Why We Need A Better Language For What This Work Really Is - And What It's Worth
A while back, I took on a project that looked simple.
Quick turnaround, familiar genre, short session. No red flags.
Then I saw the script.
Over 200 cues. Paragraphs of narration. Emotional highs, rewrites mid-session, pickups with no warning – all for a flat rate.
No usage info.
No mention of edits.
No time to prep.
And I still said yes – because I didn’t know how to say, “This isn’t the job I agreed to.”
That’s when it hit me: we don’t just need better rates. We need better language.
That's why I created two frameworks:
They exist to help us to name, clearly and confidently, what Audio Description really is, and what it takes to do it well.
Whether you’re behind the mic, hiring talent, or building the tech that supports it, these two pieces can help you think, speak, and work more clearly.
“Why should I read something about rates?”
Good question.
Because if you don’t know how to talk about the value of your work, someone else will define it for you (and probably get it wrong).
If someone works hourly, that reward slowness.
Per-production minute rates ignore complexity.
Flat rates that assume all projects are equal.
And we’re still afraid to ask about usage, revisions, or prep time – because we don’t want to seem “difficult.”
The Rate Philosophy Framework helps shift the conversation from “what’s your rate?” to “what’s the actual work being asked?”
If you’re a performer, it helps you ask better questions.
If you’re a producer, it helps you scope more fairly.
If you’re an exec, it helps you budget with transparency.
If you’re in tech, it helps you understand the hidden labor behind “a quick VO job.”
“Is it really that different when a human does it?”
Short answer: yes.
The Human Voice Framework explains why.
Machines can read. But humans?
We hold space. We shape pacing. We carry emotion between the lines.
Sometimes, the most powerful moment is the one we choose not to speak.
And here’s the twist: audiences can feel the difference, even when they can’t name it.
This framework shows how human voi:
Builds trust through tone and timing
Supports belonging through rhythm and warmth
Responds, not just performs
It’s for anyone who’s ever asked:
“Why does it matter who voices the description?”
A Tiny Win You Can Use Today
Next time you’re booked on an AD job, ask this:
“Can we confirm usage, expected pickup windows, and who’s covering script rewrites?”
Not as a demand, just as clarity.
Every time someone asks, it makes space for someone else to ask after you.
And that’s how the system changes.
Share This If It Resonates
If you’ve ever stayed quiet to keep the job…
If you’ve ever narrated something you didn’t have time to feel…
If you’ve ever wondered what your work is really worth –
These frameworks are for you.
They’re not rules. They’re invitations.
To speak clearly.
To value your voice.
To shape what this work becomes – together.
Want more? → roysamuelson.com/book
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