VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Neil K. Hess]

I have looked at a few rate sheets online, but I was wondering if anyone on here might be willing to share their rate sheet with me along with their experience (ex years experience, specialty, etc.)? I have no idea if this is unethical or rude to ask for, if so, please let me know. I am just trying to figure out what the ballpark is for folks out there especially for someone starting out so that I am better informed when it comes time to make mine.

Thanks again!

Neil
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http://neilkhessvo.com

[Jeffrey Kafer]

Not rude, but a lot of people keep this sort of info close to the vest, for various reasons.

If you're trying to build your rate sheet, then it doesn't matter what others charge. Figure out your own value and put a price on it.

If you have a specific gig you need pricing for, then ask for that specifically. You'll have more success with it.

Oh and better yet, search the archives for "rate sheet". lots of info there.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[Bish]

I'll put some figures on the table... well, a range of figures for a hypothetical job anyway. Four standard pages. 1000 words of internal corporate or e-Learning with a read time of approx 6.5 minutes delivered as a single file. Let's call it half an hour's work with editing and file prep.... or a leisurely hour.

1) Some will charge this at a per page rate... anything between $50 & $100 per page giving a total price of $200 ~ $400.
2) Some will charge this at a per word rate... $0.20 to $0.50 each giving a total of $200 ~ $500.
3) As this is nominally less than an hour's work, some will just use their minimum session fee... say $200 ~ $400 (or whatever)
4) Some won't even look at a job if it's not worth $500

Now, I don't use or publish a rate sheet. I tend to go for my minimum session fee for something of this size. However, any rates quoted are always (to me) a judgement call on both the job, the usage, and the customer. Some e-Learning publishers pay $0.25 per word as a flat rate... some are as low as $0.15 per word... you're not so much bidding on these jobs as just accepting the rate. When bidding, there are a lot of variables. A client asked me to bid on a 3000 word job... I was just about to quote $0.25, and it came out as $0.35 on a split-second re-appraisal. Client was happy.

The examples here are for corporate use of a job that's not going to take more than an hour or so of your time. No usage fees and no calculations for broadcast media buyouts. Be flexible, but maintain your minimums. Remember that all words are not created equal... you may be happy charging (say) $50 per page for a quick and simple four-pager... but that could be a bear if it's four pages of medical tongue-twisters that needed half-an-hour of pronunciation research.

Oh... for my example, I'd probably be happy with my nominal $300 session fee... but if only $250 was on the table, I'd probably take it... and remember to invoice for the $300 with a $50 discount to make sure I have a paper-trail that shows my minimum as $300. People love discounts, and it shows clearly your minimum for future business.

On the other hand, if an existing customer calls me up with a quick request for a couple of lines for $50 ... I'm on it... but that's more about building and maintaining the relationship.... and I know Jeff could have commented on this, a pile of 10 quick reads for a client that you can knock-off in an hour are certainly worth $40 a pop!

... and they say there's no math in VO... pah!
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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.

[Philip Banks]

My rate sheet will mean nothing to you but this may help.

Calculate how much you need to live on per year, add 25% to run the business and 15% for discounts and incentives. Divide the total by 46, giving you a 46 week working year and then divide by 3 giving you a 3 day working week. Assume that you will only get one session per working day - That is your minimum session fee. THE TRICK is to only do deals, give incentives or do beer money gigs once you have hit that daily target.

Ultimately the market will decide how it values you and your work but you need to set out your stall in such a way as to pay you a living wage. No one negotiates their way into this business but many negotiate their way OUT.

Jan 2013 my smallest pay cheque was $50 and my largest $9250; essentially what I have suggested you do I still do after 2022 years* in this business.


*Estimate

[Neil K. Hess]

Thanks for the input guys. And Phillip is without a doubt the most experienced person on the board with 2022 years of experience.
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http://neilkhessvo.com

[Jeffrey Kafer]

yeah, but that's in dog years.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[Philip Banks]

They count and I am also able to catch a tennis ball in my mouth.

[Jason Huggins]

I bet a mouth that large us helpful for those deep promos.

[Philip Banks]

It is. For union gigs I drop the ball..... or for a biscuit.

[Yonie]

I think we just saw a crack in Phillip's facade, what with the catching of tennis balls. Jazz and Bess are the ones actually pulling the strings.