Got a private request .. need advice

Jason Mayoff · **Voice Talent** Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

Hi,

I've been asked to quote someone on a 95000+ word audiobook. I've been in the voice biz for many years (radio news) but this is my first time quoting someone for something like this and I need advice. First off ,how much do I quote. At $.10/word it works out to $9500, but the budget is $1000-$5000. I was thinking somewhere in the upper middle of that -- around $3000.

Can I ask for payment upfront? A deposit? I won't start voicing it for another 6 weeks. Can I ask for, say a third now, a third in 6 weeks and then a third upon completion?

Who owns the narration rights once done? Does he have to pay me again if my voice is used in another context? Say for advertising purposes or in another audioboook or in a second edition of the book?

Also, how long, on average should this size book take to voice? How many hours of audio would it work out to be?

I know these are a lot of questions, but I hope someone can help me soon. I want to respond with a quote by the end of the day.

Thanks

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

Well done, Jason; and nice to see you around the boards.

I answered that one, and figured the 92,000 words to about ten hours of finished audio. Figure four times that for recording, re-takes, cleaning up, etc, and you come to 40 hours. For a job that size, and with my facility for reading, I'd settle for $75/hour, or $3,000.
But he wants to own the narration, so I throw in a buyout of 75% to get about $5,200.

The directions he gave (channeled spirits, etc) and his bewilderment as to contracts, format, etc would indicate to me that you might regret anything much less.
And I always ask new clients for 50% up front, though in a relatively high-paying gig like this, you might go for a third. Do get something, though.

Again, go get 'em. And be heard here a bit more, won't you?

Voice On!

Grant Holmes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 265

You can ASK for ANYTHING