The voice actor's daily success resource · since 2007
What to charge and what to sign. Rates by category, usage and buyouts, union scale, invoicing, and the contract terms — including AI and voice cloning clauses — worth reading twice before you agree.
It’s been a little over two busy weeks since a lawsuit was filed against social media giant TikTok by voice actor Bev Standing for unauthorized use of her voice in that system’s text-to-speech feature. Reports of that suit on VoiceOverXtra and other media have rallied the voice over community on social media …
One day last November while working online, voice actor Bev Standing was puzzled … then shocked … then panicked … as alerts began arriving about Standing’s voice being heard on TikTok’s text-to-speech feature. She’s now suing TikTok for unauthorized use of her computer-generated words. And Standing’s attorney, Robert J. Sciglimpaglia Jr., warns that TTS gigs are voice over “career suicide” …
The Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped thousands of businesses in the United States stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help voice actors, too! Even if your business is single-employee. And the loan may be forgiven. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2021, so you still have time – but here’s what you need to know and do now …
SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles and National Voiceover Performers Committee Proposal, October 4, 2018, modified December 8, 2018
The SAG-AFTRA union is “completely oblivious” to the landscape of today’s voice over industry, charges top voice actor/coach Bob Bergen. He urges all in the industry to sign this petition demanding that SAG-AFTRA adopt a proposal allowing voice over members to continue their non-union voice over work …
Your voice over business may be “small” – but that doesn’t mean you can expertly handle it all, especially as your work volume grows. In Part 2 of this VO business series, VO pro/coach Kim Handysides outlines key players that will help you move forward – and details how to keep an eye on money …
Yes, you CAN apply for a hopefully forgivable loan and other financial assistance related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Amid a flurry of misinformation about this, voice actor/attorney/author Rob Sciglimaglia explains the various types of assistance offered, in this video interview conducted by VO pro/coach Tom Deere on April 5 …
The Non-Disclosure Agreement, or NDA, has typically been the stuff of corporate boardrooms to protect the leaking of company secrets and research discoveries. Yet now it’s increasingly entering your voice over home studio, as clients want to keep the wraps on whatever it is you’re recording. So – how to handle an NDA? VO pro Dave Courvoisier describes how NDA’s work, and software tools you may need …
New voice actors often need to supplement their income. Some supporting jobs may be too demanding or distracting, but the right “side hustles” can even enrich your VO career as well as help pay the bills, notes VO pro/coach Kim Handysides. Here are her suggestions of 20 VO-related and freelance companion jobs – along with tips for avoiding burnout!
California AB 5 – the new law that appears to classify voice actors as company employees, rather than as independent contractors – has some folks in a jitter. Consider: What starts in CA often sweeps the US. But voice actor / CA attorney Peter J. Marx advises calm, detailing here the basics of the new law, and what he believes will happen …