How to choose a craft services company
Drop-off, attended, or a full crafty department
The lightest option is a drop-off: a stocked table delivered before call that the production refills. Next is an attended setup, with a crafty person who keeps the table clean, restocked and rotated all day. On larger shows, craft services is its own department with a truck or trailer. Match the format to the crew size and the length of the day.
What a good crafty table has
Coffee and tea ready before the first department arrives, water and electrolyte drinks, fresh fruit, protein snacks, something sweet and something savory, and choices for vegan, gluten-free and nut-free crew. On long days, the best crafty adds warm bites in the afternoon and again after second meal.
Locations change the plan
On a stage, crafty has power, water and a fixed spot. On a practical location or a desert set, ask whether the company brings its own tables, shade, coolers and power, and how it handles a company move halfway through the day.
Budget per person, per day
Ask craft services companies to quote per person per day, with delivery, equipment and attendant hours listed separately. That makes a drop-off quote easy to compare with an attended one, and it shows how the price moves when the count grows on a big day.
What it costs in Los Angeles
Craft services in Los Angeles are budgeted per person, per day. LA crafty companies that publish a figure land between the low teens and the twenties, and an attendant or premium items push it higher.
Typical per-person ranges for craft services in Los Angeles| What | Typical range |
|---|
| Drop-off crafty table | $12 to $20 per person per day |
|---|
| Attended crafty with premium items | $15 to $25 per person per day |
|---|
| Crafty attendant billed by the hour | $40 to $60 per hour |
|---|
| Hot meal from the same company | $18 to $35 per person |
|---|
Crew size, call length and location drive the price: a 14 hour day on a desert location needs more stock, ice, shade and power than a half day on a stage. Equipment kits, delivery and attendant hours are often billed apart from the food.
Marbled LA's own pricing for a crew day starts at $22 per person for breakfast and $24 per person for a Menu 1 hot lunch, with delivery from $150 per drop, $2.50 per person for disposables and a 15 percent service charge.
Tips
- Ask for a per-person, per-day price with delivery and attendant hours shown separately, so a drop-off quote and an attended quote line up.
- On a small shoot, ordering crafty from the kitchen that sends the hot meal can save a second delivery fee.
These are typical Los Angeles market ranges drawn from public price lists and cost guides, not quotes. Every caterer prices its own menus, so ask each one for a written quote.