VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:21 am Post subject: Agency Commissions

What is the highest acceptable agency commission one should expect to pay?

There's an agent who wants 20% plus a one-time $75 website fee.

Thoughts?
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:30 am Post subject:

I've never had more than 15% deducted and have never been asked to pay a web site fee.

Whilst I wouldn't object too strongly at $75 I would want to be reassured that an agent charging for a web presence is promoting it.

Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:37 am Post subject:

Many, many (most?) agents in the U.S. charge 20% for non-union work. Sorry, but them's the facts.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

bobsouer · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:39 am Post subject:

Mike,

A couple of the agents with whom I work take 20% for non-union work. The rest are at 15% for non-union. Only one agent wants a web fee and it's $115 per year, but as I've stated elsewhere, I've done multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work with them in the last 13 years, so I don't really mind the web fee (which used to be a CD fee).
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:11 am Post subject:

Thanks, guyz.

I'll do the one-time $75 website fee and see how it goes for at least a year.

It's certainly better than the annual $150 fee someone else was asking.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

asnively · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:15 am Post subject:

20% for non-union is standerd, but I wouldn't do the $75 unless I had some very compelling reason to believe it was in my best interests.

I do not applaud the shift in business model from making money on each gig booked to making money up front on each talent with a bank account.
_________________
the Amy Snively family of brands for all your branded thing needs.
Amy Snively
Faff Camp
FaffCon
TalkerTees

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

I negotiate a rate between 10% and 20% with the talent, and never any website fees.

That's like "storage" or "archiving" fees. BITD (Back In The Day) when it meant half-inch mag tape and a climate controlled locker, yes, I can see that. But not when 1TB USB hard drives are $99.

Mike Harrison · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject:

I wasn't crazy about the website fee, and haven't agreed to it yet. I do think (as I and others stated in the other thread) that putting talent on a website is a marketing tool and, as such, should be considered a cost of doing business. However, I'm hoping that this is not a new trend, where one's representation by an agent hinges on such a fee. Just as too many newcomers accept low-ball jobs from the P2P sites, will they also eagerly fuel this fee-based representation?
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.