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Yes, I said it. The lower the rate, the higher the hassle when it comes to voiceover clients. This statement comes from years of painful experience. In my voice over journey, here are a few things I have learned about dealing with cheap clients.
You don’t have their respect.
There is something about pricing yourself as a commodity that turns you into…well…a commodity. When you don’t respect yourself enough to price your voiceover services accordingly, clients may not respect you either.
They are not grateful for the bargain.
One would think that any client that is getting such a great deal for a quality voice actor would be grateful for that actor. Think again. This really ties into the respect discussed earlier. Many voice talents have experienced clients that take advantage of bargain-basement rates, pushing the boundaries further and further.
You will never get the promised volume of future work.
Santa Claus. The Tooth Fairy. The Easter Bunny. The large volume of future work because of your low rate.
Point made! It rarely happens. Don’t fall for it.
NEVER, EVER work for free for ‘exposure’
See point above. Exposure doesn’t pay the bills. Again, don’t fall for it.
The main takeaway here is to know your value, and stick to your guns when it comes to a fair rate. These types of clients are never worth it in the long run, even when just getting started in voiceover. Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and others are notorious for clients looking for cheap talent, but many independent producers are just as bad. Skip the gutter, and put your efforts into finding quality clients
For help growing your voiceover career, including voiceover coaching, business consulting, and voice over demos, contact us at Radio Lounge. We are here to help!
#vo #voiceover #clients #rates
The Lower The Rate, The Higher The Hassle
M. Bruce Abbott is the Creative Director/Partner at Radio Lounge. Bruce has over 30 years experience as a voice actor, casting and production director, as well as extensive advertising, marketing, and podcasting experience.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites