VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JackB

I did VO for a web video 3 weeks ago that I have not yet been paid for.
The client has just presented a revised script that's a bit longer and is offering an addtn'l 50% for me to record it.
My first thought: reply with "I'd be happy to record this new script after I've received payment for our last session."
Or is this a reasonable request this person is making?
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- Jack

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 12:25 am Post subject:

yes it's reasonable. You have yet to hit the 30 day due date on your invoice.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

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

Depends what terms you agreed before you did the original record. Add to that your gut feeling. There are no rules.
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Colin Day - UK Voiceover
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heyguido · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:06 am Post subject:

Both the client's request and offer are reasonable.

The question is.... How reasonable are YOU?
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

todd ellis · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:12 am Post subject:

seems legit to me.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:31 am Post subject:

Yup, seems fine and proper.
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:45 am Post subject:

I have yet to be shafted by a client (knock on wood). If I have suspicions, I have them pay up front the first job. I would do as they ask, and be happy they are so reasonable on the payment redone script. I HAVE had clients try to get me to do that for free. I recently started adding my pickup policy in with my invoice.

Bruce · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:45 am Post subject:

Do you trust the client? Are they an established outfit that is likely to care about their reputation? Then you trust them. You kind of have to so you don't sound like a nimrod with people who are trustworthy.

If you want an example of someone you should probably not trust see Jacob's post in Entre Nous.

B
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jsgilbert · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:55 am Post subject:

Should you have issues collecting, My cousin Bruno may be able to assist you. He gets 10%, plus reimbursement for the cost of incidentals, such as gloves, bleach and carpeting (if necessary).
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j.s. gilbert

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JackB · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. It sounds like his clients are pressuring him to get it done, so I just went and did it.

How many of you watermark your recordings?
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- Jack

Bish · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:38 pm Post subject:

If you want to tell your client that you don't trust him, watermarks are the perfect way.

There may be appropriate occasions (previous bad/slow payer etc.)... but I think they are mostly unwarranted and inappropriate. However, others may say they are good business practice. Oh well.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Mike Harrison · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject:

Great comments, here. I agree that, if you watermark a file, you are telling the client you don't trust them.

But I know the leery feeling because I've been burned a couple of times. On one occasion, I thought I was clever (well, I was) and discovered I had a way of convincing the client that he needed to pay what he owed. And he did. But, as our resident VO Legal Eagle, Rob Sciglimpaglia, told me, I could have found myself in hot water.

I, too, will ask first-time clients – especially if they're in another country – for full payment in advance. And I've gotten it. But there was an occasion and there could be more where, after the first job and payment goes swimmingly, we could get blown off on a subsequent job. And I don't know what recourse there would be. Probably none, especially if they are from another country.

The gist I get from everyone else is that it's best to be the trusting sort and, if we get burned, we write it off as a loss and move on.

But I'll definitely keep Bruno in mind, JS.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

heyguido · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:58 pm Post subject:

Nothing says paranoid like a watermark.
_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject:

There's a certain implied arrogance to a watermark, too. "This audition is so freaking good, they'll steal it and use it as is."
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Bailey · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:56 pm Post subject:

If you used a watermark... the dark shadow is in your corner. If you sent the additional recording with a new balance sheet reflecting the outstanding balance due plus the additional 50% fee... it may have been viewed as a gentle reminder.
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"Bailey"
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