Hey All,
I wanted to give a few key rules to live by to keep those new clients.
Quick reminder, these are clients you WANT to keep. Sometimes as non-union vo artists we give people really good deals or maybe go below our paygrade to get a client. If you have one of those, it's best to really make sure they know your pay scale for future projects.
These rules are for those good clients, who pay your rate or more and don't ask for a bajillion retakes.
1) Get the job done ASAP.
Speed is one of the key factors that separate us from union actors. Most union jobs are done in studio and take days or weeks to complete. As a non-union actor, you have the ability to get things done quickly. Don't dilly dally around.
2) Make sure they know they get a round (or two) or pickups.
Saying something like, "If you need pickups, just message me." will go a long way to keeping the client on your side. It's tough to ask for something, especially if it's a client who has never worked with a vo actor. In the same way we hope not to be asked for a million retakes, they hope we won't charge them for every little thing. Make it clear that the job gets done when you're satisfied.
3) Be okay with pay AFTER the job.
A good client pays. I've had a 99.9% pay rate for all jobs. That .01% that didn't pay, I ended up chasing him down for it and he forgot because all my emails went to spam. Ugh. You will get paid, so being okay with the pay AFTER will go a long way to de-stress you.
4) Thank them before and after.
A good Vo artist is also a grateful vo artist. You want to have amazing customer service and that means excitement, fun, and gratefulness.
5) Keep in touch!
Every client you get, especially repeat clients. Put them into a database and maybe check back in once every 6-8 months. Say hello, talk about the big jobs you did and thank them for their business.
The best thing to do is be your own customer service representative. There will be times where you'll be lazy and get the jobs done later and later. It's okay, this happens. Sometimes we get overwhelmed. Just take a deep breath and realize you're doing something you love. Get the job done fast and move on to the next one.
Smile, breathe, and live your dream.
Take care everyone!
