Help me with an estimate rate!

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

What I would say to the client if it was me, is that I'd do it as a favor because he is a new client but that he would have to pay 50% upfront.
Goodluck whatever you chose, only you know if you think $1000 is worth your time.
You are good, you sound good, trust your talent and what you are worth. Very Happy

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

My services include voicing the script, cleaning up the read, giving the client the .wav file cleaned up and also an MP3 version when they need both. Some clients want music or "sounders" between modules or chapters. Others want some with music under. Mostly, it is a dry read but still, we have to clean it up and add EQ and take out breaths and smooth and enhance in every way. Some clients have timings we must adhere too such as "module three must be no longer than 17 minutes." This is because they have flash presentation going along with it etc. One client said that he needed intros to each module telling the students objectives of learning within that module and the intros had to be exactly 10 seconds long altho the scripts varied in length! Thus, I charge hourly rates (which vary) depending on the client and the scope of a project overall. I ask myself: "Based on the complexity of this project, what will I be happy with per hour because I'll be turning down other work or neglecting other clients or new business pursuits while I'm on this big project." It works for me...

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

A long time ago, a very successful audio producer in Hollywood asked me to bid on a project for Cadillac including a big corporate show they were presenting in Las Vegas plus several TV commercials I was doing voiceovers for and also studio singing work. The project's scope was so big that I asked advice from him on pricing. We finally got the thing budgeted out...but he said, always add 10 percent to the bottom of your budget for "general overage purposes." And if you think this particular job or this client or group of clients is probably going to be troublesome involving redos or script changes or generally disagreeable people you'll be forced to endure...add 20% to the total budget for "aggravation and wine bar expenses you'll need to cope." I thought that was good advice and try to do that whenever possible. Remember: Nothing goes "as planned." Everything usually takes 30 percent more time than you thought it would. That thought comes from a study out of the Harvard Business School (can't recall where I read it anymore but...).

JJ Wright · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007, 07:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Just received a Private lead to audition for a very straight read of 208 page book.
Client says his budget is very low and can only offer $1200. He forwarded a copy of the book for the audition and reference.
The story is about someone doing research or something in regards to World War II and a lot takes place in the Asian-Pacific, so you can imagine the pronounciations, etc. of some of the towns, areas and character names.
Simple math shows me 208 pages for $1200 comes to about $6 per page ... ouch!!!

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

JJ,

but it's still $1200 earned, right? Wink

Hmm!! What to do... what did I do with my lead? I actually went for it and quoted the client the $1000, but got an email back saying they had gone for another voice, and by the way, the deadline was monday!

So was this a lesson learned for me? I don't think so. I think it just goes to show, that seekers are expecting us to do jobs for less and less money. I'm pretty sure the voice artist that landed the gig lowballed his quote, so the next lead from the seeker will probably have an even smaller budget. So I'm actually glad I didn't get the gig. I don't want to be part of low-balling rates. But then againg, maybe I just have to get used to the fact, that Danish rates and International rates aren't comparable...?

EDIT: I've put together this list of pro's & con's from the thread:

PRO'S:

(Diane - 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.)

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

CON'S:

(Betty - I ask myself: "Based on the complexity of this project, what will I be happy with per hour because I'll be turning down other work or neglecting other clients or new business pursuits while I'm on this big project." Remember: Nothing goes "as planned." Everything usually takes 30 percent more time than you thought it would.)

(Claire - only you know if you think $1000 is worth your time.)

(Lance - You ought to ask for the v123 recommended rate at least. If you do this job for $1000, then they'll expect a comparable lower rate for repeat projects.)

It might help anyone else with similar considerations on rates for larger projects... maybe.