As an example if they are on the road at 7 to go to London with a 2 hr travelling time each way then this is added to their day rate, on top of this is the vehicle running costs, the customer has the choice in that if they want that particular trades person they pay the price or get someone local.
So if demonstrators are running a business properly they should not buy the work by not charging for travelling time but should charge it out at the same rate as their hourly production time as this is what they lose, add the fuel costs plus materials, sundries etc. If this is done then I would charge for fuel and drop the 45p/mile as this will be tax deductible.
So if I was charging out a demo for a club that was say a 6 hour round trip my added costs would be £30 x 6 + £45 fuel lets be generous and charge the hourly rate at £20/hour £120 on top of the day rate of £185 = £305 + £45 fuel
£350
If we look at it more and start adding time lost from production to get ready for a all day demo again being generous say 4 hours especially if I need to rough turn hollow forms etc to sharpen tools, pack every thing, then we add another £80
£430
When we get back getting the workshop straight, more lost production time 2 hours another £40 and this is being generous as I can turn £40/hour net for my time by staying in the work shop.
so
£430 + £40 = £ 470
£470 for a day turning demonstration, not on your bxxxxy Nelly I hear you shout
but its not a days turning it is 1 3/4 days work call it 2 cause you are not going to do much with the rest as you will ne knackered from all the driving.
So in reality what I charge is my day rate and 45p/mile which is not a back hander/extra wage but covers the fuel, running cost, depreciation of the
works vehicle
£470 divided by 2 (if we charge for prep time and travelling which we don't) so lets take off the £120 and the fuel charge of £45
= £305
add the 45/p/mile many begrudge paying so £240 mile x .45 = £108 but exclude this from our wage as it is genuine running costs not some hidden back hand.
£305 / 16 hrs work including the(prep of pieces and lost production time) £19.06/hour - 20% tax £3.80 £15.24/hour before all other over heads depreciation etc In reality for a full days demo with a lot of driving time thisis is 2 full days work.
£15.24 x 8 hours = divided by 2 = £121.92/day before over heads, sundries, depreciation of tools, office costings, etc etc etc, so being generous - another £10/day for over heads £111.92/day not on your nelly
.
So if we rework the blanks and get them to a gallery standard they will on top of the time already processing and roughing (if we do this) this more than pays for the blanks ok i'll give you that, but what pays for the lost time, I know, I will give it for free out of my earnings as I am a charitable chap like that !! I make on the sale of the piece as I didn't charge for my travelling time/lost production time etc.
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So now lets look at it from my skilled trades person/wages point of view.
By staying in my workshop for a day 1000-1600 this is my day as I also look after my daughters, that is 4 hours less over the two days for a demo
I can on production bowl and other turning in this time (much less than for a demo) net double the fee from the demonstration with no travelling, no lost production, no lost hourly rate, no
excessive tiredness which lowers my production rate for a few days, no wear and tear on my vehicle etc etc etc.
It was very well put in the Revolutions article/paraphrasing
if you don't want the work then don't do it hence the reason I only do a few evening demos with very local clubs and the odd one now and again further a field/abroad if is a positive process on my business IE networking. Since I have decided to stop most of the demo's my percentage of profit has vastly risen to the extent that I now realise I am giving money away to demo compared with production turning.
So I hear what clubs are saying and I can see how having to put the yearly fees up to £36 can hurt s it is such a huge amount for one years fee's of a club, trust me giving away my money just for 1 x demo instead of staying in the workshop hurts me also :)try giving away £2000 a year so you can buy the demo work. For this reason I have pretty much stopped demos and I would urge other demonstrators to look at the genuine business/hourly rate costs involved in an all day and evening demo charge it and if clubs won;t pay then don't demo. Simples.
Now it does not mean I do not enjoy demonstrating or the people at them to the contrary I have made many friends and enjoy the laugh and banter very much, but having a young family and not getting my Police pension until I am 60 I have to pay for the bills, it is just not a viable option for me to greatly lower my hourly rate and percentage of profit to attend demo's, this for me if just buying work, businesses don't buy work they make a profit for time spent time.
Of course some demonstrators charge much more than me as they are more experienced etc, some charge less so it will vary.,
That is it from me on the subject
I have done the maths with my accountant so will stay in the workshop more often than not.