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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:41 pm Post subject: Agent Protocol |
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Received today my first audition request from my newest agent. The specs from the client request a "natural, authentic" regional accent, and then clarifies further that it "must be" authentic... "no exceptions."
I'm pretty sure my agent knows I'm not a native of the geographic area in question, so I'm puzzled as to why I would receive this audition request.
Proper way to handle this: let the agent know that I cannot provide an absolutely authentic accent and leave it at that? _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Philip Banks Je Ne Sais Quoi

Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11074 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Depends on if the audition was for YOU or for anyone (within reason) on the agent's books. If the latter delete without comment. |
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graemespicer Been Here Awhile

Joined: 25 Feb 2012 Posts: 243 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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It's funny that you bring that up because I received the same audition. In my experience, the agents that I have outside of my home market generally will send auditions to a very wide group of actors. They don't work that hard to parse out exactly which of their talent would be the best fit.
In my estimation, we are better off not submitting for those projects that we are not an exact right fit. In fact I've actually received several auditions from some agents for women's roles - they've just blasted it out to everyone because they were in an incredible hurry. _________________ Graeme Spicer
Voice Actor
Member of the World-Voices Executive Board
tel • (416) 716-2246
email • graeme@graemespicer.com
graemespicer.com |
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Bish 3.5 kHz

Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 3738 Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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In many respects, what a client does not understand is that he is dealing with an actor. Some actors are totally convincing with accents... others, not so much. In an ideal world, your agent knows you have the capabilities and is allowing you to have a shot... I does not mean that he will submit it if you don't reach his standard. A good agent will protect both his, and your reputation by letting you have a go but retaining the right of veto. _________________ Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't consider Philip's scenario in this case, whereas I usually do check to see if there were other recipients. In this case, however, I appear to be the only recipient (unless there now exists a means of hiding all other recipients of a mass mailing).
However, as Graeme pointed out, other agents could also be distributing this audition notice.
And Peter also made excellent sense. I have done this accent before, and I suppose there's a chance my agent heard my take on it and felt there was at least a chance I could pull it off.
So... what feelings do we have about my submitting, but pointing out that the accent is not authentic, and letting the agent decide whether or not to forward it to the client? Would that be the safest/best way to handle this? _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Bish 3.5 kHz

Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 3738 Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Just a quick note about email etiquette ... on a mass mailing you should never, repeat never be allowed to see the other recipients. All the sender has to do is put everyone in the bcc address... you get it, and you don't see who else has. It's not the job of a mass mailer (agent or not) to distribute the email addresses of everyone else on the list... apart from anything else, all it takes is one idiot to hit "reply all" and everyone's in email hell
 _________________ Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, Peter. And I've received those types of emails before, where there is no recipient shown. In some cases, the recipient that is shown is actually the sender.
In the email I received, mine is the only recipient name, so I am really wondering if I was the only person to receive this. But I'll never know, of course. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Scott Pollak The Gates of Troy

Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 1903 Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Mike, I doubt you're the only one to receive it, because as Graeme mentioned above, he did too, as did I.
Often, many, many agents receive the same lead via Voicebank. They then blast it out to all talents. Some agents at least make an attempt to only send male leads to males and female leads to females, but not all do. And they don't have the time to sort through the hundreds of talents they rep and say "Hmmm, now I think Scott might be a good fit for this, but not Bob. But then maybe Carl could do it...."
They send it out and expect us to figure out if it's a fit for us or not. If not, just deep six it. That's all ya gotta do. _________________ Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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Lee Gordon A Zillion

Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6864 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Bish wrote: | , all it takes is one idiot to hit "reply all" and everyone's in email hell
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And then you start getting the idiots who "Reply All" with a message asking people not to "Reply All," followed by a couple of people who "Reply All," asking to be removed from the "mailing list," followed by one or two others who "Reply All," demanding people stop using "Reply All." _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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Jeffrey Kafer Assistant Zookeeper

Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 4931 Location: Location, Location!
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Got the same audition from the same agent. Send it to everyone and hope someone, ANYONE, on their roster lands it.
Unless you're a known quantity, agents don't represent YOU, they represent their roster. _________________ Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
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jsgilbert Backstage Pass

Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 468 Location: left coast of u.s.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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The specs not only mentioned about 6 times that you must genuinely be form the south, but also asked you to "tell them a little about yourself" prior to the audition.
Typically these days, many agents will shoot scripts to the talent en mass and it is up to the talent to determine whether they meet the specs and/ or would be competitive. _________________ j.s. gilbert
js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com
"today is the first day of the rest of the week" |
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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:16 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I'm well aware, as I stated earlier, that many agents receive and distribute the same audition notices.
And I had, in the meantime, decided not to submit. I couldn't truthfully say I grew up on a ranch and had an authentic Southern accent.
But, interestingly, same goes for Sam Elliott: he was born in Sacramento and grew up there and in Oregon, and lived "for a short time" in West Virginia. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Drew King's Row

Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1118 Location: Tumbleweed Junction, The Republic of North Texas
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:58 am Post subject: |
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I got the same audition. And I know my agent sends them out in wide bursts. _________________ www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald. |
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graemespicer Been Here Awhile

Joined: 25 Feb 2012 Posts: 243 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Mike - that is too funny about Sam Elliott! I had no idea that he wasn't from the south! Oh, the irony ... _________________ Graeme Spicer
Voice Actor
Member of the World-Voices Executive Board
tel • (416) 716-2246
email • graeme@graemespicer.com
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Scott Pollak The Gates of Troy

Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 1903 Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:59 am Post subject: |
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The irony to me about the Sam Elliott reference is that - to my Southern ears, at least - he doesn't have so much a Southern sound as he does a "Western/cowboy" twang. Which ain't what they're looking for in this spot. _________________ Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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