VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:35 pm Post subject:

I've been secretively watching the tv show "Breaking Amish". It's sort of a guilty pleasure for me.

I continue to be stunned by how backwards these people are and for no apparently good reason, other than that their religion says they must do this. In other words "This is how it's always been". They're not allowed to have electricity, ride in anything motorized, cut their hair (the women) and so on. In other words, they are desperately, and in a completely unsuccessful - and self destructive - effort, clinging on to the "old ways" while the world has quickly passed by them. The lack of knowledge or common sense exhibited by the people on the show, because they clung to the old ways simply boggles the mind. And because of that, they are pretty much unable to do anything that the rest of the 'normal' world can do. The real world has left them in its dust and they're struggling just to survive.

Love or hate online auditioning sites, they're not going away. Love or hate what they've done to the industry and the pricing structure, they're here to stay. Just as match.com has changed dating, and online billpay has eliminated the need to write checks, and streaming videos has done away with renting DVDs, and ordering pizza online keeps you from having to drive to the pizza parlor and wait while they make it, and amazon.com now allows you to purchase your next tv set or microphone from the comfort of your own home................... the 'net, and the 2000s have changed - FOREVER - how we do business.

You can hate the P2Ps all you want. You can curse them all you want on forums like these. You can put your hands over your eyes and ears and scream "Mommy! Make them go away!!!". And while you do that, the rest of the v/o world will audition.

I would estimate that currently about 95% of my business is repeat and/or referral business. I seldom audition any more due to the steady work (and believe me, I don't take it for granted, and I count my blessings). I honestly don't have stats to back this up, but I think it's fair to say that about 30% of my steady clients first found me via my audition for them on a P2P site.

I'm not saying the sites are good for our business. I don't think they are. I'm not saying you should use them if you don't want to. I'm still on the fence as to whether I'll renew next year when my subscription expires. I honestly don't know.

But unless you are truly one of the big heavy hitters in the biz, and are so firmly well-known, well-represented, so sought after, and so overloaded with work, then you probably would be wise to at least consider them as part of your overall marketing mix.

But we've beaten this horse to death a million times before here.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

DeadDillo · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:31 pm Post subject:

Well said, Scott.

But I think its healthy to dig up the horse and prop it up against the barn every now and then for a few more whacks.

Though I've been doing voiceover for more than 20 years, I am just a babe in the woods when it comes to freelancing, so all of this is pretty new to me. I think the majority of people getting into vo are doing it for the wrong reasons and they want to be successful yesterday.

I agree that the only way to run if you are new to all of this is to diversify as much as you can. Go everywhere. Explore every possibility. See what works and what doesnt work for you specifically. Listen to your elders, take notes, make adjustments. and keep exploring.
_________________
www.MarleyAudio.com

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject:

A postscript: Kodak, once the king of the photography world, went bankrupt, because it held on for far too long to the way it had always done business. As a side note of unbelievable irony, Kodak invented the digital camera way back in 1975, but shelved it, choosing instead to continue doing exactly what it had done for decades; working with film.

http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/kodak-digital-missteps/

And, as the years passed and the world went digital, Kodak went to bankruptcy court. So sad. This excerpt from the link above is so telling:

I actually had an executive from Kodak come up to me last week and say, 'I think film's coming back.'"

Maybe akin to saying "P2P sites will eventually go away if we ignore them long enough." ?
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

chrisvoco · Club 300 Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Posts: 380 Location: Local

Why'd you have to go and mention the Amish? I'm so sorry to have to tell this story, but... many moons ago, I was at the radio station late one night after one event or another, along with another jock and our gm. The door light came on, and we went to see who was there.

It was a teenager outside the main door, in Amish outfit, complete with horse and buggy. We opened the door and he explained as best he could that we'd announced him as a winner of some prize I don't recall. A little confused and embarrassed, we asked how he could possibly have *known* that we announced his name on the air. He sheepishly explained that he and a sibling had a battery-operated radio hidden in the barn, and liked to listen to country music when nobody was around to catch them. He and his sister had quietly filled out a couple entry slips and dropped them in the box at the fair a few days before.

So, we did what any red-blooded American radio folks would do: we had him stand next to his horse, hold a station t-shirt, and pose for a photo (which, the next day, had been captioned in big, friendly letters, "More Amish listen to Kicks96!")

I did notice that there were two gallon jugs of Meijer-brand milk sitting on the floor of his buggy. Ever since then, I've wondered whether the cheese shops are a fraud.

Anyhow, back to the original discussion now. I apologize for the interruption.
_________________
Finally, Ford stops starting to say things and starts.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:29 am Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:07 am Post subject:

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

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:03 am Post subject:

Bish · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:25 am Post subject:

First of all, I would like a few of you to note that it took me until Page 5 of a P2P thread to join in. I know some of you thought my silence was due to ill-health... but I'm OK.

The banned list needs to be increased... Religion, Politics, Mac/PC & P2P discussions should all be taboo here. It comes up monthly and is almost always a re-hash of what's already been said. Which can be summarized pretty much as follows:

1) They are the evil empire incarnate and will squeeze the lifeblood out of the industry in an effort to line their own pockets. They devalue the profession and make it a commodity.
2) Meh... I've booked a few gigs and collected a few long-term clients. It's their business model and I'm not deluding myself into thinking I am of any value to them as an individual.
3) They're OK... I don't know what all the fuss is about. I get the chance at some gigs and a constant supply of copy.
3) The trick is to play them, not let them play you. Be selective and bid appropriately. Use them as a launchpad for relationships (my previous position).
4) Oh please, enough already. They are toxic. A thorn in the side of the industry (see point 1) and I'm done with talking about them. I will not let these people consume any more of my life. They are a festering boil and I need to lance it now. This will not be achieved by endless time-consuming discussions on VO-BB, FB, Linkedin or wherever. If I want to change it, I have to do something, not just discuss it ad nauseam. (my new position).

Yes, I know that I'm furthering the discussion by writing this post... I never said that I wasn't a mess of contradictions Wink

_________________
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.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:32 am Post subject:

+1 to Bish.

(Love ya, Bish.)
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 965

Man, I've been out of the country for the past month and look at all the fun I've missed!!

You are all correct! P2P has indeed been the worst thing to happen to professional Vo. It did to Vo what sound did to silent movies.

And, you are all correct that it is here to stay. It has changed the definition of what professional Vo is. And, statistically this generation of working Vo actor will never see the kind of career, lifelong benefits, retirement, and residuals from previous generations. It is what it is.

Ok, I'm back in the saddle!!
B

yarg28 · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:50 am Post subject:

chrisvoco · Club 300 Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Posts: 380 Location: Local

Shame on you, Gary! Just look at what you've done!
_________________
Finally, Ford stops starting to say things and starts.

Rick Riley · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:59 am Post subject:

You can never, EVER post ANYTHING even remotely referencing P2P’s in a VO forum without it becoming a fisticuff debate about the pro’s and con’s (excuse me, for those who hate them, ‘CON’S and pros) of such. EVER!

So remember, in the future, should you happen to merely mention P2P, just in passing, even if it’s talking about a urologist, you may want to put on a helmet (like the one on the left), because the artillery is bound to fly.
_________________
Never do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the Paramedics

www.rickrileyvoice.com

Bish · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 10:14 am Post subject:

OK... (on topic)... if you choose to use P2P sites, your workflow should be:

1) Choose wisely considering the rate, client and overall quality of the job.
2) Submit in a timely manner.
3) Forget about it. Do not track status (opened, liked, ignored, etc.)

Sorry Gary... you prodded the hornet's nest with a stick Wink

_________________
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: Fri Oct 24, 2014 10:22 am Post subject:

I'm thinking all the major views on this issue have been well covered. Shall we move on to other things, and get back to this in another 6 or 12 months?

Thank you for your future restraint.

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

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