VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Diane Maggipinto]

Sages, I need your guidance on two things, somewhat related. And it's not that I don't know what to do; it's that I'm looking for suggested "talking points" so I can deliver the message concisely, fairly, and successfully, with a good outcome.

First, phone prompts. I've got a couple of newish clients to whom I quoted a per word rate, but no minimum. Whoops. So you can imagine the agony of doing, for example, an 8 word prompt, and having to bill for it, without honoring the full extent of the job, as it were. How do I now implement a minimum for these existing clients?

Second, long-term, 52-part narration project. I agreed to a rate based on the length of the first script, and that it's a speculative project underwritten by the company producing it. Scripts are now 4 times the length as the first. (I just received #8). One option is to send raw audio, but still it's 25:00-30:00 of audio. I need to renegotiate, and feel that I am in the catbird seat, since their test audience has said "Whatever you do with the program (eLearning), don't change the narrator!"

Any kind words are appreciated. Sometimes I have an edge that I'd rather be indiscernible in these cases.

Moderator update: I updated your post to disable smilies. They were obscuring some info. Love, Jeff.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[imaginator]

for what it's worth...

i've found that honesty is usually the best policy (although, as fred flintstone once declared, "...but with my income, i can't always afford the best.").

were i in your position i would simply, and in friendly manner, ask your per-word client to try and group several short requests together. you can mention things like "efficiency" to make it sound more like a positive thing.

on the other, you'd be perfectly honest to point out that your original arrangment was for a script size of "x", and now that the script sizes are four times that size, you will need to adjust the talent fees accordingly.

that may be too simplistic...but you did ask.

let us know how this plays out. i might need the same info for my own career later on!
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rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog

[bobsouer]

Diane,

I think Rowell has provided you with some sage advice. I can't really add anything, except to point out that it's usually not wise to point out to someone when you have a position of power. It gives the small-minded of them an incentive to change things.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Pam]

Agree with Rowell and Bob, wise men indeed. Except I do think you can use what the test audience said as a way to reinforce your committment to the project. Perhaps you could say something to the effect of how thrilled you were to hear the feedback and it only reinforces for you how much you want to continue with this project. That being said, you need to discuss how the scope of the project has changed from the original specs. Obviously it has grown since it's conception, which must be very exciting for you Mr. Producer. However you are finding that it is using more of your resources than you originally planned and bid for. In order to continue, blah, blah, blah. You fill in the rest here. Hope that helps! Please keep us updated.
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Pam Tierney
www.pamtierneyvo.com
imdb profile http://imdb.com/name/nm1941932/

Now what did I come in here for?

[Bruce]

"I apologize, but I seem to have not mentioned that I have a minimum session fee of $**, so it would be best for you if we could bundle these small additions and changes to save you money."

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

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

[Diane Maggipinto]

all a y'alls are right on, and i especially like the brevity of your words, bruce.

lemme at 'em!

thanks much! i WILL keep you posted.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[Philip Banks]

Negotiazising 2.0

Client A "Philip, how much do you charge per word?"

Philip "I don't. My minimum session fee is $340 which covers up to one hour of my time"

Client B "Philip, we pay our voices N cents per word plus a set up fee"

Philip "that's fine as long as it hits my minimum session fee is $340 which covers up to one hour of my time. Worth bearing that in mind as that's what will be on my invoice"

Client C "Philip, how much do you charge per finished minute?"

Philip "I don't. My minimum session fee is $340 which covers up to one hour of my time. Worth bearing in mind that if you want me to edit you are paying me $340 per hour to do a $50 per hour job"

Do you see a pattern?

By the way, every client that has requested a discount for volume EVERY SINGLE ONE has one thing in common, they have failed to deliver the volume. To be fair they have two things in common, they also failed to get a discount.

[louzucaro]

[melissa eX]