aside from auditions, what are we making ($$)?

Robert Jadah

Voices:
Are we ready for this? Are we open and united enough to breach the last taboo and talk money? I think it's important, especially for new starry-eyed talents who muse that internet voicing may be just the career for them.
I'll start.
Please keep in mind that I'm telling more here than I will on my tax return. Mostly, because you're nicer people.
So far in 2006, I've done much better in my dull old day job than in my loved preference, where I have made about $6,000. This includes gigs as an accredited and unionized actor. Voice work through V123 is about half of my 2006 (dare I say it?) creative earnings.
Over the last ten years, I land one role per 30 auditions in acting. Over the last year, I land one gig per 40 auditions in internet voicing.
If one calculates preparation and auditioning time, I believe that it all works out to approximately $7.00 per hour.
I would be hard-pressed to believe that many make much more through V123. Still - considering the talent here - I'd like to believe that it happens.
It is only a cautionary topic.
But for those that see voicing as a road paved with gold, please note that the on-ramp is very difficult to find.
I believe that those making the most money in non-union internet voicing are doing so by offering paid internet tutorials. They are noticeably absent from this peer-driven and wonderful forum.
For the rest of us, it is truly a labour of love.
Dare we say what else we get out of it?
Voice on, all,
Robert Jadah

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006, 14:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Okay, Robert, I'll take the bite and walk the plank here with you...

I started really pursuing freelance voice work in about '03 after setting up my 'home studio' (okay, a broadcast quality mic, mixer and my computer). Mainly I just picked up a freelance spot here or there and made a decent $2100 or so that year. Not bad for a start. Made about the same the next year. That eeked up a bit in '05.

So far this year has been astronomically better. I'd prefer not to give out numbers, but trust me, it's been much, MUCH better (more than triple previous years). Why? I think for a couple of reasons:

- I've finally built up a small, but reliable base of steady clients. Some are local producers and video production companies that call on me (sometimes weekly) to voice local cable-tv spots. A couple of clients found me on the web (not thru voice123, but thru my own site: www.voicebyscott.com) and have become regulars. The work is not huge, but it's good and steady.

- I also became a paid member of voice123.com this past spring and have picked up a couple of decent jobs thru them. I'm getting more comfortable with the audition process here and hope to pick up even more work thru v123 in '07.

- I finally landed one of those dream jobs we all want... a long-term very large job narrating 300 online e-learning modules for a training company. This project began during the summer and continues on today. When this set of modules is finally done (they're math lessons for grade-school students), the company has another such project waiting in the wings for me (English lessons, I think).

Obviously one of the best things we can do is to get those repeat clients. It's taken me 4 years to get the momentum building, but I can finally see it really picking up steam. I'm excited about the possibilities and having a blast doing it.

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 20:11 (GMT) Post subject: Great Scott

Scott:
Seems we touched a nerve here; and everyone flinching away.
I had thought it a productive theme to hear what we are and are not making, but it seems we're somewhat tongue-tied.
Glad for your wise, experienced posts throughout. Thanks for joining me here in baring ourselves.
For a voicing community, we sure can seem silent....
Robert Jadah

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 20:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Ditto back atya, Robert, on the intelligent posts you've contributed, too. I like the fact that people here can be supportively critical of each other in an effort to help each of us improve. I'm surprised this thread hasn't generated any other responses, too.

Lynne Alston · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 20:51 (GMT) Post subject:

Really appreciate your input, I recently started to pursue this elusive career mainly for creative needs, and the love of speech (my day job is very silent as a massage practitioner). while its interesting to me that not much money changes hands for the majority I still note that many have an incredible urge to continue in this endeavor. My hope is that I will recover the cost of all this equipment, which seems 3 years away, have some fun, meet new people, master a career and be able to talk till my heart's content, and for which I can only hope to make the money you mention!!!
Lynne

Todd Ellis · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 21:35 (GMT) Post subject:

OK guys - I'll take the bait - 1st some background.

15 years in radio from Market #300 to #3: on-air and/or Production Director, Sales, PD, OM Janitor, you name it. Like many of us.

5 years in Business Development for a publishing company including extensive nation-wide travel. (which is why I left)

During the entire time I worked freelance VO to one degree or another until I got the idea for my MASTER PLAN (Muhaaaaa Haaahaaaa!!!) I made about $8k the 1st year, $12 the 2nd and about double that in the 3rd. I get about 1 in 40 gigs on V123 and am very happy with it. Several of them have turned into regular clients. I promote through my own website www.audioimage.biz and do A LOT of guerrilla marketing. I NEVER wait for business to come to me. There are so many businesses out there who WANT someone to come in and tell how to do it better. Without regard to what "it" is.

I realize I haven't mentioned my "master plan" - and I won't be doing that. But the uphsot is I found a niche and exploited it. And guess what? There are PLENTY of million-dollar ideas out there that haven't seen the light of day yet.

One of them may be yours.

Brad Venable · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 22:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Well, I have been doing this and actually getting money for it since August of last year...

Before that, and still today, when I'm not doing recording...I am the public address announcer for countless sporting events in eastern Oklahoma...dating back to the spring of 1999, and freelance sports radio broadcasts for the last four years. I also work for the Northeastern (Oklahoma) State University Department of Athletics as the Gameday Operations Director while I complete my Master's Degree of Communication Arts.

With all of those VO-related jobs, I guess one could say that I made about $13,000 with my voice last year.

It's also tough to compute how much I could've actually made if I weren't so focused on school stuff...I just hope to put back enough to move to a larger market in about 2 years. I'm thinking Dallas, Chicago, or L.A.

Nikki Saco · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 22:52 (GMT) Post subject:

I'll dish too. I became a paid member 9/5/06 and have made just under $1,000 for 10 projects: about half were single on-holds, then a short podcast, a local TV spot and three larger voicemail system projects (with a couple on-holds and a number of prompts), in English, Spanish or both. I timed every project and can tell you I didn't make less than $40 an hour on any project, but that absolutely doesn't include the time I spend auditioning (which is both PR and continuing education - also fun!). Although these were small jobs, they provided the beginning of a nice client base and I've had at least one repeat client already, and another has a pending script - so future work I hope.

So far I don't have to make a living from VO work. I do some graphics and web design and have a couple steady clients there; and I also worked as a litigation paralegal for 20 years up until last November and managed to put money aside (that paid very well).

I've got some pending scripts but no solid work so far this month. I have started charging the going rates rather than the slightly lower rates I charged before I read the Voice123 suggested price list. I'm trying to stick to it but of course, that will only work if we all stick to it and I'm not sure that's going to happen. Still, I'm in this for the long haul. Even if the jobs are few and far between, it's very gratifying to be able to provide someone with a product they're happy with and which I enjoy doing so much.

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 23:07 (GMT) Post subject: Thanks Lynne

Lynne:
That was poignant. Loved the silent day job.
You are so right about us voicing away despite the vaccuum. But a true labour of love is what craft is all about.
You hang in. That kind of dedication and drive is what some of the following posts have parlayed into nice niches.
Voice On,
Robert Jadah

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 23:16 (GMT) Post subject: Hot Todd

Todd:
That was exactly the kind of tough, wooly input this topic needed. You make it clear - as does your go-get-'em website - that this business is like any other, in that hunting the business is more lucrative than being the hunted.
I think that many voicers have that artistic bent that keeps them waiting for calls rather than making them. Mooning, almost.
Personally, 2 mis-spent years in media sales many ages ago soured me forever on peddling anything; even my own voice talent.
You showed the right path. It's gotta be an eye-opener.
Thanks, guy,
Robert Jadah

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 23:23 (GMT) Post subject: Brad's Venerable

Brad:
Thanks for chipping in. This is all a good, clean splash of cold water for dreamers. It's golden info, especially for rookies.
You obviously work real hard at it. I salute you.
You gotta be proud to be in the higher echelons of lower voice earnings. You've earned it.
(I wish I could figure out how to put these comments under the related postings. We're bloody tech dinosaurs, we dense baby boomers.)
Voice On,
Robert Jadah

Robert Jadah · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 23:36 (GMT) Post subject: Another Nikki-tine break

Nikki:
Thanks for your illuminating honesty. You're spot-on about the money issue. Just today there was a $50 radio - RADIO! - posting and I noticed 122 replies.
We have got to stop going into feeding frenzies for a leftover.
Somebody somewhere is making good money on V123 talent, and that poor needy voice will happily take $50 to tailor a :30 spot to somebody's direction. That's madness! It's demeaning. It's like offering to tap-dance for nickles.
By the way, Nikki, you'll be making much more much soon.
Robert Jadah

Nikki Saco · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 23:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Before you raise a statue in my honor, I have to admit I was one of the 122 replies to the $50 radio spot. I'm still hungry for the experiences. But you're right, it is a demeaning rate. VO work is like sex. You want to give it away or fetch a high price, but no one wants to be a $20 hooker.

Scott Nilsen · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006, 00:15 (GMT) Post subject:

(Must avoid commenting on $20 hooker line....must avoid commenting on $20 hooker line....)

I have been pursuing voice work for about the past year. I just recently passed the $1000 mark, with LONG dry spells in between. Only one job came from voice123(a small one), although that led to another small job indirectly.

I am doing what I can to make things work out, but am open to other ideas for promotion...I'm sure there are a lot of things I'm missing.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006, 01:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Robert - So many VO talents - and creative people in general - miss the key element in the voiceover business ... the business. I've known graphic designers and artists in the same boat. I poked at this thing for YEARS making a coupla bucks here and there and having a lot of fun. It wasn't until I started working a commission-based sales job - and got some excellent sales and marketing training that I ... slowly began thinking about how I could make doing what I love into something I could do for a living.

Nikki - we've ALL bid on $50 jobs. Anybody out there who says "never" should remember that its a very long time. Hey - sometimes a project looks cool and you just want to be a part of it - Sometimes it's been a slow week and you just want some points on the board - in my opinion there's no sin. Obviously we want to keep rates up in general, but it's the exception that proves the rule, right? There is also the cost of doing business to factor in. If I'm in New York or L.A. it's going to cost me more to live/work than if I live in Omaha, Nebraska or Red Oak, Iowa - I guess what I'm saying is - water finds it's own level. My prevailing rate sheet has always been "what the market will bear".

I don't know any more that the next guy. I'm just trying to avoid going back to radio or west-coast turn-a-rounds.