VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Bob Bergen]

I've skimmed through this thread, but haven't read thoroughly the responses. So if I'm being redundant, forgive me.

The professional gets paid for their professional services. Be it a doctor, lawyer, accountant, and even an actor.

Yes, the professional voice actor gets paid for their services. That also means fixes, re-records, etc. If you don't discuss this with the buyer before the session, you are not being very professional. You blew it!! Learn from this experience! If the buyer refuses to pay for fixes or re-records, they are not being very professional.

If you walk on eggshells, in fear to ask for what is fair and (or) being paid for your professional services, you will never see your career grow. This business takes risk. One risk is to demand to be paid for your work. If this buyer, and I honestly don't care who is paying the actor be it the producer or the studio, refuses to pay the actor for fixes, the actor has the right to pass on the fix. You do this with respect, with class, and professionally.

Now, let's discuss the risks. Said actor may never be hired for this buyer again. So what??!! This buyer is not professional. They want amateurs willing to work for the sake of working, sometimes for free. Chances are, if this fix is vital to the job, they are going to have to hire another actor to do the whole job over again, which will most likely come with a session fee. This session fee is possibly, actually probably, more than what they would have paid for the original actor to record the fix.

The professional voice actor has value. If you've been hired for a job, the buyer who hired you agrees and believes in your value. Every session should be compensated, unless you are volunteering your services as a charitable donation. Treat your career and skills professionally and you will find buyers will as well. Having respectful confidence, without being a cocky a-hole, that's one key to success.

[Lee Gordon]

[Philip Banks]

[Mike Harrison]

Hmm... probably not too much more difficult than playing the flute which, as we all know, simply requires blowing in one end and moving the fingers around the outside.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[Philip Banks]

I shall blow into an aeroplane whilst moving my fingers up and down it upon this very day.

[richvoice]

[Mike Harrison]

Five or so years ago I was contacted by someone producing an infomercial. He needed an opening and a closing for the show, each of which were no more than a short paragraph or two. The opening and closing each needed to fit within fixed time-frames...and he needed it done immediately.

Back then, having been stiffed on payment a couple of times for similar "emergencies," I respectfully stated – as we'd never done business before (and I could not find any information about him or his company anywhere) – that payment in full would be required in advance. He very reluctantly agreed and sent the script. That was a Thursday afternoon.

Payment arrived the next day, and I immediately recorded the script – to his specifications – and delivered it right away. I heard nothing from him for the rest of that day (Friday), Saturday, Sunday or even Monday.

On Tuesday I received a frantic email: "There's a problem." The problem was that he changed the script and what he initially asked for no longer fit his needs. I told him I'd be happy to re-record, but I'd have to charge him again. He exploded, stating that's not how he was accustomed to doing business with the voice talent he'd worked with previously. "You were very specific about your needs and you needed it immediately. I delivered immediately. I heard nothing from you for several days and now you have a problem... which is of your own making. Do you hire a house painter and then expect him to come back and re-paint after you change your mind about the color?"

I tend to be very direct (some would call that being less than diplomatic), especially after having been screwed previously, but I was not about to become a slave of indecision and whim with someone who crawled out of the woodwork and I could find no information about. Maybe one of those voice talents he'd worked with previously would be willing to get on the merry-go-round with him again. But maybe "previously" was a key word.

—EDIT— Now, please, I don't want to be unreasonable and I'm certainly not looking to build the wrong kind of reputation, so if I could've handled this better, please offer your suggestions. Thanks.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[Jason Huggins]

It's all a balance of managing client expectations. I try to be very up front about what I charge for and don't charge for. That way when a client comes back with a change, I've already made it clear. I usually use the word 'typically' when I talk about additional charges. I try very hard to be consistent and fair with my pricing, but each scenario is different, and might require different words. Just like any relationship, you can't just use a canned response. Any relationship worth having is probably worth a free pass from time to time.

With wording, I tend to err on the side of peaceful and diplomatic unless very specific history merits a more "direct" response. It wasn't that client who screwed you recently, so brining that baggage into your relationship with the new client won't do much for the long term. Sometimes it is a slow process of re-educating clients on how the professionals in the industry tend to work.

Shrewd as vipers yet innocent as doves.

[Lee Gordon]

[heyguido]

I'm with Bob, who, imo, said it with backbone and practical wisdom. Be proud of your work and your worth. Nurture your relationships and be flexible and fair with those you value... All others pay cash.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"