If you’re relatively new to voiceover work, here’s an important piece of advice: once you’ve submitted an audition, forget about it.
There is nothing good that will happen to or for you if you spend time stressing over whether someone liked your audition or whether or not you got the job. Allow the work you book to come as pleasant surprises and keep your attention on your next opportunity, contact or relationship.
It’s always worth bearing in mind the types of auditions.
1 – Anyone and everyone. Do you really want to work for a company whos employees have so much time on their hands they can listen to hundreds of auditions?
2 – Do you fit the brief auditions. These are a little better but only if you are honest with your abilities and most newcomers to the Voice Over market aren’t or to be generous have no idea what they are unable to do.
3 – Audition requests. The client has been listening to demos and has complied a short list, you’re on the list. It’s always a good idea to ask the person requesting the audition how many others are on the short list with you and what in particular the client wants to hear that he couldn’t hear on your demo?
By thinking about the above 3 points I’ve saved myself a lot of wasted time and energy. The audition culture is a good thing but you need to be able to spot the pointless auditions, they are in the majority. People ask for auditions because they can not because they should. Successful sales people qualify their leads and if an audition is a sales lead may be it’s a good idea to qualify it.
Yesterday, a producer heard something on a TV promo her colleague was editing. As a result of the conversation the producer got in touch with the voice over and booked a session for today. The producer doing the editing was pointed to the voice over by another colleague. WOW! That first audition paid dividends didn’t it? NO. The first job this voice over received from the TV company was to say that they wanted him for a session. The producer had listened to demo’s and heard the voice she wanted. If your demo’s aren’t getting you work, what makes you believe your auditions are any better?
Hope that helps.
Philip,
I very much appreciate your thoughtful comments. Agreed. Carefully cull through your audition requests. Further agreed, prepare demos that demonstrate one’s abilities, putting the best foot forward. Absolutely vital.
As for the answer to your first question above, yes; assuming the pay and subject matter fit within my personal standards.
Be well,
Bob