Once again the local environmental centers have asked me to quote bids on birds for them. They are wonderful people and I realize that they are either on tight state or county budgets. Quite frankly, I am very tired for working for 5.00 an hour...it just doesn't pay the bills. They give me the whole,"you can write it off" thing...but once again...hmmm...bills are now! They are asking me for quotes on a Tundra Swan, a Screech Owl and a Great Horned Owl. I ask 450.00 for my Canadian geese...the last Rough-legged hawk I did for 350.00....(guilt and everything)....that was a huge open-mouth project. Here's my question...what would you quote for a Tundra, a Screech and a Barn?.....No guilt allowed! Help!
TLC
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I do some work for government agencies and I give them 10% off my regular price. Thats how i deal with the guilt. Usually its used for educational purposes with kids, so I can live with the discount. Remember all the work, study and toil you've been through to be able to recreate a lifelike mount and charge accordingly. My best, Jim
for your work. 700.00 on the swan, 350.00 on the hawk and 295.00 on the owls, not including habitat. If they don't like those prices they will find someone else but at least you can move on to mounting something else that you do make money on. GOOD LUCK
We do work for big outfits who seem to have more money than brains and for others who give us the pity party treatment. We don't cut prices. What we tell the poor mouth folks is to find someone to donate $$$$$ for their project and use that money to pay us. We even help some small nature centers raise funds for the project, but we don't cut one dime off the price for them. Now I am an advocate for public awareness programs where wildlife is concerned. I may even donate some money toward a project goal, but my funds are personal and my business is business and our price is THE price. Charge what you are worth, and if they can't aford you, too bad for them..........that is unless you have no other work, then the shoe is on the other foot.
I have mounted them for 50% of my normal price, with a stipulation that my business name and phone number go on a plaque somewhere near the mounts. I have gotten enough extra business from the few I've done to make up that 50%. If I weren't trying to grow my business and I had all the work I could ever want, I'd probably give them 10% off or something like that...
cut my prices - I have done a number of birds for various groups with a public or charitable flavor. The last osprey I did with habitat was $800. The carrying case they wanted to take the bird to various displays was another $200. You did not mention the setting or habitat requirements for the birds, but I would charge at least $700 for the swan $400 for the Screech Owl and $500 for the Great Horned owl. Needless to say, all the other considerations such as habitat, relationship building, reputation, referrals and so forth need to be factored in - sounds like a neat project Good Luck
I would like to know which type of agencies you are working with. I am dying to work on birds of prey, songbirds, etc.... but I have know idea where to find these agencies. I tried asking the local nature center, but they only take donations. Where can I find the government agencies that will pay for work?