Auditions
I'm self-employed. That means that I am solely responsible for the success of my business and there's a ton of work involved in getting the work I need for my voiceover business to thrive and grow. For one, I audition for almost everything I end up voicing, sending out audio files to voice talent websites (Voice123, Interactive Voices), my agent in Toronto, my agent in New York (The William Morris Agency), not to mention any spec stuff that one of my clients might require.
Each and every audition requires concentration on my very best vocal performance, editing and finally, delivery - depending on the circumstances, delivery of the voiceover audio can be a long or short process.
Marketing
I'm also solely responsible for marketing my voice talent and all the costs associated with those efforts. There's subscription fees to Voice Talent websites, Advertising in trade magazines, sending out CD's to recording studios, writing newsletters, updating my demos so they'll sound fresh - the list goes on. Just keeping this website updated is a full-time job (it has some 130 pages in all). All these marketing efforts cost me time and money - and we all know that "time is money."
You are hiring an Audio Technician
I have over 20 years of experience in recording audio and you are purchasing audio that is equal to or better than some of the best recording studios out there. To book a professional recording studio AND the voice talent you would be doubling your rate. My studio is worth about $10,000 and I'm constantly tweaking and upgrading it all the time, forever in search of improving my sound and service to my clients.
Then, there's the cost in operating that studio. Many of my voice over customers require that I have ISDN, which is a very expensive service here in Canada. I pay $170.00 a month just for the line - and don't get me started about the hardware costs and technical expertise required to operate that single ISDN feature.....
While we're on the subject of delivering the audio let's address my FTP site. There's a lot more to it than what you get, which is a URL address, user name and a password. The setup for an FTP site involves many aspects of technical know-how, including URL Forwarding to a static IP address, FTP server software configuration, troubleshooting, hard-drive space and bandwidth issues. And if it doesn't work, I have to troubleshoot my client's computer and figure out why everyone else can connect to my FTP, but the client can't.....!
I have also invested in the very latest software for audio editing and have learned how properly edit and encode audio regardless of your application. I can also consult you as to what will sound good and what will not if you need to compress your audio for use on the web. I'm one of the best voice audio editors in the business with 20 years experience. Back in the day we'd physically cut tape with a razor blade.....!
I once had a client call me up and tell me that after 3 hours of opening and re-formatting files, he'd only gotten through half the 500 files I sent him and he needed help to meet his impending deadline.
"What!?" I exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me you needed it in that format?"
In 5 minutes, I converted all of his 500 files to the correct format and had them up on the FTP site for pick up. A little trick we call "Batch Processing." He had no experience with audio or audio software......that's why he hired me! Which brings me to my next topic.....
Educating Clients
This, would have to be one of the biggest and time consuming jobs of all. The reason is, voice talent, recording audio, editing, script writing and all the other stuff associated with getting a voiceover done is not something that the average person does everyday. If I had a nickle for everytime someone asked me:
"So, how does this all work?"
I'd be a rich, rich man... :-)! From consulting you on your script, to providing you an audition and voice talent style you like, to knowing where to find other voice talent you might require, to recording your audio, to know what format is best for you, to telling you how to use FTP, to invoicing you and giving you payment options - I'm constantly, day after day, forever educating clients on the voice talent business - be it e-mail or on the phone - on all the varied and complicated elements associated with hiring professional voice talent.
Summary
Also, keep in mind that I'm an exception to the rule in many cases. There are simply not that many voice talents out there that have my skill and expertise. I can honestly say this, because I'm constantly approached by voice talent for consultation on their studio sound and voice over business - I got a call this morning while I was sitting here writing and composing this webpage....!
Think about it, I'm a computer technician (forgot to mention that, I build machines), web page designer, recording engineer, experienced voice talent, writer, marketing expert, carpenter and bike mechanic (not related, but figured I'd toss that in....!) If you had to hire all those people seperately.....well.....let's just say your budget would be astronomical compared to what I'll charge you.
Finally, I think it's important to note right here that of all the aforementioned aspects mentioned thus far, we've perhaps overlooked the most important one - your ownership of my work. On top of all the varied, unique and complicated services I've provided even BEFORE you've picked up your product....now, you OWN your audio to do with it as you please, in perpetuity....and there's a cost associated with that ownership.
Now - after reading all this - I'm sure you can understand when someone asks me:
"Can you do it for $50.00...?"
My answer is "No."
So, when you look at my rate (or other professional voice talent) take into consideration all the people you would have to hire if you couldn't find the one, single person who could do it all. Think about how much it would cost you to get a professional to look over your script, fix any mistakes, book a recording studio, voice your script, edit and deliver it on time and within budget....and at the end - you own the product. What I charge for a full buyout on a short narration is normally the cost for a single hour of studio time in a professional recording studio in a major center like Toronto.
