VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Rick Riley]

To begin, I’m sorry. Since VO-BB went on hiatus, I did too. I’m sorry because I don’t want to just use you folks when I need something, I also like to be a contributor. I promise to be more contributory in the future.

NOW… everyonceinawhile, I get bugged by NON-COMMUNICATION. Almost always with a new client, and fortunately it’s less than 1% of those I deal with. But the most recent and current example. A guy with a reputable production shop contacts me. ‘The client would love to use me for a corporate piece’, he says. ‘IF I SEND THE SCRIPT OVER NOW, CAN YOU DO IT TODAY?’ he asks. It’s 90 seconds, the rate is good but the day is busy so I email him, ‘Sure, if you can send the script now, I can work it in and get it back to you by EOD today.’ That was at 9:34am. At 11:35am, I sent him another email. ‘Hi Steve, I got your email and wanted to make sure you received my reply.’ Finally at 1:25pm he sends me a script. FOUR hours after he says, ‘If I send the script now…’

I do the project, send it to him at 4:35pm via Hightail. I follow up with the ‘Send Receipt’ letting him know I gave him three reads. No reply. Later I see with Hightail, he downloaded it, so I know he got it.

The next day I email. ‘Hey Steve, want to make sure all is good before I send an invoice. Let me know.’

As of today, I have yet to hear from Steve.

Almost everyone to a person, sends a reply to let one know they’ve received an email. My agents, 99% of my clients, etc. When I too receive something, I send a quick, ‘Got it… thanks!’ It’s just common courtesy.

Non communication just bugs the heck out of me. Am I too Type A, or is Steve a Bozo?
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Never do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the Paramedics

www.rickrileyvoice.com

[DougVox]

[Bruce]

I sympathize Rick. The problem isn't huge for me either, but annoying when it happens. That's why I'm glad for download notices from WeTransfer like the ones you're getting from HiTail. Sometimes that's the only way you'll know. If it were really hard to send acknowledgement I'd understand, but a simple THX ain't that hard.

I "love" the production house that never tells me how much a job pays before or after the session. I have to bug them and it almost sounds like they're annoyed that I ask. One reason why they're slow to tell me? They don't negotiate the rate until after the project is completed!

B
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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]

This sort of thing is annoying when it happens, but not as annoying as the lengthy period of non-communication that sometimes occurs after the invoice has been sent.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[iannyc]

My manager I freelance with doesnt usually send me a confirmation email for submitted AUDITIONS which kind of annoys me but this is different..

[Kristin Lennox]

I'm dealing with it right now, in the "real" world. We're trying to get some small home renovation projects off the ground, and it's like pulling teeth, trying to get anybody to email or call me back. Do they NOT want the work??

One guy finally emailed me back today... THREE WEEKS after I emailed him.
Sorry, dude, you lost out.
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Always look on the bright side of life.

Dee doo. Dee doot doot doo dee doo.

my website

[todd ellis]

i agree that both are probably true ... and nothing wrong with being "type a" --- i get the same thing on the opposite end, again, rarely. a talent is voicing a project for me on deadline - and doesn't notify me when it is uploaded, even though that is specifically requested.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Ed Fisher]

Both probably...but...

Important to you? YES
Important to him? Maybe... not nearly as much.

If everyone were competent wouldn't the world be an amazing place?

I remember (back in the day) reading a book called the "Peter Principle."

It can be summed up here:

The Peter principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter and published in 1969. The theory is that the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role. Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "managers rise to the level of their incompetence." - Wikipedia

In other words (and quite simply)...IF SOMEONE IS REALLY COMPETENT AT THEIR POSITION THEY WOULD PROBABLY GET PROMOTED...

ERGO....most people are stuck were they are BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PARTICULAR GOOD AT IT. (otherwise they would be promoted)...

Kind of a scary thought...isn't it?

AND..."So it goes." - Kurt Vonnegut "Slaughterhouse-Five"
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"I reserve the right to be completely wrong."

[Lee Gordon]

[Kristin Lennox]

[Rick Riley]

Agreed. I don't want to have to jump through hoops to try to give someone work. But we've lost sight of the thread here. This is not about home projects. This is about ME... remember?

I've AGREED to the work. I've DONE the work. And STEVE has not ACKNOWLEDGED the work. To me, that's just plain RUDE. Certainly not how I operate and 99% of those I work WITH operate. I'm developing a distaste for Steve, but I certainly won't let HIM know that. That's why I'm letting YOU know that. So I can vent.

But bottom line, has anyone ever sent an email schooling someone on their communication skills. Like, "Dude, you asked me to get on your job right away. I had a lot of things that should have been ahead of you but I worked you in because you were on a tight deadline. IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU WOULD AT LEAST SAY, HEY... I GOT IT. THANKS RICK" Have any of you ever done something like that without the RICK part?
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Never do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the Paramedics

www.rickrileyvoice.com

[Lee Gordon]

[Rick Riley]

[Foog]

Just last Friday I had a longstanding client email me a "preliminary" script in a panic asking if I could proofread and record the copy for Monday morning. I replied within an hour of receiving the email telling him "sure" and asking whether the preliminary script was the one to proofread or if I should wait for a final draft.

...radio silence.

...and Sunday night rolls around with still nary a peep.

With him being a regular client and me being a nice guy (or a sap, depending on how you look at it), I proofed the script and uploaded a few takes for him.

Still not a word.

...until Thursday night when he emails me in a panic, tripping over himself apologizing, and sending me the "final" script that absolutely must RUSH ASAP SOS be ready for start of day Friday.

So of course I proofed and recorded it for him in time.

Needless to say, I haven't gotten any acknowledgement of receipt.


I have nothing salient to add to this thread, but misery sure does love company. Thanks Rick, I feel a bit better
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Andrew Fogarasi

[Rob Ellis]

Had a similar situation not too long ago. A long-time client put a "new kid" into the mix. He e-mails me out of the blue needing an audition yesterday for a rush project and oh BTW it's 30 pages and if I get it, it needs to be done TODAY.

I bite my tongue and tell him I could rearrange some things and get it done by the end of business and send him my audition.

Then hear nothing.

This was over a month ago and I still haven't heard anything.

(insert rant here about this current generation and all of their shortcomings which are about the same as my generation when we were in our 20s....)