Backstage is offering the option for job creators to pay talent through the platform by way of their credit card. Please note that this option is only available for US-based projects paying US-based talent. Payment can be made directly to talent for work completed or for a media asset submitted through the Backstage site. The article below will go through the processes for both sending a direct payment to talent and the steps from placing an order to receiving the submitted work and providing payment to the performer.
Starting A Payment
After you have posted your notice and received and perused your applications and auditions, etc., you can hire and pay within the Application Manager of your project. You can do this by clicking on the Hire & Pay via Backstage button on the applicant card.
After clicking on that button, you will next see a pop-up with the option of either sending a direct payment now or for ordering a media asset and paying after delivery.
Send A Payment Now
If choosing the Send a Payment Now option, you will be taken to the Direct Payment Form:
Job creators can-
- Select the role the payment will be for. Please note that if a project has only one role, you will not see an option to select a role as the payment will default to be for that role.
- Enter the amount of the agreed upon compensation.
- Select or add a payment method with which to make the payment (this must be done at this time). The total cost (including fees) will be displayed up front at the point of sending payment. Please note that you will not be charged until the talent accepts the payment.
- Add a message for the talent.
- Attach files, such as an invoice, script, NDA, or release form.
***You can change what payment type is being made (direct payment or asset order) by switching in the drop-down under I want to:. This would bring up a different form.
- You can also pay multiple people at once by adding additional performers using the Pay another performer for this production function:
After placing the order(s), Backstage will present a pop-up message showing confirmation of the sent payment:
Order An Asset
After clicking on the Order an Asset button, a form is displayed to capture the details of the order:
Job creators can:
- Select the role the payment will be for. Please note that if a project has only one role, you will not see an option to select a role as the payment will default to be for that role.
- Choose what kind of deliverable they want returned -audio or video.
- Select the desired file format.
- Enter the amount that was agreed upon with the performer as compensation for the deliverable.
- Add a payment method should you choose to at this time.
- Note the deadline for the deliverable.
- Add a message for the performer, i.e. recording instructions, etc.
- Attach files, such as the script, an NDA, or a release form.
***You can change what payment type is being made (direct payment or asset order) by switching in the drop-down under I want to:. This would bring up a different form.
- Again, you can request deliverables from multiple people at once by adding additional performers using the Pay another performer for this production function:
After placing the order(s), Backstage will present a pop-up message showing confirmation of the placed order:
Payments Dashboard
After a payment is initiated or an order is placed, job creators can view their My Payments Dashboard or go back to the Application Manager. The My Payments Dashboard will have the recently placed payment in the Awaiting Action status.
***Please note that the Payments Dashboard can also be accessed via the dashboard icon shown below***
The dashboard allows casting directors and producers to manage their workflows with orders and payments.
Actions Required for Direct Payment
The payment will sit in Awaiting Action until the talent accepts the payment. Once that happens, it will then move to Paid.
Actions Required for an Asset Order
Once the performer submits an asset for review it will be in Needs Review status and the buyer can download and review the asset (A), leave comments (B), request a revision if necessary (C), make a payment (D) or cancel and order (E). For example, in the case of voiceover work you may request the performer use a different tone of voice or accent.
Paying The Performer
After the receiving the satisfactory deliverable, you would now pay the talent by clicking on the green payment button button:
This will initiate the payment flow:
Any additional payments, such as for the talent mixing some background music for example, can be added as extra payments:
A confirmation pop-up will be displayed once payment is processed.
The order will now now be moved to Paid status. If the payment is for an asset order, it will have a purple download button present as seen below.
Once payments are complete, both buyer and seller will get receipts emailed to them.
If the job creator needs to speak with the performer further, this can be done by clicking on the message button located next to the download button. The message will be sent using Backstage's messaging system.
Backstage Service Fees
To help us cover payment improvements and the transaction costs, Backstage charges the following service fees:
- Job Creators: 3% of the total amount paid.
- Talent: 2.5% of the received amount paid.
Cancelling Payments
Payments can be cancelled at any time before the credit card is charged. Casting directors can add a note to the performer when cancelling. Please consider that cancellations should only be done when absolutely necessary, especially if the talent has already spent time creating a media item for you.
If you want to cancel the order before the performer submits the asset, this is what you would see:
If you cancel the order after the performer submits the asset you would be presented with this:
Cancelled orders will be moved to the Cancelled status.