Forum: Subtitling
Topic: Subtitling rates
Poster: Wojciech_
Post title: Indeed
[quote]Jocelin M wrote:
[quote]dorthe pedersen wrote:
I was wondering if any of you have tried to negotiate rates with success?
[/quote]
...but not with success. So far, I've been refused by three agencies when I tried to negotiate my rates. What they offered was between 2 and 4 dollars each time, and I wanted a bare minimum of 5€, which is roughly 6.20$. Every single one of them told me that it wasn't the "standard" rate and that they wouldn't accept to pay more, not even a cent.
Some people here say that there are good companies that pay decently, even as much as 10$/€ per minute of video. In a bit more than three years of looking for new clients every day, I've never come across one of those good agencies. And when you ask for the name of those agencies, people suddenly go quiet so... I'm not even sure they exist, to be honest.
[Modifié le 2018-04-19 03:53 GMT]
[Modifié le 2018-04-19 03:54 GMT] [/quote]
Dear Jocelin,
I came to thinking the same a long time ago. It seems like a perfect way to undermine the competition. Those people tell you "don't accept anything under 6 dollars/euro!" and when you follow their advice, the companies think you're crazy, stop talking to you... and then those "good advisors" have more jobs for themselves.
Now the facts. All the major subtitle providers are also Netflix vendors and their rates in my language vary from 2 to 4.5 USD. NO EXCEPTIONS. Perhaps it's different for your language pair, but I doubt it. If, in addition to Hermes test you sign up with one of the vendors who are Netflix paymasters (the names have been mentioned here before), you may apply for taking Netflix Backlot QC test, which consists of translation of subtitles and detailed QC, including technical aspects, such as correcting subtitles on shot changes. If you pass it, you will be offered a good rate and, presumably lots of work on their own titles. That's it.
So, my word of good advice: if someone offers you 4 dollars per minute, accept it and in the meantime try finding another provider that pays more. But don't be lured by the arguments that you should negotiate hard and not go below, say, 6 dollars.
[Edited at 2018-04-19 08:58 GMT]
Topic: Subtitling rates
Poster: Wojciech_
Post title: Indeed
[quote]Jocelin M wrote:
[quote]dorthe pedersen wrote:
I was wondering if any of you have tried to negotiate rates with success?
[/quote]
...but not with success. So far, I've been refused by three agencies when I tried to negotiate my rates. What they offered was between 2 and 4 dollars each time, and I wanted a bare minimum of 5€, which is roughly 6.20$. Every single one of them told me that it wasn't the "standard" rate and that they wouldn't accept to pay more, not even a cent.
Some people here say that there are good companies that pay decently, even as much as 10$/€ per minute of video. In a bit more than three years of looking for new clients every day, I've never come across one of those good agencies. And when you ask for the name of those agencies, people suddenly go quiet so... I'm not even sure they exist, to be honest.
[Modifié le 2018-04-19 03:53 GMT]
[Modifié le 2018-04-19 03:54 GMT] [/quote]
Dear Jocelin,
I came to thinking the same a long time ago. It seems like a perfect way to undermine the competition. Those people tell you "don't accept anything under 6 dollars/euro!" and when you follow their advice, the companies think you're crazy, stop talking to you... and then those "good advisors" have more jobs for themselves.
Now the facts. All the major subtitle providers are also Netflix vendors and their rates in my language vary from 2 to 4.5 USD. NO EXCEPTIONS. Perhaps it's different for your language pair, but I doubt it. If, in addition to Hermes test you sign up with one of the vendors who are Netflix paymasters (the names have been mentioned here before), you may apply for taking Netflix Backlot QC test, which consists of translation of subtitles and detailed QC, including technical aspects, such as correcting subtitles on shot changes. If you pass it, you will be offered a good rate and, presumably lots of work on their own titles. That's it.
So, my word of good advice: if someone offers you 4 dollars per minute, accept it and in the meantime try finding another provider that pays more. But don't be lured by the arguments that you should negotiate hard and not go below, say, 6 dollars.
[Edited at 2018-04-19 08:58 GMT]