what makes you better than the other on-line casting sites?

What makes us truly unique—and of genuine value to producers who need to find talent immediately—is that we feature pre-screened, well-trained professional voice talent exclusively.
When selecting talent for Voice Yenta, we consider only first rate, experienced non-Union voice actors recommended to us by established talent agents or casting directors. Talent submissions are further screened by our panel of seasoned casting pros to determine which are truly "Yenta-worthy"---that is serious voice actors who consistently demonstrate superior acting skills, a solid technique and commitment to their craft. Clients can rest assured that any talent they find on Voice Yenta will be professional, prepared and directable.Listing on Voice Yenta is 100% free of charge to talent. There are no listing fees nor do we receive a percentage of any actor or agent's fees when they are cast. We choose actors based solely on their ability and preparation---not on their ability to pay us.

do you accept unsolicited demos from voice actors?

In a word...no. In order to deliver on our promise to our clients that "any talent they find on Voice Yenta will be professional, prepared and directable," we can only consider the following non-Union voice talent: 1) actors we know who have actually auditioned at Voicetrax, or; 2) actors who are personally recommended to us by trusted voiceover talent agents and casting professionals who we work with regularly. Additionally, all submissions are further screened by our casting experts to ensure that only those voice artists who demonstrate superior acting skills, a strong mastery of technique and dedication to craft make the final cut. If you don't fall into one of the above two categories, we cannot consider your submission. More simply put---if we don't know you, we can't personally vouch for your professionalism and ability, no matter how good your demo or your resumé is. No exceptions.
  
how does the Voice Yenta service work?

We offer a variety of on-line casting services. Some clients like to browse through our listings themselves to find the right talent they want for their project. Others don't have enough time to listen to lots of different audio clips, so they prefer to have us narrow down the field for them and/or send them pre-selected clips. And yet others want to hear their script interpreted by several actors before making their final choice. Each of our services is detailed on our "services and rates" page, so you can determine which of our services best meets your specific needs.

how much should I expect to pay non-Union talent?

The following information is based on a recent survey of several large talent agencies that represent non-Union Talent:

For TV and radio ads, rates vary depending on where the spots are broadcast and for how long. Rates can range from between a few hundred dollars for a radio spot that airs in a small market for a few weeks to several thousands of dollars for a nationally broadcast ad that runs for several months.

For most other projects, including multimedia, podcasts, industrial narration and video games, professional non-Union actors are typically paid on an hourly basis. Rates for the first hour normally range between $300-$450. For sessions lasting longer than an hour, rates for each additional hour are normally between $200-350. For sessions lasting more than four hours, or for projects requiring multiple recording sessions, agents and actors may be open to negotiating a reduced hourly rate. Additionally, you'll need to budget an additional 20% (over and above the actor's hourly rate) for the talent agency's fee. Please note that Voice Yenta does not receive any part of any actor's or agent's fees.

For audio books rates are typically in the range of $125-$225 per hour, depending on the length and complexity of the project.

Of course, as with anything else, there are always exceptions. On Voice Yenta we've also included a few of the most renowned, experienced voice actors in the voiceover industry whose credits include animated TV series, blockbuster video games and national TV advertising campaigns. The hourly rates commanded by these actors may actually be one and a half to two times higher than the typical ranges noted above. 

how many actors do I need to select from Voice Yenta for my project?

For each role you need to cast, it's always advisable to have one or two alternate choices---especially if you're working on a tight schedule. Your first choice may be unavailable on the day that you're scheduled to record, so to avoid unnecessary headaches and disappointment, we recommend having a strong back-up choice or two.

if I use one of your on-line services, how long will it take to get the casting information I need?

Voice Yenta is on duty between the hours of 7:30 PT and 4:30 PT Monday through Friday (except holidays). The following response times apply only to orders received during our normal business hours. (Orders received after 4:30 PT or on weekends and holidays will be processed the next business day):

If we anticipate any delays in fulfilling your order we will advise you immediately, so that you can evaluate your options. Additionally, if you have an urgent deadline to meet, let us know and we'll try to accommodate your request whenever possible.

how do I make arrangements to book the actors I've selected?

It's normally a two-part process:

1) After Voice Yenta sends you the contact information for the actors you've selected, you should call or email the actors (or their agents) to determine whether they will be available on the date(s) you plan to record your project and what their rates are.

2) Once you've made your final choice, and reserved a studio time, you should re-contact the actors you've picked (or their agents) to provide the date, time and place of recording, and work out payment details.

what if I want to hear selected actors perform my own script?

You have a few options...

If you are really pressed for time (you have a day or less to finalize your decision), you can use Voice Yenta's "you pick the talent" or "we narrow it down for you" services to narrow down your choices. Then, you can contact your two or three "finalists;" send them a copy of your script; ask them to record it and have them email you an MP3 copy of their recording, so you can hear their interpretations before making your final choice.

But if you have a slightly longer time frame (one or more business days), you can have us do a customized "e-casting" for you. If you select our "e-casting" service, we'll send your copy to the best non-Union actors available whom most closely match your specifications (regardless of whether they are listed on Voice Yenta or not) and have them perform and record your copy. We'll then send the auditions (or upload them to a designated FTP site) for your final review and selection. 

If you are as concerned about presenting your work in the best light to your client as you are about finding the right voice actor for the job, you might also want to consider having us do a full casting for you. Rates for a full casting start at $300, and include talent selection and scheduling, professional direction, broadcast quality recording, and assistance with availability checking. Visit Voicetrax Casting for more details.

how do I find a high quality, reasonably priced recording facility?

Hourly rates for broadcast quality, professional studio recording services typically range between $150-$400/hour depending on geographic location, competitive climate and how plush the studio furnishings are! It definitely pays to shop around, because in LA for example, you may find that some studios charge $200/hour and others up to $400/hour for comparable quality services.

We are strong believers in the power of "word of mouth" advertising. Ask your colleagues and friends, and find out which studios they've worked with, the ones they recommend and why. Be sure to check our resources page for information on a few of our favorite studios in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Austin.

Additionally, you may have a local multimedia resource guide or directory available for your geographic area that lists professional recording studios with descriptions of the services they provide.

Reel Directory is the most commonly used resource for Northern California. In Southern California, Voiceover Resource Guide is the most widely used reference. Similar guides and directories are published for other parts of the country.

should I stick with talent that is located in my same geographic area?

With modern digital recording technology so widely available, it makes little difference where your talent is physically located. You are free to choose the best talent for your project---regardless of where they are. Many studios now offer remote recording capabilities that allow you to easily set up a recording session with talent almost anywhere in the country.

Via phone patch, you can participate in a recording session remotely at a cost that is marginally higher than the cost of a normal recording session. If you require an ISDN connection, however, you will need to budget for higher costs, i.e., studio rentals in two locations (the studio where you are located and the studio where the talent is located) plus the ISDN transmission fee. 

To find an ISDN-equipped studio in your area, contact any recording studio that advertises "digital patch" or "ISDN" capabilities for detailed information and rates. As we previously mentioned, when you're trying to locate a recording studio it really pays to check around. Studio rates for ISDN recording can vary between $175-$400/hour, and ISDN transmission fees can range between $75 to $250/hour.

We offer non-originating ISDN connection services at our Voicetrax facility in Sausalito (San Francisco) at a special discounted rate of $125/hour plus $1/minute for transmission fees. To schedule a recording time, or for more information contact Voicetrax.

do I need to hire an experienced director for the recording session?

If you don't have much experience working with actors, you may want to hire an expert voiceover director to ensure that you get the best possible performance from your talent in the least amount of time. Inexperienced directors may know what they ultimately want, but often lack the directing skills and command of acting "language" necessary to get the desired performance from the actor in amount of the studio time allotted.

If you're interested in hiring highly skilled professionals who have long records of successfully directing both Union and non-Union voice talent, contact Voicetrax Casting. They can put you in touch with experienced voice directors who are available to provide direction for your actual recording sessions. Rates range between $125-$175 per hour (with a two hour minimum). Please note that any necessary travel and/or lodging expenses for locations farther than 50 miles from Voicetrax's studio are extra and not included in the hourly rate.

can you help me produce my voiceover project?

If you have a voiceover project to get done and you don't know where to start...or don't have enough time to do it yourself...we are available to help you manage the planning, coordination and production of your audio tracks. We'll help you find and book the right talent, schedule and direct the recording session, and supervise the editing and post-production according to you specifications. Contact Voicetrax Casting for a "soup to nuts" quote for our audio production consulting services.

what if I don't find exactly what I'm looking for on Voice Yenta?

Contact us and tell us what you are looking for. We may have what you want in our extensive archives, or we may recommend that you use one of our custom casting services, so that you can actually hear selected actors interpreting your copy before making your final selection. For more details on our on-line casting options, see our "we scour the archives" and the "e-casting" service descriptions.

You might also want to consider having us do a full casting which includes talent selection and scheduling, professional direction, broadcast quality recording, and assistance with availability checking. Rates start at $300, and you can visit our Voicetrax site for more details.

If we're unable to help you find what you need, we'll do our best to refer you to another experienced, reputable casting service provider who might.

if I pay for one of your services and subsequently decide that I need more selections, do I have to pay the full amount again?

If you contact us within 10 business days from the date we originally fulfilled your order, we'll charge you only the rates indicated for "each additional actor/selection" on our services & rates page for the casting service you selected.  

can Voice Yenta help me find pre-screened Union talent, too?

If the sheer volume of listings on Voicebank seems overwhelming, we can help you narrow down your choices to a manageable few. Pricing begins at $125.00, and will vary depending upon the scope and complexity of your casting. Contact Voicetrax Casting for more information on this service.

if my budget is extremely limited, is there somewhere else that I might be able to find decent voice talent on-line?

If you have a low or no budget, we recommend that you try posting an ad on your local Craigslist.com under "TV/Film/Video/Radio." You might also try posting a casting notice on any popular websites or in publications for on-camera and theater actors in your area. (Most sites and publications will post your "casting notices" for free.) The submissions that you receive in response may not all be top quality---or appropriate for what you are looking for---but you will likely get back at least a few decent auditions from which to choose.