A revision is a change in the project included, but not limited to, changes in  copy, voice talent  or music/sound effects.

 

A re-read is the same talent re-reading the exact same script.  As hard as we try to exceed your expectations, sometimes things just happen and we need to re-cut the voice / audio production application.   Depending on the situation, we will gladly re-cut the exact same copy and deliver it to you ASAP without additional charges. Situations that will always receive additional billing (but not limited to) include copy change, talent change, read style change, or specific directions if description wasn't included in original booking.

 

Please note after 10 days of receiving the project, any revisions of the exact same copy will be subject to full rate billing. Fully produced projects and narrative reads subject to full rates for any revisions.

 

Additional reads are not free.  The first read for commercials are based off of the rate on our rate card.  There is a $10.00 talent fee for each additional requested read for commercials up to :35 seconds and $15.00 for commercials :36 to :65 seconds (based on each talent for each commercial on the exact same script at the time of the original booking).

 

 

Changes On Orders (bookings) after submitted.  Due to the high volume of bookings we receive through out the day, phone calls, etc. changes on scripts after submission is subject to additional billing.  We process all orders within 15 minutes of receiving them (during business hours).    In an effort to process and expedite each booking efficiently any changes on script/s, talent/s, or cancellations will most likely result in additional billing.   Please be sure you and your client approve all scripts before sending to us to avoid double billing.   All bookings received are copied and pasted into our internal production orders for book keeping reasons and consistency for our voice talents.  Each Booking is then saved as a PDF as we are unable to make fast last minute changes.

Billing is as simple as 1, 2, 3.  No matter which talent you select, they are all the exact same price for standard reads (character reads, accent reads, and non English reads additional - see rate card). Each commercial is billed out based on # of talents selected, length, how it's aired (local, regional, national), and voice only or fully produced.   If you book two talents for a dry :30 locally... you are invoiced for two talents.  Sorry we cannot take multiple tags or short scripts an bill as one. Billing is based on per piece / tag / spot / talent.  Unless a prior arrangement is set up, all invoices are net 30.  A 1.8% late charge is applied to all past due balances after 60 days and will accrue each month.  All invoices with a balance of $100.00 or more and past due is subject to service interruption until all past due invoices are paid in full.  There is a $50.00 charge on all returned checks and a $25.00 charge for each declined credit card.

Your time is valuable.  For the quickest turn around it helps when you give us an idea  or clear description of read styles and target audience.

 

                      For example: hard-sell, dramatic, sassy, etc.  If no descriptions are given at the time of

                                                        booking, we will try our best to interpret the read tone you are seeking.

                                                        We will not delay the deadline without copy descriptives.   We will

                                                        invoice all revisions if requested due to missing style descriptions from

                                                        the original booking.

 

Size does matter.   We will gladly read what you send us, however, please keep in mind that it may be subject to additional billing.  We do not edit or revise scripts unless it is part of the project plan.  We read what you send us.  While all voice talents are different, this is our guideline and it  will help you time out your copy with a comfortable read pace.

 

05 seconds = approximately 15 words

10 seconds = approximately 30 words

15 seconds = approximately 45 words

30 seconds = approximately 90 words

60 seconds = approximately 180 words

Phone #s 1 digit = 1 word

 

We will gladly e-mail you if your script/s exceeds our suggested copy length.  The turn aournd time may be delayed as we will wait until we hear back from you.    If you approve any "longer" copy you send us (ie. to be a :30 and it ends up being closer to a :36 due to too much copy) you will be invoiced as a :60.   All commercials are billed out as UP TO :35 seconds or :36 to :65 seconds. S

Getting pronunciations correct is key to a quick turn around.  To help expedite the process and to be assured your voice & audio production is turned around to you promptly and within the set deadline... please include phonetics to any city, street, or word that we may not be familiar with.  Deadlines may be delayed if we are not provided with correct pronunciations and have to contact you.  If we do not connect after attempting to contact you and have pronunciation questions, we will wait for your return call.  This may delay any deadlines.  Feel free to send an MP3 or call us as well.  If you should send us a bad phonetic or pronunciation and then need to have the project re-voiced or produced again additional charges will apply.  We will not adjust invoices if a deadline is delayed due to pronunciation questions.

Narrative projects  rates are based on a "per minute" basis and are rounded up to the next minute for billing.  Keep in mind that abbreviated words or substituting them with numbers will not shorten the read,  numbers do count as words.   FYI, professional voice talents read slower than the average person so please keep that in mind when you are doing your own copy writing.

 

Spell it out.  If you write your own scripts please do not abbreviate words unless you want it read as you wrote it

 

                      For example:   "in Msn, WI" should all be spelled out as "in Madison Wisconsin".

 

Additional billing may be applied if we need to re-read any abbreviated words.

We will hold your project for 14 days.  We will keep your audio posted on your private FTP download page for 14 days.  We suggest you save your audio immediately to your hard drive as we do not back up dry v/o's and will be billed again if we need to do a re-read.   Please listen to your audio immediately as our talent schedules could change with short notice to us and any possible errors could result in a delay for a fix from that talent (or new billing from a different voice talent).  Right Click the file and save target to your computer, Mac Users hold down the "Option" Key and click for download.  Fully produced audio is automatically backed up and available at no additional charge if needed in the future.

Being a member of SAG/AFTRA does not mean you are better then an actor that is not a member.  In fact the majority of the union members you haven't even heard of.   So which talent is better?  Either.  If you have an actor you like then you need to use them whether or not they are a member of the union.  If your project is a "union" job  and your preferred talent is not a union member, they will have to join SAG/AFTRA.

 

Joining the SAG/AFTRA is not like joining a gym, you have to be invited, which means you have to be good enough to get yourself booked into a union job or two, which is almost impossible  to do because you are a non-union actor.

 

Bottom-line is what do you prefer?  If you like an talent that is not a member of  the union, use  them.  If your preference is a union member, be prepared to pay the union rates or hope the talent decides to give you a break.

 

Andrew Robinson wrote a  wonderful blog on this subject "To Union or Non-Union? That is the Question" which is worth checking out if you want more information.

With the proliferation of music libraries in recent years and the increase in competition, some smaller libraries have evolved the somewhat misleadingly titled royalty-free music model. These libraries do not charge their customers for licensing the music. Instead, the customers purchase a CD or access to an electronic collection of music - priced typically between 50 and 300 dollars - whose content is licensed in perpetuity for them to synchronize as often they wish. These libraries depend mainly on performance royalties for their income (with a small amount of income from sales of physical CDs or online track downloads).

 

Assuming that the music is broadcast, royalties are paid on the music, though it is the broadcaster, not the customer, who pays them via annual fees to the performing rights societies.

Yes you can.  However, depending on your abilities it may be cost prohibitive.  If you want to try your hand at voicing your own commercial, we can provide you with coaching and production support.  Ask your Account Executive for more details.

Each project complexity determines the turnaround time.  Turnaround time for most orders submitted during regular business hours will be within a few hours.  All orders submitted Monday through Friday are targeted to be completed within 24 hours.  Orders submitted after 5pm ET on a Friday may be completed on Monday.

You can discuss your specific project and turn around requirements with your Account Executive.  We will do everything in our power to meet or exceed your expectations.

The majority of our clients opt for receiving their finished product through email or one of many free File Transfer Protocols (FTP) services available.  Delivery on CD, DVD, or even Flash Drive is available at an additional cost.

 

Audio is delivered in MP3  file format only.  If you do need an alternative file format (such as AIF, WAV, or specific phone prompts) please make sure you specify in our order.  There are additional charges for file conversion if not specified on the order form.

We have many clients that provide multiple scripts to be produced as one order.  These  scripts are are individually named and have a unique order number.  When the script has been  completed, it is sent back to the client in a separate file with the unique order number and name  as the filename.

Once your voice talent has uploaded your audio and notified you it is available,  you'll have a period of 5 business days to review and approve before downloading.   If for some reason you're dissatisfied with your voice over (style, mispronunciations, etc.) you'll have the option to request ONE FREE revision with new instructions for the talent.   Additional revision requests, or any revisions needed after you've approved and downloaded your audio will require submitting a new order.   If no action is taken within 5 business days after you being notified,  your order will be considered approved and final.

 

When submitting your script for recording you'll be asked to identify what  the voice over will be used for.   Broadcast scripts include radio and television scripts of any length.   For broadcast scripts, our talent will make every effort to read scripts in the specified timing, usually  10, 15, 30 or 60 seconds.

 

Other uses, including Internet video, on hold, corporate video, IVR, mobile applications, e learning, etc. are considered to be non-broadcast and priced according to word count.  Non-broadcast scripts will be read according to client direction with no time limitations.