VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[TheVoiceOfBob]

I have a client that seems confused over a rate I quoted them. I'm looking for some feedback as to the best way to answer this question, since I don't think it's all that confusing.

For radio commercials and promo spots, I set a rate at "X" per finished minute, with a minimum amount at "Y". My minimum amount is approximately equal to 4 times my "X" rate, but not exactly. The customer is confused as to why my minimum isn't an exact multiple of my "X" rate.

Is that really so confusing? If I charge $40.00 per finished minute, with a minimum of $150.00, and the client says "why isn't your minimum $120.00 or $160.00?" Obviously set up and finishing is there no matter how short or long it is, so I didn't see how picking that "in between" number would be so confusing. How would you answer this question?
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

[Deirdre]

Well, considering you've chosen to have your work measured in "finished minutes" it is logical to imagine your minimum would be a multiple of that increment.

"$40 per finished minute with a 4-minute minimum" might be a less confusing way to state it.

The $150 doesn't parse out with your per-finished minute fee. The client sees this as paying an extra $30 for 3 finished minutes, but 4 minutes is what it is.

See what I mean? People want the math to be tidy.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[asnively]

Radio spots aren't commonly billed "per finished minute", so that might be the first confusion.

And when you do bill by the minute, the minimum is customarily a multiple of that rate; a minimum number of whole minutes.

If you do things sufficiently different than what is customary, you run the risk of confusing clients!
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Forum

[TheVoiceOfBob]

That "per minute" pricing was actually a recommendation from Voices.com. It sounds like it was a bad choice.
Thank you for all your input.
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

[Deirdre]

I made the mistake to ass-u-me it was a long-form quote.

"per minute" is certainly not the way to quote out commercials.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[Philip Banks]

[SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer]

According to my understanding voices.com recommends a standard rate for commercials. The per minute/hour/word rates that they recommend are for longer form narrations.
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Elaine
The Youthful Mature Voice (Emeritus)
Senectitude is not for the faint of heart.

[Dan-O]

Here is the Voices.com Rate Sheet. I do not see a per finished minute rate quote anywhere on it.

Chalk this one up to experience, Bob.

[TheVoiceOfBob]

This was a "personal" recommendation from them for a reply template. They came across as if this was a "catch all" type of rate for auditions. I may have misunderstood though, so I wouldn't put it all on them.

I'm learning from all of you now.
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

[asnively]

That's just an example of the kind of information you should include in your reply. They would never recommend pricing a spot like that. It's not done. Don't worry. You'll catch on!
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marijuana photos

[donrandall]

Who cares what some virtual casting service thinks you should charge or how you should compute your billing? They are in business to take your money away from you - and if you should happen to pick up a buck or two along the way is of little concern to them.

The only thing you need to do is determine your value in the market. What are you willing to accept for your work and what is someone willing to pay for your work product? If the two numbers match up, well, ladies and gentlemen - we have a winner.

Everything else is a steaming pile of bovine nutritional exhaust.

[Dave]