Telling a client you're no longer going to work for pennies.

Michelle Ann Dunphy

So, I have the uncomfortable situation today of telling a client that I am no longer willing to do their character video games for only .05 a word (just calculated it out and realized that I have been SEVERELY under charging them for hte last two games). Granted, this is regular work with national exposure (distributed to MAJOR stores nation wide) and I don't want them to freak out, so I thought I've still incorporated a big discount.

I don't want to lose the client, but damn. I can't go getting paid $200 for a script that's 3571 words, national distribution, and using a character voice no less. slash

Any advice? I've sent out the first e-mail saying that they're going to at least have to pay me 10 cents a word which is still considerable discount due to the fact that they are company I've worked w/ in the past and they bring me regular work. But yipes, I do not want to lose this client.

Joe J Thomas · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007, 15:30 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Michelle,

I can understand that. I've had several experiences like this.

1) Did a game for $40 (early in my VO venture). Got a call from the same guy for another one months later. I was just honest with him, and let him know that the rate was on the low side for me. Never heard from him again.

2) VO'd an industrial, time-matched VO for a video, with a British dialect. Price on the first wasn't bad, but was "under-market". On the second one, I gave them a fair price, but not a steal like the first. They said "Ok". Did the VO. Sent the invoice. Then the company president complained: "We can get local talent cheaper". I explained my pricing (per word/page, etc) and pointed out it was still a good deal based on the market. They posted for a new talent on V123. I did finally get paid for my work, but it took a while and some pestering.

Bottom line: Value your own work. There will always be clients who want a Pro Voice for the price their nephew would charge. In the long run, they're not worth the effort.

My 1/50th of a buck,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

Robert Jadah · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007, 19:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Ditto on that.
I scared off two Private customers in the last 14 days with my quotes. But the three I did land more than make up for the lost revenue.
Your work has value.
Do not be afraid of losing them. If they're producing their third game, they've done well enough to pay you more than a laughable stipend.

Voice On!

Michelle Ann Dunphy · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007, 20:21 (GMT) Post subject:

Oh this is their 3rd game with me. They've produced MANY games. They're a budget game producer in Germany that then dubs their games and sells them to distribution companies over here. They're great people, very nice, but man. 5 cents a word is just too little for me.

It just kills me to let a job slip by, especially a regular client. Before, money was money, but now that I'm getting a bit busier and really starting to establish myself, I really can't justify doing something for so little. I think the rate I offered them of 10 cents per word is still too little, but at least it's double what I'm making now!

Adam James · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007, 22:33 (GMT) Post subject: Man Alive!

I would definitely be charging more than that per word, even as a relative newcomer to VOs.

It saddens me that companies are strangling talent due to trying to find the cheapest they can (Although i'm not saying that is what has happened initially in your case). Money might be one thing, but having a great voice is something that they should invest in, and by the sounds of it they have definitely been getting the best from you, albeit far too cheap.

They're lucky to have had the opportunity to use your voice. As you say, you are busier now, but business is business.

Best of luck with sorting it out,

Adam

www.djadamjames.com

Bobbin Beam

This is a topic very near & dear. It's time all talent take pause and not allow themselves to be devalued. In the long run, it places everyone else out there at a disadvantage, beacuse the "industry" keeps applying the downward pressure. Yes this is a very sexy industry, but making so little, after taxes doesn't pay the bills....ain't sexy.

It's OK to take a pass. Thanks for listening. Bobbin Beam

Michelle Ann Dunphy · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 16:39 (GMT) Post subject:

So the client just got back to me... Funny enough as I was writing a reply to this post. They cannot pay more than $300 for this project of 3468 which averages out to only 8 cents a word.

....Do I take it? I could really use the income, but man, that's a LOT of work for $300. They're all individual small files so it's a lot of stopping, cleaning the file and saving. slash

Joe J Thomas · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 16:43 (GMT) Post subject:

Caryn Clark · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 16:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Even when I was a newbie (and I still kinda am)... no way. I value my time a little more than that, personally. But that's just me.

Good luck with your decision!!!!

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 17:30 (GMT) Post subject:

Michelle Ann Dunphy · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 17:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Yeah, I agree with you guys. I didn't want to quote them any higher than 10 cents per word because I didn't want to freak them out, but man, for how much work that goes into it with the small files, character voice, etc. 8 cents per word is waaaay too cheap. 10 cents is too cheap, but for regular work, it'd be okay. I just can't see 8 cents per word though.

Gosh I hate turning away work as I'm still relatively new to this, but man!

I'm going to reply to their email right now and let them know...it's 10 cents or nothin'.

Bobbin Beam

Figure how long it will take to record, edit, prep the file, upload it, invoice, collect, and deduct what you'd owe on your income tax on the job: at least 33% plus whatever percentage your state charges, divide by the number of hours to do the job into your NET pay, which will be less than $ 200.00 and then you'll be able to tell yourself.
Good Luck. Let us know if you end up doing it.
Bobbin Beam

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 17:50 (GMT) Post subject:

Edited my post above with some math. Let us know how you do.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 17:53 (GMT) Post subject:

If they let you go for $57 then they are not commited to your work.

Michelle Ann Dunphy · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007, 20:59 (GMT) Post subject:

I don't know if it is because it is last minute to find a replacement for me or if they care commited to my work, but they're going to take me now for 10 cents per word since I held my ground and said that I wouldn't work for less than 10 cents a word.

It's a pretty generic little girl character since it's just game narration for childrens games, but it still is a character I have worked on developing for them. I'm actually doing a variation on the original voice. Just waiting to hear back on which variation now so I can begin recording.

Yay for them taking it for a reasonable wage. They want it ASAP though so it's going to be a long week as I do work a day job on top of voice over work and have a class to attend tonight. Smile

But busy is better than dull right?