VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

bobbinbeamo · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

Beyond ridiculous. Your quote was fine. Next.....
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Frank F · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

I was just reading an article about "haggling" and now the suggested thing to do is to lower your bills by calling and asking for a lower rate - i.e.: the haggle.

Some people are masters at this concept - many of them are in the media industry and known as producers or in some cases voice talent seekers. The key is to be strong enough within yourself to know your worth. Then stick to your guns.

Toodles

F2
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bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Okay, here's something no one has mentioned yet: some clients like to negotiate, and they're not happy unless they feel like they're getting a deal. Or, they just want to see what your "real" price is.

I'd suggest, rather than just saying, "Hmph, no way!", that you counter their offer with a slightly lower price. But don't just drop your price ... also take something away: Tell them you're limiting the editing hours to xxx or recording hours to yyy or something. Treat it like a typical business negotiation, don't take it personally, but stick to your guns. If at all possible, help them to find a way to do the job somewhat more economically without whoring yourself. (And $3.5/min is whoring yourself.)

Never drop your price just to drop your price; make them give something back, too. If they decline your counter, thank them nicely and move on. At that point, you've only lost 10 minutes of your time re-doing the quote. Meanwhile, depending on the client, it's entirely possible that they may call you again in the future for another project with a bigger budget.

Frank F · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

Adam Verner · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:51 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone!

Bransom - it's funny, I did almost what you suggested immediatly after getting their email. I responded with something like:

"that's very low and not too realistic, I might consider lowering my already-discounted rates if there is consistent work being offered and there is little to no revisions."

I don't expect a response, but we'll see.
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Say...

"What's the best rate you can pay and still feel you got a good deal?"

It's a friendly, lighthearted way of acknowledging a negotiation.
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bobsouer · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

Bill,

That's exactly what I do, I love that approach!
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Always works for keeping it friendly. Doesn't always get you the highest rate. But opens the communication.
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Drew · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:

Yep, Bill. That's how I would have gone about it. The reality is nobody gets what they deserve...they get what they negotiate. You have to look at your personal situation and ask, "Can I afford NOT to take this particular opportunity?" Then you go from there.

I took a job today at a rate for which I'm not particularly proud about. But it came from a producer who just got the boot from her employer and is trying to go solo. We've worked together before on dozens of projects and she NEEDED MY VOICE to help her boost her portfolio. I couldn't say no. It paid the grocery bill today. And maybe while helping her out it will bring me better reward down the road.

No two situations are the same.
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pgvs · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:09 am Post subject:

Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

In my engineering days, another option we used to occasionally provide to clients who needed a break for a "special project" was to chop some time off the session. This allowed us to stick to our rate and not diminish the value of it, but still accommodate those special instances.

Granted, it's a little different for straight VO services like spot work, but if it's hourly rate voice work or editing, it might be an option.

Mike Cooper · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:19 am Post subject:

There's another issue here, but I think it's a point worth making: we ought, as a collective, to be doing what we're doing here and saying a collective "No!" to ridiculous prices. Otherwise, it just drives down the going rate for everyone – and for you too, for the next time around.

The sooner that "Voice Seekers" start to realise that a $3.50/min voiceover is a pile of cr@p and that the people willing to do them aren't up to it, the sooner we'll get out of the mess we're heading into with all the P2P sites and everyone undercutting everyone else.

This isn't a 40 hour-a-week job at our rates (otherwise we'd all be millionaires), and the few hours per week that we get paid full whack have to pay enough to feed us, clothe us and keep a roof over our heads for the (finite) period of our time that our voices are in fashion, and sometimes beyond that into our dotage.

(steps down off soapbox…)
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:29 am Post subject:

Mike, you might be preaching to a choir, actually, as this has come up and many of the regulars here are making great strides toward spinyness, consistency, and professionalism.

Just sayin' ... though it never hurts to be reminded!
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Mike Cooper · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:54 am Post subject:

Oops, sorry. I'm new around here. Sorry if it's been done to death… I'll shut up.
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:57 am Post subject:

no worries, mike. none whatsoever. i was merely underscoring what you said Wink

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