Negotiating successes

WE PRESENT two examples of successful freelance negotiating. The second suggests how the Rate for the Job really does help you negotiate.

Cash, in hand

Image © Mike Holderness

First, a freelance was commissioned to do one of those live onstage interviews with a celebrity for a pleasant £450. Then shortly before the event, the commissioner comes out with an in-passing "and we're going to film it".

This sentence does not, however, end "How much extra would you like?" The freelance thinks "hmm" and goes away and checks with colleagues who also have no idea how much to ask for in this situation.

So she wings it and says something like "I'll need more cash for a significant extra usage like that" and... this regular, decent customer, who just hadn't thought, says: "Ah, yes, of course, would double the fee be OK?" "Yes," says the freelance (who classically should have asked for more but... sometimes you don't.

Secondly, a classic. A freelance is meeting the proprietor of a medium-sized magazine to confirm that they'll be doing regular sub-editing shifts.

"And how much were you looking for?"

I was about to ask what you were offering...

"I paid the last sub £125 a day..."

But your competitors are paying £180!

"Was that just for subbing?"

(Freelance sneaks a look at the Rate for the Job on their phone...) As a sub I'd have to check that...

"So you'd be wanting £150?"

£160?

"OK."

Maybe that freelance could have pushed for still more? A 28 per cent increase is not to be sneezed at, though.

The Rate for the Job

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