Read this post from Stephanie at Vox Daily, the blog at Voices.com. They are adding a very cool idea to their site: tags that can be assigned to our various demos. Don’t think that’s all that interesting? Then read Stephanie’s post. I think your excitement will grow as you read.
After you’ve finished reading, stop back here and leave a comment, if you’re so inclined. I’d love to know what you think.
Oh, and do you see the logo to the right? Under my demos? If you think, as I do, that Voices.com is worth recommending, you’ll find all you need to know about how to add a similar link to your site at this post.
It can’t hurt, Bob. But in reading through your blogs, I think you pay these folks (both IV and V123) way too much homage.
Don’t get me wrong, I just signed up for year number 3 with V123. And quite honestly, I’ve made quite a pretty penny playing dodge ball with the low ballers. But the services are what they are, and I come from too deep of a journalism background (okay jaded) to believe that they have my best interest at heart.
Drew,
Thank you for your comments. I agree that both organizations are businesses and thus must have their own interests ahead of mine.
Maybe I am not doing it very well, but what I am trying to do is present both of these services from my point of view as a client. Carefully combing through the auditions, responding only to the leads that interest me, and responding (when I am interested) regardless of how many people are in line ahead of me has added considerably to the bottom line of my voiceover business in the last two years.
I cannot imagine why the same would not be true for anyone else with a decent amount of talent and persistence.
I worked as a radio newsman from 1982 to 1993, including stints with NBC and the Satellite Music Nework. This blog is not an attempt at journalism. Hopefully, it is a resource about the voiceover business for people who do (or want to do) voiceovers; as well as for people looking for a voice. Now and then, they just might pick mine.
Like you, I have just signed up for my third year with Voice123.com and for the same reason you have offered. I will renew with Voices.com in a few weeks for that same reason again. (By the way, I love your word picture: playing dodge ball with the low ballers. I wish I had written that.)
It’s the bidding process that I find so demeaning and insulting. Whether it’s a $75 job or a $7,500, pitting us against one another is tantamount to the cacophony of an open market in Marrakesh.
In Drew’s World, the clients would be required to set one fixed price. If we find it attractive, we can chase it. If we don’t hit delete.
Drew,
I hear you. I guess I see it from another point of view. In other words, if each of these clients were to go to the trouble of tracking us down on the Internet, and requested an audition, we would still have to quote our rates and deliver an audition file.
It wouldn’t be any different than it is now, except we wouldn’t know how many other people were in the loop.
Fool that I am, I don’t think I’m competing against you or any other voiceover artist for work. Often your voice and talent is best for a job. Sometimes mine is. Sometimes it’s someone elese. If you are right for the job, I’m not going to get it. No matter what I bid. Same with anyone else. In every case, and by whatever means, it’s the clients who get to choose the talent with whom they want to work.
Be well,
Bob
“Fool that I am, I don’t think I’m competing against you or any other voiceover artist for work. Often your voice and talent is best for a job. Sometimes mine is. Sometimes it’s someone elese. If you are right for the job, I’m not going to get it. No matter what I bid. Same with anyone else. In every case, and by whatever means, it’s the clients who get to choose the talent with whom they want to work.”
I’ve tried to embrace that philosophy, Bob. And while I see the wisdom in it, that’s not who I am. I’m too fiercely competitive. I gotta win and I gotta win all the time. Yeah, I know–impossible and delusional. That’s from growing up in the the mean streets of Philly. I mean, Eagles fans throw snowballs at Santa and boo the poor, jolly elf. Nobody remembers second place. Plus, I’ve been in some ‘competitions’ where if ya didn’t win, you weren’t around to whine about it. That’s me, a teeth grinding Spartan.
Drew,
Remind me to never bump in to you late at night. Especially if I’m dressed in my Santa suit! In Philadelphia.
Seriously though, I understand what you’re saying. We are wired differently, no question about that.
Well, if we were all the same I’d be bored.
Drew,
Very true. Thanks again for your thoughts.
Be well,
Bob