The Professional Voice Over Industry Resource

Deal or No Deal

April 30th, 2008 Posted in General Info, Marketing

It has probably happened to a lot of you as non-union voice talent (yes, I am still non-union, in LA!). You go in to do a voice over job and it ends up being different than you expected. It’s more work for the same money. You’re so thrilled to have the gig. You don’t want to burn bridges but you don’t want to burn your VO dignity. What do you do?

A few months ago, I got a call from a casting director. I got the job! We all know how sweet those words are. I get to the studio early, prepared to wow this new client. I’m hired to do a commercial tag, so it’s not a big money maker. The session takes about 20 minutes. The producer then asks me to wait. Maybe they want me to do the bigger role! They buy me lunch, and I wait some more, with no idea what’s happening. But you know how it is, you don’t want to be difficult. You want to make a great impression and get hired over and over. (of course this seems to be a random occurrence).

Finally the producer comes out and brings me back in. I’m now doing more tags for other projects. I keep wondering about the rate. Should I say something? Are all these tags adding up to more money? They start writing even more tags on the fly. It was a tag marathon and I was able to fly through them, giving the client what they wanted. I even had to pronounce some tricky names from another language. The session ends and the assistant takes me to do the paperwork. I ask her about the rate and she confirms my fears. It was all under that initial fee. Now I’m stuck. I’ve done the tags. The session is over and the deal is done. I can’t say no, now. The producer gets wind of my question and comes out to explain. The other tags were for spec projects. If they get picked up, I get paid.  I let her know that normally I’m paid per tag. So there you have it.

Voice actors. What would you do or have you done in this situation? Is it a Deal or No Deal?

Tomorrow, you’ll find out how this all ends. Then I’ll have even more questions and my own tips after this experience.

-Tracy Pattin

  1. 4 Responses to “Deal or No Deal”

  2. By Karen Commins on Apr 30, 2008

    Hi, Tracy. Thanks for an interesting post. It’s good that you expressed that you are normally paid per tag.

    However, I think no job is worth my integrity, and I probably would have told them they were not authorized to use the numerous tags for which I wouldn’t be paid.

    Saying NO even at that late stage of the game honors your own integrity. You’re not being difficult. You are demonstrating that you value the service you provide and expect to be paid accordingly for it. If you hold firmly opposed to the usage of the spec work, the producer might have compromised and paid you for the extra time, if not for each extra tag.

    If you fear burning the bridge, I have to ask these questions: Do you *really* want to work under these conditions again? If you voice numerous projects for free….ahem…spec, do you think the producer will expect more of the same from you in the future?

    Obviously, it was a good learning experience. In the future you and those of us who read this post will remember to set payment terms *before* doing the work.

    I hope your story has a happy ending. Thanks for sharing it with us, and best wishes for your continued success!

    Karen Commins
    http://www.KarenVoices.com
    http://www.KarenBlogs.com

  3. By Bob Wood on Apr 30, 2008

    Ahh, the ultimate conundrum for us Non-Union Talent. Our desire for work often causes us to let our guard down for the unscrupulous producer. Our desire to please (which may lead to more work) overshadows our instinct of caution.

    I am dying to hear how this turned out and how you ultimately chose to deal with this man.

  4. By Tracy Pattin on May 1, 2008

    Thanks Bob for your comment. Yes, I’ll be posting this afternoon the ending to all of this!

  5. By Tracy Pattin on May 1, 2008

    Thanks Karen-
    Good advice….Check out this afternoon’s blog and find out what happens…

    Also, great website Karen!

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