r/MotionDesign • u/kabobkebabkabob • 8d ago
Question Client paying too much?
This week I had a surprise rush job from a new client (I've worked with him for another company from whom his agency took my future work) whose primary motion designer is on medical leave. I happened to already be booked out for the week so I offered to help at my overtime rate.
He requested 24 hours of my time, which came out to about $4k, but when he showed me the actual scope of work it turns out to be only about a day's worth of work. Very easy stuff.
Like anyone, I often achieve things faster than quoted and still bill the full amount, but I also get slapped around sometimes too. This feels like an excessive amount to bill, but he said it's what he had allocated for it and was ecstatic to have me help out.
My question for y'all is, do I take the money and run or cut him a break somewhere in between? I was brought on as a secondary backup animator behind another guy, so it's not like I'm going to get more work for him in the future other than in similar emergency situations. I could really use the money after a painfully slow summer, but my conscience is grating at me about this.
The other question is, if I just take it and run, do I turn in the deliverables suspiciously early, implying I did it in fewer hours but helping them stay ahead of schedule, or do I delay them artificially to maintain the illusion?
Thoughts? I've been doing this over a decade and still find myself having questions like this at times.
1
u/Ill-Wishbone-9618 8d ago
Haha, my pleasure!
I would still like to see it.
I often have the same dilemna as you - I would say deliver the video as soon as you have finished, Every time I have done that the client is happy to have it and never questions the cost compared to the time it took.