VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Mike Paul]

BOB: Rod Roddy, WHO is our next contestant on The Rate is Right?

ROD: Well, Bob, we're looking for Voy Sacktor from Itellya Mane. (Cue music) Come on down! YOU'RE the next contestant on The Rate is Right!

BOB: Hello Voy, and welcome to Contestant's Row. (Music fades) Now Rod, would you PLEASE tell us about our next item up for bids.

ROD: My pleasure, Bob. (Cue music) This beautiful Non-Union Announcer role is perfect for the aspiring voice actor who LOVES a good fighting game. Comes with NO vocally stressful work, fits SQUARELY into your wheelhouse, and features a 4-HOURS LONG recording session... Everything you need for a great voiceover booking--and it can be yours, IF... the Rate is Right. (Music fades)

BOB: Okay now, Voy... our friends over at the GVAA believe this item could retail between $200-$350 an hour, with a 2 or 4 hour minimum, and includes a FULL Buyout. All together, that's $800-$1,400 in total. Are you ready to place your bid?

VOY: Yes, Bob.

BOB: Voy, what do you bid?

VOY: One thousand, Bob.

BOB: One thousand dollars. Actual retail price of this item... $1,000 for a 4-hour session (Winner bells), with FULL buyout (cue music), and you WIN! Come on up here now, and let's record that session. (Audience cheering)

--

Fun and games aside: is $1K a decent rate for a 4-hour session where I'm an Announcer with no vocally stressful work? Broken down, the session rate is $250/hr, meaning essentially zero usage... unless session and usage rates for games are so much lower than a typical VO job in commercial or narration...?

I know nothing about pricing games, John Snow. Just commercials. I'd look to SAG-AFTRA, but this is Non-Union.
_________________
Mike Paul
speakingofmike.com

[Jack Daniel]

I don't do much game work but my thoughts are:

* the session fee doesn't seem to far off, but if it's a full buyout and you aren't getting health/pension OR residuals then that session fee looks less than lustrous.

* What's the opportunity cost for the half-day of work? Will you travel, spend money on gas and all that? If not, what are you potentially giving up for a half day at that rate? If booking out for that stretch on the day in question is not a problem, then this isn't so much of an issue.

More knowledgable minds will no doubt bring more light, but this seems low (though probably close to NU standard) for a game buyout. How big is the character? What is the real-world upside for your reputation if the game is successful?

Also would be the question of whether an agent is involved. Since you haven't mentioned that I assume you don't have to pay any fees to a rep.
_________________
Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town

[Mike Paul]

Yeah, it's non-union so no benefits there. Home studio, booking out is fine (just need to make up hours at day job if I want that money).

Not a big character, either--just the unseen announcer of a casual fighting game meant for a younger audience. If it somehow became a hit? I don't see the upside, honestly. In fact I'd probably feel the same gut-wrenching feeling I've felt before when I agreed to something that made me feel a little uneasy at the time.

Agency sent this one along, so 20% on this one means $800 comes home with me, but it does say this is the first session, which could last up to four hours... so perhaps I don't have the complete income picture just yet... with that much time though, I'd figure they get most of what they'd need.
_________________
Mike Paul
speakingofmike.com