Biz: Income / Fees

Every professional deals with low-ball inquiries from clients, notes voice talent / coach Terry Daniel. “I used to get upset,” he says, but “there are some things you can do about it. Now I just ask them a few questions” …

Lowballing voice over job bids – the practice of bidding extremely low on projects in hopes of landing the gigs – is causing a slow decline in voice over salaries and “cheapening our image as highly-trained professionals,” says veteran voice actor David Radtke. “If everyone is willing to work for peanuts, why would a voice seeker offer prime rib?” …

Pricing is one of the most important tools for managing your clients’ expectations, as well as your bottom line, says veteran voice talent Paul Strikwerda. So how do you determine what to charge? Begin by knowing these three crucial factors …

Has an audiobook publisher asked you to accept “revenue sharing” as payment for your narration, rather than a flat fee? It may sound tempting, but James Adams, a narrator and CEO of BeeAudio, cautions narrators against the risk of future payment …

What? Raise your voice over rates next year? Actually, the time might be right – at least for some clients – advises veteran voice actor Amy Taylor. Your expenses are higher, and you probably provide more services now than a year ago. Taylor explains how to decide and tell clients …

As today’s voice over newcomers flock to lower-paying jobs – especially work found through Internet casting sites – some more seasoned talents fret that “bottom-feeding” will bring down income for everyone. But with a historical perspective, veteran broadcaster and voice talent Ken Maxon wonders if times are truly changing – or just shifting …

Any voice over work seems like good work, right? Well, not really, says top voice talent and coach Susan Berkley. Why? Some clients simply don’t pay or are not worth the hassle. Here are red flags to watch for in new clients …

If you’re worried about a lack of cash flowing into your voice over business, here are practical, useful ideas that you can use right away to improve your situation. “They’ve worked for me, and they’ll work for you,” promises voice actor / author Maxine Dunn, who peppers this advice with personal examples from her voice over career …

As more and more voice talents work for themselves, with or without representation, the skill of setting rates – and more importantly, sticking to them – is almost as integral to the business as the voice itself, notes Roger King, voice talent agent and prez of PN Agency and Ethinc Voice Talent. Herewith are his 10 “Voice Over Canada rules” for rate structure and negotiation …

Are you confidently quoting the RIGHT price for every voice-over job? Veteran voice actor Paul Strikwerda notes that a pricing strategy of “trial and error” can be expensive to you. So he offers these 10 classic mistakes to avoid when figuring your client’s fee …