Hi everyone,
I have a guest that wants to book for 4 hours (my minimum booking time) two days in a row.
They are requesting to leave their set up between the two booking times.
Is this something most people would charge for?
Thanks- looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts.
Heather
I would definitely add an additional charge. You could have other bookings in between. Is there a day-rate you can charge them?
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Yes, we would charge them for a full-day booking the first day since they will be using the space for the entire day by leaving their set in place.
If their second day booking was late in the day, we would charge a full day rate for the second day as well.
Tell them their other option is to book an extra hour for each day so they have an hour to fully break down their setup the first day and an hour to fully-reset the next day.
Otherwise, they are potentially blocking paying customers from booking between their shoots.
Don’t waste efforts accommodating whiny or needy clients - the more time you give them, the more leeway you give them, the more help you give them, the more they will take advantage of you.
They won’t think they are taking advantage of you, but that’s what inconsiderate people do.
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Any reasonable person would understand that not striking their set prohibits you from booking to other productions (even if you don’t actually have anyone lined up).
On Peerspace, I’m “open” 24hrs a day. However, my normal business hours are 8am to 8pm. I would charge them for the X number of hours inside of those 2 12-hour periods that I could not rent the space to someone else.
I’d start with the full rate for the X number and then negotiate down from there… or not depending how how much I wanted their business.
As mentioned above, time spent on whiny needy clients can be a waste of time. Often the booking process is indicative of how the whole production will go.
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I agree with everyone that these guests should be charged. Actually, what they are asking is very nervy. In the event they don’t agree to your terms, unless you haven’t had another booking for ages and are absolutely desperate for the $$$ I would feel inclined to pass rather than submit to such an unfair request. Then again, they could simply be thinking “Don’t ask. . . .Don’t get” and be fully prepared to pay for blocking off your calendar & inconveniencing you for 2 days.
Good luck and let us know how it all turns out.
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Why would they book 4 hours one day and 4 hours the next and not just one full 8 hour day so there is no need to store the gear?
I guess I’m in the minority here… I allow renters who are taking the space for multiple days to
leave their gear without charging them. I probably should charge but that is a perk that I offer.
But it has to be full day rentals. If they book a 10 hour day on Tuesday and another 10 hours on Wednesday, I won’t charge them to leave their gear overnight in between. As a producer myself, I’m slightly empathetic with this request.
The half day request is throwing me for a loop though. That doesn’t make a lot of sense… I’d ask them why they are splitting the day like that, unless it is a scheduling issue with the talent. That would be more of a red flag for me then them requesting to leave their set.
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Yes, I would charge them.
They’re occupying the space for far longer than 4 hours, saving set up and wrap time as well.
I agree. The only thing I can think of is that maybe they’re shooting documentary interviews and subjects are only available at certain times. This happens at my space occasionally.
I do not charge for leaving things set up overnight as long as the booking is a full or nearly full day.
If anyone leaves their property there, I require a COI (certificate of insurance). It should cover personal property they bring and/or leave onsite. Also get a liability coverage from them. And a contract which states that these items are needed and in what amount. They could have a crew member steal overnight and you would be liable for it. Good luck proving it too.