How to Negotiate Higher Day Rates as a Freelance Crew Member Successfully

Posted on: Jul 01, 2025

Photo Credit: mediaphotos // iStockphoto

By Brendan Fitzgibbons

Freelance crew work is the lifeblood of production—film, TV, digital, or even a podcast debating whether there are too many podcasts. You’re the engine under the hood, the unsung hero grinding the gears and making everyone else look good. A lot of crew members are underpaid and overworked. It’s time to change that. Here’s how to negotiate a higher rate without stress, drama, or accidentally lighting your career on fire.

Key Insights:

Knowing your baseline rate empowers you to negotiate with clarity and confidence.
Ask for more than you want—then refine until you’re just outside your comfort zone.
Present your rate with confidence and be prepared to walk away if it’s not met.

1. Know Your Worth (Establish a Baseline)

As a stand-up comic, I’ve been paid in drink tickets, “exposure,” and once—tragically—improv. But the biggest lesson I’ve learned? You will always get paid what you believe you’re worth.

The entertainment industry is massive. You could name almost any rate and someone out there would say yes. So the first step is deciding: what’s your floor? What’s the absolute minimum you won’t go below?

Establish a standard day rate you won’t dip under. This figure is personal, but a great starting point is talking to other crew members—friends, colleagues, and peers in your role—to get a sense of industry norms. Local 600 provides useful rate sheets for camera positions, other respective unions can give you a good baseline for various departments and positions even if you’re not in them just yet.

Factor in your experience, credits, and past rates when quoting. If you’re a crew member providing your own gear, always quote higher. You’re saving the production time, energy, and usually stress—which are all worth a premium.

2. Ask for More Than You Want (But Don’t Freak Yourself Out)

Once you’ve set your baseline, it’s time to push for more. Yes, it’s scary—but someone once sold an invisible sculpture for $18,000. You’re worth asking for a little extra.

Start by identifying a number you feel comfortable asking for based on your value. Then go higher. Check in with yourself again. How does that feel? Keep adjusting upward until you find a number that’s just outside your comfort zone—maybe it even makes you laugh a little. Then, pull it back slightly. That’s your ask.

It’s totally normal to feel uneasy about asking for more. That’s a sign you’re growing. Go for it anyway.

3. State, Don’t Beg

I’ve been on both sides of rate conversations—as someone quoting and someone hiring. And let me tell you: the most effective rate requests are short, clear, and confident.

Don’t over-explain or apologize. Don’t add caveats. Don’t try to use logic to convince someone to pay you more. Think of it like texting a crush: less is more.

If you’re writing an email, keep it simple:

“My rate is typically $700 a day. Thanks!”

That’s it. Your confidence will come through in your tone. Remember: they’re lucky to have you. Bring that Big Rate Energy (BRE).

4. Work For Less, or Be Willing to Walk Away

In today’s production landscape, budgets are tighter, and there’s less flexibility for higher rates, especially for entry to mid-level roles. Understanding your client’s financial realities is crucial, as the leverage to “find another $100” is often gone. This one’s tough—but essential. When you send your rate, be grounded enough to walk away if it’s not met, or be grounded enough to know it’s worth taking even if it’s less than you’d hoped for.

Do an internal gut check on the position, credits and connections this could offer you and whether or not it’s worth accepting a lower rate.

Prioritize relationships: Accepting a lower rate now can lead to invaluable long-term relationships and future opportunities when budgets improve.
Invest in your future: Demonstrating willingness to work within current budget constraints can position you for future roles and higher pay as the industry recovers.

Final Takeaways:

Set a firm baseline rate based on experience and peer insight.
Confidence in your ask leads to confidence in your worth.
Walking away is a power move—not a loss—when done with grace.

Brendan Fitzgibbons is a comedy writer and actor living in Los Angeles. He’s written for Comedy Central, The Onion, NBC, HuffPost and Bravo. As an actor, he’s appeared on Comedy Central, MTV and “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” His podcast, “Spiritual As****e” was named a Top Indie Podcast by Stitcher.

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