2014Steadi-Newbies forum
Determining day rates for steadicam operator services and equipment rental
12 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Start with the standard camera operator rate in your region as a baseline, then adjust for additional steadicam skills and equipment value
- Steadicam operating rates for an 8-hour day typically begin around $800 for live work, with higher rates for other production types
- Equipment rental for steadicam gear typically ranges from $600 to $1000 per day depending on what is included
- A minimum 8-hour day rate should apply regardless of actual shoot duration or number of setups
- Contact local rental houses for equipment rate benchmarks when local operators are unwilling to share pricing information
- Referrals from other operators increase future work opportunities, supporting the case for competitive but not undercut pricing
Depends on
- Rates vary significantly by country, region, and production type (commercials, television, film, music videos)
- No clear agreement reached on the exact formula for combining operator rate with equipment value
- Thread participants do not specify rates for different production types beyond mentioning higher rates for non-live work
- The proposed formula of camera rate times 1.25 plus equipment cost times 0.02 was questioned but not definitively evaluated
- Advice is based on one region's market and may not apply universally