Donut advice

AlanSimmons · 12-14-2007, 01:14 PM

Hey gang, I just got a gig for a local communications company. It's a local :30 and it's going to have a donut. The info in the donut will change over time to reflect seasonal sales, programs, etc. What's the best way to quote for this? Do I charge just for the :30 with the stipulation that future recordings are not included in the quote? And what do you charge for a :10 donut by itself? Must...wrap head around...billing procedures...ugh..
Thanks, all!

Dina Monaco-Boland · 12-15-2007, 10:08 AM

I don't know about anybody else but I like mine with coffee.

Okay, okay... I couldn't resist! But it would be fun to hear Joe J or Rajiv respond to this in their best Homer.

Sorry Alan... I know what I would do but I'm a noob so I don't think I should be doling out advice on this but if you're curious on how I do it, it depends. On a recent spot the info said it was a :60 but it was actually a :30 so that's what I quoted-- now they had seperate tag lines included on the audition script so I quoted based on the :30 and bumped it up a bit for the additional tags (3 in total). Best part, they decided that for future spots they're going with completely different scripts all of which I'm slated to do-- at the price I quoted for each (ie, the bumped up price-- beauty, eh?)

In your sitch... and again... I may be way off base so maybe I'll learn something myself from the fine folks here that are waaaaaayyy more experienced than I, but I'd maybe quote as if it was a :15 for that recording.. all others are different and new recordings that even though part of the same campaign are seperate and in my mind should be billed seperatly unless you're doing them all at once-- then the quote would be higher in concordance with the amount of work. I would also discount for volume and for the fact that it's not a full :15. All my quotes include revisions. I like to give my clients more than they expect-- it keep 'em coming back for more (plus I'm hoping word of mouth will spread like wildfire ha ha!)

Okay, I'm reading that back and I'm not sure I'm that clear but I don't know how else to write it. I apologize if I'm confusing.

Hopefully someone more knowledgable than I will come along to help you out.

Brice Lewis · 12-15-2007, 12:26 PM

I myself would probably bill it as a :30, since they'll probably give you the first insert at the same time. All additional inserts, I would I would charge as separate recordings, with a discount for quantity, or if they can send them in one lump, charge for studio time instead of per spot. As for what to charge, how about half of what they accepted for a :30?

Julie Williams · 12-15-2007, 12:32 PM

I might bill it as a :30 (assuming it's local... so low budget anyway)
Remember... you have to take time to do a session everytime they change the donut!

But with lots of repeat work... you could negotiate.

I normally negotiate on volume... IF they're all recorded in the same session.

But do clarify quotes in advance so you and producers all know what you're billing evreytime they send you copy. THis simplifies everything. No surprises!

Good luck! And congrats on the ongoing work!

Julie

Lynn Benson · 12-15-2007, 01:01 PM

Are you sure how the donut is being used. I just remember having at radio station a number of agency spots that were donuts. The donut recorded on a weekly basis by local inhouse DJs. These were OLD spots that had been around for YEARS. Wil you get to do the donut or are they looking for a long term use of a one time recording?

Lynn

jsgilbert · 12-15-2007, 02:14 PM

I would suggest you simply ask them what they have anticipated for budgeting for this. You could also ask them if they had a concept as to how many tags you might be asked to do and how frequently.

If they ask what you'd charge for the donut, say "$100,000 but you're free to make a counter offer."

There is a really good reason why talent use agents. It's very hard to be the negotiator for the product and the product itself. If this looks like it might be a long term thing and have some potential, contact a talent agent and tell them you're a voice actor and you need representation to help you negotiate a long term contract.
This is one way of potentially getting representation.

Hmmmm, wonder if Vic reads these boards? Might be a good one for a certain Cleveland talent agent many of us know.

AlanSimmons · 12-15-2007, 04:37 PM

Great advice, all! Thanks! JS, I especially like the $100k donut... :)
I've done some copywriting for them in the past and they're good folks, so I don't think there will be an issue with negotiating a fair price.

voicy1stef · 12-16-2007, 06:28 AM

Congrats Alan on your gig! Nice!

I agree with JS...that's what agents are for. They can see the bigger picture. What may seem like a lot of money to me, may be pennies to my agent. so I trust him to get the big bucks for me.

But, hope the advice that others have given here will help you figure out what to do!

12-14-2007, 01:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
AlanSimmons AlanSimmons Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 156	Donut advice Hey gang, I just got a gig for a local communications company. It's a local :30 and it's going to have a donut. The info in the donut will change over time to reflect seasonal sales, programs, etc. What's the best way to quote for this? Do I charge just for the :30 with the stipulation that future recordings are not included in the quote? And what do you charge for a :10 donut by itself? Must...wrap head around...billing procedures...ugh.. Thanks, all! __________________ Alan Simmons the studio of alan simmons

12-15-2007, 12:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Julie Williams Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Posts: 562	I might bill it as a :30 (assuming it's local... so low budget anyway) Remember... you have to take time to do a session everytime they change the donut! But with lots of repeat work... you could negotiate. I normally negotiate on volume... IF they're all recorded in the same session. But do clarify quotes in advance so you and producers all know what you're billing evreytime they send you copy. THis simplifies everything. No surprises! Good luck! And congrats on the ongoing work! Julie __________________ POWERED BY CHOCOLATE Julie Williams "Voice-Over Chocolate" julie@voice-overs.com www.voiceoverchocolate.com www.voice-overs.com Currently on National spots for Eyeglass World; Narrations for US Steel, Point of Sale VO for Gutter Grip-- playing soon at a Home Depot near you! Julie will be heard nationally on a tribute to Ruth Bell Graham in December.

12-15-2007, 04:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
AlanSimmons AlanSimmons Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 156	Great advice, all! Thanks! JS, I especially like the $100k donut... :) I've done some copywriting for them in the past and they're good folks, so I don't think there will be an issue with negotiating a fair price. __________________ Alan Simmons the studio of alan simmons

12-16-2007, 06:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
voicy1stef User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lovely England Posts: 173	Congrats Alan on your gig! Nice! I agree with JS...that's what agents are for. They can see the bigger picture. What may seem like a lot of money to me, may be pennies to my agent. so I trust him to get the big bucks for me. But, hope the advice that others have given here will help you figure out what to do! __________________ Acting is Art, Love, Giving & Prosperity Do the thing you love, work diligently and the money will follow //(^.^)\\ www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk http://stefsvoice.wordpress.com

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12-15-2007, 10:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dina Monaco-Boland User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 68	I don't know about anybody else but I like mine with coffee. Okay, okay... I couldn't resist! But it would be fun to hear Joe J or Rajiv respond to this in their best Homer. Sorry Alan... I know what I would do but I'm a noob so I don't think I should be doling out advice on this but if you're curious on how I do it, it depends. On a recent spot the info said it was a :60 but it was actually a :30 so that's what I quoted-- now they had seperate tag lines included on the audition script so I quoted based on the :30 and bumped it up a bit for the additional tags (3 in total). Best part, they decided that for future spots they're going with completely different scripts all of which I'm slated to do-- at the price I quoted for each (ie, the bumped up price-- beauty, eh?) In your sitch... and again... I may be way off base so maybe I'll learn something myself from the fine folks here that are waaaaaayyy more experienced than I, but I'd maybe quote as if it was a :15 for that recording.. all others are different and new recordings that even though part of the same campaign are seperate and in my mind should be billed seperatly unless you're doing them all at once-- then the quote would be higher in concordance with the amount of work. I would also discount for volume and for the fact that it's not a full :15. All my quotes include revisions. I like to give my clients more than they expect-- it keep 'em coming back for more (plus I'm hoping word of mouth will spread like wildfire ha ha!) Okay, I'm reading that back and I'm not sure I'm that clear but I don't know how else to write it. I apologize if I'm confusing. Hopefully someone more knowledgable than I will come along to help you out.

12-15-2007, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brice Lewis User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 26	I myself would probably bill it as a :30, since they'll probably give you the first insert at the same time. All additional inserts, I would I would charge as separate recordings, with a discount for quantity, or if they can send them in one lump, charge for studio time instead of per spot. As for what to charge, how about half of what they accepted for a :30?

12-15-2007, 01:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lynn Benson User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 36	Are you sure how the donut is being used. I just remember having at radio station a number of agency spots that were donuts. The donut recorded on a weekly basis by local inhouse DJs. These were OLD spots that had been around for YEARS. Wil you get to do the donut or are they looking for a long term use of a one time recording? Lynn

12-15-2007, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 295	I would suggest you simply ask them what they have anticipated for budgeting for this. You could also ask them if they had a concept as to how many tags you might be asked to do and how frequently. If they ask what you'd charge for the donut, say "$100,000 but you're free to make a counter offer." There is a really good reason why talent use agents. It's very hard to be the negotiator for the product and the product itself. If this looks like it might be a long term thing and have some potential, contact a talent agent and tell them you're a voice actor and you need representation to help you negotiate a long term contract. This is one way of potentially getting representation. Hmmmm, wonder if Vic reads these boards? Might be a good one for a certain Cleveland talent agent many of us know.