How the Booking process works
1. Respond to renters
Renters will contact you to discuss shoot details or schedule a scout. Reply quickly and consistently to improve your position in search.
2. Approve booking requests or send custom rates
You have 48 hours to approve a booking request via the Giggster platform. For negotiated prices you can send a custom rate from within your messages.
3. Get Paid
Payout is the total price minus the 19% Giggster commission.
What happens when...
A renter contacts me:
You will receive a text and an email with the potential shoot dates, crew size, and a short message. You can respond directly via the text message. Respond quickly and consistently to improve your position in search. This is the time to settle the details of the shoot and ask any questions (reference section below).
I receive a booking request:
You will receive an email/text notification, and you will have 48 hours to accept or deny on the platform under your bookings page. We collect payment right after you've accepted the booking request and keep the funds until the day of the shoot/event. Your final payout will be deposited into your preferred bank account or sent by check and is processed within 7 days of the start of the shoot.
A renter incurs overages:
If a renter goes overtime or there are more guests on site than booked, please let the renter know they need to pay for the overages, and update the booking with the additional hours or larger crew size under Bookings > the booking in question > “Update Booking” button at the bottom of the page. Collecting payment during the booking guarantees your payout for the overages.
As stipulated in the Location Agreement, the Renter and the Host are required to do a final walkthrough after the booking. The Host and the Renter are to state any overages (if any) - overtime, extra people or damages in the site rep/walkthrough report and sign the document.
If the Host and the Renter cannot come to an agreement and process payment for the overages themselves, the Host can file a claim in Giggster’s resolution portal within 48 hrs from the end of the booking with the walkthrough/site rep report and evidence of the overages attached. In case the payment was not collected during/within 1hr after the booking, inform the renter of the overages (preferably in writing) and file a claim in Giggster’s resolution portal. Our Claims Resolution team will review your claim and send the Renter an invoice. Once the renter confirms the charge on their card, the renter will be charged and the host will be issued a payout for the overages.
I need to charge a security deposit:
A security deposit is not collected by default, but you can include it into additional fees of your listing or send your renters a custom rate to collect a deposit. You can also collect the deposit off Giggster, directly from the renter, however make sure to inform your renter of this requirement in advance, before you approve their booking request. While collecting a security deposit is optional, it would not hurt to require it for parties and events.
What is a custom rate and how can I send one?
Not all bookings will be for your standard rates or hours. You can negotiate a price with the renter and send them a custom rate from within your messages. You can also change a regular booking request to custom rate on the booking card. The renter will then have 48 hours to accept your offer and complete the payment.
Good questions to ask renters:
What is the shoot day length/ approximate times?
What is their cast & crew size?
What areas of the location will be needed?
Do they need to set up scout dates?
Project type/name (Stills, Indie, Feature, Commercial)
Do they have production insurance?
Are they pulling a permit?
What are their parking needs?
Tips Before Shooting Begins
Take time-stamped photos of all areas before and after production arrives
Protect your floors. They can be covered by rubber mats or layout boards (production covers cost). If not possible the production team can wear booties on their shoes.
Put up “no-entry” signs in front of restricted areas
Tell production to keep the noise down if the shoot extends to nighttime
Make sure that production has the proper permits and insurance for your location if they are required
Notify neighbors within proximity before the start date of the shoot
No use of any product owned by the host without explicit permission
Why Keep the Booking on Giggster
More bookings through the site increases location visibility on Giggster Search
We act as a third party in dispute resolution
Security from fraudulent transactions
Protection by our Terms of Service and Cancellation & Refund Policy
What are site reps and why might I need one?
Site reps are there to stand in for you during production days ensuring that everything goes smoothly according to your location rules. He/She is an unbiased 3rd party who assists both the location and the renter.
When do I need to get one?
They are recommended for shoots of any size, especially if you will not be there to supervise. If you do not have your own please contact Giggster and we will provide one. The cost is paid for by the renter.
If I am not using a site rep how can I protect my property?
If you won’t be using a site rep we recommend taking before and after photos with a time stamp of the rooms and areas the production will be using. Make sure to do a walkthrough of your property with the producer before and after the shoot takes place to make note of damages, overtime, overages and/or number of people on site.
What are Prep and Wrap Days?
Prep Days
The renter may mention that they need a prep day before the shoot. A prep day is where some of the crew come by the house to set up equipment and props before the shoot. These are typically half days and are charged 50%.
Wrap Days
Similar to a prep day, a wrap day is used to take down equipment and return your location back to its pre-shoot form.
What is our Location Agreement
A location agreement is a contract that defines all the terms of the production with regards to renting your listing. Giggster has a standard location agreement that protects both the host and producer. You can review it here.
Our agreement is automatically filled in as you complete the booking process. You can see a copy of it on the booking request under your bookings tab or on the right hand side when you are sending a booking request.
Payment and Fees
What fees does Giggster take?
Giggster collects 19% of the total booking value. There is no cost for listing your location on Giggster.
If your daily rental rate is $1,500 and you host a 3 day shoot - your subtotal will be $4,500, and your final payout will be $3,645.
Giggster also collects a processing fee from the renter, which covers the costs of payment processing, product development, customer support, fraud prevention, etc. The percentage of the fee often depends on the overall cost and features of the booking. As the cost of a booking goes up, the fee can go down. This fee is not collected on the host's share.
The 19% commission and the processing fee help us cover the costs associated with development, platform maintenance, marketing, search engine optimization, 24/7 support and claims resolution.
How do I get paid?
The final payout will be deposited into your preferred bank account or sent by check and is processed within 7 days of the start of the shoot. To setup direct deposits please enter your account information at https://giggster.com/account/settings/payout-methods.
What is Production Insurance?
Production insurance covers against damage to the filming location/space, and injury or harm to those present that are not working on the production. This type of insurance is provided by the production team.
Permits
Please refer to your local jurisdiction regarding whether one is needed for the shoot. If you are not sure whether the renter of your property has obtained one please contact them.
For the Los Angeles area please go to https://www.filmla.com/ for more information.
If you have any additional questions please contact us at hello@giggster.com.
Thanks!