how NOT to make it

Look, I’ve never been comfortable charging actual money for things that help my friends. But then three people who I respect tremendously (Megan, Wendy, and Stacey) pointed out that 1. I’m just giving away my expertise in this voice-over business-game thing when I share my experiences, advice, and cut demos; 2. Helping a fellow actor with their voice demos, auditions, and marketing is something that should be paid for (or it’s perceived as not worth anything); and 3. I’m a former copywriter and producer who now works the other side of the mic fairly successfully. I guess that just means I know my shit… I guess.

So, as I look over at a rather large pile of bills, I think they might be on to something. Maybe it’s time to get over it and make some beer money. Aka, health insurance premiums… the dia-dia-dia-betus ain’t free as Wilford Brimley would say.

Here’s my idea and I’d love to know what you guys think. Also, what would you name this adventure?

1. Open up my home studio to actors wanting to get into voice-over work.
2. Focus on people with little-to-no voice-acting experience, and give them candid info on things like current industry trends, requirements, my actual experiences, and where this person may or may not fit in the scheme of things.
3. Offer candid reviews of their current voice-demos (if they have them) for free. Tip jar?
4. Offer three private hours of custom consultation, time in the booth and walk away with the recordings for $95 total (maybe do the initial chatting on the balcony with wine and/or cigars… might be fun).
5. Offer three hours to three people (max I fit in the studio) for a lower-cost group session at $50 each.
6. For actors with decent voice demos, but just need a tune-up with new lines: $50 hr.
7. Need a quick audition and you don’t have a home studio: $10 for 30 min. (includes editing, submission and direction if they want it… heh).
8. Source-Connect Session: $75 hr.

Fire away!
What would you guys call this little business adventure?
Any other advice is also super-welcome.

xoxo
-mv

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 18:20 and is filed under The Bizness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.