VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Don G.]

I'm sure something similar has been discussed before, but it's always good to get a fresh perspective. Here's the situation.

I received an email from a new producer at a company for whom I do a few jobs per year. They usually book me at the same outside studio all the time. At least the other producers there do. When discussing my limited availability this week, the producer commented that "I also saw on your website that you have your own studio so if it makes it easier, could you just record in your own studio?"

Which begs the question, do you charge additional studio time when you record at home? This will be a fairly simple project (approx. 6 minute narration), so I'm inclined not to. I have another client for whom editing (and effectively re-writing) warrants an extra charge for studio time, but usually for something straightforward like this even if I do edit, I'll charge just the same as if I did it at the outside studio.

And that brings up another quandary (or not). I feel a little badly about taking money away from the studio; a studio which provides a large part of my business. I didn't solicit this client. I'm just doing what I do. Am I being an ingrate for not convincing the client to use the other studio?

Thanks.

[jasbart]

Most of the time I charge extra for studio time on my voice projects, but not as much as a "real studio." When I was living in Lexington, KY I charged $75/hour because the best studio in town only cost somewhere around $150/hour. My studio was in a closet.

That said, I was contacted a number of times by Disney to record actors who were passing through town for one reason or another. When I told the producer my ISDN rate was $100/hour he laughed and said I should consider raising it substantially. The actor in question had done an ISDN session in Minneapolis a few days before and it cost $250/hour. Needless to say the producer still paid me $100/hour.

Jim
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Jim Barton
Barton Voice & Sound
www.bartonvoice.com

[davidmonteath]

For narration type jobs I charge a studio fee of £85 ($170ish) for the first hour and £65 for any second or subsequent hour. Nobody has ever complained or queried it and I get a good deal of repeat business. My feeling is that I have invested a lot of time and money in creating the quality of sound I get in my studio and if my clients want that then they pay for it, in the same way that a garage would make a charge to check the balance of your wheels....it may not be shown, but sure as hell if they have the machine and you need it they will factor in a charge for it.

Personally I never worry about charging the money as I don't suppose that any studio that I work at worries about using another V/o.

Not an ingrate at all in my book, as you said, you didn't solicit, they came to you. Presumeably its your voice they are after rather than the studio's 'sound', so no hard feelings, its business.

Just my two pen'rth
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www.davidmonteath.com

Sponsor of Voice APpreciation Indulgence Day 2010

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[Bruce]

Studio time is built into my rate for any voice work I do, but I charge just under the going local studio rate if I'm recording someone else and/or doing straight engineering work for a client. (I charge less because I don't have the fancy furniture and frozen margarita machine in the kitchen like those other guys.) I consider the equipment the tools of my trade as would a carpenter or computer tech. I don't even charge extra for personal ISDN sessions. The box is paid for, and ISDN sessions generally pay quite a bit more than other sessions so my $85 a month line charges are easily covered.

Oh, and my engineering rate is dramatically less than my VO rate works out to be, including editing time, so I don't try to push it much, although I do love doing it.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[Yoda117]

Quick answer = yes.

Long answer = most of my stuff has to be done on-site, so it's not that big of a concern. What I do from home has the price factored in, but additional charges occur once I have to start mixing and mastering instead of just tracking a VO.
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

[Frank F]

Personally, I do not charge for the "studio" while I am recording. Once I put on the "Engineer's" hat and begin editing and mixing I add the "Accountant" hat and begin charging.

IF I am recording someone other that myself... you bet, I charge the going market rate. I have the same; or in many cases better equipment as the guy/gal down in the city - and I have better views.

My suggestion: choose what works for you and your market. Do not follow the footsteps of others as they may lead you to the other persons house.

Toodles

F2
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

[Diane Maggipinto]

yes. i figure a client would pay twice what i charge if s/he used an outside studio, so sometimes it's built in and sometimes i make it a line item, or leverage for discussion about rates.

also, since i have a "studio rate" i can go ahead and charge just the studio rate (btw $85/hour) when i revise copy, edit, or re-edit or any number of nutty things a client might have me do once the voice is in the can.

i like david monteath's rate. you could always charge in pounds, quid, euros, drachma ... !

and his reasoning about your not being an ingrate (really, you're NOT!) is awesome: no one is concerned about choosing another voice talent 'stead of you in any given case so ... same can be said for studio choice.

as we said in high school soccer : rack up the score!
(and then ... we got in trouble. it wasn't very christ-like to do that)
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[Don G.]

Thanks to all for the comments. As it turns out, this time they are going to use the other studio due to some other scheduling issues, so it is moot. However the info will be helpful the next time a similar situation comes up.