Although employers may choose to pay talent through their preferred methods -- including paying talent off-site or via third-party payment systems -- as a convenience and for added security we also offer the option to send payments directly, on-site, via our Stripe-powered secure payments platform.
Payers/buyers and employers can simply use a credit card to initiate payment, while payees/sellers and talent can receive the funds via direct-deposit.
Please note that these on-site payment options are currently limited to certain currencies and locations; and both the payer and payee must be located in a supported location. Both parties must also be willing and able to use the payment system. Otherwise the employer and talent may need to agree upon an alternate payment method. Supported locations include the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Payments can be made directly to talent via this system as long as they've applied to the employer's job listing on the site and are located in a supported location. It's recommended that payments be sent immediately after work is completed, although a 30-payment window is often typical.
The system can also be used to place orders for media assets from applicants. For instance, an employer could request talent to submit a a completed voiceover recorded or UGC brand-video, offering a specific amount of money for delivery of the media file, along with the option to review the work and request revisions before choosing to pay.
The article below will go through the processes for both sending a direct payment to talent and the steps from placing an order and receiving, reviewing, and paying for submitted media assets.
- To learn how to accept payments, see this related article: Receiving Secure Payments Through Our Platform
Starting A Payment
After you have posted your job listing 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 ellipsis at the bottom of the applicant card and then click on the Offer/Hire option that appears.
After clicking on that button, you will next see a pop-up with the option of either sending a payment or an offer note. secure payment now or for ordering a media asset and paying after delivery.
If choosing to send payment, you will next see a pop-up with the option of either sending a secure 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:
- If the talent was submitted by representation, the form will look slightly different as seen below:
As we can see in the example above, as the talent was submitted for the job by their representation the agent's commission rate is noted at the top of the payment form. Additionally, the employer has covered the agent's commission in this case as noted within the screenshot.
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 be for that role by default.
- Enter the amount of the agreed upon compensation.
- Opt to cover the processing fee for the talent.
- Opt to cover the agent's commission for talent submitted by an agent.
- 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 "Add another recipient for this production" function:
After placing the order(s), the site 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.
- Opt to cover the processing fee for the talent.
- Opt to cover the agent's commission for talent submitted by an agent.
- 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 "Add another recipient for this production" function:
After placing the order(s), the site 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 From Recipient status.
If the talent you are paying was submitted by an agent, the heading will look slightly different as both the talent and the agent will need to take action on the payment in question in order for it to be processed.
***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 From Recipient (and Awaiting Action From Talent Agent, if applicable) until the payment is accepted. 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 From Me 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 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 the platform's messaging system.
Service Fees
To help us cover payment improvements and the transaction costs, We charge the following service fees:
- Job Creators: 3% of the total amount paid.
- Talent: 2.5% of the received amount paid.
Non-USD Currencies
Please be advised that payments made or received in non-USD currencies are delivered through a USD payment processor. Due to this, exact amounts sent or received may vary slightly from expectations based upon international currency exchange rates.
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 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.
Related:
Paying Talent with Backstage Secure Payments: Tax Scenarios Explained