VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

DorienJaye · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 8 Location: New Hampshire

Hi everyone,
I've been researching the new VoiceGarden.com. Joined and was waiting for upcoming launch. Notified yesterday that the launch has been postponed until January due to redeveloping website and business model. Okay fine. But was also informed of fixed prices for projects. From :30 VO @ $15 up to 10 min. = $70. Is it me or does it seem to favor the client and not the VO artist?
Not trying to make waves, just curious about your opinions.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:38 pm Post subject:

OMG!! Make waves! Make waves!!

I think saying "favoring the client" is a huge understatement and being way, way, WAY more p/c than I would be.

With rates like that, words like "crap", "dung", "slime", "bottom-feeding", "festering boil", "repugnant", "nausea", "loathing" and others leap instantly to mind.

Voice 'garden', eh? Well, we know what it takes to fertilize a garden and rates like that certainly qualify.

Please, please, please, please PLEASE do not patronize or support sites like this! This type of approach to mass-marketing v/o only does two things:

- put money into the pockets of the site owners
- drive down and devalue what we do

What a frikkin' insult.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Lapianoman · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:52 pm Post subject:

I saw that too. I'm fairly new to voiceover, but even I won't touch those rates.
_________________
John LaPiana
Voice User

DorienJaye · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 8 Location: New Hampshire

Thank you gentlemen....I wash my hands of this and leave the website to the hacks. I too am encouraging those that are seeking resources for work to, like Scott suggests, to stay away from sites like this. It's hard enough to compete with what standard non-union rates are, let alone the low ballers out there. We can't afford to drop market rates any further with sites like this.

Still would love to see more feedback on this topic.

Bish · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject:

A number of people have offered "polite & constructive" criticism to Keith Gilbert (the owner). The main issue at the time was the $19 rate listed as being a realistic one. His response to my email (and I quote) was: ...and even $19 is more than Fiverr and even VoiceBunny.

Maybe he is rethinking. Maybe (more likely) he doesn't have any jobs to offer so can't launch with a viable product. Maybe (hopefully) he's decided on another business venture.

There's a new voice-something-or-other opening up every month. Be careful.
_________________
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.

WyattOakley · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:44 pm Post subject:

What a great response Scott! Laugh

Your command of the thesaurus is quite amazing and accurate to the subject.
_________________
Smiling is good medicine!
Wyatt

Bish · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:10 pm Post subject:

Seems appropriate...

...I see. Well, of course, this is just the sort of blinkered philistine ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. You excrement, you whining hypocritical toadies with your colour TV sets and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding masonic secret handshakes. You wouldn't let me join, would you, you blackballing bastards. Well I wouldn't become a Freemason if you went down on your stinking knees and begged me.
_________________
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.

Bruce · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:54 am Post subject:

For those who might think Peter's gone off the rails, here's the reference:

http://youtu.be/DyL5mAqFJds?t=2m4s

To better understand the context you may want to start at the beginning of the clip.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:21 am Post subject:

"I could be voiceovering in my spare time." Money Mouth

Frankly, I don't think the Garden favors anybody -- clients or talent. In most gardens, horse$^!+ is used as fertilizer to produce fruits and vegetables. The $^!+ is not supposed to be the finished product.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Chuck Davis · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:02 pm Post subject:

Even quality Horse $h!t goes for more than $15.
_________________
Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:49 pm Post subject:

I've got a second-hand Royer! (Thank you......) I nearly got in at VoiceBunny (Thank you......)
_________________
Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

heyguido · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:06 pm Post subject:

Let's hear that puppy, Chris!

As for the bunny.... I'm reminded of a line from Jerry Clower.... "Shoot that thing!"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=876_1362960987

Wait for it.... Wink

_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:03 am Post subject:

DorienJaye · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 8 Location: New Hampshire

My response to Keith Gilbert at Voice-Garden
Keith,
As much as I would like to see Voice-Garden become successful, I can't in good principles debase myself because "businesses (voice-seekers) want as much bang-for-the-buck" as they can get!
You're asking VO professionals themselves, small business men and women, to extremely lower their rates, so voice seekers can get a break. And with no guarantee to the VO artist of frequent turnover to make up for the fees charged or any benefit for that matter...well, it certainly doesn't sound fair. And definitely appears in favor of the voice-seeker and NOT the VO artist.
As far as your claim that a benefit to the VO artist is not having to go to the site all the time to get the work, does not justify the rates either. It is widely understood the talent has to do the work, to get the work! And going to another resource to get that work is part of the job.
I will add, at least other P2P sites consider the talent as equal to those who seek the talent. Yes, there are some who take advantage of both, but for the most part, the majority are at least fair and competitive.
None the less, I do wish success to VG and hope the launch next year is good as well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorien Jaye

I don't know...maybe I'm just over-reacting, cause I'm just a guy trying to make my way in this voice-over business.... and it's freakin' hard getting started!

These P2P sites need to understand that the majority of talent out there is not willing to be taken advantage of. It's hard enough competing with each other. We don't need to muddy the waters with sites like this who are trying to diminish non-union market share rates. Yes, I realize these sites are still going to exist, but the voice-over community needs to continue to talk about it and unite us all to NOT support them.

What do you think? I want to know.

Bish