How do you set your rates?

Question

Are you using somebody else's rate card or do you set your rates on a per-project basis?

Answer 1

Using a dart board.   Seriously, it depends on the project, where ot will be heard, ect.

Answer 2

I look at the budget first, the usage and go from there.   I stay in the near the ranges you'll find on the sample rates listed in the resources here at Voices.com and also the Rate Card put together by Dave Goldberg's people at Edge Studio.  http://www.edgestudio.com/careerbuilding.htm

Comments

I also use Edge Studio's rate card and their 'word to length' quote calculator. I love them! They've been so helpful in choosing my rates.

Answer 3

Hi-

I know we don't know each other and please take my comments with my best of intentions for you and my fellow voice talent in the VO Community.

I'm looking at some of the answers to this question and part of me is sitting here saying UUUUUUGGHH!!!!

We are so integral to people's projects. We literally give voice to their dreams and I firmly believe we should be paid well for the talents we bring to the table.

I set rates on a per project basis, but I do it with an eye toward what I want to make per year. Time is money and while Voice Over is a fun business, it's still a business.

(Example: Figure out what you want to earn for the year and then come up with an hourly rate that will make you hit that number. That's what your time is worth and what you should charge and what you should spend most of your time doing. Working on any job that doesn't pay that or doing anything else, like spending 3 hours at the laundromat that takes you away from high earning activities should be limited, or outsourced. Anything less will keep you from hitting that number... or you'll have to work harder and longer to hit it.)

From that I calculate what I need to make per "Productive hour". Once I have my annual hourly rate in mind, I look at the script, see how much time I think it will take to record, edit, etc. based on my experience and calculate a project cost.

If they hesitate, I politely explain and send them a testimonial that addresses that objection. If the answer is still no, I thank them for the opportunity to provide a quote and let it go. My time is worth too much to do it for less than what I want to earn.

(I can hear the howls of protest and disapproval from some in the VO community now.)

NEVER look at someone's rate card. If you do, you'll be making what someone else thinks you should be making.

This whole subject is all wrapped up in a broader discussion of marketing and positioning yourself in general and too long to go into here, but it's something I'm passionate about.

I've written extensively on pricing and use of price as a powerful positioning tool for VO talent and I have strong opinions about it (obviously). If you'd like to hear more about how I have done so, let me know and shoot me an email at: John@JohnMelley.com.

Hope it helps!

John