I've got one coming up, interior, aprox 80 sq ft...entry way for a Wild Birds Unlimited store...all natural setting with lots of wildlife, birds, etc.......
In the past I've just charged by the day, but I think there has to be a better way.
I charge by the day. The last one I did took three days, about 20 hours in all, and I got $1000. Minus the materials, it works out to about $45/hr. for the same footage you have to do. Scenic murals are a lot of fun. I don't do too many of them, but have always enjoyed getting a break from the everyday grind and letting my art skill out to play.
my 2 cents... Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Your work defies conventional pricing Adrienne. I mean, you've long past the point of square foot formulas or day rates in my opinion. It's become art - worth much more than the sum of it's parts. In a sense, it's priceless, and you're the only one who can do it the way you do. If they want you, they must pay whatever you say, regardless of how big it is or how long it takes.
I was too young to appreciate the weight of similar advice I got 'back when'. A well known local designer/muralist saw some of my photos of early residential murals at a sidewalk art show, introduced himself, and engaged me in a conversation. He pointed to one very small piece and asked how much I would charge for a similar job. "About $75" I told him. (hey, it was the 70s you know). He winced and said "Joe, $75 is a tip".
He then proceeded to show me some of his work done for the private homes of this wealthy beach community's more affluent residents. $3000 for this, $7000 for that, he showed me one he was working on currently that was $5000 - it was horrible, basically a line drawing that he was rendering in black and white paint markers, on the wall of a wood paneled den no less. I thought it was one of the ugliest things I had ever seen and determined he was probably a nut. But I kept in touch with him over the next couple years and kept seeing his work and name pop up. He was in some kind of zone I couldn't comprehend at the time. The money zone.
To this day, I am trying to get myself into a position where I don't need the money for survival, so I can say a job is $12,000 when it would price out to maybe $1200 by time & materials. It's much harder to do that with a commercial commodity like signs, but for wall murals (as it is for fine art) price is totally arbitrary. And you definitely have the goods to play that tune.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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A, we have a local artist who does murals and his work is simply considered art, can't put an hourly figure to it. You definately ARE in that catagory and you need to convince yourself of that before you can convince anyone else.
My art teacher once told me, "Charge as much as you can without laughing." Insane charges. If you don't do run of the mill stuff, your prices should reflect that.
Once you start receiving this 'crazy money,' you'll want it again and again. It's a great confidence booster and blows your ego out of proportion in a good way.
Not many here believed I sold a logo for $2500 when I posted about it. I can't sell them all for that price, but let me tell you, I no longer sell them for $250!
The dragon you and RT did at my place brings so many compliments. Ive been asked so many times who did it and if they could call you or RT.
I have to tell them you live in California. So, I know first hand that your work brings attention. Thank you to you and RT for this great work..
There is a lady here who does vines, flowers and birds type stuff around door frames and windows and on walls. One doorway with a strand of flower vines and a couple of birds around it brings $200 BUX! and each additional door way gets $100 BUX. She gets around $400 bux per house on the small jobs... All CASH!!!.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Hourly rates and/or pricing concepts are an ongoing thing, a developing, learning thing with me. One thought I had a while back, (Janette's reply reply reminded me of it), and gosh, I hope I spelled her name right , was that I can't let how insane a price sounds affect me, because THEY'RE ALL INSANE! That is, any price that provides you with even a modest standard of living is going to be insane, because the cost of skilled labor in this country is insane.
Now as to WHY skilled labor is expensive, ultimately, that's "religious" and political, but I'll stick with the latter: It's like my brother says about voting "conservative" or liberal, one takes money out of the left side of your pocket, the other takes money out of the right side of your pocket!
Ther you have it folks, today's (?) blather!
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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I see it as 1870.00 on the low side and 2210.00 on the medium side aand for the high side..........Hmmm. By the way I think you and I spoke on the estimate issue about 5 Harvest Moons ago. Glad to see yer gitn'roun toit. Get them prices up, I might have to come and stay awhile and I like steak & lobster if you please?
Peace! CrazyJack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Adrienne, After seeing your work & you are coming into mural season, $5,000 doesn't seem like too much for a mural of that type. I would go between $100-150 an hour. Makes up for some of the stuff you gave away!
-------------------- Rob Thomas 3410 Ketcham Ct Beautiful Springs FL 34134 Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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hi! Adrienne just remember one thing in your price .it's not only a mural..it's also an advertising stuff ...how many custumers gonna see that and gonna be attract by that?? How it's cost in news paper?? radio??tv?? and just for a short time,but your advertising mural's gonna be there for a while.....got it?? ....
-------------------- Steven Girard steven@lettragesgirard.com
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I don't live in CA anymore...I live in Northwestern Washington!
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, was that I can't let how insane a price sounds affect me, because THEY'RE ALL INSANE! That is, any price that provides you with even a modest standard of living is going to be insane, because the cost of skilled labor in this country is insane.
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