Clients in my experience want to know in advance how much they'll be paying, so I set a per-hour rate in my head but quote a flat amount depending on the garment and level of ornamentation--with adjustments for anticipated aggravation, of course. :-) That way I don't have to keep careful watch on the clock, or remember that I work more slowly as the day goes on.
Not that I do this for a living, but that's the method I developed when I was sewing for other people. Now it's just a recommendation. $2,000 seems quite high, but jewelling and any handwork does take a lot of time. (That's why I learned to sew, in the end.) I guess it depends on what your market will bear. MaggiRos --- "Sharon at Collierfam.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > A friend of mine had an Elizabethan court dress and > hat made, with removable > sleeves and separate underskirt. It was beaded and > had a good amount of > trim. Quite lovely. I believe she paid about > $2,000.00 US. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Kathy Page > Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 1:39 PM > To: Historical Costume List > Subject: [h-cost] Hourly Wages > > > I was having yet another *coughcough* discussion > with my husband on what the > typical hourly wages independant costumers make - > what they charge out at > for high end work - full suites of clothing, custom > designed, in part or > fully assembled by machine, complete with > embellishments. He seems to think > I am on cheap crack, however I have looked into it > through employment > statistics in my province and country, and have kept > a quiet eye on the > discussions in the past here and I believe that I am > on track for a 5 year > plan of establishing my reputation and credibility. > He is a frustrating > insta-boing type, thinking I should be able to name > whatever I please with > no justification behind the price tag. > > Could I run a survey on what those interested and > willing to offer cannon > fodder on this discussion charge out for work > roughly described above, and > the currency it is typically quoted at, so I can > compare apples to apples? > If it seems like a private subject, please feel free > to reply offlist. > > Thanks for anyone willing to save my sanity, > > Kathy > > Ermine, a lion rampant tail nowed gules charged on > the shoulder with a rose > Or barbed, seeded, slipped and leaved > vert(Fieldless) On a rose Or barbed > vert a lion's head erased gules. > > Its never too late to be who you might have been. > -George Eliot > Tosach eólais imchomarc. - Questioning is the > beginning of knowledge. > http://www.sengoidelc.com/node/131 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
