Voice Over Xtra

Our previous surveys results

Question for May 9, 2017:

Voice Over Pay: Under normal circumstances (not charity, etc.), what is the approximately LOWEST $$ you will accept for a single voice over job?

$25

(80%)

14630

$1,000 or more

(10%)

1817

$100

(2%)

445

$50

(2%)

302

$200

(2%)

293

$150

(2%)

291

$201 to $499

(1%)

252

$500 to $750

(1%)

110

$751 to $999

(0%)

Question for Jan 29, 2016:

VOICE OVER INCOME UPDATE: If you've been earning money as a FULL-TIME voice actor for at least two years - did you earn MORE money as a voice actor in the year 2015 than in 2014? (Your answer is anonymous.)

Earned More in 2015

(75%)

163

Earned Less In 2015

(13%)

Income Stayed About the Same

(12%)

Question for Oct 15, 2015:

2015 PAY UPDATE: If you've been a voice actor for at least two years - in the past 12 months, have you earned MORE money as a voice actor than in the previous 12 months?

FULL-TIME voice actor - YES

(88%)

453

FULL-TIME voice actor - NO

(4%)

PART-TIME voice actor - YES

(4%)

PART-TIME voice actor - NO

(2%)

FULL-TIME voice actor - NO CHANGE

(1%)

PART-TIME voice actor - NO CHANGE

(1%)

Question for Jun 27, 2013:

PAY UPDATE: If you've been a voice actor for at least two years - in the past 12 months, have you earned MORE money as a voice actor than in the previous 12 months?

Full-Time Voice Actor - YES

(56%)

613

Part-Time Voice Actor - NO CHANGE

(19%)

206

Part-Time Voice Actor - YES

(12%)

128

Part-Time Voice Actor - NO

(7%)

Full-Time Voice Actor - NO

(4%)

Full-Time Voice Actor - NO CHANGE

(3%)

Question for May 7, 2013:

REMOTE RECORDING: What is your preferred equipment setup when away from your home studio?

Laptop and other mic/interface

(31%)

Laptop and USB mic

(24%)

iPad and Apogee MiC

(23%)

Duplicate setup used in home studio

(10%)

iPhone and Apogee MiC

(6%)

iPad and other mic/interface

(5%)

iPhone and other mic/interface

(2%)

Android device

(0%)

Question for Apr 23, 2013:

COMMUNICATING: For voice over business, what's your preferred way to start a "conversation" with someone?

Email - direct to their address

(59%)

Telephone

(19%)

Whichever method I think the other person prefers

(16%)

LinkedIn - direct message

(3%)

Other

(3%)

Skype audio

(0%)

Skype video

(0%)

Facebook - direct message (not 'Status')

(0%)

Twitter - direct message

(0%)

Question for Mar 31, 2013:

OUTSOURCING: Do you outsource the PROOFING of your voice over recordings before sending to clients?

(78%)

Yes, mostly for lengthy projects

(13%)

Yes, for most work

(9%)

Question for Mar 14, 2013:

ABOUT AGENTS: On an average month, how many voice over gigs do you book through an agent? (Thanks to Voice Over CAFE for this Q!)

(44%)

More than 50%

(27%)

1% to 10%

(23%)

11% to 25%

(6%)

26% to 50%

(0%)

Question for Feb 26, 2013:

RATES: Do you offer new voice over clients a rate DISCOUNT in hopes of enticing more work later?

Wrong question! Rate is negotiable, depending on client and project budget

(48%)

No, never!

(35%)

Yes, sometimes.

(15%)

Yes, often

(2%)

Question for Jan 28, 2013:

If you narrate audiobooks, about how many audiobooks do you listen to PER MONTH - other than your own?

Typically, none

(62%)

2 to 5

(24%)

(10%)

6 to 10

(4%)

More than 10

(0%)

Question for Jan 6, 2013:

Have you been paid to voice any form of TELEPHONY (on-hold, IVR, menu prompt, voice mail, sequenced systems, informational, instructional, robo, survey, GPS)?

No, but want to, or thinking about it

(54%)

Yes

(45%)

No, not interested

(1%)

Question for Dec 27, 2012:

HOLIDAY WORK: Fess up, did you work on Christmas Day? (Emails, catch-up, whatever) ...

No way!

(56%)

Well, yes

(22%)

Yes - not my religious holiday

(22%)

Question for Nov 28, 2012:

HOLIDAY GIFTS: Are you giving anything to your best clients in December?

(43%)

Yes - treats to eat

(23%)

Yes - mailing a card

(17%)

Yes - something personal for that client

(15%)

Yes - a 'premium' (key chain, pen ...) with my name or logo

(2%)

Question for Nov 14, 2012:

GIVING BACK: For whatever reasons, are you generally contributing more money or time to charitable causes in 2012 than last year - or less?

Contributing MORE money and/or time

(59%)

Contributing about the SAME amount

(36%)

Contributing LESS money and/or time

(5%)

Question for Nov 1, 2012:

What would your HOME STUDIO love most as a HOLIDAY GIFT?

Microphone - additional or upgrade

(30%)

Enclosed booth

(25%)

Other gear and accessories

(18%)

Better acoustics

(15%)

Recording/Editing program upgrade

(8%)

Traveling studio (pack for plane, car ...)

(5%)

Question for Oct 25, 2012:

PAY UPDATE: If you've been a voice actor for at least two years ... In the past 12 months, have you earned MORE money as a voice actor than in the previous 12 months?

Full-time voice actor - YES

(58%)

Part-time voice actor - YES

(28%)

Part-time voice actor - NO

(5%)

Full-time voice actor - No Change

(5%)

Full-time voice actor - NO

(2%)

Part-time voice actor - No Change

(2%)

Question for Oct 9, 2012:

About AGENTS: What % of your pay does your agent (or agents) receive for getting you NON-UNION work? (Thanks for the Q, Dave DeAndrea)

10%

(38%)

15%

(23%)

More than 20%

(21%)

20%

(17%)

Question for Sep 27, 2012:

Voice Over Pay: Under normal circumstances (not charity, etc.), what is approximately the LOWEST $$ you will accept for a single voice over job?

$100

(29%)

Union Scale

(18%)

$50

(13%)

$150

(12%)

$201 o $499

(11%)

$200

(10%)

$25

(6%)

$500 to $750

(1%)

$751 to $999

(0%)

$1,000 or more

(0%)

Question for Sep 18, 2012:

Sales and Marketing: How do you feel about the job of promoting yourself to producers and other voice over prospects?

So-so: Can do it, but is a drudgery

(43%)

Love it: Gives me energy to pursue leads

(29%)

Totally lost: Don't have a clue

(21%)

Hate it - much prefer voicing scripts

(7%)

Question for Sep 6, 2012:

Demos: How many different genre demos are you marketing now? (Commercial, Narration, Audiobook, Political, Medical, Animation, etc.)

More than six

(75%)

101

Three

(7%)

Two

(5%)

Four

(5%)

Five

(4%)

Six

(3%)

One

(1%)

Question for Sep 4, 2012:

On Labor Day: Did you take a break from voice over work?

Not in U.S. - was a full work day for me!

(33%)

Nope - worked all or most of the day

(28%)

Sort of - but caught up on some things

(16%)

Yes! A total break from work

(16%)

Sort of - checked emails and social media

(7%)

What? Can't remember ...

(0%)

Question for Aug 27, 2012:

Audiobooks: If you have narrated at least three audiobooks, what is this genre's biggest challenge for you?

The pay, relative to other genres

(35%)

Home studio recording / editing

(35%)

Working with publishers / clients

(25%)

Voice acting / narration skills

(5%)

Marketing to get the jobs

(0%)

Question for Aug 15, 2012:

Auditions: In the absence of clear instructions, do you SLATE your recorded online auditions?

Yes, my name only

(46%)

(25%)

Yes, my name voiced by another voice actor

(21%)

Yes, my name and project name / takes

(8%)

Question for Aug 2, 2012:

About Problem Clients: If you've experienced problems with clients, what has been your biggest hassle?

Other: Will write info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(50%)

Slow pay

(23%)

NO pay

(10%)

Can't decide what they want - waste time

(10%)

Excessive redos (their fault) without pay

(5%)

Excessive copy revisions

(3%)

Blame me for their problems

(0%)

Changing schedule, deadlines

(0%)

Question for Jul 26, 2012:

Health Insurance - Do You Have It?

Yes, through a source not above

(31%)

Yes, through my voice over business

(18%)

No, not worth it

(18%)

Yes, through my spouse/partner employer

(15%)

No, can't obtain it

(13%)

Yes, through Medicare/Medicaid

(5%)

Question for Jul 23, 2012:

FINAL VOICING POLITICAL ADS - Q #4: Would you voice a spot for a candidate or issue you disagree with, or don't like? (Thanks - look for a full report soon on VoiceOverXtra.)

Nope, no way

(50%)

Maybe - depends on the candidate or issue

(31%)

Yes, I'm a professional (and $$ is $$)

(19%)

Maybe - depends on the pay

(0%)

Question for Jul 17, 2012:

VOICING POLITICAL ADS - Q #3: If you voice political ads, in general, about how much are you paid per ad?

Over $1,000

(47%)

$101 to $250

(33%)

$100 or less

(13%)

$251 to $500

(7%)

$501 to $1,000

(0%)

Question for Jul 8, 2012:

VOICING POLITICAL ADS - Q #2: If you're voicing political ads, what is the MAJOR way you obtain those jobs?

Other

(44%)

My own marketing and contacts

(41%)

Agents

(15%)

Online casting services

(0%)

Question for Jul 5, 2012:

Fess up: On July 4 did you take a break from voice over work?

What? Can't remember ...

(26%)

Sort of - checked emails and social media

(19%)

Sort of - but caught up on some things

(19%)

Nope - worked all or most of the day

(17%)

Yes! A total break from work

(15%)

Not in U.S. - was a full work day for me!

(4%)

Question for Jun 25, 2012:

VOICING POLITICAL ADS - Q #1 (Please watch for and participate in entire series): If you voice political ads, are you voicing more of them now (including last year's primaries) than in previous elections?

Is my first election for voicing political ads

(74%)

More than in previous elections

(15%)

About the same amount

(11%)

Fewer than previous elections

(0%)

Question for Jun 7, 2012:

About income (if you've been a voice actor for at least two years): In the past 12 months, have you earned MORE money as a voice actor than in the previous 12 months?

Part-time voice actor - NO

(53%)

Full-time voice actor - YES

(29%)

Part-time voice actor - YES

(16%)

Full-time voice actor - NO

(2%)

Question for May 29, 2012:

Marketing: What is your favorite - or most consistent - way to reach potential NEW voice over clients?

Other: Will send comment to info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(50%)

Email inquiries

(24%)

Phone cold calling

(9%)

In-person networking

(9%)

Social media

(4%)

My agent(s)

(4%)

Post cards

(0%)

Newsletters

(0%)

Question for May 22, 2012:

What's your biggest home studio hangup?

Other: Will send comment to: info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(33%)

Need better soundproofing

(24%)

Directing myself (oops, that's voice acting)

(15%)

Poor room acoustics

(12%)

Unsure about right mic for me

(9%)

Using my recording-editing program

(6%)

Question for May 14, 2012:

When asked to do an ISDN recording session (real-time connection) with a producer/client, what do you do?

Connect from my home ISDN studio

(31%)

Use Source-Connect

(31%)

Go to an ISDN-equipped studio

(22%)

Other (sending note to info@VoiceOverXtra.com)

(12%)

Turn down the job

(5%)

Question for May 7, 2012:

When you record voice overs, do you mostly stand or sit?

Mostly stand

(55%)

Mostly sit

(45%)

Question for Apr 30, 2012:

When people ask you for advice about "getting into voice over," where do you direct them? (Thanks to Derek Chappell for this week's question.)

All or most of these answers

(35%)

Myself - I offer personal advice

(23%)

A particular website

(15%)

A particular voice over book

(8%)

A particular voice over forum

(8%)

None of the above! I tell them to consider a career with more stabile work and income

(8%)

A particular voice over coach

(4%)

A particular voice talent

(0%)

Question for Apr 23, 2012:

What's the formal structure of your voice over business? (Ref. Chapter 2, "Voice Over LEGAL" eBook):

Sole Proprietorship

(59%)

Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) - Limits personal liability

(22%)

I don't know or don't understand

(11%)

S Corporation - Avoids double taxation

(5%)

C Corporation - Separate taxpaying entity

(3%)

Question for Apr 16, 2012:

About how many ONLINE AUDITIONS do you submit per week?

Up to 10 per week

(64%)

Up to 25 per week

(32%)

Up to 50 per week

(4%)

Up to 100 per week

(0%)

More than 100 per week

(0%)

Question for Apr 11, 2012:

As a NEWCOMER to voice over, what is your biggest challenge at this moment to starting or growing your VO income and career?

Home Studio Know-How

(25%)

Getting Home Studio Set Up

(25%)

Marketing for Jobs

(25%)

Producing My Demo(s)

(8%)

Understanding The Business

(8%)

Managing Business Stuff

(8%)

Other: Will Comment to info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(0%)

Maintaining Motivation!

(0%)

Negotiating Fees

(0%)

Advancing VO Skills

(0%)

Finding Time To Audition & Work

(0%)

Getting Agent(s)

(0%)

Question for Apr 4, 2012:

As a working voice actor (not newcomer), what is your biggest headache or challenge at this moment to maintaining or growing your VO income and career?

Marketing

(34%)

Managing Time

(24%)

Managing Business Stuff

(14%)

Negotiating Fees

(14%)

Home Studio

(7%)

Diversifying VO Markets

(3%)

Other. Comment to info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(3%)

Social Media

(0%)

Advancing VO Skills

(0%)

Question for Mar 22, 2012:

What Do You Think Of VoiceOverXtra's New Look?

Love It

(52%)

Thanks, Is Easier to Navigate

(32%)

Will Send Suggestion To info@VoiceOverXtra.com

(13%)

Yuck

(3%)

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