very best option for my 3D needs. Sorry I didn't reply right away. I've been busy all week producing a 3D animation for IBM's Comdex exhibit next month. Wish I already had my Toaster. Would've come in handy on this job. I normally use a Mac for almost everything, and I've been a Mac user since they came out in '84. But the truth of the matter is that Lightwave outshines anything for 3D on the Mac. I use and love Infini-D on the Mac, (my favorite Mac 3D program), but it has limits that just aren't there with Lightwave. I must confess, the interface for LW seems a little daunting, but I'll get it. I've ramped the learning curve on several 3D packages on the Mac, and some of them were obnoxiously obtuse. I know what I'm up against. I'm also planning on having a Screamer of my own by the first of the year. That'sll help speed the learning curve. I can make mistakes faster and learn from them. FINALLY! The opportunity to be competitivly productive with my 3D work. Man, that's a dream come true. Thanks for eagerness to help a LW neophite over the humps. I will definitely take you up on the Stupid Questions once I'm hip deep in LW, (which won't be long). Best! –>Doyle Calvert Synergistic MultiMedia PS. Is it just me,or are all ToasterHeads veheminently and arrogantly bent on proving that the Amiga is the ONLY real platform out there worth the plastic and silicon it's made of? B-) NO FLAMES PLEASE! This is just an observation. I have several very good ToasterHead friends here in Dallas/Ft. Worth that get obnoxious when *any* other platform gets mentioned. I love my Mac and I'll proabably always use it, but I respect the power of the Toaster and the Amiga and look forward to adding it to my creative arsenal. It's like you guys are all fighter pilots or something. Same mentality. Fearless and confident to a fault, (my kind of people!). Lots of excess testosterone maybe? <g>
#66730From: Robert LittleOct 22, 1993 2:14 AM
I'm not a ToasterHead…just use the right tool for the right job! ('course I personally hope that's an Amiga…)
#67188From: Doyle CalvertOct 28, 1993 1:12 AM
Hi Rob! No offence intended for the ToasterHead remark!<g> I'm working on becoming one as soon as possible. Thanks for the reply! –>Doyle Calvert Synergistic MultiMedia
#66758From: Peter GreciOct 22, 1993 3:49 PM
Flame Off hehehehehe I'm probably not the BEST person to ask for Lightwave tips since I rarely use a Toaster, I do my 3D work with Imagine almost exclusively, I do get access to Lightwave on occasion to play with but its rare. Yup Alot of Amiga owners are Rabid Drooling Loony's but you get that on almost all platforms IMHO. Glad yer enjoying yer Toaster. Just post questions SOMEONE will answer them most likely.
#67189From: Doyle CalvertOct 28, 1993 1:12 AM
Hi Peter! I appreciate the offer of help. I'll need some assistance getting up to speed with the Amiga OS once I finally have my unit here in the studio. I'll have it within the next month. Every time I get close to having some free time, the phone rings and I'm busy again. And I never meant to imply that Amiga owners are Rabid Drooling Loonies. I've just been impressed with the total conviction they have about their machines. I feel the same way about my Mac.
#67221From: Peter GreciOct 28, 1993 3:54 PM
Always glad to help. BTW I AM a rabid Drooling Loony.
#66771From: Anthony RamirezOct 22, 1993 5:37 PM
>I'm just starting to get my feet wet in LightWave. Well if you need any help with it just ask as there are quite a few `ToasterHeads' (should I be insulted? :^) around that will be glad to help. >Is it just me,or are all ToasterHeads veheminently and arrogantly bent on >proving that the Amiga is the ONLY real platform out there worth the I think what you see is the frustration when other people don't take the Amiga seriously. As for getting into LW, watch out for the tutorials. There are several errors in there.
#67190From: Doyle CalvertOct 28, 1993 1:12 AM
NO No NO! No insult intended with the ToasterHeads thang, (boy did I hit a raw nerve with that one!). Next time I'll choose my words a little more carefully.<g> I aspire to ToasterHeadom myself! I'm wanting to make a T-shirt that says "I surf the LightWave". I can understand the frustration factor. I was one of the first ones in Texas to own a Mac when it was 128K and there were only three programs in the world that ran on it. The Big Blue crowd teased us about our 'toys' and it really pissed me off. But I meant nothing derogatory and I've always known the Amiga was a powerful platform. It's just that I couldn't afford both platforms until now. I've heard about some of the problems with the tutorials and have archived the messages. One of the first things I want to model is a pair of arms that look like an astonaut's space suit. That's the only parts that will be seen…maybe a helmet…but we see the characters always from the back. What would you say would be the best way to go about this? I know there's that jitter thing…man, I've got so much to learn!
#67231From: Anthony RamirezOct 28, 1993 5:02 PM
>I'm wanting to make a T-shirt that says "I surf the LightWave". COOL!!! Maybe I'll change my signature :^) >But I meant nothing derogatory and I've always known the Amiga was a >powerful platform. No problema. >I want to model is a pair of arms that look like an astonaut's space >suit. I know there's that jitter thing. I hadn't thought of that and I am sure it will work with a tube jittered a small amount will give you the ripples you want. >I've got so much to learn! Don't we all!!! <<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
#66932From: Mike LombrozoOct 25, 1993 1:50 AM
William please leave a fax or phone number so I can send you a detailed list of prices I would also be interested in the prices you've got so far! Also has anyone mentioned renting time to clients on their toaster and if so what has the cost been?