VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 2:14 am Post subject: Audio book narration rates

I've never done an audio book and nor have I been asked to one so had no idea how rates should look.

In the UK they look like this (converted to $)

8 hour woking day $730 with a one hour break.

The above is the rate for the VO who does not direct, record, edit, upload, print, research.

How does the above equate to the "all inclusive" rates?

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 2:16 am Post subject:

my all inclusive rate is $300 per finished hour.
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:45 am Post subject:

About 4 hours. Maybe 5 if it's a monday.
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Thanks Jeff. From a UK perspective, that's a lot of work for the money....

Bish · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:59 am Post subject:

There is no doubt, that when looking at the hourly rates associated with audiobooks, they are not so hot compared with short-form work... but just looking at these numbers can give a very false impression about the financial value of audiobook work. It also very much depends on how much of your time is taken up by these high value gigs.

I've done a few prime gigs recently which have effectively paid me between $250 & $500 per hour. But how often am I getting these gigs? One of these gigs per day would set me up for the mythical $100K per year. I am not getting one of these gems per day... one a week if I'm lucky, even throw in a number of smaller $100 jobs and I'm still woefully short of six-figure nirvana.

So I'm not financially rich, but I am reasonably rich in time. Jeff's figures are pretty much spot-on (OK, I'm a bit cheaper, and I may take a tad longer to finish an hour), and they effectively pay him $60-$75 per hour. If Jeff keeps his dance-card full, there's his $100K. In my case, I'm looking at work on my desk that's going to keep me busy for the next three months... and the beauty of it is, while working "full-time" at the audiobooks, there's still time to do the prime stuff.

So, if you're making enough or filling your time with the prime stuff, then audiobooks can seem like a lot of work for the lower reward. As for Philip's original question, I think approx $100 per hour (for an all-day booking) is certainly in the ball-park for a jobbing narrator. I know a good plumber can earn more, but I'm not going to sniff at it.

Of course, this totally ignores the question of how much you may (or may not) enjoy long-form work. I'm really getting into narrating good books... & I'm learning to be pragmatic about the endless hours of editing Mello

Cheers
Peter
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Adam Verner · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 10:48 am Post subject:

Dayo - great point! NOT having the time to market/follow up/etc... is a big component to consider. When I have 3-4 long books in a row that are all on tight deadlines, that's ALL I have time for for 2 months.

Part of this is my problem, as I have to "gear myself" up for marketing. I usually do it in bursts...2 weeks of nothing but marketing and new client acquisition, then nothing for a month. Its not the best, I know - it would be better to do a little every day. But I can't break myself out of the cycle Angry

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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject:

Pam · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject:

melissa eX · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 10:05 pm Post subject:

Me too.

heyguido · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:56 am Post subject:

Couldn't have said it better, Jeff....

Now, back to the sandpile....
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:53 am Post subject:

Long form (audio book) narration ......Argh! I have the utmost respect for anyone able to do it.

When asked to quote I always establish what the potential client wouldn't pay and add $5,000 just to be sure.

Mike Harrison · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:00 am Post subject:

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: