What happens when "Talents Compete" for the job?

Anthony Reece · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 53

Well I do feel your pain people...so let me share this little story...

About 3 1/2 years ago, I had lunch with a casting friend of mine, also in the vo business in atlanta, he and I were not thrilled with the idea of the 'click-per-cast' models coming of age, where the TALENT pays the fees. All my associates bitched and gripped about the lose of the clients / talent relationships. thanks to these new web based impersonal models.

Yet, as did I, they all flocked like wild birds to these web sites to sign up and back then it was free. (can you say drug dealer seeding their adict) So that day, I made him a bet for $100 bucks that within 4 years, the rate for our non-union voice overs - per-minute would go below $50.00.

My thought was this. When you model a voice over program, or any for that matter after ebay, or a "auction" type deal, the consumers and web site owners win. Not only have WE allowed this to happen, but the WIS consumer now can select a voice talent totally by the 'rate' verses the actual audition.

How do I know this? First as a voice talent of course who used to earn between $150 and $250 per minute, but today ww're lucky to get $50 bucks per minute. Now as a producer / casting director even my studio CLIENTS come to me and say, "hey we don't care what rate you think your talent should earn, we will pay $50 - $75 per min take it or leave it".

Then they'll say; " see we'll just go to voice 123, or voices-com for our voice over because people there will work for food, ir not $50.

So my friends I guess until WE get out of the bed we all helped make, we must sleep in it. By the way Tim, where is my $100 bucks!!!!

Thus my post about forming a 'non-union-union' in the pro forum. Maybe and maybe only then can we force a minimum rate for our industry. But until then and only then, as Bob Bergen said in a recent post, there is always the option of going UNION. (well that is another story isn't it)

Anthony

Ed Gambill · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 585

Anthony

I have been working on a new ideal called SaVoa (Society of Accrediated voice over Artist)it will launch shortly. A lot of though has gone into SaVoa and it come as a direct response to the low balling and less than proper treatment talent gets from voice seekers. SaVoa is more a guild than union. The goal is to help buck up prices and yet allow VO talent to keep independences as business persons. It like everything that is new would take a lot of hard work. It will be much more affordable than the big three union.

Send me you e-male address if you haven’t already done so to info@savoa.org and I send you the latest whit paper I hope to have it ready by Wed.

Ed

Michael Strah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 29

Client education is a major factor and should be included in any measures taken to group together to raise wage standards.
You get what you pay for is as true with V/O as it is with any other professional service.
Talent must also be able to demonstrate why they are worth the extra money it will cost. Bargain basement talent with a bargain basement producer means a suspect end product (usable at best, a waste of time and money at worst) and a higher studio bill because of the amount of takes and editing.
Nothing beats the combination of a decent V/O artist and a producer who can draw out the vocal talent necessary for the project. An efficient team means a better end product and lower overall cost. Both the talent and the producer are happy to have their names associated with the product and the quality will be easy to hear.

Ronald T Robinson · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1008

Fortunately, "pro" Seekers can appreciate the distinctions of a "pro" V/O Talent.

Unfortunately, those Seekers are somewhat rare in these parts -- unless they're low-ball chumming and trolling. You know... the ones hiding behind V-123 anonymity-screens and wearing soiled trench coats. Smile