VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Mike Harrison]

A few weeks ago I posted a question in the Programming forum of an online community for radio broadcasters asking where programmers found their imaging voice talent. While I did not specifically mention any voice-over-related site (I did mention two well-known radio sites), my goal was to see if anyone used voiceisland.com. Not only did no one use them; no one even mentioned them. So I got my answer.

But apart from that, there was a bonus surprise from one programmer (who typically don't use any freelance voice talent apart from that for imaging) said:

[jsgilbert]

Unbiased means objective and impartial. This is hardly either.

I know of hundreds, if not thousands of radio talent who work fairly regularly for various radio stations doing promos and internal spots, who almost never are capable of booking an audition, even through talent agents and specific radio casting services.

I don't know yiou, so please don't tke this personally, but to many individuals, quite a few not even closely related to the v.o. profession, the big question when someone hears these voices on the radio becomes, how the hell did they wind up getting hired.

The internet in general, along with the thousands of people making money selling products and classes to aspiring voice talent are doing quite a good job of helping plenty of people who should never be auditioning, let alone entering the v.o. profession.

The many others who primarily play internet cheerleader and may also throough vague posts give the opinion they are making lots of money also help keep the v.o.mill churning.

Then of course there's the constant parading of the few individuals in the business who are really raking it in.

But even as you aren't booking the work, seombody else is. The people you polled may not know of these services, but based on the numbers of auditions I've seen online, somebody does.

One thing you might want to do is look at the individual pages for some of the premium members on voice 123. You will notice quite a few who have happily paid to be there for quite a few years. so, either we're simply stupid, gluttons for punishment or represent the people who are booking appropriate work from this site.

In my case, as a hirer of talent online, I have noticed an improvement to voice123, since the implementation of SmartCast. Yes, I will get some auditions from people who have no idea what they are doing, but surprisingly, (or perhaps not) I get quite a few very good auditions.

Sometimes I have to produce locally and will hire via talent agents. with the exception of not having to kick out auditions due to poor equipment, I rarely find much of a difference in competancy among the actors reading.

Sorry you haven't had a more positive experience with Voice123.

Voice123 does tend to be a bit of an equalizer. In most cases, there are not relationships to fall back upon and simply the audition itself. What is interesting is how many non-radio people are actually booking imaging and promo work via the online services.

As my booking ratio has gone down, I could simply chalk it up to increased numbers of people auditioning "fake work" such as pitches and demos being sent for audition, talent buyers going for the deal, etc.

Or, I can look at getting an "unbiased" opinion of my work and do everything I can to improve my craft and my auditions.

The response to not booking jobs, in my opinion, should be met by going out and taking both improv and traditional acting classes and looking for someone you can trust to critique you across the board.

The online services aren't for everyone, I will agree. It would be nice however if we all made a New Year's resolution to quit bashing them all (unless one happens to be crooked).

My new year's resolution: Lead, follow or get out of the way.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

[captain54]

there's no magic formula to being cast...whether it be voices123, voices 456, voices789, voiceoverplanet, voiceovergalaxy, voiceoveruniverse, or whatever else you decide to pump your money into.. the old school formula of hard work still applies...live drink eat and breath voiceover, constantly work to improve your chops, become a real actor, not a propped up cartoon fascmilie of one...

the competition and numbers are staggering.....I truly believe if you put in the effort, it will pay off...I see it all the time..

[Scott Pollak]

I agree.

This month alone I've booked $2000 worth of work on V123.com, the one site I still pay to belong to. In my 6 or 7 years of premium membership there I've landed national gigs, museum narrations, countless industrials, etc. I now have probably 30-40 regular, repeat clients that are a direct result of them having first found me via the V123 casting process. Several are overseas and many are in CA, NY, Chicago and the Northeast (such as Boston). I receive work almost daily from one or another of them, to the point that if I choose not to audition for anything, I don't have to. I DO still audition, of course, because I always want to develop new business and clients, and never become complacent.

The $2000 earned there this month was from two new clients, both whom, of course, I hope become repeat clients.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Mike Harrison]

In my desire to be brief, I think my intent was misunderstood. I should have stated that my posting here was sort of a response to the most recent posts to the 'VO Planet - Love It? Hate It?' thread, where mention was made of either v123 or voices.com (or both).

I started this thread simply to say that I was surprised by someone volunteering an opinion on these two entities; something I did not expect to see on a radio programming forum. (But I suppose 'unbiased' was not quite the correct term.)

That opinion was followed by my own; not intending it be seen as 'bashing,' but as agreement with the recent postings about the same entities on the other thread. As to why I didn't get a single bite after three separate year-long subscriptions, I can't say. But it doesn't matter. My client list before these entities came along was as impressive as anyone's and still is.

But I appreciate the advice on becoming a voice actor.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[jsgilbert]

Mike,
I responded from a position of personal experience and believeing you wouldn't post this unless there was some form of dissatisfaction, disgust, - whatever you want to call it, on your part.

Wasn't intended to be advice on "how to become a voice actor", but given the many changes ocurring withint the profession, might have been considered to be "advice on how to stay a voice talent".

There's a saying in advertising that says the best time to advertise is when business is bad or business is good.

I don't think there's ever a bad time to become introspective. There's always a viewpoint to consider, a method to try , an avenue to traverse. A way to reinvent yourself.

I would think this only natural as a positive reaction to responding to casting notices for 3 years, from a particular source, with no success.

I've had an opportunity to work with some incredible A-list actors in mmy life and this is how they behave. They may not have the great client list you have, but a few have Oscars. And most of them still take acting classes.

If it's a good enough philosophy for them, it's good enough for me.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

[Dan-O]

...

[Philip Banks]

Remember the 4 Ps of marketing - Product, Price, Position and the other one. I have uniquely, like numerous others, positioned my product in a place where I find myself working ON or about to work on highly priced jobs.

Between the above but not during I allow myself to learn from the universe. To some this may appear that I am simply walking the dogs on the beach and whilst they are unmistaken they are not incorrect in this conclusion.

I have processed a great deal of data from my research into the site(s) mentioned above and were I to share it you would discover that contextually it is completely accurate and totally useless.

[jsgilbert]

Here is a story that I quite enjoy.

Albert Einstein was at a conference and asked to join a group of scientists going for coffee. He mentioned that he would catch up with them in an hour or so and it eventually came out that he was going to go pray.

Some of the scientists chided him, wondering how a man so steeped in scientifc understanding could waste his time in prayer.

His answer was to say that if there was some sort of diety who could hear him, it might help. Otherwise, it was still a pleasant way to spend some time every day.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

[Zak Miller]

Philip reminded me of the 7 'P"s of life...

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

JS, ( I believe it was you) you touched on something as well. Re inventing oneself does not have to mean not doing what you are or have been doing. It means taking a good look at what works, and building on that in a different direction.

One of the most valuable things that I learned at FaffCon was to get rid of the cancers in your career. If an agent, or entity is not bringing you work, get it out of the picture. If you are banging your head against the wall with a P2P site, stop opening the notices for a while. You can spend that energy fishing for better avenues from which to get work.

I have always stayed away from anything that costs me money to do my work. (Other than gear and the essentials like ISDN, phone, etc.) For every agency that posts on the P2P sites, there are that many more that are out there doing work every day. The only thing stopping them from hiring you is the fact that they don't know you are out there!

Think of how much time you spend auditioning on a P2P site and about the win ratio. Then think about how much time is spent on gathering new contacts. Of those new contacts, how much work are you getting from them? I would bet if you spent the same amount of time, the latter would be the way to go.

We have to remember that this industry is based on relationships past and future. Build the relationship and the work will come.

For years I have wanted to be the voice of a particular client here in Central Florida. I did some leg work and found who was producing the spots. Turns out the guy is a producer that I used to produce some Disney stuff with. I reached out and made contact with him, and am on my second run on the TV spots! I never asked him if I could voice the spots, just let him know what I was up to these days and it has paid off with the above mentioned client and a few other clients that I have become the voice of their campaigns.

We work in a creative industry. Be creative in how you find work and you will enjoy your days much much more.

[DougVox]

[Mike Harrison]

[Philip Banks]

[Drew]

Deleted
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Zak Miller]

wow, ok, case in point. Just got off the phone with a client in DC. He knows me from my days as an engineer. When I went out on my own, he found me and has used me for voice work and producing a few spots. I sent him a Christmas card (ok, Stacey sent it!) and it got him to call me. I have not spoken to him since I did a demo spot for him over the summer. He wanted my take on buy outs, and pricing. He thought he was getting taken by a talent. I told him he was not, and the rate was pretty close to right on, maybe a bit under. While we were chatting I heard his e mail chime (engineer ears!) and he said... hey, I have something for you to voice. We will be working on Monday

Long winded I know, however, it was a relationship started years ago that I have fostered. I have done a thing or two on the cheap for him, but it all works out in the end. The spot is a ntnl convenience store!

Relationships are key. And trust me, you are your best agent!