Rates... Please Help!

Kim White · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007, 16:42 (GMT) Post subject: Rates... Please Help!

I've just been offered an on-hold job, recording about 4 minutes. They want me to do it for $100. While I know most of you wouldn't dream of doing such a thing, there is a guarantee of ongoing work.

Could I do an introductory rate, and let them know that future work will cost "x" dollars? How would you word that without souding condescending?

Thank you!

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007, 18:13 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim --
I did my very first VO job a couple of years ago for $100 -- voicemail and onhold -- about 3 minutes worth. That was with the insinuation there would be more work. There wasn't. How firm is the "guarantee" of ongoing work? Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut feeling.
Good luck, and congrats on landing one -- from here?!!
Diane

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007, 19:16 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim.... at your time and place I'd take the job but I wouldn't count on the future work. There's never a guarantee and it has been by experience (and that of many others) that "future work" when promised in return for a low rate NEVER happens.

Ed Gambill · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007, 19:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Kim

In radio and TV the term "Earned Discount" is use to show client the perfered way to gain lower price consideration. You are saying that for the first time you pay X and each sucessive time in a certian period of time you get a discount to a price that is the floor.

Are you just supplying dry read or are you doing full produciton.

Kim White · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007, 20:38 (GMT) Post subject:

Ed, It's just a dry read. They're paying another person for a music bed/production. Thanks for the terminology. I'll use that.

Colin, I will take your advice as well. The good thing, is that it is an ongoing client for my friend, the musician/producer. So I really do feel this could be one of many. However, I'll leave my chickens uncounted.

Diane, no it wasn't from here. It was from a friend, but also my myspace.

Thank you everyone! It's a start, eh?

Kim White · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007, 01:16 (GMT) Post subject:

Sorry for the double post. I just found out this is for a telecommunications company who WILL be using me on an ongoing basis! Plus, get this... at the end of their 'hold' message, they are giving a plug for the VO/production combo who does their message. So, really, it's $100 plus free advertising for a 2-page script. Sold!

Diane Havens · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007, 01:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Happy to hear -- enjoy! May this be the first of many more.

Michael Strah · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007, 05:05 (GMT) Post subject: Ed nails it

Ed Gambill is giving you some good advice.

David Oxford · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007, 05:20 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Ed nails it