2 Day Contracts (Rate Premium)

[d000hg]

Charging a premium for very short contracts and sporadic work only makes sense if you're having to turn down other work as a result. If you have no other work, why aren't you glad of:

a)the money
b)a bit of variety in your life
c)chance to make some contacts

[GWilliy]

d000hg the reality for me is that

I spent the day before

1: planning routes
2: discussing deliverables with client
3: reading, understanding, signing, posting contracts
4: skilling up & thinking about the gig approach
5: etc

The two days during

6: trying to find the gig & not be late (setting off earlier)
7: hit the ground sprinting in a foreign environment
8: looking out for anything that may cause a delay achieving results ie requesting logins/security access etc. (no time for delays)
9: asking for key fobs to get to the toilet/coffee machine
10: hitting jobserve when u get home making sure you still apply for real contracts (easy to get distracted)
11: etc

The day after

12: covering Phonecalls from agent
13: covering phonecalls from client
14: generating & posting/faxing a 2 day invoice
15: logging company mileage, expenses, paperwork filling.

A tad more hassle than doing a solid 12 monther 9-5 at the same day rate don't u think.

Anyone can be a busy fool

I'm doing it because I'm not afraid of a bit of hard work & as you say there are a couple of pro's

But no one should assume it's easy. especially you agents reading this.

[Wanderer]

Whilst on the Bench what kind of premium would you put on your normal daily rate if you had a chance of a few (2 or more?) 2 day gigs all over the UK, some with overnight aways (expenses paid).

If it's in an area which is a PITA to get to then I wouldn't bother - by the time you've done all the messing around travelling it might not be worth it.

Who knows, you might get a longer contract offer out of it. I've seen companies get people in to do a few days work and they stay for months or years...

[GWilliy]

Update

15 minutes before catching the train to london for the 2nd 2 Day Gig I got a phonecall canceling it for a month/indefinately.

2 Day Gigs are vulnerable to last minute cancellations.

It sure was fun getting the £368 GBP back from the Hotel Booking that I had to cancel. Thank Crunchie I didn't pre book the train.

Took sodding hours to find a suitable London Hotel as well.

In total I wasted about 8 hours (unpaid) prep & resolution.

The Agent said they would try and get their Client to cover any cash losses, but basically the entire venture into 2 day Gigs has left a bad taste in everyones mouth.

Good luck to anyone else who tries it.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Update


In total I wasted about 8 hours (unpaid) prep & resolution.

The Agent said they would try and get their Client to cover any cash losses, but basically the entire venture into 2 day Gigs has left a bad taste in everyones mouth.

Good luck to anyone else who tries it.

Sorry to hear that - looks like Wanderer was right - bad luck

[Wanderer]

I guess the moral of the story is that if it's a two day contract then you word it such that you get paid for two days even if the client cancels it....