VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I usually stay away from the "add sound fx/music fully produce" jobs. Unless the rate is substantial. Also the wide gender/age range castings. Waste of time because they have no idea what they are looking for.

Also I noticed, when there is a lengthy sort of detailed direction as to how they would like it read, usually that means they are trying to describe an actual voice they have in their head, from something someone has done in the past. Rather than dig up that voice and provide a clip for reference, they want to sound intelligent and brilliant, and in the process no one has any idea what the hell they are talking about.

Either way, I take the audition direction notes as sort of a reference initially, but don't let it dominate my interpretation of what I can bring to it from my point of view
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Lee Kanne
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richvoice · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:05 pm Post subject:

Foog · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:14 pm Post subject:

Rick Riley · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:36 pm Post subject:

Foog · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:43 pm Post subject:

Lately my experience supports what you've been saying, Rick. 3 of the 4 latest gigs I booked at voices.com * were in the upper end of the quoted range. The client liked me, so they chose me, and the budget was not the determining factor.

I still worry about P2P being a race to the bottom and freelance cattle calls being evil and talents lowballing each other and Lord I sure love me some complainin' ...but there does seem to be a pool of clients that actually have other criteria than cheaper=better. Let's hope that it is a growing pool.

*no, I won't admit out of how many auditions in total that is. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be curled up in the corner weeping
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Andrew Fogarasi

Rick Riley · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:03 pm Post subject:

Andrew, look at it this way. I have a project I’m producing. I have a client. Not only do I want to please him, but I want to WOW him. I’ve worked hard to get this client. I want him to come back time and time again. I’ve gone out to his place. I’ve shot some hi def footage. I’ve done some really creative stuff. I’ve edited down to 30 seconds for a TV spot or 2 minutes for a corporate video. I’m already into this for at least a couple thousand bucks and that’s on the low side. If you have a crew shooting, boost that considerably.

Now, I’ve got to find a voice to pull it all together. I have 80 auditions to listen to. I’ve narrowed it down to ten, and then five. Actually two, but the guy I REALLY like costs $250 more than anyone else. Man, he would really make this piece shine, but instead of being into the project for $4500, I better go with the guy I don’t like as much and keep it at $4250.

After ALL that effort and money spent to WOW that client, that producer is going to settle for the guy who’s second, just to save $250? I certainly wouldn’t. We need to think outside our own little world and remember what goes on in the big world of production. There’s lots of hands in almost every project. You are only one of them. Why diminish the team effort by hiring a weak hand.

FYI, I've landed gigs from the Minnesota Vikings to AT&T, General Motors and another long running gig that I still do with Motorola, that came to me through voices. Those are just off the top of my head. There've been many more. The production companies I work with for each of these projects are multifaceted with scenarios such as I've described. I'm only one brush on the canvas. They haven't skimped with anyone else on the team, why would they do it with me.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:48 am Post subject:

Rick is exactly right. If you're going to play this game, bid what the job is worth to you, not what you think will make you a more attractive option than the next guy. People who pick their voiceoverist based upon the lowest price point are not the ones you want to be working with.
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yarg28 · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:24 am Post subject:

yarg28 · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:42 am Post subject:

Rick Riley · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:48 am Post subject:

There’s lots of other people that can offer lots of good advice here, but in my book, 16 auditions in a day is a lot. I’ve never done anything close to that. My line of thinking says to be selective, audition less and give every script your best performance.

I usually give it one or two reads, listen and make notes, then go back and follow my notes for another read. Other people may be better than me and nail it on the first take, but that’s my process. I don’t know that I could do that 16 times in one day, and then try to figure out how to make it 20.

When you book a job, they give you the script at least a day early. At least most of the time. There’s a reason for that. So you can have time to rehearse and be ready. Interpreting what the creative has to say takes time. It’s not rip and read. This is just my opinion, but I would think at 16 auditions a day, you might be becoming an audition mill. I don’t know anything about you, but if Voices is your only source, you might want to think about coaching. Getting an agent or two. Fit some time into your day to work on those things.

You may branch out and later on not even have time for Voices. I've acquired five agents. LA, San Francisco, Portland (where I live), Minneapolis and Atlanta. Those five keep me very busy, with work and auditions. That's why I haven't been to Voices in months. I would suggest you diversify and spread out your energy in some different directions.

Those are my thoughts. Others may want to offer something else.
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Never do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the Paramedics

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yarg28 · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:06 am Post subject:

I think those are all valuable thoughts, Rick, Thank you.

I am in the process of being coached. probably a 3rd of the way through. It's the reason that I'm only working voices at the moment. I actually did those 16 auditions in about 2.5 hours. I really started working there to uncover issues within my work flow. I only audition maybe 3-4 hours a week because I'm doing what you recommended; coaching, practicing/homework, etc.

I'm doing that stuff now in the hopes that once my coaching is complete I will be able to branch out like you said. I see voices as a stepping stone (hopefully).

Foog · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 2:59 pm Post subject:

melissa eX · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:32 pm Post subject:

richvoice · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks very much for the specifics of your experiences, Melissa. For those of us just starting out -- or re-starting out -- who are using one or more P2P sites while getting established, that information is very helpful.
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Cheers,
Rich
http://www.richvoiceproductions.com
@RichMillerVO