Dealing Politely With Equipment Vendors
One of the greatest ways to knock money off the budget of your film is be friendly with equipment vendors. The big rental houses are the only game in town and they know it. They can charge what they want and if you don't seem like a likeable person, they don't have to give you any discounts. It's really to their own discretion. As a student, you will get more discounts than anyone else in the business unless you constantly give them business as a big production company. But even then, most equipment vendors will have student prices. They know, as everyone in the industry does, that students will not have a lot of money but that they can have a lot of good ideas. And if a great film comes out of using their equipment, they will most likely be happy to give you a discount on it because you are likely to go back to them. But in dealing with vendors you will probably be the most polite one in the conversation. Vendors have to deal with hundreds of people a week, hundreds of productions a year. They work fast and have a lot of work to do at that. There is no time for politeness although some of them are quite nice. But your film will be among many other students' who choose to use that vendor so unless you are likeable and friendly, you will not stand out. When you are calling in for equipment rental you be efficient in your speech and know what you want. Vendors, again, do not have time to spend on the phone with you. It is best to have someone call who knows what he/she is doing and has all the information. As a student, you should go to your DP, your equipment warehouse at school or to your professor before calling the vendor so you will know what you need. Then when you call the vendor, you will be able to tell them exactly what you want. Make sure to check back in with your vendor to see if they got your order right and to tell them when you will be coming to pick it up. This is just polite to let them know because on any given day your vendor will have multiple pick-ups for productions. They have to know when you're coming in sometimes because equipment that you have ordered may have just come back in from another shoot. Treat the people you talk to with respect because they are more knowledgeable about the equipment you use to make your film than you are. Keep track of what you have ordered and leave a contact phone number with your vendor. They will need someone to call if they have any questions or concerns. Also, you want to keep track of what you are taking and what you are bringing back. This is the most important part of pick-up and drop-off. You will be renting expensive equipment that cost more to replace than it does to rent. So when you bring it back it should be in tip-top condition and it should all be there. Be kind to the equipment. On set, you should have someone in charge of managing the equipment. They should know where every piece of it is at all times. This will most likely be your Key Grip or Gaffer. On set, when loading equipment, it should be done carefully and neatly so that when you return it, the vendor will see that you take good care of their equipment. If it rains, you should clean off the equipment before returning it. If something breaks, you should tell the vendor as you return it. Thank your vendor for everything they have given you, discounts or not. People like to be appreciated and this will also tell them that you will probably come back to them. And if you do go back to them, they will be happy to have you. If you can, send the vendor a personal copy of the film once it's done. Remember or write down the names of the people you speak to because putting a name on their copy would be a good idea. Maybe they watch it, maybe they don't. But they will definitely remember that, as most people don't send them a copy. Links: www.birnsandsawyer.com, www.chapmanleonard.com, www.hollywoodcamera.com, Acey Decey, AB Trucking, Skye Rentals
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