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Rates Rebound

September 19, 2012 By 3 Comments

Mention VO rates, and you’re bound to get a vibrant response.  Such was the case with yesterday’s blog “Low-Balling Liability?”

Certain topical touchpoints in voice acting seem to hit a nerve, no matter how often they’re mentioned in blogs, forums, or groups.  Rates is one of them.  It’s so popular that BOTH of my LinkedIn groups on this subject see new subscribers every day.  (Setting VoiceOver Rates, and Voice-Over Rates – Private)

I’m not trying to beat a dead horse, but in an ever-changing marketplace, talking about compensation levels never really goes out of fashion or necessity.  SAG-AFTRA is a merged union.  Internet-based auditioning and delivery is more the norm than the exception.  New hopefuls are joining the ranks every day.  Rates SHOULD be discussed often and extensively.

Nearly all the responses were incredulously disgusted with the rates being put forth by ExpressVoices.com.  Things like:

  • “…these are bottom-feeders who make it impossible for VO professionals to make a living. It’s disgusting…”
  • “…this cannot possibly be the future of voice over. The writer sounds like an alien….”
  • “…what? Another shark in the murky waters of  the discount VO swamp?…”

And those were the people who wrote me private email.  Others chose to respond in the comments section of the blog.

One particular response stood out, though.  Here it is:  “…What is the minimum someone new to the field should accept?…”

The answer to that is almost beyond the time and space I have here to construct a response.  I suppose it’s best summed up in the words:  “aim high”.  Yes, I suppose a newbie is a little more unsure, less confident, and more willing to accept an entry-level scale.  Meh.  We’ve all been there.  Just….don’t settle for that in the long run.  With your improvements in talent, technology and training, constantly upgrade your pricing structure to match your achievements.

As I mentioned, talent unions’ best contribution to our business is that they ARE willing to set minimum pay standards.  As far as I’m concerned, these should be minimum starting points in negotiating both union and non-union jobs.

Here are three great resources available to us all that help set the standard (not exhaustive by any means, but handy).

Producer’s HandyDandy Voiceovers

VoiceOver Resource Guide

SAGAFTRA contracts

CourVO

Filed Under: Compensation, Freelance, Pricing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Giving Voice to Your Invoice

May 29, 2012 By 4 Comments

The invoice is admittedly one of the most important documents your voice-over business will generate.  Not just because you want to be paid, but because it’s an extension of your brand, your business savvy, and your bookkeeping practices…and ultimately customer relations.

This blog is NOT about the best invoice software on the market, ’cause invoicing is kinda like choosing a mic.  Ya gotta find the one that’s best for you and the way you run your business.

Having said that, almost all the major bookkeeping and online accounting programs offer invoicing.  Ostensibly you want an invoicing set-up that:

1)  Is at least partially automated
2)  Allows for customization (including your logo)
3)  Integrates with your bookkeeping and accounting system
4)  Timely schedules itself
5)  Can be manually altered if need be
6)  Includes a follow-up or “Thank You” feature.

I’ve tried a number of invoicing approaches, which I’ll list here, but I hope you’ll tell us what you’re using if you’re happy with it.

My bookkeeping software is QuickBooks, but I’m not a fan, and will probably be switching to a FreshBooks/Batchbook combination based on the recommendation of another freelancer (outside voiceovers) who raves about it.

PayPal does a pretty good job of generating invoices.  This is especially good if you’re fond of using PayPal for buying, selling, and receiving payments for your VO business.

Zoho‘s broad suite of online cloud-based programs is pretty impressive.  I actively use Zoho mail to handle courvo@courvo.com (my main email aaccount), andI  keep adding other elements of their integrated offerings as I go along.  Amazingly, many of them are free, and the entire family of apps is very intuitive.  I’m not yet using Zoho Invoice, but it’s beguiling me.

It’s been a while since I tried Invoice.com. The site appears to be tailor-made for small and medium-sized businesses, but I seem to remember the price point was a little high.

Here’s one I haven’t tried, but their site looks pretty inviting:  Invoicera.com

The Invoice Machine touts it’s service as being designed for freelancers and businesses who want an easy way to manage, create and send their invoices (uh, that’d be pretty much everybody!).

But don’t take my word for it.  Here are the links to two great articles that have lists of invoicing software.

The first one from FreelanceSwitch.com is dated 2008, but seems to have been updated.  7 Online Invoicing Apps for Freelancers.

The other: Best Online Invoicing Tools for Freelancers from Design-Modo is more recent (2011).

Let us know what you’re using, if you’re happy with it.

CourVO

Filed Under: Business-end-of-things, Freelance, Web Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Quick 2012 Business Survey

December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This week, I’m entertaining relatives, enjoying all my daughters being home, and NOT working my TV job.

What I’m clearly seeing, though, is that the freelance VO  job is a juggernaut that CANNOT be relegated to “back-burner” status — even (and especially) during the holidays.

I promised some days ago to post some thoughts about planning now for your upcoming successes in the new year, and came across this simple and brilliant survey that touches on a lot of the things we should all be thinking about. TechRepublic.com: What’s Your Outlook for 2012?

In addition, Tom Dheere is sharing some excellent (and specifically some VO) thoughts about preparing for 2012 on VoiceOverXtra…a wonderful follow-up to my post on the same site about tidying up a few things for 2011.

Also, if you have a couple more minutes, you might want to check out:

FreelanceFolder.com  More Client Leads

Edelman Digital: Social Business Planning in 2012

Strategic Business Consulting: Business Planning Advice for 2012

CourVO

Filed Under: Business-end-of-things, Freelance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

StrongArming Stress

September 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

So funny that I got such a supportive response to yesterday’s blog about Caring for your Cords.  By the end of the day Tuesday, I was coming down with a sore throat.  Ack!  (self-fulfilling prophecy?)

On top of that, I had a full load at the TV station, a ton of work to do in my VO studio, I’m trying to develop yet another cutting-edge resource on Social Media that is a total time-suck, I’m preparing for a flight Saturday to the Midwest, and I’ve got a new puppy peeing on the carpet everywhere!

STRESS!!!

Unbelievably one of my favorite freelance websites had just the solution:  Freelance Folder.

In her excellent article:  FREELANCING STRESS 3.0, Author Laura Spencer lays out today’s big stress generators, and provides 11 helpful links for understanding stress, dealing with stress, and not letting it defeat you — specifically for freelance VO’s like you.

Take a  moment to read, and then….take a deep breath and tell  yourself it’s gonna be alright!

CourVO

 

Filed Under: Advice, Freelance, Published Articles, Web Resources Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Triple Appeal

August 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

Thanks to Twitter, I found out Peter O’Connell likes my idea of naming September National VoiceOver Month (hey, maybe we can get a legitimate movement going here!)…but more than that, I found on Twitter the same job listed on THREE different freelancer websites.

Don’t believe me?

Click:   HERE.  HERE. HERE.

…and yes, I think there’s still time to submit.

Who says you can’t find VO job leads in Social Media?

CourVO

Filed Under: Freelance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Do Lower Rates Mean More Clients?

June 16, 2010 By 2 Comments

Lately I’m identifying more with the title “freelancer” than voice-actor.  As a business model, it’s probably a more honest and realistic approach.   Most every other freelancer — be they web authors, CAD Designers, or still photographers – have to tackle the same challenges of running their own business.

As such, I love the website: FREELANCE FOLDER.  The site has consistently great suggestions for handling generic freelance business issues.

So, to be clear, the above title comes from a blog article written by freelance author Laura Spencer.  I hope she won’t mind that I send you there to read it.  All the credit goes to her.  I’m just the conduit.  But please read it…this issue ALWAYS seems to garner attention among voice actors.

While I’m at it, let me lend a shameless plug for my LinkedIn VoiceOver group covering this very issue:  SETTING VOICEOVER RATES.  In no time, about 100 people have joined this group.

CourVO

Filed Under: Freelance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Question of Conscience

July 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

cashmanMarc Cashman distributed an e-mail late Monday that contains a response by an un-named friend in the VO biz to a growing concern about pricing, buyouts, expectations, and general questions about the worth of our work.  Marc is an accomplished voice actor, and coach, and runs one of the most respected audio studios in the LA area.  I don’t think he’d capriciously send this out.

Here’s Mar’c intro:

“I thought I’d share a letter from veteran voice actor and respected colleague who shall remain anonymous. Feel free to pass this on to your colleagues as well.”

His colleague’s written response is below the fold.  I think there’s excellent food-for-thought for all of us in his words, whether we agree or not.

CourVO

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Compensation, Freelance, Op/Ed, Pricing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

New Freelance Job Site

March 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Vois
‘Just got a referral to a job-seeking / job-offering site.

It’s called VOIS, (Virtual Outsourcing Is Social) and is pronounced like “voice”.  I don’t really see a category for voice-actors here, but there’s a smattering of jobs like that, so maybe eventually they’ll add that specialty.

You may have other talents that are represented here among their offerings, so it might be worth a look-see.  Signing up is free, and at this site, you’d be a “seller” of services.

I know voice-actors who’ve gotten leads to good-paying, consistent clients from sites like this.

(2-19-11…this site appears to be down)

CourVO

Filed Under: Freelance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WorkQuest

March 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Have you seen this? 

Workquest
'Not sure where they got my name…and I'm not endorsing or slamming this service, just passing it along.

Like many networking and training sites, WorkQuest may or may not bring more leads to your door.

My general take on these sites is that it doesn't hurt to invest a little time and a modest purchase to pick up a tip or two that just may be the ticket for you.

Click below the fold to see the details of their newsletter, and their pitch.

CourVO

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Freelance Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,