VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[JBarrett]

Found this interesting article where a blogger-turned-radio-show-host describes his experience using a popular P2P site to cast a voice actor to introduce his show.

One P2P Site Reviewed
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

[Diane Havens]

Thanks for posting this, Justin -- interesting indeed. I was particularly amused by the wife's comment:
"#4 was more expensive than the others, and while my wife really liked the demo, she didn’t think the voice was worth more than the others."
_________________
Diane


Veni, Vidi, Voci
http://www.dianehavens.com

[bobsouer]

Justin,

Terrific find. My "favorite" was the "sounds too perfect" comment. What an amazing thing, to not get hired for being too perfect.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Deirdre]

It's the "The Uncanny Valley" of VO.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[Lee Gordon]

This was, for me, an interesting look at how relatively clueless some of the job posters on P2P sites can be. For one thing, pronunciation of the person's name, in my opinion, should not be a factor unless a phonetic guide is provided and not properly followed, or there's only one logical way to pronounce the name and the auditioner says it some other way.
Next, this guy and his friend also seemed to penalize responders for not wishing to use SurePay. This isn't eBay. There is no requirement to conduct the transaction exclusively through Voices.com. Perhaps Voices.com doesn't make that particularly clear. I always provide a means for potential clients to contact and deal with me directly. I hope this is not being misinterpreted as "unethical."
And finally, and perhaps most significantly, at least some of the people who replied to this guy's post, presumably, are professionals and yet they were having judgement passed on them by amateurs, and in fairly arbitrary fashion.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Mike Harrison]

One thing I noticed was a great 'takeaway' for those who, after submitting many auditions and not winning any jobs, wonder if they're doing something wrong:

[jsgilbert]

I tend to think that this guy might be a bit of a shill. The best thing about the site is they know all about SEO and web presence and tend to get lots of support.

It seems a little bit strange, given the topics he covers that he would be soooooooooooooooo impressed as to do this extremely detailed blog. It's rather incongruous.

But, in any case, what we know about voices.com is that they tend to operate a little more like a v.o. school and that many of its participants look at auditioning as practice.

This was however the most straight up, basic implementation of v.o. that one tends to get requests for. Methinks that some of the people he cut loose for no reason may have also tended to hover closer to the $250 mark.

If you really want to hear some bad auditions, you may actually need to ask for some acting or emotion. The last time I put something up at voices.com, it paid a heck of a lot better and of the 70 or so people that auditioned, only about 10 came close to delivering an emotional and memorable performance. Also, in my case I requested a specifc audition and provided copy and 15% or so of the respondents chose to send me a canned demo.

It shold also be noted that the average escrow payment (I have it on good authority) runs $137. Rarely does anyone ever book a $100 - $250 price range job for over $125 + the 10% surepay. It seems to me that if this site weren't purposely trying to deceive, the price ranges shold be a little narrower and more realistic.

Many of the talent I know might consider a $250 job, but wouldn't waste their time auditioning for $100- $125.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Bailey]

I almost agree (85%) with Mr. Gilbert's use of the word "shill". If Larry Keltto's blog had ended with, "... and we lived happily ever after.", it would have been 100%.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[Pam]

well drat! The link doesn't work anymore. I would have loved to read it. Maybe we sent too many peeps over there and they got suspicious! If anyone finds it again, can you please post the article? Thanks!
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Pam Tierney
www.pamtierneyvo.com
imdb profile http://imdb.com/name/nm1941932/

Now what did I come in here for?

[GWIII]

Just checked it and it came up, Pam....maybe hit it again?
_________________
George Washington III - The Evolution of Voiceover
http://voevolution.com
Twitter: @GWIII

[Pam]

Well it wasn't working at 656 am this morning. Maybe it was solar flares interfering.
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Pam Tierney
www.pamtierneyvo.com
imdb profile http://imdb.com/name/nm1941932/

Now what did I come in here for?

[bransom]

Hey, Pam, the link is working here at 9:14 am Central. I think you might have just experienced a hiccup.
_________________
Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

[Pam]

Yup it's working for me now. Interesting read. I filtered the read through my "shill" warning system and while I think he's had experience with other freelance sites, I didn't see an insider's angle to the story. But the ethics comment was a bit extreme.
_________________
Pam Tierney
www.pamtierneyvo.com
imdb profile http://imdb.com/name/nm1941932/

Now what did I come in here for?

[bransom]

[Lee Gordon]