If you like it then you should have put a price on it!

Monopoly board

As some of you may have seen I recently put together some audio packages. These packages are for a variety of services I can offer as an audio producer. From audio only help, to full blown soup to nuts production. 

But this brain-dump isn’t about how amazing at this work and trying to convince you to employ me to take your audio dreams come true! This is about how hard it is to put a price on yourself. 

With salary work, there isn’t much debate on how much the role is worth - you are told what the job is worth - for better or worse. But when you are a freelancer, it’s so hard to place a price tag on yourself, because it does feel personal because we live in a society that puts too much value on what money you earn (in my opinion).

There are so many emotional factors that come into play - 

• What is my work worth?

• Is that what I am worth?

• I need to make sure I don’t price myself out of the running

• Or go too low

• Do I go low because I need the work?

Adding an extra zero could be the difference between a yes or no. It is a lot of pressure! I did research into how much other organisations charged, bigger groups who have overheads and employees. I did calculations estimating how long things take, but that is tricky when life throws unexpected spanners at you (I am writing this as the building work opposite is making my flat shake and making my headache throb). 

So, after overthinking everything, I finally wrote some prices down and it felt bold! I kind of felt powerful by saying to the world ‘this is it, if you want me to make your audio dreams come true, this is how much it is going to cost’. Yes it was nerve wracking, but it felt good to put it out there. 

But I must remember, these prices do not represent MY WORTH. It’s the worth of the work and the skills I can bring to help elevate someone’s idea. I have a great skill to offer which enables me to meet people and listen to voices and stories. There is value in what I have chosen to do and this is worth a price tag to enable me to keep living with my ultimate value in mind - kindness.