Todd Corbett over at Xceluss Studios has a great 3 part series on corporate video prices and how to come up with a budget for your next project.  I liked it so much as it lines up perfectly with our philosophy on the subject that I wanted to take what he has written and expand it even further. In his second article, he lists a whole bunch of questions the video producer would normally ask a potential client to help define both a scope and budget for a particular video project. The only thing missing? What questions should the client be asking the producer?

How do you know if he/she is treating you fairly? What can you expect? Will you be paying for a Spielberg-like project but get a home movie?

Trust is a big thing in any industry and in the Corporate Video world, it can mean the difference in overpaying by thousands for something you didn't want and getting exactly what you wanted for the price you agreed to. So how do you know if you can trust your video producer? Ask them these questions and see how they react.  Remember, how they answer you is much more important than what their answer is. You'll see what I mean in the list of questions.

How many projects are you currently working on? How busy are you?

The busier the better! But how busy is busy? It depends on the type of production company you've contacted.  Some higher end companies couldn't handle more than 1-3 a month as the work is so long and demanding, it wouldn't allow it. On the other hand, a smaller operation that focuses on projects only lasting a day or two should be able to handle much more, but keep in mind, the actual number they give you is far less important than how they react to the question.  If you get the sense the production company has a lot of time on their hands, look out! This could mean they aren't that good and therefore not very busy. Most good production companies are always busy and may even give you the impression of blowing you off but don't be discouraged. They may not have a slot open for at least a month, but trust me! You'd rather wait on a good production company to work on your project that hire a bad production company and end up with poor results, often taking more time anyway!

Have you ever had problems on a project? How did you solve them?

The answer you might be looking for here, may be the wrong one. If your production company tells you they've never had a problem, find another company! The fact is, almost every project will have a problem arise at some point. It's the nature of the business. Actors come in late, cameras malfunction, the catering truck gets lost on the way (this one can really put a dent in a crew member's day). No matter how much one plans, something out of your control will happen. The key is having a production company that is not only creative in their craft, but just as creative in solving problems. Asking this question can also give you insight into what the personality of your producer is. Can he perform under pressure? Does he blame things on other people (the client)? Pay attention to how your producer answers this question - it could save a lot of headaches.

To save money, we'd like to write the script. Is this okay?

The answer you're looking for is "maybe".  If the producer says yes right away, this is a big red flag! Most quality producers would never agree to a script they've never seen. This doesn't mean they wouldn't use it once they've had a chance to make sure it will communicate the message you want in a creative way and make adjustments to it if it doesn't. Good producers know what works and what doesn't. Also, the overall cost of having a script written for you is often far less costly (and time consuming) than what you may think.  A professional script writer will add tremendous value to your project and should be used whenever possible!

These 3 questions aren't the only ones you should be asking your potential video producer, but they will go a long way in helping you determine if the conversation should even continue. Don't be afraid to make a decision based on your impression of a producer.  You will be working closely with this person for a while and paying a little more for someone who plays nice is usually well worth it.