This topic recently popped up on Such A Voice’s Facebook page, and the person wanted to know whether or not she should be watermarking her auditions for sites such as Voices.com or Voice123.com
In the audio world, a watermark is another audio file that you place on top of the primary audio file, in this case your voice over, to prevent a dishonest client from using your voice-over work without actually paying you for it. An example of a watermark for a narration or commercial you audition for could be something as simple as a “ding!” sound that pops up every few seconds. As long as this “ding!” doesn’t obscure the quality of your voice-over read or completely annoy the listener, the client wouldn’t be able to use this recording for commercial purposes. If you are recording a longer voiceover, another common method is to over-lay the voice-over with, “This is just a demo by Jane Smith,” every ten seconds or so.
Watermarking your voice over jobs is a great way to protect your property, but it’s not recommended to place a watermark on every audition you do. If you are working with a reputable client, or especially if this is a repeat client, putting a watermark on your audio file could show the client that you don’t actually trust them. A client might even pass up a great audition that was watermarked because they were offended that you didn’t trust them to pay you for your work.
After all of your voice-over training and hard work to become a professional voice actor, it’s natural to want clients to treat you with the respect you deserve. However, make sure to maintain good working relationships with all your clients, and you should trust the people you’re working with.
So, when is it a good idea to watermark your work?
It depends on the interactions you have had with the client. The longer you work in the voice-over industry, the better you’ll be able to tell how to handle these nuanced situations. Some instances in which you should at least consider watermarking your work include:
1) An over-seas client you aren’t familiar with. 2) A new client you haven’t heard of who would like the entire script read for the audition. 3) An “unknown” client or project that was posted through a questionable venue. (I love craigslist.com, but anyone can post jobs there with any goal in mind.)
The good thing about erring on the side of trusting the client is that on the off chance you get a shady client, you can tell everyone about it through social media. If you don’t get paid for work you do, or if a client treats you badly, you can let other voice-over artists know about it. And, in the worst case, you find a “voice-over job” that ends up being someone totally sleazy, you can warn other future victims. (See, the Sleazy Sneeze Guy)
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