How to Hire a Voice Actor: A Friendly Guide on Quotes and Scope
So, you need to hire a voice actor for a project.
What are my rates? 🤔
What’s ya budget? 😌
Just kidding… Kind of.
I’m always happy to provide a quote for my services, along with a sample read or audition: Auditions are standard in this industry. I probably record ten times more auditions than actual projects! Don’t be scared to ask for one. It makes sure you’re happy to proceed, provided the quote is approved.
However, I need to know what services I’m providing before I can do that! It’s easier to give you a dollar amount for your boss – or their boss, or whoever – to approve once I have an understanding of the parameters of the job.
No project is the same. You gotta give me more than your script or a vague description of the content. The following information is imperative to be able to tell you the cost, turnaround time, or for me to know what you need me to deliver at all!
Are you ready? Here we go:
- What and who is this recording for?
Even a vague project name or company title helps as a reference! - What medium is the project in?
Video game, commercial, elearning, audiobook, video narration, etc. - How long is the script?
A word or line count is typically helpful. - Am I narrating, or playing a character?
What is the tone of the piece? Do you have descriptions, a backstory, or (bonus points!) art to show me that will colour the performance? - Will the VO be used for paid media ads online or via broadcast channels?
If so, in which regions? And for how long will they be broadcast? In Australia, most VAs adhere to the MEAA minimum rates for commercials. Thanks, union! - Will you be using the recording to make an awfully cringey version of my voice with AI?
If so, what for? How much content? By all means, spare no details if you want any hope of having this approved! - Will the recording be live directed, or am I recording on my own?
- Do I need to do any editing or mixing?
I can get by with basic tasks, but I’m not a pro engineer. Therefore, these things will take longer than hiring one, which costs me time and you money! - When do you need it done by?
Depending on my current slate of projects and if the budget is tight, I may need a little time to get to yours. I’m not a fan of people jumping the queue with extra cash (e.g. Rush Fee), but I’ll do my best to meet your deadlines. - What format do you need the files in? WAV? MP3? 44.1K? 32 bit?
3985GHz? I don’t know… but if I don’t know I’ll try to find out how to get it for you! - Do I need to split 300 files? A thousand files? Mark them up, or not at all?
- Where will it be distributed? Who has access to it? Is it internal? Developmental? On the net? At a kiosk? A trade show? A YouTube channel? For your mum’s birthday?…
It all adds up!
My worst nightmare is not asking the right questions up front. There’s nothing more embarrassing than having to significantly revise the expected costs at the time of billing, if the scope goes far beyond what I signed up for in good faith.
That’s why I ask these questions. Not to scare you off, but so that we can mutually understand the expectations of the project before starting the work.
Sure, projects with uber-NDAs where I won’t see the script before stepping into a session exist. For those jobs, the expectations are crystal clear: I’m there to perform for the amount of time we scheduled. Usually up to 2 hours or 4 hours for video games, depending on how vocally strenuous the script and characters are to portray. You pay for the time you book. If we wrap quicker, that means we collaborated better than expected! Not that my work for that alloted time is worth less.
If I am made aware that I may spend a portion of the session screaming at various intensities, I can budget accordingly. In your quote for the session/s. In planning and scheduling around not only your production, but others that also pay my bills.
And I will be able to give my best every single time.
I’ve made mistakes in this area. We all do. But after learning from those mistakes and recovering from the ensuing burnout… I’d rather lose a gig than only have a vague idea of what’s expected from me.
I have lost gigs.
Unfortunately, all this detail can be overwhelming for some clients.
Or the work was “too urgent and needed yesterday” to bother signing critical paperwork… But apparently not too urgent to still be casting the job on UpWork a week later, and then coming back again directly in six months time because they were disappointed with the result.
This is a lot of info.
It is necessary to be able to say “yes!” to the job, draw up the contract, and deliver it quickly to the quality you need.
Ready to kick ass together? Let me know what you need:
Note: The above is all written in first person because I am, in fact, one human being. A lot of this information, however, is standard practice for many of my colleagues. I would hope that if I refer any of my lovely colleagues to you in the future, that you would show them the same respect that you show me in being upfront with what they are signing up for when working with you!
Well done making it this far!
Any questions? Shoot me an email: nina@voicesofnina.com. If you’d prefer to set up a time to chat, let me know your preferred times and time zone. I’ll be thrilled to meet you!