VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

richvoice · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:49 am Post subject: vocadd.com

Anybody use this service? I recently got an offer of representation, and the agency requires talent to maintain an active profile there. The idea of having to pay for an internet presence when I'm already paying for an internet presence via my website (and, at the moment, a P2P) irks me, but I've heard of various other systems like this, so I'm guessing it's becoming more common.

Thoughts?
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Bish · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:14 am Post subject:

An "offer of representation" is not exactly that when in reality it's "an invitation for you to pay for unproven services".

Looks like a wallet-dip to me. The fact that this business methodology is cropping up does not mean it's ethical or correct. An agent does not ask for money to him to represent you. You have a partnership with an agent. These people seem like just another bunch of cash-grabbing P2P wannabes.

Edit: I just looked at their website... they are not agents. They are just another P2P. They use the word "representative" a lot... I think they are trying to purposefully obfuscate the meaning and confuse it with "agency representation". They are trying to differentiate themselves from "cattle-call" sites, but that's about it.

Their website is cleverly crafted... but actually tells you very little. Quality of jobs, pricing levels, whether they take a slice (and how much) is all conspicuous by its omission. There are some dubious testimonials and an invitation to pay. No access to Terms of Service or any real details.

Don't walk... run away.
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richvoice · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:41 am Post subject:

Thanks, Bish. I don't think it's quite as bad as it looks, though.

I got an offer of representation from an actual agent. They require talent to have an active profile on vocadd.com -- which, if I understand correctly, you CAN'T have unless you are represented by an actual agency. Essentially, it's a tool that the agency is using, but they are passing the cost of the tool on to the talent.

I have heard of agencies that require a fee to have you listed on their website. This seems worse to me: they can make the argument that they are simply passing on the expense of web hosting to the talent, but the fact is that their web hosting fees will remain static regardless of whether they have 10 talents or 1000 talents. So they are effectively taking money directly from the talent, instead of only taking money from jobs booked by the talent.

In this case, the agency is not taking money from me (unless there is some sort of kickback program between vocadd.com and the agencies that use it, which would surprise me [a little]). They are simply benefitting from this service, and requiring me to pay the freight. Of course, the counter argument is that I will also benefit from this service -- but it's impossible to predict whether or not that will happen.
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Rich
http://www.richvoiceproductions.com
@RichMillerVO

Bish · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:03 am Post subject:

Thanks for the clarification Rich. This is exactly the issue that has come up repeatedly about one agency in Cali (Idiom requiring subscriptions to ModelWire). It was universally lambasted and the financial arrangement was questioned (although this was just proffered as an opinion with no hard facts in evidence). It may or may not be relevant, but this is expressly against union rules, so I'm assuming that the agency offers no service to union members.

I found the TOS (hidden under the "Privacy Policy" link at the bottom). Twelve thousand words of legal goodness. I shall wade through them later if I have time.
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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.

DougVox · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:48 am Post subject:

I'll withhold an opinion on their service/approach, but I think that it's exactly as bad as it looks.
(And please don't take that as a negative...I also think that it's exactly as good as it looks.)

One note: if they want to be taken seriously, it'd be a good idea to have someone who actually
speaks actual English proofread their site.

richvoice · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:13 am Post subject:

Thanks, guys.

Bish, the representation offer letter goes into detail about the percentages for both union and non-union talent, so I'm assuming they do represent union talent; of course, they may alter the offer for union talent, taking out the vocadd.com requirement, I don't know.

Doug, does your bad/good comment refer to the "THEY benefit but I pay/I may benefit" aspect, or are you referring to something else about the setup?

Thanks again.
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Cheers,
Rich
http://www.richvoiceproductions.com
@RichMillerVO

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:14 am Post subject:

"Auditions are the key to booking a job"

No they're not so sorry about that!

Answering the phone when it rings or responding to the email when your inbox goes ping am the key to booking the job. Innit?

Deirdre · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:36 am Post subject:

Innit though.
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Bish · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:48 am Post subject:

What! Are yoos guys telling me that I have to be a business professional focussed on customer service as well?

I though I just had to talk proper!
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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.

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

Legitimate agents do no charge. Union agents cannot charge. Not sure which California agent works with this company, but I cannot imagine it's a well respected one. Professional agents will never require talent to pay for a presence on such a site. You are as good as the company you keep.

dbeers · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:30 pm Post subject:

This is Idiom again… and Shane Cormier.

I don't know where I found it… but there was a phone number and address in Northern California (somewhere like Petaluma, CA) and it was the address and phone number of an attorney.

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

I encountered a somewhat similar situation when doing on camera work with the exception that the casting and talent agent were using Casting Frontier and there was no charge to be listed on Casting Frontier. It's a platform that made electronic casting easier for auditions.

Vocadd does not seem to be that.

DougVox · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:38 pm Post subject:

Rich, my bad/good comment wasn't about anything in particular about the site or its setup.

All I meant was that they are probably exactly what they appear to be. Typos and all.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 1:09 am Post subject:

melissa eX · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 3:06 pm Post subject:

Only talent with agents can be listed on Voicebank - under their agency. The service is certainly not a charity provided by Voicebank. Talent pays nothing.

Make the comparison