for you guys that do african work

[ljones]

i have two safaris that i have just received  that includes 2 lifesize lions ,2 lifesize leopards along with the usual plains game   the tanning bill alone is going to be about $4,500 and the total amount of work is about $40,000 . my question is what kind of deposit would you guys ask for i ask for? on my normal work i ask for a 1/3 deposit. and yes i have mounted all of these animals before but it has been a few years.

[Chad See]

I would ask for a third up front, another third when I start the work, and the final third when they pick them up. 

[ryan rhodes]

I've never done anything of that caliber, but I ALWAYS get 50% upfont.  Especially in todays economy.  Why should it be any different with african work, even at that amount?  They can afford lions and leopards, they can afford 50% up front.

[Missouri Creek Studio]

I work like Chad on large mounts or several species. 1/3 up front, 1/3 when work commences and the balance  upon completion. Single species is still a 50% deposit.
Doug
MCS

[*]

50%.... if they got that kinda money to hunt $20,000 lion, they will not even blink an eye.

By the way .....CHANG CHING 
You gotta love it 

[Rich H.]

50%.... if they got that kinda money to hunt $20,000 lion, they will noit even blink an eye.

By the way .....CHING CHING 
You gotta love it 

im with dennis....  always 50% deposit

[Rick Dunlap Sr]

I do a lot of african mounts in the last two years .I would do like Chad said one third at begining,one third at start,and one third at finish.Rick             

[Russ of V.O.W.T]

50%.... if they got that kinda money to hunt $20,000 lion, they will noit even blink an eye.

By the way .....CHING CHING 
You gotta love it 

im with dennis....  always 50% deposit

x3 

[antlermike]

Hey Larry long time no see Get 50% I got stuck with ten pcs because some guy went through a divorce it took me over five yrs to get rid of the mounts, I had to keep eight of em in storage because I had no room in the shop, good luck  Mike Malak

[Matt]

I always get 50% up front on everything, like Dennis said, they should be able to swing it.

[Old Fart]

Let me give you a little different take on the situation, because I've had several safari jobs  that I wouldn't have done if I had asked for that up front. This may not be the case for you.....but here goes.  My clients saved for YEARS to go to Africa, when they got their stuff back, they really had to save for a few more years to get the mounts done.  I got enough up front to have the tanning done.  As they saved the money, they came in with enough to cover each thing I mounted, BEFORE the job was started. It took almost 4 years to complete both of their safaris, but they were happy that I was able to work with them. Had I asked for the 50% up front, they would have settled for just putting the horns on the wall and I would have done none of the mounting.  You know the clients and maybe they can afford the money up front, but if they can't, you might loose the whole works. Oh, yeah, they've both been back to Africa several more times and they always took friends with them.  They have kept me with a steady load of safari work for many years.

[John C]

Let me give you a little different take on the situation, because I've had several safari jobs  that I wouldn't have done if I had asked for that up front. This may not be the case for you.....but here goes.  My clients saved for YEARS to go to Africa, when they got their stuff back, they really had to save for a few more years to get the mounts done.  I got enough up front to have the tanning done.  As they saved the money, they came in with enough to cover each thing I mounted, BEFORE the job was started. It took almost 4 years to complete both of their safaris, but they were happy that I was able to work with them. Had I asked for the 50% up front, they would have settled for just putting the horns on the wall and I would have done none of the mounting.  You know the clients and maybe they can afford the money up front, but if they can't, you might loose the whole works. Oh, yeah, they've both been back to Africa several more times and they always took friends with them.  They have kept me with a steady load of safari work for many years.

Both will work.  If they have the $$$$ then the 50% is the way to go.


Other wise the tanning bill plus your time. Then each animal.

I have a client who is currently paying on his next safari. His PH was in three weeks ago and we worked out the plan.

After the PH saw the work the wife and I do, and the price somehow its cheaper than what the Africans are charging over the long run.

Then the client and I setup an account at the bank so the client can escrow the taxidermy money.

[Kevin]

I'm glad someone said it.  Just because you go to Africa and shoot whatever doesn't mean you have more money than you know what to do with.  African safaris are in some cases cheaper than hunts in the states.  Now lions and leopards are expensive but it can be done on a budget and saved for.  I would find out what the client wants to do and work with it.  Like said, it may be one piece at a time or the whole thing.  Just to make it clear, Africa is not just for the wealthy, it's for the adventurous no matter what the income.  You should know the client well enough if he is bringing this many things to you.

[ed150]

that would be a sweet job for sure,i wouldn't have any hair after all those mounts,seems like every African skin i touch has major issues,lack of experience with them don't help either,good luck with them

[Hudson]

If you were worried about payment why wouldn`t you want as much money as you can get before pick up? Why would you guys not want the 33% deposit, 33% when work commences and the final 33% at pick up. 66% is better than 50%???