Just wondering how other people handle archive of customer projects.

At this time I keep all customer data archived for "some amount of time", typically until the customer tells me that they "will never need it again". The amount of data is manageable . . . for now.

Given storage requirements, logistics, etc. I've been thinking about changing the model. Maybe even charging customers a monthly fee to keep their data (and as an option offering to transfer the data to them on a hard drive they purchase at no charge).

So . . . what do you do?

my temporary solution has been to simply keep all the tapes, keep the video & audio & project related files on external HDs (if possible) or burn the data to DVD-Rs. I have however had one project that had 2 DVD-Rs get corrupted data so I will have to re-record the involved tapes.

I may be stepping up to Blu-Ray just for the 35GB storage. Though at the current price per disc & burner, I may just keep buying external HDs to store all the data.

It depends on the individual client and his needs, but I frequently build the price of an external drive into the price. At the end of the project I give him the HD with all his captured footage, all the original tapes, and if I do not hold any rights to the edit, I'll even give them the FCP files as well.

For many of my clients this has proved to be a good idea. Even when they've told me that the project is completely done, and they'll never need it again, I've had them come back a year or two later and want a re-cut of their project.