VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Mandy Nelson

Long story short, there's this raffle for a great cause and I've been asked to donate services. OK, I can do that. First they asked if I'd do both yoga and vo stuff and I was all, "helloooo, that's a lot to ask" so they picked vo because, you know, it's their choice?!?

Anyway, what the heck am I supposed to offer? And how do I give it a value? Do I offer one voice mail message? Do I offer a fully produced on hold message for their company? I'm willing to spend two hours of my time on this, though it probably won't take that long, but I'm drawing a complete blank on how to market it. And then if they go for the on hold thingy I have to work with their system and do all the techy stuff. Should I just hand them my first born?
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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

i do this all the time ... offer a "fully produced" message on-hold for their business in their choice of format. you provide them with a CD. they write the copy (suggest their website as fodder) they have to tell you WHAT format, and they have to load it into their system. if they don't know, suggest they contact the company they bought the system from.

place a value of at least $300 on it. i have gotten good buzz from this type of thing at business events, and have gotten work from those who didn't win. btw - about 30% of the winners actually ever follow through.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

I usually offer voice mail message prompts - up to one page...and state the value of that page of prompts - whatever you would charge.

That would be for either files in the telephony format of their choice or recorded directly to their system over the phone. But I do a lot of voice prompts, so the formatting isn't an issue for me. If you are unfamiliar with the telephony prompt formats, then perhaps you would need to be specific in your offer - "record directly via the phone, or will provide .wav or mp3 file."

But thanks Todd for the On Hold idea - I'll add that to my options for these charity functions.
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Mandy Nelson · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

Thanks SO much! I was starting to feel crazy about the whole thing but you've both put it into perspective.

Todd, your comment about the format cracked me up b/c almost NO client knows what they have. Actual quote "Well, I'm standing in the closet where we keep the system but I don't know how to read it."

Thank you thank you thank you!!
_________________
006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband

todd ellis · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

as far as MOH goes - the formats are pretty simple - not like prompts ... it's usually an external player using an audio CD, an internal or external system playing an .mp3 or (gwad forbid) a cassette.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject:

Ha, cassette. I deal with them often, not cassettes but the systems. My main work is telephony stuff so I've tried to be up to date on all of the machines and whatnot.
_________________
006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Keep in mind, that although you're donating your services to a non-profit (I assume), you cannot write this off as a tax deduction.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

CarynClark · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Um, why Jeff?

I was Finance VP for a non-profit. When people donated services or items for our silent auction, we gave them a donation form - for a tax deduction. We then had to report all of our donations received each year to our acct.
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject:

http://www.nonprofitissues.com/public/features/point/66.html
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

louzucaro · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:

I think Jeff might be right on this...I know that if I donate time by doing web development, for example, I cannot write off that time.

I think the rule is that if there's no out-of-pocket expense - if you're just setting a value for your time and that's what you're contributing - you can't write it off.

If you're donating a product that has a specific "cost of goods sold" to it, that's different, but as far as I know, time spent on something cannot be written off.
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Lou Zucaro
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Moe Egan · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject:

My accountant agrees with Jeff...services can not be written off as donations.
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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

CarynClark · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Hmmm... well, I think that this falls under the "Please consult your tax professional." But we always gave the donation forms b/c our acct. wanted to know who gave us what... even if it was in kind.
_________________
Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject:

This is really interesting (who knew it would open up this pandora's box?!!). For several years I've been able to write off all of the in kind work I do for the non profit that puts on the Boston Blues Festival and then last year I couldn't. Hmmm, it wouldn't have occurred to me to try with this project b/c the donation seems different somehow. Plus, I admit, I just want to get more work out of it!

I'm calling my accountant!
_________________
006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband

richvoice · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject:

Fortunately, mileage to and from a 501(c)3 organization IS tax-deductible. The rate isn't the same as the business rate -- I think it's usually around 3/8 the business rate, but I don't remember what the numbers were last year so I'm not sure -- but it's something.

So if you have to drive to a location to record or install, keep track of the mileage! (And not just the number of miles, you have to keep track of the starting and ending odometer readings for audit purposes.)

Rich

dMichaelb · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

I consider this one of those instances for which a tax attorney may be a better determiner than an accountant.

The issue in connection with voiceover work would seem to be whether what is being contributed constitutes a service or propery -- i.e., x-hours @ $x per hour vs. a custom produced mp3 file having a retail value of $x.

IRS Publication 526 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf) gives the general guidelines but is not (as Perry Mason might say) an "open and Shut case". Anyone know a tax attorney (preferably in the entertainment industry)?
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