Comments on: How Much Should You Pay a Personal Historian?

By: Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:07:16 +0000

@Kate McClellan. Thanks for your kind comments, Kate. I wish you every success with your Personal History business.

By: Kate McClellan

Kate McClellan — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:18:37 +0000

I, too, appreciate this article. I am soon leaving corporate america to formally begin the next phase of my life as a Personal Historian. I have wanted to do this for 10 years. I do work privately and have spent a lot of time on family interviews, but just didn’t have the confidence I guess to step out of the safety net of corporate life. “Living your best life” and all…cliche as it may seem, Oprah’s last monologue reached my soul and I suddenly wasn’t afraid anymore.

Having a ball park idea of where to price my services relieves some of the prep stress. I have been working on a business plan and its been a challenge to get the numbers. Like Alli, most of the companies I have contacted have actually refused to share even simple ball park numbers. Thank you for being willing to offer examples of services and an idea of what to charge.

I am grateful to have discovered your blog and will be an avid reader I am sure!

By: How much does it cost to hire a personal historian? « Memories

How much does it cost to hire a personal historian? « Memories — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:02:07 +0000

[...] http://dancurtis.ca/2009/07/08/how-much-should-you-pay-a-personal-historian/ [...]

By: Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:55:36 +0000

@Alli. Thanks for your comments. I agree that there is enough work in this business for all of us. Unfortunately, I’ll not be at the APH Conference this year – definitely next year though. Maybe we’ll meet then.

By: Alli Joseph

Alli Joseph — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:29:57 +0000

Dan, great summary. As someone with a strong background in the skills to produce personal, family and corporate histories but new to the personal history business itself, I appreciate your candor. Many folks doing this work were open about every element of doing this work, which I am grateful for, except for what they charge. Some would not even give me a ballpark fee when given a specific hypothetical project to budget for. For those coming up in the business behind me — as is the ethos of my company, Seventh Generation Stories — I intend to pass what I know to be helpful on. There’s enough work in this business for all of us, I believe, and what separates the wheat from the proverbial chaff is one’s level of skill, quality of project, time commitment, and ambition. Hope to meet you at the conference in October.

Best, Alli Joseph

By: Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:11:40 +0000

@Beth LaMie. Thanks, Beth! I think simple is best, maybe because I’m a simple guy

By: Beth LaMie

Beth LaMie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Dan,
Great summary of the steps involved in creating a personal history. I like that you kept it nice & simple so everyone can easily understand it.

Beth
http://www.bethlamie.com

By: Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:03:48 +0000

@Sally Goldin. Thanks for dropping by and your comments. Much appreciated!

By: How Much Should You Pay A Personal Historian? : Legacy Multimedia Blog

How Much Should You Pay A Personal Historian? : Legacy Multimedia Blog — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:21:33 +0000

[...] A common question I get is, “How much would a personal history cost?” I tell people it’s a little like going to a car dealer and asking, “How much do your cars cost?” If you’re looking at a used economy model, you’re going to pay much less than for a luxury sedan. Similarly a personal history can be simple or complex. You could have a 50 page, soft cover booklet detailing a memorable phase in someone’s life. Or you could have a 90 minute video biography complete with interviews, family photos and video, music, titles, and effects….. (read more.) [...]

By: Sally Goldin

Sally Goldin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:22:18 +0000

That is a well done summary, Dan. Thanks for posting it!

I tell my clients that we can always find something within their budget, and if they can only do part of a project now, at least get the interviews down!

Sally Goldin, Personal Historian
http://www.sallygoldin.com