Help me with an estimate rate!

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

Ok, so I'm pulling my hair here! I just received this in my mailbox:

"Dear Jacob,
Can you tell me please, how much would you charge me for both recording and editing the attached sample?"...

...and with it, a 42-page script attached. That's it!
I have absolutely NO idea whatsoever what to charge for this! There's just too many words in the script to do a word-count. So what would you do in my case??

Here's a screenshot of one of the pages. MOST (but not all) of the pages are like this; some has less words, some have more:

Thom Wilkins · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 587

Jacob - Time reading 4-5 representative pages then calculate the total finished time - then bid on length ( either finished length - or based on hourly rate ro read raw ( multiply finished length x raw time x your hourly rate...) for me about 3.5-4 to 1 for edited copy

Claire Dodin · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 400

Jacob,
If you open it on a word document, go to tools and scroll down to word count, then you'll know how many words and you can go from there.
If you haven't got word, PM me.

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

Claire,
you're an angel, you know that?? I do have MS Word, and had no idea it had this feature!!! Thanks, love!!!

So, the script has a total of ~7000 words. (Approx. because I had to exclude the headline on some of the pages).
Using the "General rates" info from V123, the median-suggestion is a $1350 rate.... the client is Brazillian-based, if that in any way matters. So should I quote on that amount? Go higher/lower? (Yeah, I know I should ask myself first, but I don't have a clue... never done anything this big before!)

Deby Cedars · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1482

Well atleast it looks like your going to be busy for while. Keep us posted on how this works out for you. Very Happy

JJ Wright · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007, 06:24 (GMT) Post subject:

There are times when I quote per page, whereas a page of text would be 12 pt. font , double-spaced with 1" margins.

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

Guys,

thanks for the advice. Now, using the "per word" median rate, I send them a quote. They replied, stating a budget of $1000. HMM! Should I say: "Oh, what the h**l, It's my first gig for this seeker, I'll rub them the right way this time and hope for repeated work!", or should I try and negotiate a higher budget? I would asume I'm not the only artist they've contacted, so obviously I don't want to waste alot of time and shoot my own foot!
But.... It IS a lot of work for $1000... Think

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Hi, Jacob --
Another consideration is how easily the copy reads. If it flows off your tongue without a lot of difficult sentence structure and vocabulary, then you may be able to finish it rather quickly, and then the $1000 might not seem so bad.
Good luck!
Diane

Jacob Ekstroem · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 721

good point, Diane... but the copy (why do you all call it a "copy" anyway, and not a "script???) is not exactly easy reading; it's a tutorial for a new Texas Instruments mathematic calculation gizmo! Laughing

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Oh, that's a funny point -- I call it "copy" because as a former actress, scripts were plays, or stories, or character reads to me. I see factual material as "copy" from the publishing term -- the people who write them are called copy writers/editors.
Sounds like an easy read for YOU, Jacob. You are Le Geek Extraordinaire! Laughing

Lance Blair · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007, 15:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Jacob,
You ought to ask for the v123 recommended rate at least.

Since it sounds like you have not done a project this long, it might be beneficial to take the $1000 because it will be a good exercise (consistency, mental stamina, preparing and delivering many files) in completing longer-format recordings.

I have a client for whom I give really low rates on the very long pieces since he gives me so much short to mid length work for which he pays me well. However, we established the good shorter length rates first. If you do this job for $1000, then they'll expect a comparable lower rate for repeat projects.

Best of luck.

Scott Greenia · **Voice Talent** Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 200

Maybe ask for the grand as initial payment to start the project, but work out some other figures for requested section re-takes ... assuming there will be some. Dunno.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007, 18:16 (GMT) Post subject:

7000 words is not too bad. You are at about $25 a page.

It's a thousand dollars staring you in the face.

I'd do it.

Thom Wilkins · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 587

Jacob - that is a brand new Microtech Gefell 930 looking at you! for what - an hour and a half's work! Hummmmm Very Happy

Earl Edwards · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 27

Are you done yet. It just got to be a dry read. Good luck