Edge Studio

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VOICE OVER TODAY – April 1, 2004
Helping voice-talent build careers.

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Published by EDGE STUDIO
     New York training - 212-868-edge
     Washington DC training - 202-398-edge
     Connecticut training - 203-374-edge
     Tele-Training - 888-321-edge

established 1988
member Better Business Bureau

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WHAT IS EDGE STUDIO?

Voice Over Career Building
- training, evaluations, demos, marketing resources, guidance, duplication

Production Studio & Casting
- commercial and narration productions

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NEED CD DEMOS?
visit www.edgestudio.com/cd_duplication.htm

WANT PRACTICE SCRIPTS?
visit www.edgestudio.com/scripts.htm

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THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:
1.) Voice-Over Tax Information
2.) Washington DC Workshops
3.) Should You Invest In A Home Studio?

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The 2004-2005 edition of the Audiobook Reference Guide, from the publisher
of AudioFile magazine, is worth checking out. This comprehensive sourcebook
to the audiobook industry provides contact information for 600 audiobook
publishers, wholesale and retail distributors, creative, manufacturing and
support services.

Check out the section on Voice Talent--and sign up for YOUR listing in the
2004-2005 Edition.

Call 800-506-1212 or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com to order your copy
now. Just $24.00 (inc. s/h). For info on the Voice Talent listings email
guide@audiofilemagazine.com.

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1.) VOICE-OVER TAX INFORMATION

(This same article ran last month – some readers asked us to repeat it.)

Wondering if you can deduct voice-over Training and Marketing expenses?
We asked an accountant to give us a sound report.

BY SPEAKING ABOUT DIFFERENT BUSINESS TYPES, this article will help you decide how you can deduct business expenses against your income. Please read the disclaimer at the end of this article.

This article will address two points:
* Which voice-over expenses can you deduct?
* Should you incorporate yourself?

What is the right entity for my voice-over business and what about taxes?

While there are a myriad of ways a voice over artist can conduct his or her business. The three that make the most sense for most voice over artists are:

a sole proprietorship
a limited liability company (LLC)
an S corporation

Other possibilities include, and are not limited to, partnerships and c corporations.

The sole proprietorship has the virtue that it is simple to form and that its income is taxed once at the owners individual tax rate. Gross profit (or loss) for the year is reported on Schedule C (or schedule C-EZ if certain tests are met) of your Form 1040 and becomes part of your adjusted gross income.

Profit (or loss) is calculated by deducting all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by your business from the income that you have received (reported on Form 1099 in box 7 as non-employee compensations) for your voice over jobs.

A word about ordinary and necessary expenses - at the start of your voice over career, the largest expenses you probably will incur is the production of your demo (training, workshops, demo production, etc.) and the marketing of your demo (demo copies, mailers, postage, phone bills, etc). These should be deductible on Schedule C as promotional or marketing/advertising expense.

Of course, other expenses such as telephone, postage, professional publications, travel, and printing of business cards are also deductible.

Another potential deductible item is office space. While office space used primarily for business is not deductible, office space used exclusively for business purposes is. (Note that office space not used exclusively for your marketing endeavors may be deductible to a percentage, for example, if your office space takes up 10% of your home, then 10% of your rent/mortgage may be deductible.)

Some items are not deductible, such as clothing purchased for voice over sessions. Even buying a nice suit to meet new clients is not deductible, because clothing is adaptable to general wear.

You will, in addition to owing income tax, usually be liable for self-employment tax and will have to make quarterly estimated tax payments as well. The sole proprietorship is not a separate legal or taxable entity from its owner, does not require a separate transfer of assets and does not limit your personal liability for the debts of the business- your individual assets remain at risk.

An LLC is formed under the applicable state’s limited liability company statute. A one owner LLC is generally taxed as a sole proprietorship. Although the tax consequences of a single-member LLC and sole proprietorship are the same, an LLC provides its owner liability protection not available to a sole proprietorship – your assets are not at risk.

An S corporation is a business entity whose income is taxed at only the individual level and has the same advantage of limited liability as a shareholder in a regular or C corporation. Unlike an LLC there are restrictions on an S corporation’s capital structure and on who may be a member. An S corporation’s income, gain, loss and deductions pass through to its shareholders and are reported on individual tax returns.

Important information:

If you are not incorporated, and earned $600 or more from a payor, that payor must send you a 1099misc form by January 31st 2004. If you should have received one, but did not, call that payor. Note that the payor should also send a copy of the form to the IRS.

Taxes must be mailed out on or before April 15, 2004.

IRS tax help-line = 800-829-1040

IRS tax forms and distribution center = 800-829-3676

IRS on-line tax order form = http://www.irs.gov

disclaimer:
This article is intended to provide general guidelines on matters of interest to voice over artists. The application and impact of tax laws can be very complex and vary widely from case to case. Readers are encouraged to seek professional advice concerning specific matters before making any decisions. The author and publisher disclaim any responsibility for positions taken by taxpayers in their individual situations. This article was updated February 17, 2004.

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Audiobook Readers: Channels for Success
What narrators need to know about audiobook publishing. Learn how your
acting skills fit into the world of audiobooks. Whether you have dozens of
audiobook credits or are looking to break into this specialized voice work,
this track gives you a unique opportunity to learn from producers and peers.

The Audiobook World for Narrators
Tools for Narrators
Stars Talk: How We Do It
At the Mic: Training with Audiobook Producers

When: 9-5:30 on Thursday, June 3rd, 2004
Where: Union League Club, Chicago
Who should attend: Actors, Producers. Mid-career and Career Builders
How Much: $195 per person inc. meals & 5:30 PM social [After May 3, 2004
$225.]

In this full day seminar you will learn about opportunities in the audiobook
industry and help you succeed as an audiobook reader. Topics include

Overview of the audiobook market
What narrators need to know about audiobook producers
independent producers; home studios; agents.
Pros and cons of adding audiobook narration to your acting skill set
How you can make a living reading audiobooks
Where to find the jobs & how to get them
How the stars of the audiobook world do it
At the mic training demonstrations with top audiobook producers
Q & A opportunities with participants and panelists

Seminar panelists include: audiobook publishers, audiobook
producers-directors and successful audiobook narrators.

Registration available at www.audiopub.org or by
email, info@audiopub.org or
by calling 703-556-7172.
Early bird registration: Sign up by May 3 and save

Event sponsored by the APAC Committee of the Audio Publishers Association, a
non- profit association that exists to further the interests of all involved
in developing and promoting audiobooks.

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2.) WASHINGTON DC WORKSHOPS

Four Intensive Workshops. One location.
$159 each. Two for $299. Three for $425.

1.) Audiobook Intensive Workshop (some prior voiceover training required)
…Saturday May 1, 3pm-7pm.
…details: www.edgestudio.com/studio_training_workhops.htm#10

2.) Intensive Technique EVALUATION Workshop
…Friday April 30, 9am-1pm or Saturday May 1, 9am-1pm
…details: www.edgestudio.com/studio_training_workhops.htm#1

3.) ADVANCED Technique Workshop (some prior voiceover training required)
…Friday April 30, 6pm-10pm
…details: www.edgestudio.com/studio_training_workhops.htm#2

4.) Intensive MARKETING Class
…Friday April 30, 2:30pm-5:30pm
…details: www.edgestudio.com/studio_training_workhops.htm#4

Voice Over Training by Edge Studio’s Voice Design Group.
Offered at BCI Media Recording Studio in Bethesda, MD.

Interested? Call 888-321-edge (3343) to register.
Instructor’s biographies at www.edgestudio.com/meet.htm

since 1988.
member Better Business Bureau.
sponsor: Special Olympics, Cancer Foundation, Seeds Of Peace.

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RECORDING FOR THE BLIND & DYSLEXIC RECORD-A-THON 4/19/04 - 4/24/04

The week of April 19 is RFB&D's National Record-A-Thon. Our national goal is to add a minimum of 250 "talking textbooks" to our 98,000 volume library. We have over 5,000 nationwide volunteers serving nearly 236,000 members with incredible success stories. The Record-A-Thon serves several purposes; to raise awareness of our organization, to increase volunteer numbers, and to raise the money needed to continue serving our members.

If you are interested in supporting our efforts financially, or would like to inquire about volunteering at one of our local Chapters, please contact me at john@ctvoice.com.

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MARKETING?

if you
…WANT VOICE OVER WORK
and
…CAN BE IN NEW YORK CITY ON APRIL 22nd 6pm-10pm
then
…THE MARKETING ‘GET ME WORK NOW’ CLASS
could be for you.

IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU? Do you want work?
RESULTS? We don't know how Scott Glasgow (the instructor) does it, but results are amazing!
SCHEDULE: Thursday, April 22 6pm – 10pm
LOCATION: Edge Studio, 307 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1007, New York, NY 10001
PRICE: $99
INTERESTED? Please call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-321-edge.

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Accurate readers wanted to cold-read (aloud) ALL text of full-length screenplays. No acting/interpretation/voice-play wanted--just straight reading. Try a 3-hour work session--if you like it, come back for another (readings are ongoing and several times a week). Weeknights or weekends. Chelsea (Manhattan) location (small, bare-bones studio apartment) . Only compensation is screenwriting knowledge/practice and/or practice cold reading. Serious and responsible only. For exact dates and times, email scriptreaders@nyc.rr.com. Only NYC-area residents.

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3.) HOME STUDIO…SHOULD YOU?

To Be (a home studio owner)…Or Not To Be.

Now that's a good question. Home voice-over studios are perfect for some. Detrimental for others. In this article, reasons are given to support both sides, as well as a compromise.

With digital recording equipment costing less everyday, a decent home studio, one allowing you to record, edit, and email/mail files, can be had for under $1,000. Throw in a phone-patch ($100) and ISDN unit ($2,000), and producers will be delighted that they can direct your recording sessions and sometimes even record them for you (giving them total control). Another $3,000 addition of music and sound-effect libraries and you're a complete production studio. What's left? A sound-proofed room. And that's simple: use your closet (clothing is great for sound absorption, plus this room is generally within another room of your house which helps to decrease noise from outside your home, plus it's wonderful for forcing you to clean it out). Alternative? Purchase a pre-fab sound-proofed room beginning at $7,000.

So how does it add up? Not bad, especially when considering the potential payoff. In fact, many voice talent operate busy home studios and absolutely love their job .

And marketing couldn't be finer, since the world is your potential. Market to any select niche group. Offer one-day turn-around (an exciting benefit for producers). Work form home in pajamas (an exciting benefit for you).

What's wrong with this picture? Two major necessities: engineering and producing skills. Regardless of how wonderfully you narrate even the most mundane copy, are you really a qualified engineer and producer?

A producer's job is one that comes naturally, and to boot, takes years to master. The producer is creative and decides what the sound should be. They say things like, "Slow down, savor the words more, remember you're reading to picture, okay try it funny instead, you missed a key word, etc." If producers need to hand-hold you through recording sessions, than you should not self-produce. One caveat, if a producer is phone-patched or ISDN'd with you during your recording, then they will take over the role as producer.

An engineer's job is to obtain a certain quality sound based upon numerous factors, such as your voice type (thin, resonant, etc.), who will listen to the completed recording (kids falling asleep, kids being entertained, etc.), and where it will be heard (recordings for radio and TV are processed differently than those to be played over telephone systems, which are processed differently than recordings for documentaries, etc.). Plus an engineer needs to create various file types (MP3, WAV, AIF, etc.), load audio onto FTP servers, be able to edit audio like a champ, keep systems running smoothly and up to date, and if offering complete production services, be able to mix music and sound effects like a pro. This is another job that takes a lifetime to master.

Ready for the challenge? If so, fantastic. If not, here's a great compromise. Offer your customers the services of a local studio. But instead of buying, building, soundproofing, maintaining, and agonizing over a gigantic learning curve for your own studio, strike a deal with a local voice over production company (not a "music recording” studio). Establish a price for which you can use their services, including studio, engineer, producer, and all production services.

What about payment? Either incorporate the studio's fees into your prices, or just eat it. But don’t feel bad about making less money, because you saved the expense of assembling, maintaining, and insuring your own studio. Plus with all the time that you saved assembling your studio and learning how to use it, you have plenty of practice and marketing time.

Tip for those who will begin their own home studio. Ensure your quality is up to par before offering services to clients. Record various types of recordings and ask a local producer (or us) to review them for quality. And don't forget studio (or business) insurance.

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Are you tired of reading off of cue cards? Memorizing long scripts only to
get to the job and receive changes? Then this is for you.

EAR-PROMPTER--The ability to speak, simultaneously, pre-recorded material
from a micro-cassette recorder, while hearing it through an earpiece,
giving a flawless performance.

This extraordinary on-camera class comes from a leading ear-prompter
proficient actor and trainer. Receive a nation-wide list of "Ear" agents at
the end of the course and open the doors to more moneymaking opportunities.

Call Andréa Urban 917-664-7777 for private or group lessons.

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HAVE A DEMO?
We're always searching for new talent.
Please email your demo to: demosubmission@edgestudio.com
or mail to:
Edge Studio, attention demo submission, 307 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1007, NY, NY 10001 USA

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WANT TO ADVERTISE in Voice Over Today?
Results have been great!
Email info@edgestudio.com or call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-321-edge

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