Hi folks I wanted to get fellow artists opinions and help concerning commissioned work. I am not sure exactly if this is the right forum but I really need some input from fellow artist like you.

Here is the situation. I have been asked by a museum to provide all the files I used to create a virtual roman domus (home) located on my website so they can use in an exihibition for their museum. They are asking me how much money I will charge for them to use my work, (my files). From these files they will create create various types of multiple interactive formats, which could include a 3D walkthrough, QuickTime, Flash and the museums webpage.  

I have done some paid jobs before but nothing like this. I have absolutely no idea how much to charge.  I know I worked for about 3-4 months on this project over the course of weekends, nights ,so on , like you all do. I estimate I worked somewhere around 40 - 60 hours on it altogether.

Any advice or info regarding standard rates ,(what to charge) would be a big help. Because I have no clue. :)
Thanks in advance!! 

Charge what your time is worth. How much did you make per hour on the best paying job you ever had? If you aren't hard up for the money, look to barter for something of value. Why take taxable cash when merchandise that can dress up your home will do just as well.

($50.00 an hour + resources ) x 1.5(profit margin) = Fee to charge client

There are several ways of looking at this . If the house they want is a saleable product , but they want the source files then charge a suitable price , time and materials , taking into account how much you stand to make from the product and specify in the sale to them that you retain rights to the product.   If you just made it for your own use then recover some of your costs by charging for time .

the other way is to contract with the that you will DONATE the files , with an agreed value , so you can get a tax deduction , AND your name and contact information will be displayed on the exhibit, so you get advertising benefit from it. 

They will be doing all the work , so you just need to decide how much those files are worth to you . It could be worth finding out if other museums might be interested as well. Dont give the museum rights to distribute anything made from your files .

Quote - ($50.00 an hour + resources ) x 1.5(profit margin) = Fee to charge client

This is closest to the correct answer.

Don't fall for the "in lieu of payment you'll get exposure and we'll put your name on it for advertising"  line.  The reason you advertise is to get commisions like this.

mark's right in saying to hold on to the distribution rights.

That's some good advice and points thank you. It happens that they only want the license to use my work/files. They are offering money and requested a "fee" as to how much I should charge them. So essentially they are paying for the rights to use while I retain all copyrights.

I don't want to soak them but then again I don't want to come in way low either. So I think Patorak's equation appears to be a very good starting point if not a good rate to charge.

I made the project really for my own use but yes it would be nice to get a little cash for my efforts. Distribution rights...? That's something to think about. As far as I know this exhibit will be shown only in the museum, however also on their website. So I have some things to consider.... Thank You!!

Glad to help.  BTW the estimator at work told me to tell you once you have a solid steady client base then raise the profit margin to 2.0

Charge them a fair rate, as patorak suggested, so you can do more of this stuff for other museums.  Showing it on their website should be okay; I wouldn't charge more for that.   Maybe you could work out a deal whereby you sell copies of the models through their online museum store.  I've seen 3d exhibits of this kind at Fort Ancient and Cahokia and other archaeological sites and would have bought the models had they been available.

Thanks, yes I'm trying to be fair. I mean I've been doing 3D work for a long time and it's exciting to have a museum ask for my work. That alone is a huge compliment. I am actually finishing up another commission job for a student in the UK.  It's a fairly accurate reconstruction of the Roman Fort and bridge at Hadrian's Wall in Newcastle, England.  I really did the job for the fun of it, but he offered to pay. I grossly underestimated the time and money, But to be honest I love doing it. The money is really the gravy.  I hope to show the project "Pons Aelius"  very soon. 
Of course, doing 3D reconstructions of ancient cultures and "stuff"  would be a dream job.  

Hi Decadence, I just went to your website and it looks wonderful!  I can see why they would want to use your work.  Congratulations and good luck!
Carol

• Blush * Thank you Carol !

If you do a commision job, where they want all rights to the models then your rate goes way way up. Accurate reconstruction work like you are doing is at the high end of the pay scale .

Quote - ($50.00 an hour + resources ) x 1.5(profit margin) = Fee to charge client

$75-100 per hour is going rate around here for 'Exclusive comissioned' work with distribution rights relinquished to the client, and only able to reserve for yourself rights to self promotion.
Usually, the more rights transfer to the client, the higher the price.

Non exclusive non comissioned work where creator retains most of the copyrights and distribution rights (meaning, it can be sold again by the cretor to someone else) usually brings in less.

Aslo, one thing to consider is whether what you created is 100% your own work (models textures and all) or if there are third party items which were used, and what their usage rights are.

Quote - If you do a commision job, where they want all rights to the models then your rate goes way way up. Accurate reconstruction work like you are doing is at the high end of the pay scale .

When I do architectural visualizations, which are to-scale constructions if this type, with exception of them being set in modern times, the going rate for exclusive work is between $95-120 per hour, with a 'not to exceed' estimate agreed on and contract signed up front.

When theese are given to the client upon completion, the only rights I am allowed to retain is an occasional image for self promotion. All files, textures and produced renderings or animations become 100% EXCLUSIVE owhership of the client (in my case usually a home builder).

Usage which museum asked for is non-exclusive type of usage with a lot of rights reserved by the author, and also with a lot of exposure to the author.

Anyway, what I'm getting at, this kind of a situation is not the type where the artist can expect premium hourly rate for the work.

If it were me, I would seize this as an advertising opportunity, and likely choose to donate time limited non exclusive use of the project... making sure it's source is prominently advertized. This has a potential to bring in a lot more commissiopned work then you'd ever be able to get paid by the museum. Especially if they are any kind of a non-profit organization and I could get a tax write-off.

About a fee for the museum, It's hard to ballpark it very quickly without knowing little more about the model complexity, and the type and especially duration of use by the museum.

*$75-100 per hour is going rate around here for 'Exclusive comissioned' work with distribution rights relinquished to the client, and only able to reserve for yourself rights to self promotion.
Usually, the more rights transfer to the client, the higher the price.

Non exclusive non comissioned work where creator retains most of the copyrights and distribution rights (meaning, it can be sold again by the cretor to someone else) usually brings in less.

Aslo, one thing to consider is whether what you created is 100% your own work (models textures and all) or if there are third party items which were used, and what their usage rights are.

Freelancers should never sign over distribution rights without a contract providing them with royalties.

I knew I came to the right place ..... YES when I created the virtual roman domus I was determined to create as much original content (my own textures and models) as possible. I did use a few purchased items. I created my own textures and copied public domain images edited by me to make something unique. I was very aware to create something I could also use commercially. I used a few freebies. None of which I can use commercially.

Thanks to you people!!  I'm able to make a more informed descision.

It's a very nice file - the texture work is excellent.

I would say, considering the venue, $5,000 to $7,500

I am on the other side of the fence on this...as a museum is a place of learning, I would just give it to them :) Sure they have money to spend, but I would rather they spend that on the development of the idea rather then the idea.

But I am surely in the very minor minority here.

*I am on the other side of the fence on this...as a museum is a place of learning, I would just give it to them :) Sure they have money to spend, but I would rather they spend that on the development of the idea rather then the idea.

But I am surely in the very minor minority here.

...I don't know,  museums get a lot of endowments and grant money.  A bud of mine got six figures for a mural he did.  I'm sure Dec could use the money,  too.