VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Any suggestions on a per-spot rate for a series of three tv spots for unlimited use in a nine state region, one year buyout?

Thanks,

Bob
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Bob Ransom
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 3:40 pm Post subject:

$25,000 but settle for $20,000 if pushed?

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Oh, I do like how you think.

But I'm also afraid the client will make choking sounds just prior to hanging up on me.
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Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

my little rate quote form on my website spit out $5250 per spot.
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bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Wow. More than I expected. I tried to figure it out using the AFTRA rate card but, as usual, it just confused the hell out of me.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

As long as the states aren't Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, Wyoming, Mississippi, Alaska, Montana, Nerd Dakota and Worst Virginia...cha-ching!
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Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:25 am Post subject:

So the client wants you to guess his budget? Try this; ask him how much he has, make a choking sound and then YOU hang up!

As a quick guide one commercial for a year in one market would amount to $2500. Rounded DOWN

Bruce · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:57 am Post subject:

According to AFTRA the base TV VO rate in one city is about $426 per quarter and the LA/Chicago rate is about $685. I've frequently seen a multi-state rate of $500 to as high as $1,000 per quarter. Take a number from this array of choices and multiply by 3 for an annual rate and you'll be in the general ball park.

I've done spots that are "national" but they run on cable networks that probably have the viewership of a TV station in a small city at best and so I work for a reduced rate for them.

But again, unless your client is a total newb, they've got a number in mind and it would be good to find out what it is and negotiate from that.

B
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bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

That's what I'll do, Philip: ask.

This whole "figuring commercial rates" thing confuses me as I'm used to doing industrial and e-learning narration where pay is more "by the hour." And the AFTRA rate sheet just makes my head spin. The only thing on it that seemed to vaguely fit was the "wild spot" rate but you'd need to know number of markets, number of plays, etc. to figure the rate. And if the spot buy hasn't been done yet, how the heck do you figure that out?

FWIW, Voices.com suggests the rate should be $2000/spot. V123 says an average of $686/spot. Personally, I like your $20000 idea but doubt they'll go for it.

Bob
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Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

Darren Altman · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:46 am Post subject:

paulstrikwerda · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:22 am Post subject: Bidding 101

At the danger of tooting my own horn, many readers have told me that they found the following article helpful when it comes to bidding:

http://nethervoice.com/nethervoice/2010/04/21/costly-pricing-mistakes-youre-leaving-money-table/

This story does not answer the question: "How much for project X," but it will get you in the right frame of mind. Plugging in a number based on rate sheets and recommendations from colleagues is better than taking a blind guess, but without getting more specifics from the client, you only know half of the story.

Voices.com, voice123 and the Edge Studio all have rate sheets but there's no way of telling how current these sheets are. If P2P's would stand behind these rates instead of mandating a $100 minimum per job, they could actually get away from their clearing house status.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:33 am Post subject:

Non-Union job merely means not subject to Union contract terms and conditions IT does not mean cheap job. I did try to buy a Non-Union Ferrari once, same price as an AFTRA approved Ferrari except that with the latter insurance was part of the deal.

Mel · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Vermont

I believe the rate sheets at V123 and Voices are meant to reflect what most beginners might charge. I've been appalled by some potential clients who literally asked me if $500 is enough for a national buyout spot. I did make choking noises at that!

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:15 pm Post subject: