How can you communicate audio editing rates and contracts with clients for a podcast?

Ive found that podcasts containing mostly music are a bit different than podcasts that are all strictly conversational. Podcasts containing a particular genre of music for this article I'll call ,"archives". Once a show is broadcast over the airwaves you have that original live broadcast of your Show. Once you download that file onto as USB Memory drive ,you can work with and edit the file using Sound forge or Audacity. This is what i call a "second chance to make a great impression" because by going through and editing the audio,removing the uhhs and ahhs and pauses the final product is much cleaner and many enjoy listening.Always be in the habit of submitting your audio by deadline so that listeners arent waiting for a fresh archive!!

You are worth your talent, and how better you are than others in the market! Your pricing not only depends on your talent but you will also be compared to others in terms of fees/pricing. Make sure you know what your work is worth and what's the industry standard offering for the work. Choose a lower limit below which you won't go. You ought to follow this religiously.

Think about all of the logistics of the project and ask questions! It is a solo episode, an interview, a panel discussion, a narrative, etc. What is the length? Do they want basic editing or precision editing? What is the quality of the recording? Will you need lots of processing (EQ, Compression, Noise-reduction, etc.) Think about how you can value stack to increase your value. Yes, you do audio editing, but you are more than likely mixing in the music, adding sound effects, and mastering the final file for delivery. Can you host the podcast, publish, schedule, write the show notes, create social assets to share, etc?

I always charge per program and the clients enjoy the work so much they don't mind paying.I work for a medium sized local radio station,based out of. central Connecticut that broadcasts 5000w on both AM and FM,my show is 4 hours in length and is currently the only show being archived from our Station but is being sponsored by another larger well to do radio station in St Louis MO who discovered my show and wanted to help it grow through podcast/archiving each show.the editing for each show takes me approximately 4-5 hours because i go through every bit of the audio so it's perfect prior to me sending it out for archiving

I personally don't like paying anyone by the hour. That's not a good measure. A talent should be paid for the quality of the output. If you are confident of your talent, charge clients depending on the format and output expected. Rate cards can help in certain markets.

Look at the project as a whole. Determine how long it will take to produce one episode. Then add in the time will take to communicate (email and corrections). Think about all of the software you use. Take a percentage of your monthly costs and add it to the project rate. Other businesses have a profit margin for their services and products, and so should you. You want to work with people who are invested. Especially if you are trying to grow your editing services. If the client has a weekly podcast have them commit to a monthly retainer that covers at least 4 episodes of your time and costs. Or better have them commit to at least 10 or more episodes. Discount for higher amounts of episodes that are locked in.

Your rates will depend on your experience, which market you're in, and the services you provide. You can charge significantly more for a business that makes six figures per month, than a hobbyist podcaster that is just starting, but many times you will be doing the same amount of work, and usually more headaches with the lesser paying client. Rates for podcast editing and production vary widely. (I know this is just for editing, but I want to help the editors who want to move up) For example, starting you should charge at least $50-75 an episode. Then quickly get to $150-$300 an episode. Then value stack your offer and get to a $1000-$5000 monthly retainer, then move up and get into $30K, $75k, $200k+ deals. It just takes time.

Drafting a contract is a must! ? I've burnt my hands both ways - as a talent and as a client! ???? Don't trust anyone. Make sure all terms that are crucial to both parties are mentioned on paper. Be wise and include all clauses that protect you in case of default. If you can, consult a lawyer to get a solid draft made as a template.

Keep the contract simple at first and make sure you include mostly everything in the example provided. You will learn over time what you need to add. When you are just starting out people will try to get way more out of you by asking for little things here and there. But they will add up and cost you time and money.

We have a very formal process. We do proposals for our host, then proposals for the sponsors that the host may find as well. Everyone should always get a contract that details payment deadlines and all of the details of what your offerings are. There is a ton of work that goes into producing and editing a podcast, so making sure that everyone is on the same page prior to production beginning is important.

Make the process as smooth and seamless as possible for the client. But at the same time, make sure they are following your protocols. For example, if you want them to send you a file by uploading it to your Dropbox account then make sure they do that. Don't let some clients send you files via email, another via text, another via WeTransfer, etc. Keep things streamlined and consistent. Communicate with them on your process. It is for their success and your sanity.

Think long term. Your rates need to go up as the podcast grows, as the client grows, and as your relationship gets better with the client. There has to be a formal plan set for increment of prices. You must communicate that to the client in advance. Don't start throwing curveballs at folks after 6 months.