CD package - how much to charge?
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- Burnlab
What is a typical rate for illustration and layout of a music CD package? I've done a few for friends at special rates, but would really like to know what a typical fee is for refrence. Average for an established indie label. Much thanks.
- ********0
I just posted my artwork for something like this, we will pay $1890 for 1000 CD-ROM's in DIGIPAK Cases. Additional artwork would have been another $500 they say. http://www.discmakers.com
- kerus0
ive been hooking friends up for like 200-250 for cd's if i dig them and really just wanna do the project.. horribly low price too, but half the time the shit is just fun to do....
if its through a label, usually 400-500.. if it ends up to be a royal pain in the ass, it can hit 600 on up.....
but thats just me...
- apt130
i believe you meant how much to charge for designing the package? is that right? Cd design is pretty much about 90% of the work that i do, and it runs the gamut of small punk records out of a kids basement, to major labels. it all pretty much depends on your experience, and as bad as this sounds, your "name." i started out doing punk records like 7 years ago and getting payed nothing. mainly because punk music wasnt "popular" and none of these people had money to give. thats fine though, i do it (and still do) for the love. anyway, now i charge around $1000 for cd design for an indie label. majors can go anywhere from that on up to $5000 or more. it all depends on the label you are working for mostly. majors will pay out the ass, mainly because they think giving 5k to a "small studio" is much better than giving like 20k to a larger one. take them for all they got. but like i said, depends on who's putting the record out. ive been known to still do albums for free for people who deserve it. but as a basic average price. most people who have been doing this through the years and work in more of an indie capacity are getting around a grand a record. anywhere around there. if you are just starting out and just need the experience, $500 is a more than decent price to ask for.
- kerus0
indeed!
also, your blessing the hogs layout is pretty dope. i just did some stuff for the same label.
- ********0
i once turned down a job for a metalband who is real big now..
for other reasons then money, tho;
as it would have paid me 5,000-6,000 $.
which was fair to me.
- Burnlab0
Much thanks - esp. Phillip.
That is exactly what I suspected for indie vs. major prices.I've done work for self-produced bands from $0 to $300, and have just been asked by a band with a real label - so needed some refence.
Thanks again, and nice work by the way!
- apt130
thanks for the kind words. and yeah, if its a major label, thats your chance to rake in some money. don't feel bad about asking at least $5k. especially if theyve already asked you to do it. alot of the times with those is that a band will ask you, and then you have to deal with their manager (who of course isnt going to like you) and then with the label's art director (who really isnt going to like you). but fuck em. thats the benefit of the indie labels/bands, you dont have to deal with so many people that dont know shit about "design," only money.
- ********0
it's all relative, try to find the cheapest. The next step is trying to find a cheap manufacturer of it, not so easy!
- unknown0
Hey apt13, I think I told you this before on another thread, but I'll say it again, DAMN you have some nice work!!! I totally dig!
Do you guys approach the individual bands for work or record labels exclusively, or some of both?
:P
- ********0
JazX... i think you still don't get his question. lol.
or maybe i am wrong.
- apt130
well thanks again. i'm glad people dig it. the website is being redone and updated...sheesh, getting so behind. so keep an eye out for tons of new work. anyway...as far as jobs, they come to me. i am pretty lucky in the sense that i dont have to search out for anything. i've been doing this for quite a long time, and now that the whole "punk/indie" scene is now the mainstream, all these people have money now. most of the bands and labels are people ive known through the years being in bands and putting out my own records. so alot of work comes in that way. everything else is just people seeing other stuff ive done and contacting me. i usually start a relationship with a new label that way and then end up doing numerous albums for them. and sometimes bands will get in touch cuz they are putting a new album out and they like the look of somethign i did. now that all these people are getting gobbled up by majors or larger indies, it makes my life alot easier.
- ********0
no I know what he meant, just joshing around, he wants to know what to charge, not how to get it done.. lol ;)
- Carty0
$1500 and up.
- apt130
oh yeah, and in case someone is confused or i am confused or people are just kidding, when you are designing basic cds, you shouldnt be the one messing with the printing and printers. just put that shit on a cd with a printout and let the label worry about it. unless its some kind of special packaging, then you might want to handle it. alot of times people ask me to design cds and think that my job includes the actual manufacturing as well.....nooooooo way. haha.
- ********0
yeah that is what I have been doing here but using a format where they will not charge me a ton:
- Burnlab0
JazX - I was asking what I should charge to do the design. The files will be handed off to the record label for manufacturing.
Pixelfrog - My social circle is mostly people in the music industry, so being 'the designer' leads to some good work. The double-edged sword there is: since its your friends, you cut them big breaks. The two most recent artsits I worked with came through Burnlab.net, not Engram Design, my commercial company. Running a news and culture site is tremendous work (labor of love), but can get potential clients pointed toward your commercial work. I presume its the same idea with NewsToday and any of the other community portals - all run by working designers. I've never actively solicited bands or labels. Word of mouth is your best friend. :)
- Burnlab0
JazX - sorry.. I was typing while you responded.
cheers