VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JSantucci · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:51 pm Post subject: New Website

I finally have my very own website. Please give it a once-over and let me know what you think:

http://santuccivoiceovers.com

Thanks!
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Teacher, Voice Actor, Balloon Twister, Tuvan Throat Singer (I know... weird, right?)

Deirdre · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject:

#1. Put your fabulous demos on the front page.
#2. Remove any vestige of "coming soon" stuff.
#3. Don't post your rates.
#4. In my exalted opinion, your pages are too long. You can totally start by compressing your header and other graphic elements.
I am looking at them on a laptop, and I know all each page's info could easily be put into a layout that needed no scrolling.

You want to make it easy easy easy for the people doing the casting to HEAR YOU.
Get your most awesome demos front and center. Put up others later on a 2nd page if you really have hot, HOT stuff that shows off your talents in ways your demos couldn't contain.
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JSantucci · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:47 pm Post subject: Thanks DB

Great suggestions.
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Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

I agree with much of what DB said.

I also want to add that you are quite talented!

That said, you offer a laundry list of talents and services that you don't back up with demos. It kinda makes you look like a wannbe rather than the "professional voice actor" you claim to be on your "about me" page.

Here's a question for you. And I ask this because you are in a major market. Do your goals include doing series and feature animation? (I have a feeling the answer is yes since you are promoting character demos rather than commercial demos, and the majority of animation is done in LA and union.) If so, you need to present yourself more on par with the level of the jobs you want to book. Most LA agents will find "non union professional" to be an oxymoron. Now, I'm well aware that a union card doesn't make one more or less professional. But if your goals are to work in the major leagues you need to present yourself as a major league player.

And "contact me" is redundant. You have your phone number and email on your welcome page. No need to have a separate page for contacting you or that odd security code one needs to type in to send you a message as if you were Ticketmaster. You want to make contacting you and navigating your site as simple as possible.

Bottom line is, you are talented. Don't sell yourself short. Compare your site with those of working LA voice actors. If your goals are high embrace them and run with them!! There's no guarantee for any of us. But sell yourself short and odds are you will only go so far. Present yourself as if you are playing in the major leagues. And even if you don't make it to the top your odds of getting there are better.

And one last thing. I checked out your facebook page. Get out of the habit of promoting what you've auditioned for. Buyers, especially in LA, are firing talent left and right for posting what they've auditioned for, or even posting what they book before it airs. Don't get me wrong! I'm all for PR!! Most voice actors don't do enough of it. But don't confuse bragging with PR. PR needs to work for you, not against you. Wink

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:17 am Post subject:

Nothing appears on a web site simply because it has a right to be there, everything has to pay the rent.

Read everything on your site and every time you come to the end of a section shout out loud "SO WHAT?" In most sections your reply will be a deafening silence.

Did you know that I am qualified to fly an Airbus A319? Did you know that only interests me? My point? I'm a Voiceoverist, no one gives a sh*t.

Your site needs to answer the question why hire you and it doesn't.

samowry · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:02 am Post subject:

Nice adjustments so far Jerome. It's nice that such talented people on this board are so willing to share their knowledge.

Just makes me want to thank DB some more.

Thanks DB!

JSantucci · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: So...

Major rewrites needed… got it.
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Teacher, Voice Actor, Balloon Twister, Tuvan Throat Singer (I know... weird, right?)

Darren Altman · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject:

I have to agree with Bob, why have a contact form page if your email and phone number is plastered o every page of your site, with a direct link to email you?

I think your animation & character reels are good, but I don't get why you don't have a commercial reel. On the front page it states:

Services available for all your voice over needs: Including

•TV, radio, and internet advertising
•Corporate videos
•Automated telephone systems
•Trailers and Promos
•Public address announcements
•Narration and audiobooks

Please don't think I'm being facetious, but how can you expect any producer to book you for any of the above if you don't have a single reel on your site which shows your voice and who you are? Not just short bursts of character voices.

I would never dream of hiring you for a trailer, promo, audio book, IVR, announcement or narration, because I don't know what you sound like!

Get YOU on there! Wink

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JSantucci · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:45 pm Post subject:

I don't have a commercial demo posted because I don't have one yet. I'm working on it and other demos. Should I not mention that I can do the other stuff just because I don't have the demos posted? Should I not post my website until I have all of my demos completed?
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Teacher, Voice Actor, Balloon Twister, Tuvan Throat Singer (I know... weird, right?)

Darren Altman · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject:

I would hold out on 'releasing' you site until at least all your deos are on there mate. The last thing you want is for a 'voice seeker' to visit your site looking for a narrator, e-learning, commercial voice, or any of the other catagories you've mentioned and to not only move onto the next guy, but not come back as they think that all you do is characters. It could be detrimental to you.

I have to echo what Bob said J: You list a lot of catagories and don't have the corresponding demos on there. Once again, if I was looking for a narrator, I'd land on your site and move on.
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JSantucci · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for the feedback. Looks like I am going to be very busy for the next several days.
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Teacher, Voice Actor, Balloon Twister, Tuvan Throat Singer (I know... weird, right?)

Darren Altman · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:33 am Post subject:

You and me both!! Good luck with it. Looking forward to hearing the rest of your demos. Smile

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