What to charge for changes or repeats

Loretta Scott · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 15

Help! I am very new at this. I have auditioned for a whole lot of jobs and even had some Excellent ratings, but only 1 job through another listing. Sorry Voice123.com.
I am struggling with pricing and wonder if that is why I don't have a job. I am basing my rates on the Voice123.com doc on the site but using the median rates as a guide. However, what do people charge if a customer decides to make some changes or gives you repeat work?
My one job was for an answering system. My customer was very pleased and said that they may call me again. He wanted to know my rates for repeat jobs for answering systems. HELP!!!!
Loretta Scott
PS I'm even new at posting on forums such as this!!

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

Hi Loretta,

Ok..here you go..(I'll bill you later) Wink

1st - create your rate sheet and keep in mind you're a beginner, so price it accordingly, but do NOT cut yourself short as people will eat you alive and take advantage of you being green and use you to...well USE YOU.

2nd - once you have a rate sheet, stick to it and ONLY offer a discount IF they actually uses you more then 2x. State that upfront. "well mary I offer discounts after my clients 2nd job", etc. Then and ONLY then offer a discount from 10 - 12% but don't make it a habit as this business is like life in general. yea, sure I'll call you tomorrow, yea sure...the check is good, etc...

3rd - make a simple talent agreement to give clients and in your easily worded "bullet" form pdf agreement, add a section called "post-production / recuts" and very clearly state that any post-production recuts requested at NO FAULT of you the talent are charged at the rate of XXX (usually about 25 - 50% of the original fee) This has saved me and my talents many many problems over the years.

4th - don't forget this is a business, so act like a professional, have a service agreement and state your base rates, recuts rate, payment terms, track license use term and/or if the track is a buyout, any legal disclaimer, delivery formats and time-limes, etc.

5th - then do NOT do the work until they sign it and do their part upfront, that being send the signed agreement, pay any deposits if required and email you copy and confirm the copy is the FINAl draft.

6th - now kick butt on the work, offer more than one take of the copy (2 - 3 cuts is the norm unless a long-form read) and deliver the tracks on time and in the format and best quality you can deliver.

The outcome is: If you did NOT make a mistake in the read and/or did NOT screw-up, the client must pay the bill and/or for the post-recut / post-copy change request and PAY the fee in your agreement.

Last, do NOT send the FINAl master until they pay the balance unless the terms state otherwise. (keep in mind, many larger adv agents and corps are 15 to 30 day net)

But have fun and remember, this is a business! Act like a pro and you'll be mistreated, I mean TREATED like a pro.

Anthony Reece

Loretta Scott · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 15

Anthony
Thank you so much for your help. I am desperately trying to be professional as I hope to be to do this on a full-time basis. I am desperate to get out of the corporate world.
I am dying for a decent job but on the other hand, afraid, because I don't have a professional-looking agreement and all the pricing issues you talk about are important. I am using the rates I found in Voice123.com, looking at the Median rather than the average.
I know what an agreement looks like in the corporate world but this is quite different from the voice talent world and I don't want to fail on my first job so that it jeopardizes any further decent work.
Do you have any recommendations for me to go and find samples of agreements for non-union voice talent.
Thanks again for your help. This is so much appreciated.
Loretta