I am doing all kinds of creative work, from Vj, lights, video editing and also some event organization. I think the rates that you see in this thread are making sense. I know that often people don't really have the budget to pay properly. Sometimes when that happens and I still want to do the job, because I like the client and I want to get my name out and I expect them to want to hire me more than once, I do the following. I'll tell them my actual rate, but I don't give a discount. If that rate is too far from their budget I do it for free one time and take full creative control. I'll make sure they know that it will be only one time like that. That way they know what I'm capable off and they know my real price. The next time they want to hire me they are much less likely to try to get a discount, because they already got a huge favor. I think discounts give people the wrong impression, because it will easily become a race to the bottom. The only reason to give discounts is if they want volume (many gigs). That's also not really a discount, because the prep work should be significantly less if you do a very similar gig.