Whats an appropriate number of billable hours for an event lasting 18 hours of actual "show" time? What's a proper ratio of planning time?

[DrPepper12]

Obviously you can't go into any demonstration / proceeding of any kind that you're paying a (usually degreed licensed) white colored professional for (accountant, architect, lawyer, surgeon, etc) without preparing in order to give that client the best of your abilities. Even non-license professions like sales, marketing, acting, software developer need planning time for a job. Same with blue collar professions like plumbing electrician framer etc need to assess a job come up with a plan of attack.

But what's inappropriate ratio of planning time to showtime FOR WHITE COLOR CAREERS?

[AviatorTom]

It depends on what the "show" is. It would be reasonable to charge for teh actual time spent for preparation. More important is to have your client understand, and agree to, the charges that you estimate, along with an acknowledgement of any extra charges if things change or it takes longer than estimated.

In general, I would guess an additional 20% for preparation time might be reasonable.

[AviatorTom]

Thanks for MHO

[AI Opinion]

In white-collar careers, the planning to showtime ratio can vary significantly depending on the profession and complexity of the task. Typically, a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio can be reasonable, meaning two to three hours of planning for every hour of execution. However, some highly specialized fields might require even more preparation. In your case, for an 18-hour event, this might translate to anywhere from 36 to 54 hours of planning depending on task complexity. Remember, the quality of preparation often equates to the quality of outcomes, and balancing both is essential for success.