Voice Acting: If You’re Asked To Voice A Scratch Track (What’s That?), What Should You Charge? by Tom Dheere
If You’re Asked To Voice A Scratch Track
(What’s That?), What Should You Charge?
By Tom Dheere
Voice Actor & Coach
Let’s talk about voicing scratch tracks.
What’s the difference between scratch tracks, auditions, demos and pitches? There is little agreement on voice over vocabulary, so first, we need to sort it out.
Scratch tracks are used as a placeholder to assist in the timing of a
video so the producer knows how much time they have to display certain
visuals.
Auditions: I think we all can agree on what an audition is, but I’ve
heard the term “paid audition,” too, which can be synonymous with demos,
pitches and scratch tracks.
heard the term “paid audition,” too, which can be synonymous with demos,
pitches and scratch tracks.
Demos: We’re not talking here about a genre-based voice over demo that a voice
actor uses to submit to voice seekers and post on casting sites. Rather, this is about a voice seeker creating a demonstration where the voice
actor’s narration is a placeholder until the project is given the green
light. Sometimes the original voice actor is used, sometimes not.
actor uses to submit to voice seekers and post on casting sites. Rather, this is about a voice seeker creating a demonstration where the voice
actor’s narration is a placeholder until the project is given the green
light. Sometimes the original voice actor is used, sometimes not.
Pitches: This typically means a presentation that helps a production company,
marketing firm, ad agency, etc. to win an account/project/gig. Sounds
similar to the definition of demo, doesn’t it? That’s because it is.
marketing firm, ad agency, etc. to win an account/project/gig. Sounds
similar to the definition of demo, doesn’t it? That’s because it is.
ASK CLIENT TO DEFINE
Scratch tracks, auditions, demos, and pitches can mean exactly the same
thing to different voice seekers. This is why this particular topic is
so damn confusing!
If you get a request from a voice seeker to record a scratch track,
audition, demo, or pitch and you’re not sure what they mean: ASK!
audition, demo, or pitch and you’re not sure what they mean: ASK!
There
is no shame in asking. You will not lose a gig because you asked a voice
seeker how they define scratch tracks.
is no shame in asking. You will not lose a gig because you asked a voice
seeker how they define scratch tracks.
FEES VARY WILDLY
How much to charge? It varies wildly.
Here’s what the GVAA Rate Guide advises:
Toys & Games (Demo/Scratch Products) $150 – $300/hr Demo usage only
(for invention companies or internal usage). NOT for product usage.
The SAG-AFTRA Commercial Contract says that an audition cannot be used as a demo, audience reaction
commercial, or scratch track unless the voice actor gets paid the
minimum Commercial Contact rate.
commercial, or scratch track unless the voice actor gets paid the
minimum Commercial Contact rate.
In my experience, I’ve been paid around $300 or so to record scratch
tracks/demos/pitches.
tracks/demos/pitches.
Some voice actors charge the full project rate
based on genre and length. You can also just charge your typical session
fee aka “turning on the mic” fee.
based on genre and length. You can also just charge your typical session
fee aka “turning on the mic” fee.
As to usage, scratch tracks are supposed to be used internally only, so
don’t charge a usage fee.
don’t charge a usage fee.
If the gig turns into a commercial that
actually airs, then you can tack on the usage fee, but make sure you
establish that upfront.
actually airs, then you can tack on the usage fee, but make sure you
establish that upfront.
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ABOUT TOM
Over more than two decades, Tom Dheere – AKA ‘The VO Strategist’ – has narrated thousands of projects for
clients in over a dozen countries and voiced more than 40 audiobooks. He
is also a voice over business consultant, a coach at Edge Studio, was the marketing consultant for the Voice Over Virtual online conference, and is also writer/producer of the sci-fi action comic book Agent 1.22.
ABOUT TOM
Over more than two decades, Tom Dheere – AKA ‘The VO Strategist’ – has narrated thousands of projects for
clients in over a dozen countries and voiced more than 40 audiobooks. He
is also a voice over business consultant, a coach at Edge Studio, was the marketing consultant for the Voice Over Virtual online conference, and is also writer/producer of the sci-fi action comic book Agent 1.22.
Email: tom@tomdheere.com
Web: www.tomdheere.com