VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[mythwoman]

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been trying to figure out a way to introduce my thoughts/questions regarding this matter for days now. I’m well aware the topic has been in and out of the board since 2005. Please believe me when I say I’ve looked at most of the old posts. But things do change over time (systems, payment plans, etc.).

So, without offending or annoying anyone, I’d like to bring up the topic of Voiceover Sites… again.

I’m not a member of any of them. But I understand that part of networking these days is to market oneself more and more online. I have a website which I owe a big thanks to all the advice provided here. I have three agents, but things have been slow lately. And on my own I’ve gotten some good amount of work in anime doing Walla and bit parts. It’ll be a while before I can achieve supporting roles and leads.

While I’ve auditioned numerous times for two years, I haven’t gotten any jobs outside animation. It could be that I’m just not meant for anything else, which I wouldn’t mind if work was plentiful where I am, thought it’s not. Right now, I’m not ready to journey out to Los Angeles.

And yes, I’ve done cold calls, e-mails, mailed out CDs and have done my best to follow advice from other hard-working voice talent who have been kind enough to post here.

So, before I spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars joining VO sites. I was wondering if some folks could mention all the sites available out there and an opinion or two.

Voice123 (I know quite a lot already, but any new information would be most helpful)
Voices.com (I haven’t heard one bad thing about them yet)
VO Planet (Not much info)
VoiceHunter (Not much info)
Voicerecruiters (?)
CommercialVoices.com (Some info)
Voicemodels.com (?)
Interactive Voices (I haven’t heard much that’s good)
Creativevoices.com (?)
Voicestarz.com (A site geared towards animation, looks very interesting though)

Are there any others out there that I missed?

I understand I’ve probably mentioned a little more than needed in this post but I want to be super careful about my decisions this year.

For anyone who has the time to read and respond, thank you for your time.

Mary aka Mythwoman

[bobsouer]

Mary,

Interactive Voices is the old name for Voices.com. I'm a member of both Voice123.com and Voices.com and make enough through new work I get from both sites that renewing my memberships each year is a no-brainer.

I don't know enough about the rest of the sites you mention to be able to comment in any helpful way.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Lizden]

Hi Mary!

I'm with Bob on his V123 & Voices comments.
I'm also a member of Commercial Voices which has also been good to me.
Don't have any info on the others.

You're right in that if you're starting out in today's VO world, you need to market online. I will go as far as to say it's essential. Again, I'm talking from the standpoint of where YOU are right now, starting out.

If you're going to pursue VO fulltime, bite the bullet and become a premium member of at least one of the pay-to-play sites. As I'm sure you're read before, it's the cost of doing business. Use the lead scripts as practice and you'll soon find out where your strenghths are.

Use the social networking sites as well (MySpace, Facebook, etc...)

That's MY opinion. Go forth and voice!!!


Liz

Disclaimer:
This is MY opinion only and does not reflect the opinions of the management of the VO-BB!
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

[Deirdre]

VoiceHunter has been around for decades, it seems— and they have a different approach that is supposed to be more hands-on, with more "management" involved.
There is info here in the archives about them—and their methodology is described to a good extent on their site.

My experience with them was very good. It's a bit more expensive than I care to afford right now, though.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[TheVoiceOfBob]

Guru.com. You will get mixed reviews about this site just like any other, but I've managed a couple of nice jobs through them even with the free account.
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

[mythwoman]

I want to say thanks to all who answered my post.
I kind of have a new dilemma now. One another voiceover forum a big time professional suggested I redo my demo before signing up for sites like Voices.com and so on. He thinks my demos are a result of my not getting work.

Those who know me know that I've had my demo done twice by two different people in two different environments (one from a home studio, the other in a professional recording studio).

Now I'm being asked or advised to make another demo.

I haven't gotten any commercial gigs but have auditioned like crazy since 2005. Last year I got started in voicing anime which is great but work is not plentiful.

So now I'm trying to figure out a way to make demo that no one can complain about.

I may have to put this in another thread since my subject line is old but I thought I'd try here first.

Please guys and gals, what are your thoughts?

Mary aka mythwoman

[Deirdre]

first and foremost:

There's another voiceover forum?

2nd:
Did you ask for a demo critique here yet?
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[mythwoman]

Hi Deirdre,
Yes, www.voice-overs.com/forum

I thought you were a member. And I have had my demo critiqued here but that was long ago. Maybe I need some new opinions or a check up.

What do you think?
Mary

[mythwoman]

Sorry Deirdre,

As you can see, I have a hard time knowing how to identify jokes. I guess I'm too moody to recognize them right now.

[mcm]

Mary, I can well imagine what you're feeling right now - it's very discouraging to work so hard and then hear that kind of suggestion about your demos.

After a quick listen I hear some very nice stuff on them and also some pieces that are redundant. With some shortening and rearranging I think you could considerably enhance what's there. Why don't you post them in the Critique forum to get some specific suggestions about that?

Know that people here will give you honest and helpful feedback. Probably the last thing you want to do is make changes to your demos, but better to do a bit more work now and put an end to the frustration you've been experiencing.

[Diane Maggipinto]

everyone has his or her own way of finding and landing gigs, depending on what is your strength, your money voice, and the opportunities where you live, branching out from there.

i'll look forward to hearing your demos, mary, and you can be assured people at this forum are candid and helpful with critiques.

the one thing i'm hoping is not the case for you is that some huckster is suggesting you have another demo produced (for only thousands and thousands of dollars!).
there are a lot of them out there, so caveat emptor .

i have resisted any (teeny tiny eenie weenie) thought of joining the PTP sites since they seemingly drive a lot of people absolutely mad!
(and i do mean that in more than one way.)
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[TC]

Remember that that was just one person's opinion. Me? I think your demo is good enough that you could post it on Voice123.com or Voices.com and start trying to get work through those places, if that's your desire.

Could your demo be better? Sure. All of us could improve our demos, and we all do from time to time. And you will too. That shouldn't stop you from pushing forward with your online marketing efforts when you feel the time is right to do so.

If your current demo was good enough to get you repped by Lori Lins, it's good enough for those sites. I get better gigs through Lori Lins than I've ever gotten from the online sites.

[mythwoman]

Thank you all for your kind words. I will post in the critique forum.

TC, I like Lori Lins alot and how they present auditions. But I haven't gotten any jobs yet and I know it's probably due to my delivery or interpretation of each audition. Commercials are a weakness I guess.

I've been fortunate to have anime to work with though I wish I could do more.

I appreciate everyone's time to respond!
Mary

[robert jadah]

Your post hits me right where I live, Mary. I know of what you speak.

It's taken me years to realize that the site world scramble is - generally speaking - NOT for character/acting/anime talents. The postings for that genre are relatively few, and the competition for everything else is ferocious.
Stay with your strength. Sumo wrestlers do not answer modelling calls.

Site-wise, however, I'd still suggest (shudder) choosing V123, and scaling your profile and demos therein to your best abilities. Then answer only those leads that fall into your comfort zone. This should be about six per month. You will earn your money back and more, and the search engine presence is important.

While Voices.com is efficient, I think it better suited to other voice types.
Guru.com is, I agree, more effective for the work you're good at. I, too, am a free member, but earned more there in 2007 than between V123 and Voices combined.
In our VO world, there are simply no other sites to consider. Instead, use your agent and incessant demo mailings to anime producers. Spruce these up periodically with announcements that you are "now voicing such-and-such in whatever."
(Do not use that precise wording.)

I am currently voicing seven interactive/computer game villains. I am also working a mammoth project to act out parts of what seems to be the entire body of English literature for an educational web site.
There is a bearable living in solid character-land.
Scale your demo, your sights, your efforts and your investments in that direction. Leave the tire ads and terrific taco testimonials to the others; they're awfully good at it.
They'll beat you into submission. They did me.

[imaginator]

i would humbly submit that you forget even trying to create "a demo that no one can complain about". there's always going to be someone who feels honor-bound to trash your work, your style, or the color you chose for your label font.

believe me...i'm speaking from experience.

yes, do solicit (and listen to) all sorts of constructive criticism. and then sort through it and find the common denominators. you'll probably be safe discarding the rest. the only qualifier i'll put on that is: if someone asks you to re-do a demo a certain way to fit their representation of you, that might not be a bad addition to your collection of demos.

while i was sweating blood and swearing mightily earlier this year trying to retool my own efforts i got equal amounts of praise, encouragement, snide remarks, and one bona-fide professional who flat out told me no one should be allowed to hear my demo...it would never get me work. while i don't completely dismiss the opinion of that bona-fide professional, i've made a note to decline his offer of training.

i'm still not getting the exposure to the types of jobs i'd like to, but i don't think it's all the fault of the demos. i could indeed use some training in not only performance techniques but marketing as well. that's part of this year's list of goals.

you are wise in wanting to take advantage of others' advice. just don't let it overwhelm you.
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