I’ve been a session vocalist since 2009 and get asked this question quite a bit so I figured I’d put down my thoughts in a blog post.
After all my years in session vocals, which platform is best, AirGigs or Soundbetter?
Well, I think this is a very personal situation as I know many that really like SoundBetter and have had great results with them, while there are others that aren’t feelin’ it as much.
I fall into that second category.
I appreciate what they’re trying to do and I’m glad they exist. I’ve landed work on there and have been able to do so for absolutely free. Which is great! I think being on BOTH platforms is the smartest decision.
But as far as why I think AirGigs takes the cake by a longshot in this arena, read on:
1. AMOUNT OF WORK
I’ve landed hundreds of gigs on AirGigs verses only a handful on Soundbetter. Again, I know this varies for others. You can probably easily find people on SB with hundreds of gigs under their belt and yet they haven’t landed many on AirGigs. This is just my personal experience.
2. PRICE POINT FOR SERVICES
On SoundBetter I’ll often lose deals or receive push back because of my pricing. On AirGigs this never happens. And in fact, I’ve had someone say I was charging too little and pay me double on AirGigs.
Also, people often leave me very nice bonuses beyond the flat fee they pay.
(AirGigs has a ‘leave a tip’ option. Another plus in their camp!)
3. SPEED OF SERVICE COMPLETION
AirGigs has a 3 day timer in place so your client can’t ghost you. If the client doesn’t respond to your delivery within 3 days, the deal automatically closes and you get paid. They of course have the option to pause the timer and request revisions. (once you deliver revisions, 3 day timer starts again and so on)
4. FREE JOB BOARD
On soundbetter you have to pay to see jobs. On AirGigs it’s free.
5. MESSAGING BEFORE SENDING A PROPOSAL
On Soundbetter you can’t talk to the person before sending a proposal. Many times I need to ask questions to understand the scope because there is not enough detail. This leads to me having to change the price after the fact which isn’t a great way to start off communication.
6. ONLY VERIFIED REVIEWS
Anyone can leave you a review on Soundbetter. Even if they haven’t worked with you. It’s only worked to my benefit as a service provider, but as someone purchasing, seeing reviews from someone’s Mom isn’t terribly helpful.
7. CALIBER OF CLIENTELE
I’ve landed some very high profile opportunities on AirGigs. It’s not to say they don’t exist on Soundbetter. It’s just been my experience that on SB I’ll get more of the hobbyists (which I love too! homegrown projects have a lot of heart) and on AirGigs I get a lot more of the established corporations or composers doing some pretty BIG things in the industry.
Subsequently it’s elevated my career off the platform and landed me much more work off the platform as I’m now being seen on a larger scale by bigger projects.
8. OPTION TO SET YOUR ACCOUNT TO NO REFUNDS
On AirGigs, you have the option to check a box that says ‘no refunds’. I personally love this option because it ensures that you get paid for your work 100% of the time.
I always offer my clients free 30 second previews to ensure I’m a perfect match for their song. This alone can avoid any requests for a refund. But having the option to clearly state it like that makes the whole experience even more comfortable for me as a seller.
Now of course, as a seller, if you don’t hold up your end of the deal or don’t deliver a quality product, AirGigs has the right to grant a refund. But as long as you hold up your end of the contract to a highly professional level, you never have to worry about a client not paying you.
And this concludes my thoughts on the great debate of online session services.
What do you think? Do you have a preference? Are you on both?
How do you know what to charge a client
Hey Morris :) This is a great resource: https://lasingers.org/rates/
It’s the SAGA-FTRA session singing rate standards.
Beyond that, if you’re just starting out, when posting on any of the online sites, I recommend starting a bit lower to try and remain competitive with the other listings. Take a look at what others are charging in your area of expertise and match that. Time all of the jobs you do using something like toggl.com. Then when you’re ready to up your rates, take a look at how long it took you to do each job. Think about how much you’d like to make an hour and then there’s your rate :) I’ve been told I charge too much and that I charge too little. It’s all subjective. Charge what YOU feel comfortable charging. An amount that gets you excited to start a project.