VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[anthonyVO]

Many of us hustlers (aka freelancers) start to look at December and are overcome with a sense of both joy and sadness for many reasons; Some are personal, but many are professional. Maybe, you thought you were going to be at a different point in your career (income level, representation, etc.) or you thought that by now this VO-thang shoulda been in high gear but you're still in 2nd.

Well, don't fret. Did you make at least 4% more than you did last year? Then you're ahead of the game according to this:
http://www.worldatwork.org/waw/adimComment?id=39953

Based on my own experience, since the beginning of this VO journey in 2004, you can probably expect to average 35 to 75% growth year to year during the first 5 years. That blows any average pay raise out of the water! If your average growth is below 35%, then no worries, because - again - increasing more than 3.7% (high performers' average raises per the previously linked article) is not that hard in this business provided you're *minding* your business (and not everyone else's.)

Still not feeling better? Well, factor in what it would've cost you to commute to a job with the equivalent income. Go ahead - add up gas, traffic time (time is money you know,) time away from family, parking fees/tickets, lunches, etc. Subtract from that what it cost you to work from home (internet, paper, etc.) and you're ahead of your fellow commuters by that amount.

Feel better? No? Why not?

-Anthony

[bobsouer]

Anthony,

An excellent perspective. Thank you. And yes, I'm feeling very good about how things are going, now.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Philip Banks]

I think we may just be making ends meet. I'm going to give it another year and if things don't work out I'll set up a Walrus Polishing business; the man at the seminar was very convincing.

[ballenberg]

Tusk, tusk.

[Bailey]

I hear WalPolCon will be coming to San Diego in the Spring.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[Philip Banks]

Watch out for my flashing LED badge "Clean those tusks now ...ask me how!!

[anthonyVO]

If you're working in VO - any work at all - count your blessings. Per MarketWatch:

[Scott Pollak]

Best year ever for me in v/o (after 10 full years in the biz), and that's not even counting December yet. About 150% ahead of ALL of last year.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Diane Maggipinto]

i regard new jobs and new clients as a raise every time. the average working gal likely doesn't get a boost in pay that often!

anthony, your perspective is appreciated. i feel blessed every day for not having a commute, time away from family, ogre bosses, catty co-workers, a 9 to 5 anchor. yes, when i'm blazing through rote production work, i need to dig to remind myself but it's there, always there ...

now let's get to work!
_________________
sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[imaginator]

i don't discount the math (although i can't do it).

all i know is that even in my worst year, any year i haven't had to work retail, fast food, or in an office cubicle somewhere is just fine with me.
_________________
rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog