Reality show DP rates?

December 13, 2012 forum topics
I have a job interview tomorrow to DP the second season of a reality show. It’s a version of "Say Yes to the Dress" that’s based in Boston. It airs on TLC. I’m trying to figure out a ball park idea of what to charge.

They’re going to shoot from January through March. I don’t know what the schedule will be like yet. I don’t know how much of a time commitment it will be. It may be Monday through Friday four weeks a month, or just a couple days a week… I’ll find out more tomorrow.

The set is already lit from last season and I’m guessing they’ve already established a look. What they said they mainly need is some one who can lead the other camera people. They’re shooting on full sized broadcast HD cameras, and some small HDV ones too.

I haven’t done a long term gig like this before. Do you generally charge a day rate, weekly, monthly…? What is a reasonable range? What sorts of questions would you ask before establishing a rate? Even if they have already established a rate from the last season, I still need to figure out if its reasonable.