Since the Voice Over Rates Roundtable hosted by World-Voices, I’ve been thinking a lot about voice over rates.
Some would like to believe it’s simply about two groups of people. Those who charge fair rates for voice over services. Those who lowball.
I don’t think it’s that simple.
Maybe it’s about education? That is to say, not everyone is educated (both talent and client) about fair market value for voice over services.
Maybe.
What I’ve been thinking about, though, goes a little bit deeper.
Do You Ask These Questions?
- Do you have doubts about your ability?
- Do you have doubts about your equipment?
- Do you have doubts about your studio?
- Do you have doubts about your audio quality?
- Do you have doubts about your demos?
- Do you have doubts about your training (or lack thereof)?
- Do you have doubts about yourself?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can’t help but think that leads us to one of the main root causes of low voice over rates.
The Root Of Low Voice Over Rates
It’s fear.
If you were confident about yourself, your demos, your audio and studio, you’d charge what you’re worth, wouldn’t you?
If you felt like you could stand side by side with talent you look up to, you’d want to make their rates, wouldn’t you?
If you believed you could compete on ability, you wouldn’t need to compete on discount, would you?
If you answered yes, then it only confirms for me even further that fear is in fact one of the main root cases of low voice over rates.
So what are you afraid of? What’s one step you can take today to overcome?
How can I help you?
