Which is the best way to go, Union or Non-Union?
This is a tricky one. Things have changed over the last 5 years and where the the quality or professionalism of those working as professional voice talent in the union was better than non-union voice-over artists - it's now 50/50 from my perspective. Here's why: The Unions have priced themselves out of the market and haven't made the adjustment for technology.
Sites like Voice123 and Voices.com have blown the non-union VO Talent side of things wide open and in doing so, have made hiring VO Talent far easier for companies and ad agencies. The problem is, most of the so-called "Talent" on these sites is highly questionable. On the technology side, just about anyone can set up a professional studio and sell audio; again, most of it out there is garbage. Garbage or not, there's more of it, therefore there's more for sale, therefore the Unions are taking it on the chin.
It's simply cheaper and easier for companies to hire non-union VO talent these days, without being buried by the costs and paperwork associated with hiring union talent.
If you want to join the Union, forget about having your own studio or getting any other work outside of what you get from your Union agent. By the letter of the "Union" contract they can throw you in jail for doing so....(at least, they want you to "think" that way, post-brainwashing).
Yes, the calibre of talent in the Union is up there and goody for them to set up stuff like RRSP's, Benefit Plans, Insurance Plans, Life Insurance, ect. In most markets, the unions have most of the National commercial and animation work locked up. Finally, getting into the unions is not an easy thing to do. First, you have to prove that you're a "professional voice talent" and then, if accepted, you've got to put out a fairly hefty entrance fee. For further info you can visit ACTRA, the Canadian union or AFTRA, the American union.
Also consider that being in the union means fierce competition in large numbers, many auditions, yearly fees and you're not allowed to pick up any "non-union" gigs. People that do strictly non-union work usually find an agent and some ad agencies that hire on a regular basis. They work all the time vs. being "flavor of the year" in the Union, making a pile of cash.....and then getting nothing for 10 years thereafter.
The basic difference is, in the non-union world, you get a "one time" fee for the voice work you do, and it's lower than the union. Here's how it works. A non-union voice artist goes into the studio to record a National TV ad for, say, $750.00 flat rate (be advised that non-union rates are very arbitrary). If a union artist were hired for the same gig (agents usually negotiate a "double scale" rate) they would gross roughly $2000.00 for the same ad, in addition to regular residuals (about $900.00 gross per 13 week run) if the campaign runs for a fair amount of time.
Many union artists are still collecting money from commercials they did years ago, because it's a lot cheaper for companies to re-run an old ad campaign than pay to have a new one produced. Non-union people just keep recording commercials and take the buy-out everytime. They can also set up a studio, get an agent, set up a website.....walk down the street with a placard.....and they won't get thrown in jail by the Union for doing so.
If you are interested in getting a critique of your voice then click here. Comments? Still have another question? Send me an e-mail and I'll respond ASAP. Thanks for visiting!
