A few days ago, an Industry peer reached out to me with a few questions and some ideas for referring clients to each other. She explained to me that she was just starting to brand herself and offer social media services to film projects, and wasn’t feeling fully confident in this new world that she was entering.
I thought about it for a second, and my answer to her email came with such ease it took me by surprise. This was my advice:
“I started my consultation service in March. The only offering was a $30/hr. Coffee Chat Consultation and 7 months later look at all the different packages I’ve created and have more than doubled my rates! It helped me tremendously to just put a price on it, and then start taking clients. You’ll know whether you’re ready to charge more and you’ll start to figure out what types of services and packages you enjoy more!!”
I was astonished at how right-on my advice was and the realization that just 7 months ago, I was freelancing where and when I could, from tradeshows to music production gigs to everything in between, but I didn’t have a specialty service or any idea what my rates were.
Now, every time I check my email, there’s a new client inquiry or another referral from a friend or past client (thank you!), and my services are becoming so valuable, that I keep raising my rates!
All it took was getting some basic text on my website, a pay-pal widget and a starting price point.
Now, it could be that you’re doing what I sometimes do, and you’re saying “NO! I’m an actor (writer, producer, fill in the blank), and I want to act. I don’t want to be the “kickstarter girl” or the “social media guy”! Well guess what? Movement is movement is movement! When you are in the flow, and you are making money for your talents and skill sets, the flow just flows. It’s not discriminatory, it doesn’t know any bounds, it just knows that you are moving, and it needs to keep up.
In the past few months; as my rates increase and my crowd funding clients multiply; I am seeing amazing opportunities in my voiceover and on-camera acting careers.
Movement is Movement!
Will you do something for me? You know that advice you’re always giving away? Or those “favors” you’ve been exhausting yourself with? Write up a tiny description of those services, post it on your website or blog, go to pay-pal’s widget creator (it’s easy), and please, please put a number on it!
I promise you, someone out there is ready and waiting to pay you for your skill and knowledge. Do it! Create some movement and then get back to me in 6 months and watch how this simple act of movement creates more movement in all areas of your life.