Pricing glass gilding jobs

[bob gamache]

Hey guys
Is there a set way that you figure out glass gilding pricing?
Would you double or triple the same job just using paint?
Reason being, a lot of times I get cornered by new prospective clients who want a price fast, on the spot.
(the east coast way! insane!)
I don't want to price myself out of the ballpark or take a beating either.

thanks

[Danny Baronian]

Yes, and no.

1. Don't provide on the spot quotes.

2. Don't give a price on the spot unless you've done enough glass work over the years to know from experience what a similar job would cost; based on your question, it's assumed you don't.

3. Time and materials: do the quote back at the shop, just as you would any other job.Write it down step by step, layout,sizing, outlines, back up, screens, screen set up/cleaning, pulls, assesability , foot traffic, after hours, every step.

Left coast, right coast, no difference. Quick, off the cuff quotes usually bite back, especially in the wallet.

Danny

[bob gamache]

Thanks Dan

I Appreciate your feedback, & I'll take your advice!
I've been actively hand lettering and striping for over 30 years, but I've only been glass gilding for about 3 years though, and find it tough to price.

I guess if the clients are too impatient to wait for a quote they are'nt worth the effort.
I thought there might be a quick formula to figure out a basic job.

thanks again

[Mike Jackson]

Bob,
You can usually make a pattern, letter the letters, then go ahead and outline or shade a letter if only hand painted. Besides the extra expense involved in the gold leaf irself, there are a lot more steps in doing a gold leaf job and considerable more down time simply waiting for one step to dry. The same job may take two or mor trips. And, as with any artistic project, there are tons of variables. A water gild job takes longer than a matte letter job. A burnished gold job over a matte center takes more than double the time. To simply double, triple, or quadruple the price of doing a similar hand painted sign might work, but it also might get you into trouble depending on all the mentioned variables.

I'd suggest some sort of three tier pricing. You only need to throw out ranges of prices during the initial selling process, but suggest you'd have to figure it out more closely once you iron out the design and actual needs.

Good luck,
Mike Jackson

[bob gamache]

Thank you Mike

Your opinion is highly valued on this end, thanks!