VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Monk]

I know that there is gold in here.. but I'm having a tough time finding it.

Ok, So I'm going for this thing with both feet. I've recorded the commercial demo (character next?) bought a few books (on the way) and have created the CD artwork and updated the website.

question is, who do you target mailings too? small studios? NBC?

Is there a market book much as there is for illustrators or writers?

There's been so much negativity toward voice123 and voices, I want to focus my energy toward the positive.

Suggestions?
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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

www.monksvoice.com

[Deirdre]

Monk, this is a bit like saying, OK—I have my paints, brushes and paper! How do I become a successful artist?

It's part blood and guts and part alchemy.

The quickest suggestion I can offer is for you to find the places that are doing the type of work you'd like to do and see who handles the hiring of talent.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[Monk]

that's fair, I was making sure that there wasn't an annual guide on the marketplace.

I enjoy the hunt. Just didn't want to re-invent the wheel.
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Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me...

www.monksvoice.com

[Bruce]

While CD's are nice to hold onto, and glisten nicely when you string them up in a mobile hanging from the ceiling, they are becoming less requested and used than ever. Have some ready to burn, but I'll tell you I haven't handed one out in over four years, a long time in these changing times.

You want to bring those that hire, or the middlehumans who help you get hired, to your website to take a listen. Emailing and networking are the best ways to reach them.

Those that hire directly are largely ad agencies and companies with internal audio/video production units. Start local and then spread out.

Middlehumans that also hire directly are production houses, usually studios that hire outside writers, voices and sometimes producers to create material for a client. Many have talent demos on their websites just like the P2P sites, but they don't charge you. They usually just call and say, "will you read these commercials for $300 each?" or "$75 each?", and you say yes or no. Another middlehuman is the independent producer, but they're a bit tougher to find, and many prefer to go to production houses and agents first.

Middlehumans that help you get hired are agents and such. The really good ones just get you work, and the rest make you audition for it. NBC goes to them for talent. It's unlikely they'll talk to you direct. You can eventually have a handful of these around the country.

Many jobs obtainable through out-of-town middlehumans require ready ISDN-type availability so until you have that you may have to skip that group. Many others are happy with just a phone patch.

There are many other places and humans to contact, but this is the core for many of us.

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. .

[Tom Test]

There's been some good advice here.

Let me tell you what the single biggest factor in my success has been: I started a practice group that met weekly at a busy Chicago studio. I'd get 6-8 people together, we'd share scripts, do a mock audition, try some multiple partner scripts, etc. We'd split the cost, which was never more than $20 a person.

After a few YEARS of doing this, my skills improved dramatically. 5 years before the practice group, I came out with my first demo - not a single agent was interested in repping me! (And I'm now one of the hardest-working guys in the Midwest). But after doing these groups, I got GOOD. You know the old saw, "you can't get work without experience, and you can't get experience without work"? These groups enabled me to break through that dilemma.

The practice groups WERE real-life studio experience. We had an engineer, sometimes a guest director (amazing what some people will do if you simply ask nicely), actual scripts, etc. We took turns giving each other feedback and direction. So after doing this for a few years, I made a new demo. One top Chicago agent said it was one of the best 2 or 3 demos she'd heard that year!

Give yourself the best chance for success by NOT DOING IT ALONE! This forum is obviously a great resource. Now go out and find yourself a support group of like-minded, motivated talent. Meet with them regularly to bounce ideas off each other and practice together. Do it for a long, long time and get really good at your craft.

Good luck!
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[COURVO]

Are middlehumans from Middle Earth? The Shire or Gondor?

Let's just start calling women....wopersons.

(kidding!!!!) sheesh Extremely helpful summary by Mr. Miles!

CourVO
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Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV."

[The Mic Guy]

[jaug44]

I'm new to the biz too...I'm a radio guy so I'm apparently double-cursed!!! Ouch! I just spent the last two hours copying and pasting consultant email addys from the Allaccess Industry Directory so I wouldn't have to pay an outrageous amount of money for a database...seeing as how I haven't made a lick yet...not sure how I'd pay for it anyway...

Courv...I remember you from your days at KFVS in "The Cape"...I just happened to grow up there...what a small little world we live in!

Good luck Monk!
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Jeff Augustine
Fast. Fresh. Flavorful.

website: www.jeffaugustinevo.com
email: jeff@jeffaugustinevo.com
skype: jeffaugustinevo