Job Discussion Forums

jppu

Through my uni, I've been offered an outside gig in cooperation with a local publisher here in Henan. Basically, they want me to record some materials for their cassette version of their new ESL text book. They are offering 300rmb an hour, not to go over 20 hours. At first, I was thrilled. But after thinking about it, I'm not so sure now since it's apparently going to be sold nationwide at your nearest Xinhua Bookstore Chain. Now 300rmb seems like a bargin for them. What do you think? Take the money and run, negotiate harder, go for a percentage? I value most of your opinions. Many thanx. Very Happy

osmanhoca · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 10 Location: South China

well, I think you should get it. They will find somebody anyway. it is good money. If not you, someone else is going to do it for 200 Wink

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

Agreed...take it or be replaced. 300 an hour doesn't suck!
MT

jppu · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2003 5:59 am Post subject: thanx!!

Thanx, guys. Looks like I'll grab it as is.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

You should negotiate for a ROYALTY, say 10% (that's standard) from the sales turnover of their VCD's.
In the end, you will probably have to settle for far less, but the current offer seems to me to be a bad joke!

Kurochan · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 944 Location: China

300 an hour seems really good to me. I'd take it. But one thing to be sure of is that they'll pay you per the time you spend in the studio, not the time of the tape. One guy I know was offered 200 an hour to record a tape, spent like four hours on it, and then was only given 200 b/c the finished tape was edited down to one hour. Make sure you won't be in that situation.

As for royalties -- I co-wrote a book once, and I decided to waive royalties, because bootlegging is so prevalent. I thought at least 70% of the copies sold would be pirated (that's just my estimate, not really based on any reliable information, except that bootlegged edition of the author's last book were sold all over the place). I don't know if there would be the same situation w/CDs or not. Also, how would you know if you were being given the proper amount of royalties? You wouldn't know how many copies of the CD were sold, right, so how could you make sure they were honest with you?

kimo · Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 668

You say this project is the work of a local publisher. Have you seen what you are going to be reading yet? The worst joke could be that it has not been edited by a native speaker. YOU might become editor as well. Your rate will then plummet to to three or four per hour. I seriously know of such cases. Watch for the fuzzy areas. Make very clear what your duties will be and how much you will get.

Sun Yuan · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:34 am Post subject: Good Insight

Wow,
Kimo, that was insightful. That is why reading what may seem to be a gererally mundane question can prove otherwise.
I will bet you that it is not edited and that guy will be stuck do this and that. 300 sounds great but it will probably be bullocks in the end.
Interesting observation. I WOULD love to see what happens in the end. Wink

Sun Yuan

carken · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 11:02 am Post subject:

I did essentially the same thing last year, for the about the same pay. My reading partner and I were picked up by taxi and our pay started then. No matter how long we were at the studio, we were paid each day before we left for that day's time. Hey, they even went out and got KFC for us! Take it and enjoy!

jppu · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 6:46 am Post subject: Thanx!!

I appreciate all your points, suggestions and 'red flags' (so to speak). We'll see what happens. Thanx again.