VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Diane Maggipinto]

i got an email this morning that kicked off my day:

We are about to begin production on the training modules for insert name here, the online leadership training course. We would like to utilize your talents as the narrator for the series. There will be 52 modules that will run approximately 10 minutes each produced over the next 8 to 10 months.

I would like to discuss with you a pricing structure. I have not done anything this extensive, so I'm not sure what is a fair price (for both us and you). There is also a possibility that we would use you for 26 modules, and cover the other 26 with a male voice.

the email came from the videographer/producer. i'd like some hard figures to toss at him, and of course my first question to him in my reply was: have they given you any kind of budget for production?

let's assume i do 52 modules, at 10 min. each, from my studio, with minor editing before uploading audio to ftp site.
now let's assume YOU'RE the narrator. if you're willing, i'd love to know what you'd bid.

i friggin' loathe this stuff. really need hypnosis to handle this with aplomb. for now, i defer to you, my esteemed colleagues.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[Philip Banks]

I would charge $340 dollars per module.

[robert jadah]

I charge $500 to $600 for ten-minute web narrations, Diane, and the only time I had a multiple session was for three modules, wherein I dropped the price to $325 per.

For 52 guaranteed, I'd drop to $200 each, which makes little sense, but has a nice cash-register ring to it.
I'd ask for half up front as a bulk guarantee.

[robert jadah]

And, well yes. For a British accent, I'd ask more too.

(.....and now I understand why Mr. Banks sips cognac whilst I swill lager....)

[Jeffrey Kafer]

I'm in the ballpark with Mr Banks. However, if they wanted to give me more than one module at a time, I might give a bulk discount.

I hate charging per minute/hour. I prefer by word. $.25 per word will get you roughly the same as Mr. Banks indicated.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[todd ellis]

yup ... $350 - $500 per depending on how many you can do at a time.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Dave]

My suggestion:

$375 per module...

or $325 per in batches of 5.

I would even entertain $300 per for all modules (26 or 52) with a 50% advance.

Hope you get the gig!!!!
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. If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you.

[Diane Maggipinto]

thanks (so far ... !) everybody! this is good, hard detail i need.

dave, i DID get the gig. .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[anthonyVO]

u gotta luv agents... i TOO hated quoting this stuff.

NEway - I would NOT quote it per module. Give them a bottom line for the entire project - people like bottom line numbers. Don't play games like, "Oh, it sounds so much better per module. If I hit them with the bottom line, I might lose them." Chances are he has to go back to someone and present your quote anyway and THAT person will most likely just say, "What's the bottom friggin' line?"

This also helps you maintain a somewhat decent rate should they start chopping up modules. Keep the per module thing to yourself and quote it as an overall job with a maximum number of modules then $X/additional modules beyond the 52.

That way when they go back to you and say, "Uh... well we're only going to do 20 modules with you then," you're not busting your ass for what you could've made with another job. Keep in mind that these jobs are TIME CONSUMING jobs and may or may not interfere with full-scale or commercial work so you have to quote appropriately. Quote $17-18K and don't go below $15K... maybe $14 TOPS... as a LAST RESORT.

Finally - when all is said and done just try to picture yourself being happy doing the work. The last thing you want to do is be stuck with a time-swallowing project over the next month or so for a couple thousand dollars because you underbid yourself. It's ALWAYS better to start HIGH and move back... you can't start LOW and go HIGH.

One more thing - try to ask them what their budget is. Regardless of whether or not they've done this before (there's a good chance they HAVE) they have a picture of what they think it's going to cost them. Find out that number. Sometimes people don't want to say what they've paid before in order to get you to name a price first.

But what do I know - I don't remember the last time I quoted something. I DO however try to remember where I leave my keys.

PEACE.
-Anthony

[Lizden]