I’ll admit it—I actually love writing budgets. (Yes, I know… not the sexiest confession on LinkedIn. But hey, someone’s gotta be the budget geek. 😅)Here’s the thing: the budget is the backbone of any production—whether it’s a TV commercial, a live event, a brand activation, or a broadcast. And if you don’t get it right at the very start, it will 100% come back to bite you later on.Case in point: I once joined a project where the budget had been put together by someone... Read more
I’ll admit it—I actually love writing budgets. (Yes, I know… not the sexiest confession on LinkedIn. But hey, someone’s gotta be the budget geek. 😅)
Here’s the thing: the budget is the backbone of any production—whether it’s a TV commercial, a live event, a brand activation, or a broadcast. And if you don’t get it right at the very start, it will 100% come back to bite you later on.
Case in point: I once joined a project where the budget had been put together by someone else. They hadn’t locked in the exchange rate. Between sign-off and shoot, the currency took a nosedive. Suddenly, the production had 30% less funding than expected. Ouch. The company had to swallow the loss themselves, which not only hurt financially but also meant that next time the client came back, they couldn’t deliver the same value for the same budget. Awkward conversations all round.
This is why having the right person write your budget upfront is so important. Someone who’s thinking about:
The right crew size (not too many, not too few 👩👩👧👦)
Proper fees for locations and facilities
Insurances, levies, and taxes (all the fun stuff 🙃)
National insurance and pensions—or the local equivalents if you’re abroad
And yes… even “boring” things like exchange rates
Because those details don’t just vanish if you ignore them. They boomerang back at the worst possible time.
For me, budgets aren’t just spreadsheets—they’re creative protection. They make sure we can deliver the vision without panic, scrambles, or awkward last-minute compromises. Over the years I’ve learned the quirks of rates and costs around the globe, how to plan for the unexpected, and why insurance is the unglamorous hero of every production.
So yes—I geek out on budgets. And honestly? I’m proud of it. 🙌
If you need support putting together your next budget, please do shout. I’m always up for daily gigs to help get projects over the line.
#Production #Budgeting #EventProduction #FilmProduction #CreativeProjects #BehindTheScenes #TVCommercials #BrandActivation
Here’s the thing: the budget is the backbone of any production—whether it’s a TV commercial, a live event, a brand activation, or a broadcast. And if you don’t get it right at the very start, it will 100% come back to bite you later on.
Case in point: I once joined a project where the budget had been put together by someone else. They hadn’t locked in the exchange rate. Between sign-off and shoot, the currency took a nosedive. Suddenly, the production had 30% less funding than expected. Ouch. The company had to swallow the loss themselves, which not only hurt financially but also meant that next time the client came back, they couldn’t deliver the same value for the same budget. Awkward conversations all round.
This is why having the right person write your budget upfront is so important. Someone who’s thinking about:
The right crew size (not too many, not too few 👩👩👧👦)
Proper fees for locations and facilities
Insurances, levies, and taxes (all the fun stuff 🙃)
National insurance and pensions—or the local equivalents if you’re abroad
And yes… even “boring” things like exchange rates
Because those details don’t just vanish if you ignore them. They boomerang back at the worst possible time.
For me, budgets aren’t just spreadsheets—they’re creative protection. They make sure we can deliver the vision without panic, scrambles, or awkward last-minute compromises. Over the years I’ve learned the quirks of rates and costs around the globe, how to plan for the unexpected, and why insurance is the unglamorous hero of every production.
So yes—I geek out on budgets. And honestly? I’m proud of it. 🙌
If you need support putting together your next budget, please do shout. I’m always up for daily gigs to help get projects over the line.
#Production #Budgeting #EventProduction #FilmProduction #CreativeProjects #BehindTheScenes #TVCommercials #BrandActivation
