Paid On Spot - Yeah! / 30 Days - Well, OK / 60 Days - What? / 90+ Days - You're kidding?

I've had many situations over the years where companies have taken (sometimes) more than 60 days to pay invoices. What gives here? I loved working with them but I find it can sometimes strain the relationship going forward. I hate that! Is it my problem?

What is your experience and how does it affect our attitudes toward clients and companies? Any solutions? (Please - no names)....

Promote

0 members promoted this

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Capps on November 2, 2007 at 10:15am

In the 90's with Warner Brothers first you had to call (that's right, you actually had to pick up a phone and talk to a person or a least their voice mail, not e-mail) to get a PO number, that took at least a day, then it was a mininum of 120 days. Invoices went to the nashville office for approval then to LA then back to nashville, then the checks were cut out of LA.............. I love the cash accounts that take 60 days to pay.........

Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on November 2, 2007 at 11:34am

So, is it better now...?

Permalink Reply by Chris Knight on November 2, 2007 at 12:42pm

well.... even though i've only been doing this for 3 1/2 years, in my experience, it depends on what company you're working for. There are good ones. And there are not so good ones. And when I say good, if it's for a bigger company, usually takes 30 or so days for payment. However, i'm currently on day 65 of an invoice sent out. Pretty crappy. And it's the whole, has to get approved in nashville, then to LA, then has to sit for whatever reason and then after X amount of days the check gets cut... UGH!!!!!!! Just don't understand why everyone can't get paid sooner. It's a service. We provide something for someone else. Just like a plumber. Or a roofer. Or WHATEVER! i'm not mad though.................................................. : )

Permalink Reply by Mark Capps on November 2, 2007 at 3:04pm

It is better now since JEN retired (Not his fault just the timing in LA). That process only worked if you did a lot of work for WB. If not that's a lon time btween checks.........

Permalink Reply by Aaron Swihart on November 2, 2007 at 3:27pm

I can second or third this - - I am still waiting since - -uh-- May.....

does it really have to be that hard?

Permalink Reply by Conni Ellisor on June 2, 2008 at 10:15am

I remember once the entire string section didn't get paid by WB because one person filled out their W-4 in pencil! How's that for an excuse?

Permalink Reply by Todd Robbins on November 2, 2007 at 1:29pm

1/2 up front to book the time, 1/2 the remaining balance the day I start the project and the remainder + any incidental costs incurred on the day I finish, and before any masters are released. The 30 day thing is for suckas - 60 to 90+??? No frikkin' way... After a publicly-traded Christian label strung me out for 90+ telling me they were in a "cash crunch" , I stopped playing that game... There are still a few labels I'll trust to invoice and know I'll get paid in 2 weeks, but not very many.

Permalink Reply by Mark Capps on November 2, 2007 at 3:05pm

How about sending mixes out on CD before your finished mixing............

Permalink Reply by Todd Robbins on November 2, 2007 at 3:42pm

If I can't trust someone enough to send them a cd or post an aiff then I'm probably not gonna work for them. I had one guy I was a little fishy about, so I just clipped off the beginning and end of every song before I sent it - sure enough he tried to a pull a fast one on me at the end, but I was not easily fooled... I emailed him a picture of his hard drive under my shotgun so he would better understand how things work in this town....

Permalink Reply by Aaron Swihart on November 2, 2007 at 3:59pm

ooohh - this is nice -- I need a gun

Permalink Reply by Doug Sarrett on November 2, 2007 at 4:04pm