Two different things get called a clipping job
The first is campaign work: open pools, paid per view, no relationship required. The second is a direct arrangement with a creator or agency — a monthly retainer or an hourly rate for a set number of clips, paid whether or not they go viral.
The second is more stable and usually less lucrative at the top end. Most people who go full-time run both.
How direct work actually gets offered
Almost always because somebody saw your clips. Creators notice who is clipping them well, and campaign managers keep informal lists of clippers who never cause problems. This is the practical argument for following briefs precisely even when nobody would catch you: the roster you want to be on is not one you apply to.
What the process should look like
These are simplified screen examples. Always follow the live campaign brief when its rules differ.
What to charge
Work out what a comparable volume of campaign clips earned you in a good month and price against that, not against a freelance-editor rate. You are being paid for judgment about what to cut, which is scarcer than the editing.
Offers that are not real
The scams in this space are consistent enough to list.
- Any request for payment to access work, a "clipper programme" fee, or an equipment deposit
- Payment promised only after a vaguely defined "trial" of unpaid clips
- Requests for account passwords rather than posting the clip yourself
- Rates far above the market with no brand, no brief and no contract
The board shows every campaign we can see, ranked by how hot they run and how likely you are to actually get paid — including how full each pool already is.