June news
It still feels quieter than we expected but things are definitely picking up now and we are aware of some HoDs crewing up. It’s important to widen any outreach you are doing - certain sectors will be busier than others so it’s key to keep creating and nurturing relationships.
There is also a lot of talk about UK crew being too expensive compared to other territories. This may be true but many rates don’t reflect current inflation rate and equally, there are fewer additional costs associated with the labour workforce here so it usually balances out.
Be mindful though that you may not get rates that you have been used to - budgets are a lot tighter and productions know that there are lots of crew available.
Check the BECTU departmental branch rate guidelines for reference - you may not get what is suggested but it really helps to know what has been agreed by the committees.
And don’t be afraid to ask for it! Negotiation is a key component to successful freelancing. Try to embrace it - a great tip we use is asking “is there any wiggle room?” - it can sometimes help get you that little bit more. Good Luck!
“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. ”