VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

CWToo · Guest

The primary use of auditions is to choose the right voice for a script, of course. But there is a growing secondary use for them.

As you may or may not care, when not voicing spots, I'm writing them for ad agencies and have noticed an interesting trend: using free auditions to test scripts as well as announcers.

Most copy writers can't read for sh*t, as anybody ever directed by one knows. So they send their scripts off to be auditioned and played for the client.

Not every audition is testing a script, of course. But this does explain why scripts go out for audition and then... nothing.

This just happened to a script of mine. They liked the script, had a bunch of VO's audition it, then decided they didn't like it and wanted a new approach.

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:27 am Post subject:

If it's free why not? In my case the why not is very simple - SEE ABOVE.

Thanks for the gem of info', Chris.

bobsouer · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:54 am Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:13 am Post subject:

This thread addresses somewhat what you share here, in that commercials are tested by clients:

http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2036

but the issue of whether or not talent can charge for that audition service remains. I offer it up ("scratch track" or "spec spot") but not always and what a time-sucker to do free auditions regularly (hello V123, right?)...
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CWToo · Guest

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:18 am Post subject:

Chris-- does Studio Center pay for "demos"?

Pro Comm pays for "spec" reads under certain circumstances. There are very few auditions there-- like Studio Center, they get to know their talent and are able to make casting decisions rather easily.
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dhouston67 · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

This would go along way toward explaining the voices.com auditions where full scripts are posted, with not a whisper of a client response.

I'm at a loss for ways to solve this issue, save Banksey's "Just say no" approach.
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CWToo · Guest

Mel Blanc used to say that the definition of 'spec' was a little piece of dirt.

SC doesn't pay for auditions as a general rule, although I have been involved in a couple paid auditions when the agency hired the studio and brought in a couple of people. Anybody here ever been involved in a talent shoot-out where they bring in a bunch of people and pick the winner on the spot? Oof dah! Talk about pressure!

Doing a spot on speculation is the agency's problem. The talent and production house get paid.

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

"Awwwwwww c'mon Philip. The client has heard your demo's they just want to hear how you'd sound on their commercial"

"No problem. Get them to send me $100, I know they have the money. I just want to see how it will look in my bank account!"

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:16 am Post subject:

dhouston67 · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:

My thinking is, this is one of those cases where the toothpaste can't be put back in the tube. I see individual VO talent sites everywhere with "free custom demo!" offers; I even had one myself for a while until I realized how easily it could be abused.

One could adopt a policy of "no specs except for returning clients who intend to hire you anyway", but even that can get tricky.
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kitstern · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject:

Just a comment about Studio Center, I get a fair number of auditions from them. Lately I've been slammed and haven't been able to do them, and I wonder if they get heard even when I do.
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bobsouer · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: A contrarian view

Getting back to the original post in this thread, I have to say I really don't care if I do an audition for someone and it's just them testing copy.

First, I don't care if that's the case because someone is hearing my read of that copy; someone who maybe wouldn't take the time to listen to one of my demos. If at least a few of those someones ends up being a decision maker along the line and I've made a positive impression, that I figure that's to my good.

Second, I don't care if that's the case because while I most certainly am in the voiceover business to make money, I don't have to make money from every effort I expend in this arena. Just this evening I spent an hour and a half coaching a friend through a session for a new demo. I didn't get anything from the time except the joy of helping a friend.

(The anonymous writer sending me an audition under false pretenses doesn't have the same command of my attention and affection that a friend does. But, some benefit is likely redounding to someone in this process.)

And finally, I don't care, because most of the auditions coming through Voice123.com and Voices.com have a low enough budget I don't bother with them. So, if someone wants to fool me into auditioning for nothing, they're going to have to dangle: 1.) a budget that will get my attention (more than $1000, most of the time) and 2.) a script that gets my attention.

At the end of the day I only audition for projects my agent sends me requesting an audition, or for projects that both interest me and come with a budget significant enough to get my attention. If someone wants to go to that much trouble to get my audition, they're welcome to it. I can afford a few minutes a week to do a few "bogus" auditions.
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