VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Whit

Hello fine people. Smile

I haven't been around for a bit... bunches of you were nice enough to send me your demos a while back, and I want to quickly mention that I think of you often and have submitted a number of you for things. It's just been sloooow lately.

Cliffs at the end since I wrote a novel.

Why am I maybe crazy? Here's the story. A contact of mine who used to be a local agent was looking for a place to record for 3 days. I called her to get the scoop and see if the studio where I work could help out.

The scoop is this - her agency has about 20 audio books that range in length from 9-20 hours. The pay is $95 per FINISHED hour. My day job studio had to pass as it wouldn't be profitable for anyone were she to come here.

BUT - she also has my demo, and I guess their client is just trusting them to hand out the books to their talent without listening to demos (squirelly!). She offered me some of this work.

So I jumped on board to do this at home. They don't need any editing really, just raw vocal tracks by chapter, no editing of breath sounds etc. needed.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading, and please tell me your opinion. I could still back out. I would like the experience. I've done some long form before, but not this long. $95 per finished freaking hour is pretty stupid, but I've got a baby on the way and could certainly use the money.

That's a lot of hours. What do you think?? Opinions and/or tips greatly appreciated.

Cliffs
- never done an audio book and would like the experience/could use the practice
- client has no money ($95 per finished hour of raw vocals)
- crazy or not crazy?

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:

Whit,

Were I in your circumstances, I would take the work. Yes, it's bargain basement, but in this case they're paying you to train. The "no editing" is the thing that would seal the deal for me. Providing finished, edited audio at $95 per finished hour isn't worth it, but raw ... yes, I would.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

I'm with Bob. It's the editing that kills your studio time, so if they want it raw, then I'd go for it.

And welcome to audiobooks, the lowest paying of all voice-over work.
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Whit · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject:

Thank you gentlemen. Bob, that's of course how I should look at it, getting paid to train.

Thanks for the welcome Mr. Kafer. I wonder why it's the lowest paying when it's so time consuming...

Ed Gambill · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

In my Humble Opinion, Bob does not give bad advice.
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject:

Ed,

Thank you. Very kind of you. Embarrassed

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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:

Whit · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

'k. So now it looks like things are changing up. Shocker, right?

I'm about to call the main contact for this project soon. Late last night I got a book - nazi history in ukraine. All kinds of names/places I need to look into to pronounce correctly. Also, the attachments that came with it seem to indicate more editing than was previously indicated will be required, and they've moved the deadline up two days.

heh. yay. At this point I could politely decline, as the dealio has changed in major ways. If anyone has thoughts on this for me that would rock.

Gp · Guest

I don't know if up and quitting is ever the answer. (I do understand the frustration though)
You might at least try to renegotiate first and see what transpires from there. no?

Whit · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:46 am Post subject:

You're right Gp.

I talked to my contact and am gonna go for it. We'll see what happens!

Adam Verner · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:11 am Post subject:

I'm with the group on this - raw vocals seals the deal.

The research factor can be a kicker though - if possible you should choose the projects based on that, because technically you don't get paid for it! I just finished a book for a company - 300 pages, fiction, had to look up about 4 words. Now the one I'm working on is also 300 pages, but a nonfiction collection of essays. I've spent almost TRIPLE the time preparing and researching, looking up ancient latin, greek, arabic, persian, italian, scientific mumbo jumbo....and I'm getting paid the SAME AMOUNT. Kinda frustrating...but that's the way it works.
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Whit · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:32 am Post subject:

Here's the update. After I started sending my lists of word to the agent as requested (30-40 words long, AFTER doing my own research and narrowing the list considerably) she ended up sending me another book way more suited to me, some teen psychology book. She asked if I wanted to start on it while we waited to hear back about the Nazi book and that someone would probably be calling to go over my lists.

I responded and said sure, but that I couldn't do both by the deadline and if I had my choice I'd do the teen psych book. She said alright and that she had a feeling the deadline on the Nazi book would get pushed back.

She needed me to do a sample for the psych book, which I did. She told me she received it, and that's the last I heard from her. That was Friday. I made it clear to her that I'd need to start this past weekend to meet the Wednesday deadline. Nada. No word.

So I've written this off, assuming that my sample didn't get approval. Bob was kind enough to check out what I did, and he said it didn't suck. Smile

Thanks Bob.

Perhaps things are just so crazy that I've fallen through the cracks on this for the second time. Who knows.

Question...
Should I just let this all go and forget it unless contacted again, or should I check in again with the agent? I'd like to remain on good terms for sure... but I'm not breaking my back for this job should she have just forgotten to let me know I was good to go.

bobsouer · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:07 am Post subject:

Whitney,

I believe my comments were somewhat more enthusiastic than "you didn't suck" because it was terrific work. And if you want to stay on good terms then by all means a polite follow-up seems in order.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
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Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Whit · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:15 am Post subject:

Thanks again Bob. Sometimes I tend to be self-deprecating, which I just need to stop.

So... something along the lines of "just checking in to see if there's anything I can do for you... did my sample not meet your client's standards?"

Diane Havens · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:16 am Post subject:

I think you are well rid of them. What would the final product of such a "thrifty" outfit sound like? I doubt they lovingly and meticulously edit a book the way a real audio publisher or the voice actor herself/himself would.

Probably not something you'd want your name attached to, not a product in which you can take pride. I think after all the many hours you would have put into even an unedited read of these books, you'd damn well want to be proud of the finished product.
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