Comments on: Setting prices and getting paid https://karencommins.com/2008/07/setting_prices_and_getting_pai.html Atlanta Audiobook Narrator Sat, 18 Jan 2020 22:50:40 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Karen https://karencommins.com/2008/07/setting_prices_and_getting_pai.html#comment-187 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:11:27 +0000 http://example.org/setting_prices_and_getting_pai#comment-187 Hi, Brian. Thanks for sharing your story with me. I’m sure this ex-client DID love your demo! I doubt you would have spent so much time on it without the promise of payment, so I encourage you to hound the client until they pay you!

Sometimes I will produce an audition with music and/or effects just because I enjoy that process. However, if a client requests the extra production as part of a demo, we are entitled to assess charges for that extra work. In that case and in the case of booked jobs, I insist on receiving 50% payment up front.

I made this rule after a client who hired me for a commercial and THEN decided they wanted to use someone else. Since I was told I was hired, they needed to pay whether they used me or not. We finally compromised on half payment.

With a 50% up-front policy, I know I will receive compensation. It establishes a bond of trust between me and the client. People often contact me for quotes, but fewer follow through with the jobs after reading my payment policies. Those who do hire me at that point are usually delightful collaborators.

Brian, I hope you do get paid by these people. If nothing else, the experience gave you a wonderful demo that you can utilize to obtain other work.

Karen

]]> By: Brian in Charlotte https://karencommins.com/2008/07/setting_prices_and_getting_pai.html#comment-186 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:08:04 +0000 http://example.org/setting_prices_and_getting_pai#comment-186 Karen, boy, I know what you mean when you speak of price-buyers. I had one of those earlier in the year when a client wanted a children’s magazine (which has about 15-20 stories) turned into an audio production with the works…music, sfx, voiceover, intro creation, outro creation etc. They also wanted unrestricted rights to not only the full production but also the dry audio segments for each story. Thus, the client could potentially modify my work or make a compilation and sell it in Wal-Mart and I would not get a penny. Though, I’m humbled to say, they loved my fully produced demo (which they said they would pay for but never did…it took 20 hours to produce), they decided to go with someone else who would do it over $1,000 cheaper than me.

I hope you don’t have to deal with another one anytime soon!

Brian in Charlotte

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