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Actually, it can be that hard. No, you are not just talking; you are
contributing your hard-earned English language speaking ability to the
project. And that, my friend, is nothing to sneeze at. I know that and I
have not even heard your spoken English.
And then there is the equipment. That itself can be costly. If the company
will be supplying rented time at a studio, and if you feel confident in your
voice and if they feel confident in your voice, then perhaps they could use
you as some ind of untrained voice talent - but they should supply the
coaching services too. I would guess that this arrangement could work out
well.
On the other hand, if they want you to take responsibility for the quality
of recordings etc., then if I were you I'd consider walking away very fast.
Let me ask -- What if you were to prepare some document for a large modern
corporation by using only a manual typewriter (or, as has been joked about
on this list, handscribe it with pencil and paper or carve it into stone)?
Using whatever you could find as media for writing on?
I myself do not have any experience with this business - But it seems to me
that David Handy's comments are relevant. But how about somewhere in the
range of $10 to $40 per finished minute of recorded material for your
services as an untrained voice talent?
Jim Jones
chineseadjuster.webs.com (Mandarin Coaching and Tutoring)
My business (one part of my business, I mean) is Mandarin Coaching and
Tutoring and I deliver my instruction over the phone and internet.
Looking for professional-level users of Mandarin who need to improve in
expression, confidence, or pronunciation. Are you an actor or an
entertainer, or are you a State Department Aid? Are you an interpreter who
needs coaching for Mandarin (mild Beijing accent)?
My pronunciation is pretty good. If you need to say a sentence or two of
'polite colloquialisms' or similar, give me a call (contact me by email
first - email address is on chineseadjuster.webs.com).
Technical Editing | Translation for Chinese, German, or Spanish into English
Cartooning and Illustration
Remote and off-site--based in Chicago
In March of 2009, STC Chicago honored me with the DCSA
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+doc-x=earthlink -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+doc-x=earthlink -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Handy, David
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 10:22 AM
To: Peter Neilson; Keith Hood
Cc: Techwr-l
Subject: RE: Taking a slightly different tone
Twenty five dollars for each hour for finished product? When each hour
probably takes two to complete? So Keith can expect about a hundred bucks a
day? Wow I would have thought/asked for more...
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+dhandy=informatica -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+dhandy=informatica -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Peter Neilson
Sent: 18 September 2009 17:13
To: Keith Hood
Cc: Techwr-l
Subject: Re: Taking a slightly different tone
(Keith asked about fees for voice recording work.)
If you are a professional speaker or announcer and have a portfolio that
proves the quality of your work, then you might command that fee.
All depends on how professional the clients wish to appear.
If your voice doesn't sound like an automobile horn, lacks the common "uhhh"
and "ahhh", and can actually prevent snoring among the audience, you just
might get the correct rate. Otherwise, your clients will likely expect to
pay you about $25 for every hour of finished product, and then feel
short-changed afterwards.
"Can't be that hard. It's just talking, right?"
Keith Hood wrote:
> This post may be a waste of time but I can't think of anyone better to
ask...
>
> I've been asked to provide a quote for doing some voice recording
work, for a company that is fielding some web-distributed training. I'm told
it would probably be about 8 hours' work.
>
> I have gone online and researched the going rates for voice work, and
they are frightening. Apparently it's normal to charge by the *second* at
rates like $200 for a 30-second gig. I and the people doing the training
materials have no experience in this and I'm pretty sure asking for $100 for
each 15 seconds is a good way to scare them off.
>
> So, what do you think would be a good rate? This came to me through a
friend who is working form that company as a technical writer, and most
likely the company is thinking of paying for the voice work in the same
manner as her. They're probably thinking of an hourly rate in the same
neighborhood. If I got a new gig as a tech writer I certainly wouldn't be
making money by the second on it, and I have nothing better to do right now.
>
> I have to get back to them by 3 this afternoon, so if you open this
message for the first time after that, you may as well not waste your time
replying. Unless you just feel like throwing something out on general
Friday-whathtebleep principles.
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help 2009 tips, tricks,
and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual authors and
teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write once, publish to 8
formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
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You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as dhandy -at- informatica -dot- com -dot-
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
2009 tips, tricks, and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual authors and
teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write once, publish to 8
formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as doc-x -at- earthlink -dot- net -dot-
Free Software Documentation Project Web Cast: Covers developing Table of
Contents, Context IDs, and Index, as well as Doc-To-Help
2009 tips, tricks, and best practices. http://www.doctohelp.com/SuperPages/Webcasts/
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
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