VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison

Several years ago, I'd heard from various (fairly reliable) sources that agents who charge an extra fee to post talent demos on their websites should be avoided. The thinking was that having talent demos on the agents' websites made things easier for everyone involved, and any extra costs would be chalked up as being a cost of doing business, and not to be passed on to the talent.

But has the thinking on this changed at all? I tend to agree that it could be seen as a cost of doing business; whereas clients can easily browse talent on their own, without having to involve an agent's employee in the process until a choice has been made.

Another factor - involving some but not all agents, is videovoicebank.net, a great website where many, many agents - union and non-union alike - showcase their talent. Agents must pay a fee to do this, however, so it would seem fair that an agent might charge their talent an additional fee to be featured there. This is especially so - and well worth it - if the talent has their own website, because then the talent gets a link to their site from their listing on videovoicebank.net.

So, getting back to fees, what amount would seem fair to be listed on a website... $150 per year?
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Bruce · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:49 am Post subject:

My first thought here is that a really good agent, a successful one, one that is getting lots of work for his or her clients, is making plenty of money and doesn't need to charge the talent. Conversely.....

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Chris Ratliff · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:07 am Post subject:

150 per year sounds like a bit much to me. I have one agent that charged a $25 one time set up fee to have my demos on their website. 2 other agents didn't charge a thing. Oh, and there's that one prospective agent that wants me to spend somewhere around 100 bucks or so to use "Agency Pro Software" to be listed on their website. I'm avoiding that one at the moment.
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asnively · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:09 am Post subject:

I would never, ever pay $150 a year! A one time $25 would be the absolute top amount I would consent to.
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Deirdre · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:07 am Post subject:

Agency Pro is bullshit.
Avoid it.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:19 am Post subject:

There's probably someone out there selling software designed specifically for people who do not need to use software in their businesses.

What agents need to do for at least 20 minutes every day is pick up the telephone and tell a potential client about one or two of the Voices on the roster.

flaspots · Contributore Level V Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 191

I do not charge a fee to talent to be on my site. I keep the top 10 male and female talent on players for immediate listening, and the rest are in a talent folder on the site, accessible by my clients.

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

Never have I paid to be on an agent's site or their Voicebank listing. Nor would I. If an agent ever asked me to pay to be listed I'm history. They get 10% of my income. It benefits them to have their client's demos easily accessible to buyers online.

Back in the old days when agents had house reels, the only thing they'd ask is for clients to supply a one minute version of their demo. So most of us would do 2 versions of the demo. One demo would be a minute and one would be the longer version, usually 2:30-3:30. Not everyone was asked to be on the house reel. And most agents updated them every 1-3 years. Nowadays it's so easy to add a new client to their site. And at least in LA they post everyone on voicebank.

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

Never paid. Never will. Every business has risks, and that's the cost of doing business for the agent. They have to invest in marketing their product (i.e., the talent.)

With that said, if someone is willing to offer me a listing with a summer house in the Hamptons and free pizza, I'm in.

-Anthony

Mike Harrison · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:19 am Post subject:

Thank you all for your great feedback - and to those who haven't yet chimed in, please do.

Does it make any sense to drop an agent who is requesting a website fee (and tell them why), or is it best to send nothing and say nothing?
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:27 am Post subject:

Mike,

I have one agency that has represented me for over 10 years. They have had a $115 per year fee that was originally for their demo CD and is now for their web site listing. It's a ridiculous amount of money to charge, but since I've done over $300,000 of business with them I really don't mind all that much.
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

Thanks, Bob. I hear what you're saying. It's similar to Bob Bergen's reply.

But when I supply an agent with a couple of produced-and-edited-to-spec mp3 files, and all they need to do is upload them, I think asking a fee is out of line (and rather pompous). It is absolutely part of the cost of doing business as an agent. It's like a retail store charging their customers a fee to shop.

I ain't buyin' it.

Smile

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Male Voice Over Talent
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:07 am Post subject:

Heyman Talent wants $25 per year to list on their website. After doing that for a year with nary a nibble, I opted out.
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Donna · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject:

My St Louis agent has always charged a fee to be included on the website. As they have essentially been the only game in town for years upon years, they could get away with it. And I have gotten lots of bookings through them. But every year, I resent the h*ll out of that invoice. They do get 10% of each and every booking, even when I am the one who maintains the relationship with my clients. Very often the client will call and book directly with me anyway. And yet every year, I sigh and send the check.

This year's bill should be arriving any day now. Perhaps it's time to spine up, eh?

Mike Harrison · Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 11:20 am Post subject: