Quoting & Rates

By Eric Hunt

There is not one standard for developing and quoting rates--especially outside the world of the unions (the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are the two you will encounter when pursuing voiceover work).

Therefore, it is in your best interest to know what to charge. Several methods exist for quoting rates but you should always take into consideration the market where the project is being produced.  A project being produced in Los Angeles or Chicago will command a higher rate than a comparable one being produced in Minneapolis.

Quoting will often fall into your court.  When then client decides that you are potentially a good fit for their project they are likely to ask “What do you charge?”  You should be able to tell them.  Do not, however, quote rates with out a detailed understanding of the gig and the client’s expectations.

Per Episode - For projects that are serial, such as television or online animation, radio dramas, or podcasts, the agreed-on rate could be a flat rate per episode.  You may sign a contract for 12 monthly episodes of an online animated series at a rate of $500 per episode, for example.  One thing to consider when quoting per episode is how many characters you will be playing.  If you are the main character plus his or her sporadically appearing sidekick, you may want to quote a rate that acknowledges that.  For instance, you may quote something like: $500 per episode featuring “Trickle;” $750 per episode featuring both “Trickle” and “Mangy.”

Number of Lines - Another popular way to quote is based on the number of lines.  This method can be used for episodic projects but is more often the norm for projects like features, industrials, toys, GPSs, video games, or museums, etc...   

Per Studio Hour - Sometimes voice actors are paid by the studio hour:  how much studio time it takes you to complete the work.  This is becoming more and more reserved for times when you actually, physically, go into the studio.  It is difficult for clients to feel comfortable with an hourly rate when you are doing the work from your own location.  Less ethical people could certainly inflate the number of hours it took them to do the work in order to receive more money for the project.

Production Budget - Sometimes you will be given the preferred compensation method when you are offered the job.  Then it becomes your choice whether to accept the rate, walk away, or attempt to negotiate.  Sometimes you will quote a rate that exceeds the client or producer’s budget.  You should do your best to remain “negotiable” whenever possible within reason.  If you feel some push back from the client or producer when you quote your rate, you may want to come back with “but my rates are certainly negotiable” and then talk about their budget.  This way, they will know that you are a serious professional (which means that they can expect a high-quality product) but you are willing to try to accommodate their budget constraints.