Pissed [Archive] - Voice-Overs.com - A discussion forum for the voice-over industry

bigbry

11-21-2007, 09:03 AM

Here’s something that’s really been bugging me for along time and we’ll use Voices.com as an example.
I’m sure that you’ve been frustrated at this as I have. You take the time to do an audition, sometimes it’s quick and other times it takes quite awhile. You send it in and you wait. While you wait you go on to another audition and send that one in. At least you’ve taken time out of your life to do so.
Ever since I can remember I’ve been taught to say “thank you”, maybe it’s just the Canadian in me, but if someone does something for you no matter how small or even if they asked you to it...you say “Thank You”.
So what’s with the clients on Voices.com not even mentioning that they’ve heard your demo, or saying thank you or even a note saying “You Sucked!! Voices.com has assured me that there is a method for clients to do so. My guess it’s at the bottom of a page somewhere in very tiny print. Out of the hundreds of auditions I’ve done, I’ve received 1 thank you. The other thing is that I’m starting to think that the clients that use these services are really self centred assholes. All I can say now is “Thank You” for reading my little tirade.

Jon Morss

11-21-2007, 09:38 AM

Bry,

I hear ya man, but this is the nature of the business. There is something posted on Voices.com, maybe in the Blogs somewhere, that describes this situation. The client does have the option to send a response to you since they have your contact info. But, since there is a potential for each client to get about 100 responses to a posting, it just is not practical for them to send a response to every VO talent that responds. However, I did read that Voices.com is working on some feature that allows clients to send a mass response to all that send in a demo. I'm not trying to defend Voices.com, but this is just how things are.

I get the same non response from Voice123, VoiceHunter as well as from Cast Images, the talent agency that I am signed with locally. I just do the best I can in my audition, send it in, and move on to the next one or just forget about it. Its just the nature of the business.

Jon

bigbry

11-21-2007, 10:01 AM

I'm in the same boat as you all the other services I belong to work on the same premise. NO RESPONSE from the client. It would be refreshing even to receive a mass response. Anyway Jon...have a Happy Thanksgiving buddy.
Bry

Bob Bergen

11-21-2007, 10:03 AM

Bry-

You MUST enjoy the journey!! If anyone does this for the money, or even a thank you, you will never be satisfied. I'm sure some would find a "form letter" thank you from a potential buyer a cold obligation. I understand that you are just looking for a lil gratitude. But it is you who should be grateful for the opportunity.

I use to have this fantasy that SAG would hire some person whose sole job was to call every actor who read for a part to tell them if they did or didn't get the gig. I found it very frustrating that we only hear if we get the gig, not if we don't.

Then, the practical side of me looked at the numbers. Fifteen to twenty agents submitting fifteen to twenty actors for a single job. That was 25 years ago here in LA. NOW, it's dozens of agents around the country submitting hundreds of actors for a single job. The statistics have changed dramatically. How could the buyer possibly thank everyone?? And why should they???

Frankly, no matter the odds, I'm grateful for every piece of copy. I should be thanking them!! Every opportunity, whether booked or not, is a chance to be heard. There are many reasons why we don't get a gig. If you are brilliant, YOU are not the reason. They went another way. They wanted a younger sound. They wanted someone they worked with before. They wanted a celebrity. But if you are brilliant, you'll be remembered. Each audition is an insurance policy for another opportunity. Be grateful for the opportunity!!! It will make the journey more fulfilling.

JoeActor

11-21-2007, 10:11 AM

Bry: I can tell you're frustrated, but Jon and Bob are on the money.
I find the most satisfying feedback comes from my agents and from clients I book.
The best usually comes while I'm in the studio recording.

Treasure the feedback you get, but don't expect it... especially with online auditions.

Bob: Great attitude, man! I gotta get me some of that!

Off for a studio session, and some good feedback,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

bigbry

11-21-2007, 11:33 AM

OK Guys...I'll shut up and continue to bend over. I'm OUTTA HERE

avitoots

11-23-2007, 12:25 AM

Have to add my two cents here. I do believe that I've rarely gotten a thank you from anyone I've auditioned for. Even directors and photographers who wanted to hire me but were over-ridden by the client never sent a thank you. It's just the nature of the business They're busy either prepping a job, doing a job or looking for work. Bottom line, there's just not enough hours in the day to do what would seem to be the courteous thing.

I remember having a discussion with a founding member of a small theater company in Chicago about calling actors who audition for them. While I fully understand why they wouldn't call people after the first round of auditions, (after all they sometimes can see 100 or more people) I thought it was unprofessional not to advise actors who were called back to read for a role that the show was cast. The woman totally disagreed with me. So, as others have said before, it's just the nature of the business.

And Bob is so right on. Every time you get to be seen or heard is an opportunity for a talent buyer to know you're out there. They can't invite you to audition, let alone hire you, if they don't know you exist.

Arlene Kahn

Julie Williams

11-25-2007, 11:36 AM

Right on, Bob! We should be thanking them!

Bry,
As a person who has hired talent off of both voice123 and voices.com, I can tell you that it would be a logistical nightmare to personally thank the hundreds of talent who's auditions I heard (and I did listen to every single one--as a courtesy to the talent who took the time to audtion, because I know their time is valuable!) But the one time I did email to tell the second choice that I had hired someone, but that they were great and I was keeping their demo for future work....... the email from the site's system sent them a message that they got the job! THen I had to explain that they didn't get it but that I just wanted to tell them they were awesome.. How stupid did I feel!?!?!?

From the talent's perspective, I've had people email me and thank me for an audition when I didn't get the job... and all I could think of was... "YOu don't have to thank me... I don't have time for this... I'm glad everyone doesn't clutter up my email with thank you anyway notes...cos I've got work to do!" Seriously, can you imagine receiving an email from neveryone you auditioned for? I'd start deleting them and perhaps delete one from someone who was trying to hire me!

One thing I do appreciate, though, is a few of my agents have auto replies on their audition emails that say, "Your audition has been received." At least I know they got it.

Bob Bergen

11-25-2007, 11:57 AM

Oh, I agree with the agent one!!! My last LA agent had an automatic reply to let me know they got my reads. I love that!!!!!!!!! Sometimes you wonder if your reads actually get to the desired location!

And thanks for the site help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

Julie Williams

11-25-2007, 12:02 PM

Glad you're back on, Bob!

I wish all agents had that auto reply. It's from my agents that I got the idea to set up a separate email address for auditions... That and it was very disrupting when I posted on v123 to get hundreds of emails sent to my inbox everytime someone sent an audition. No wonder clients wanted to limit the number of auditions!

But having a separate email address for auditions allows me to go to the auditions when I'm ready... I never check it unless I'm casting something. And yes, I do have an auto reply! :)

Diane Maggipinto

11-25-2007, 12:20 PM

i spent a good deal of time, effort and research putting together a bid for a client for whom i've done work in the past. good client, nice guy, interesting project on which i bid (even though i was the chosen voice for the project, he wanted --of course-- to know the rate). i followed our phone conversation with an email outlining what we'd discussed and how various rates (per word, per finished minute, etc) would affect the overall price and that i opted for the one that was most fair for the project.

never heard back. local client, too.

so at times i wonder what happened; most times i can only guess about a handful of possibilities, and realize there are many more handfuls of possibilities that don't cross my mind. so ... 'tis easiest to let. it. go.

KaraEdwards

11-25-2007, 01:10 PM

Diane- you hit on my pet-peeve. I don't mind not hearing from potential clients after sending in an audition...but I DO mind receiving an e-mail asking for rates/details of my service and a custom audition...and after taking the time to put an entire proposal together (along with the audition) you hear nothing...despite follow up e-mail(s). This has happened to me a few times, and I'm quite sure there is nothing I can do about it. Grrr! Too many people think they should be able to get decent VO at rediculously low rates. When they see professional rates- they split.

Diane Maggipinto

11-25-2007, 01:51 PM

and kara, i've NOT emailed or called to ask (in that ricky ricardo voice) whaaaaahoppon??
i've thought a good deal about it, and whether i ought to, and am stumped, actually. i assumed they canned the project or were scared away by vo rates in general. the agency planned to underwrite the project and then sell it to recoup their investment and make money, too. perhaps they realized it'd be QUITE an investment to include pro vo!

avitoots

11-25-2007, 02:17 PM

todd ellis

11-26-2007, 08:58 AM

if you REALLY need to hear back from a bid ... try priceline.com

Colin Campbell

11-26-2007, 09:53 AM

Big Fish does a very good and personal job of letting me know they got the audition and then even more fantastic... if one of their talents get it, they send out the winning audition to everyone. Very nice. I really like those people. Even if they don't bring a lot of work, they give one the chance to learn where they fell short.

Also, I agree with Bob whole heartedly that we should be thankful for every piece of copy we have a chance to read. If there is a juicy piece of copy that is going around and everyone is trying it... but, I didn't get that lead... I ask someone for the copy and just do it for my own satisfaction even though I didn't have a chance to submit it. That's why the "leads and reads" type threads are so wonderful. At least we can get some feedback on how to improve.

Dina Monaco-Boland

11-26-2007, 12:25 PM

I don't see why you don't do a short, professional follow-up e-mail just asking if the project is going forward. As long as you don't make a pest of yourself, I wouldn't think it would be a problem. If they decided to go another way, then fine. If the project has been cancelled, then you'll know that, too. I believe a detailed proposal with the various methods of communications you describe above is very different than a general audition whether it's through an agent or one of the online services and, therefore, a follow-up would be in order especially since you already have a working relationship with the entity. As I said above, as long as the follow-up is short and professional you probably shouldn't have a problem.

Arlene Kahn

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one Arlene. Producers are oftentimes working on several projects at once as the projects are in different stages. Sometimes projects get shelved, sometimes canned... who knows what.

I worked as a PD in industrials (many moons ago!) and I can tell you that if I had talent asking what was going on with a particular project it would be quite disrupting because if I hadn't gotten back to them it was because I was busy with a different project-- it would be very distracting.

I completely understand the temptation though and could not fault anyone for sending a "just checking" follow up note. Even knowing how I myself would've responded to such a note, I have none the less sent one-- and almost immediately regretted it.

So, that said... although I do not send follow ups I am still lacking greatly in the ability to let it go. I envy you pro's who can do this. It still eats at me as I go on to the next. I'm a worrier. I worry about EVERYTHING.

chucktaylor

11-26-2007, 12:38 PM

In a perfect world...(don't you hear the movie guy voice here?) common courtesy would require a "Thank You" for an audition, just like a thanks for appling for the job letter companies used to send out even if you weren't the one chosen, but in today's fast paced world it's just not going to happen. I've decided to not worry about whether I get the job or not, (of course this is currently just a side for me with my real job being radio) it's out of my hands and worring only hurts my enthusiasm. besides, the way I look at it is if the man upstairs wants me to get the gig I will if not, then someone else needed it worse than me. One of my mentors told me "Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff!"

ct

jsgilbert

11-26-2007, 01:28 PM

Applying out-of-the-box thinking to this industry with regards to marketing and internet, branding and even education seems to serve many well. As someone who has 20 years in this industry, I think the simple answer is that just with any industry, there is a way that this industry works. The various industry segments that make up the overall voiceover market all have interesting apsects about them. It is your job to learn about them, understand them and embrace them, good and bad. If you want to change any of the rules, then do What Hal Riney did and open your own ad agency and position yourself as the highest paid voice talent in the world (or whatever you can do). If you don't know who Hal Riney is, that's just more proof that individuals don't take the time to learn this industry.

I worked for some years ago under a convoluted commission scheme (nothing to do with v.o.) and I went to my boss one day and said how unfair the commission program was. He said that "nothing in the universe is fair and I resent you asking me to be the exception." It took many years for me to understand him. I don't like what he said, but I understand it.

There are a hell of a lot of workers out there that don't get thanks. Perhaps you should just quietly give thanks everytime you are asked to audition and leave it at that.

Julie Williams

11-26-2007, 02:23 PM

I have to agree with Arlene, Dina. If a client contacts me personally...by email... because he liked my demos, and he wanted info...and I sent custom audition and bid, I will follow up in about two weeks and say...

"Just following up to see if you chose your voice for XYZ project yet."

I get good response. Sometimes they chose another voice. Other tiems they say, we love you, but the client had to revise the copy...and they hire me... Or they tell me client is still deciding. Just the fact that they chose to contact you personally shows enough personal interest in you that I think it's ok to send a very short inquiry.

It's part of your marketing.

Julie

Dina Monaco-Boland

11-26-2007, 02:54 PM

I can understand your thought process but I don't understand how it is part of your marketing. If they have already contacted you personally you know they know you and are interested in you... whether it be for the project at hand or for a future project. They already know you're out there.

I think it may be just so we can settle our own minds more than anything else. Unless, and perhaps this is the point I may be missing, it's to give the seeker a gentle reminder that you're out there and that may inspire them to think about you.

I have to be honest in that I'm just not that comfortable doing that-- and to note-- I'll admit I'm a terrible salesperson so maybe I'm off base. I'm just looking at it from the other side after having been there myself.

todd ellis

11-26-2007, 03:27 PM

i was just talking with a member of this board off-line this morning about following up with past clients for future work. this is something i ALWAYS used to do (with reasonable success) - but for whatever reason i have stopped doing it. too busy? maybe - but that's no excuse. if they used me once there is a better than average chance they'll use me again with the slightest shove. i'm going to start doing this again.

bigbry

11-26-2007, 04:26 PM

Lets stir the pot some more. You all seem to think that if you run a business that looks for vo artists you don’t have to thank anyone. Lets look at this in real life.
You decide to get married and you invite 200 people to your wedding= client asking for voices. You then ask people to go through a gift registry=giving a script to be read and using your gifts to read it. At your wedding you find that everyone showed up and gave you a gift through the registry. Now don’t thank anyone and just take all the gifts and go home. I now understand, that if you’re one of the lucky ones to be invited to the wedding, you should be thanking them.
Just a thought on this subject...cheers to you all and thanks for a wonderful and information filled thread.

todd ellis

11-26-2007, 04:46 PM

bry ... that's a good analogy - but for casting purposes - i think this one works better:

i'm shopping (the casting director) and i'm looking for a sound card (the voice) i go to zzounds, sweetwater and bsw looking for sound cards. i find the sound card i like best at a price i am willing to pay at bsw and i buy it. i do not write the other two competitors a note saying i liked their sound cards as well, but chose another ... i simply find a product i like and buy it. i may make my next purchase at the same store --- or i may shop around again.

jmho

Bob Bergen

11-26-2007, 06:30 PM

Bry, my friend, this is not a wedding. It's show biz. You're looking for gratitude and respect? You won't find it here. And if you do, that's icing on your wedding cake.

I'm sure (actually I assume...but I assume I'm correct) that you don't spend THAT much time dwelling on thank you's from buyers. But if you do, I advise you reevaluate the time spent. There are SO many more proactive ways to spend your time.

I visit this site often because I enjoy offering my ideas and opinions for success in this business. I know what works, and I know what doesn't. I can guarantee those making a great living in this business have never invested a moment whether they've received a thank you for auditioning.

One of the keys to success in this business is a thick skin. Once you've auditioned, it's over. You move on to the next audition or gig. When my agent calls me for a booking I literally have to look at my appointment book or find the sound file from the audition on my computer to refresh my memory. Once the audition is sent, I've moved on to the next opportunity. I could care less if it was submitted, listened to, or that I was or wasn't thanked.

And FYI-your agent isn't obligated to submit your audition just because they ask you to read. Often they are asked to submit the top 5 reads. They audition maybe 25. But since they can only submit 5, 20 don't get heard. Hey-that's show biz!! Agents represent anywhere from 150-750 clients, depending on the size of their office. If you are fortunate enough to be one of the 25 chosen to read, that's all you can ask for.

And should your agent be thanking you for reading??????? Of course not.

Should you thank your agent for the audition?? Maybe. But hey-they are just doing their job. You pay them to send you the auditions you are right for. If you book the gig you pay them 10% of your income.

Now, I said "maybe" above because there are times a thank you to your agent is in order. Let's say you've added a promo track to your demo and have had several of those heart to heart talks with your agent about how you'd love to read for more promo work. It's so hard for an agent to get promo copy, let alone get newbies a chance to read for them. But your agent finally gets you the opportunity, and you go in to your local FOX affiliate to read for a contracted gig that could pay you several thousand a month.

Sure, I think a thank you to your agent would be nice. Not expected!!!!! But nice.

If MY agent spends a moment dwelling on the fact he didn't get a thank you note for doing his job (sending a client to an audition) then that's a moment he isn't doing something proactive for his other clients...and me!!!!!!!!!

And if you book it??? Maybe a bottle of wine would be a nice gesture to your agent.

Or not! It's a lovely gesture. But no agent expects it. What they do expect is to be paid 10% of your chunky monthly salary from that promo contract.

Gratitude is a huge part of success. Not expected or assumed gratitude. But YOUR daily gratitude. I'm telling you, your success will quadruple with this philosophy!

John Bigl

11-26-2007, 06:52 PM

great thread ... helpful comments..

IMO, Mr. Bergen sums it up quite nicely when he wrote:
" Sure, I think a thank you to your agent would be nice. Not expected!!!!! But nice"

"not expected, but nice"

yes, getting a thank you is nice but, imo, expecting one, or even demanding one causes needless suffering..

so, if i may put on my floppy lay-psychologist hat and happy buddha belly: theres a big difference between demands and preferences.. unmet demands, as in "i must be thanked by a VO seeker each time i send them a demo", causes suffering; the option of a preference, as in "gee, that sure would be nice" (for a 'thank you' or almost anything else in life) lessens suffering by simply being able to let it go when a 'thank you' isn't made..

"blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape" (anon)

Be Well

avitoots

11-27-2007, 01:36 AM

I agree with Bob about being thankful for every opportunity presented to us. There are so many people out there trying to get work that any time you're asked to audition it is a gift. At least in my mind it is.

Someone brought up the fact that when you interviewed for a job in the corporate world you used to get a thank you letter. Let me shed a little bit of light on that. I used to be a legal secretary at a small law firm and one of my duties was sending out those letters. The attorneys didn't both with it and, since I was the only secretary working for 5 litigators and 1 criinal attorney, those letters were at the bottom of my priority list and often-times didn't get sent out because I just didn't have the time. It had nothing to do with being rude or inconsiderate but more to do with "do I blow a court deadline or spend time on the thank you letters." Meeting that court deadline was just a little more important. That's the bottom line.

As far as follow-ups go, as I stated in my previous post, I believe there's a proper time to do a follow-up and, I believe, e-mail has made it much less disruptive than a phone call would have before e-mail became a regular business practice. If you are one of the horde submitting an audition then, no, it's not appropriate. However, if you have exchanged several e-mails and phone calls regarding a project, then, yes, it is appripriate. You have spent considerable time communicating with the client about a project. E-mail allows the client to respond at their leisure, i.e., when they have time to take a look at and respond to e-mails not related to the project they are currently working on.

As far as follow-ups being part of your marketing plan, yes, it is true that the client knows who you are at that moment for that particular project. However, 5 minutes from now they may totally forget who you are. I once read in a marketing newsletter or book (can't remember exactly where) that it takes 6 or 7 contacts before a prospect remembers who you are. Each time you contact a prospective client you remind them that you are out there. In this business, out of sight out of mind is clearly at work. However, you need to be smart about the contacts. I've spoken to several producers through Women In Film/Chicago who have told me that my quarterly mailings were just about right. Not too often but often-enough for them not to forget that I'm out here and available. I've also been at a workshop where an ad agency producer talked about a VO who called him every day asking if he had work for her. He was not at all pleased with the frequencey of the phone calls.

You need to be smart about contacting clients. I also believe you need to check in with them on a regular basis just to remind them that you're out there and available. More than likely, unless you have a long-standing relationship with them, they're only going to remember the last person they worked with or the last really great audition they heard. A short note saying you've done this that and the other thing (all related to your VO business) and can you be of service shouldn't prove to be disruptive. I recently sent a short note to a prospect in California who sent me a nice e-mail after receiving an audition through Voices.com. He didn't respond for several days but when he finally did, it was a very nice e-mail and he didn't seem to have any problem with me contact him.

Didn't Hal Riney sell his agency to some conglomerate within the last year or so?

Arlene Kahn

todd ellis

11-27-2007, 06:35 AM

bob wrote:
chunky monthly salaryisn't that a Ben & Jerry's flavor? i love that!

Bob Bergen

11-27-2007, 07:04 AM

I don't think so. I'd never let any agent take 10% of my Ben and Jerry's!!

;-)

todd ellis

11-27-2007, 07:06 AM

smart man ... money's money ... but ice cream, well ....

JoeActor

11-27-2007, 08:07 AM

Big Fish does a very good and personal job of letting me know they got the audition and then even more fantastic... if one of their talents get it, they send out the winning audition to everyone. Very nice. I really like those people. Even if they don't bring a lot of work, they give one the chance to learn where they fell short.

Colin,

I really like hearing the ones who got the job. It gives me a great insight on my read, and what the audition was expecting. The "got your audition" e-mails are nice too. Let's me know I'm more than just a number in the roster...

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

KaraEdwards

11-27-2007, 08:17 AM

Thanks for saying that so well Julie! That's what I do when contacted directly. One e-mail a week or two later thanking them again for their interest. It is marketing. 90% of the time, you get a nice reply saying 'already cast' or 'project delayed- we'll contact you soon'. It's the 10% that makes me wonder who these people are! Of course, more often than not- that 10% sent e-mails that didn't seem quite 'right' to begin with.

It's all about being professional...from both sides of the coin.

Colin Campbell

11-27-2007, 10:51 AM

Colin,

I really like hearing the ones who got the job. It gives me a great insight on my read, and what the audition was expecting. The "got your audition" e-mails are nice too. Let's me know I'm more than just a number in the roster...

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

It's nice when you can say... "well, i was close on that one" or "that's not what they asked for... oh well."

KaraEdwards

11-27-2007, 01:36 PM

Hmmm...just realized I went from page 2 of this thread to page 4...sorry my above comment is in reference to Julie's which is like a dozen posts ago...oh well.

Page 3 has lots of great stuff...especially the part about ice cream. :afro:

jsgilbert

11-27-2007, 02:37 PM

Publicis, a French firm bought Hal Riney and Partners quite a while ago. Hal is retired, but oddly enough not from voice-overs and still does do some. FOr those of you who don't know, Hal Riney was responsible for Bartles and James, Saturn and many believe the election of Ronald Regan to president.

(refers to comment a few posts prior and my original responding post)

jsgilbert

11-27-2007, 02:40 PM

I should also mention that my auditions are for purposes of getting work and pretty much every single working pro I know would have a big problem with having any of their auditions, whether winning or not played for anyone who was not directly involved in the hiring decision for that audition. It's also considered a pretty big non-no to mention who actually won any particular job.

If the actor wants to post their auditions for something for others to listen to or pay to have them played or run around in a convertable playing them over a megaphone, that is their perogative.

Just some more rules to play by.

bigbry

11-27-2007, 04:25 PM

Absolutly BRILLIANT information that's been passed on in this thread...thank you all so much
Bry

Diane Maggipinto

11-27-2007, 06:21 PM

run around in a convertable playing them over a megaphonei'd really like THAT opportunity!

Colin Campbell

11-28-2007, 04:14 PM

The one time I wanted to play the winner of a job for the (other) forum, I asked ALL parties involved for permission. Since so many had tried for the job I thought it instructive.

Also, I've had a few that I did where I explicitlly did NOT have permission to play the final for anyone even though it was my voice and did not.

Sometimes you have to sign non-disclosure agreements and that of course is a big sign to keep quiet about the whole thing.

Lee Gordon

11-30-2007, 03:04 PM

I would like to publically salute one guy who consistently bucks the trend that started this thread by acknowledging all auditions, whether successful or not. That guy Larry Maizlish (Voices on Call dot com). Every time I have answered one of Larry's leads, I have received an e-mail thanking me for auditioning and letting me know that the job was filled (alas, by someone other than me).
The fact that the courtesy e-mail was computer generated rather than a personally composed note is of absolutely no consequence to me. In fact, that only serves to demonstrate how little trouble a voice seeker would need to go through to produce a result that is greatly appreciated.

Diane Maggipinto

11-30-2007, 04:13 PM

i know you're all really curious about this ...

as suggested, i emailed the aforementioned client with whom i'd worked in the past and who told me i had a new gig (see page 1) and ...no response.

period. amen.

avitoots

11-30-2007, 04:28 PM

Diane -- I wouldn't write it off too quickly. I sent an e-mail to a contact I made through one of the online services and, since he didn't respond very quickly, didn't think I'd ever hear from him again. However, I did get an e-mail response from him a few days later. You may still get a response from the person. If not, I guess you could say that tells you a whole lot about who he is and how he handles his business.

Arlene Kahn

Diane Maggipinto

11-30-2007, 04:52 PM

thanks, arlene! i never cease to be amazed in this business, on any number of levels and at countless things. so i'm usually amazed when clients come knocking since i try not to keep extraordinarily close tabs on them or their peculiarities.

he's a great guy, has paid me well in the past, always complimentary, and i think we have a lovely rapport. i'm thinking they canned the project altogether since it was a risk he and his company (boss) were going to undertake and, well, when they realized that they'd really have to pay for good talent, perhaps they decided to do some fundraising? raise seed money? sell crap on eBay?

it's all good.

avitoots

11-30-2007, 05:20 PM

Sounds like the guy is a good business partner for you. That being the case, it's very possible that they got distracted by a safe paying gig (for which you weren't a good fit) and just haven't had the time to follow-up with you on the risky project.

I'm always amazed by this business, as well. I used to produce murder mysteries and it always amazed me when talent I was trying to contact to hire (paying work, not great pay but more than most make for non-union theater in Chicago) never bothered to get back to me. So, one of my pet-peeves is people not answering e-mails. I'm guilty of not responding to mass e-mails which I get from a few people announcing their projects but I always, always try to respond to e-mails I get. It may take a few days, or, in some cases, a couple of weeks, depending on my schedule, but I always try to respond. I just think it's rude not to.

Arlene Kahn

Diane Maggipinto

12-03-2007, 06:30 PM

i got a reply, and all is good. i swear my own mind is my biggest obstacle. anyone else feel that way? when deciding what has happened without facts or evidence, it seems preposterous to believe myself. and usually, i'm w-r-o-n-g. good doG!
here it is:
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I was out of town (and cell and wifi range) last week. The project is still happening, and we will be using you. We are still deciding on how we want to handle your compensation. I will be in touch soon with more details. Thanks.

avitoots

12-03-2007, 08:19 PM

Diane -- That is a beautiful little e-mail you got there. Congratulations!

Arlene Kahn

Diane Maggipinto

12-03-2007, 08:27 PM

arlene--thanks! i was actually thinking of you when i posted, since you've been following this. ;)

JoeActor

12-04-2007, 10:29 AM

connieterwilliger

12-05-2007, 08:02 PM

I just had a nice little note from a producer thanking me for auditioning, but telling me that they went in another direction. Rare indeed.

I never used to worry about whether or not someone actually heard an audition - we did it live at a studio, so we saw them hear it! But the paradigm has changed and we send our auditions out into the ether - tons of auditions - far more auditions than was usual and customary a few years ago. Frankly it is addicting - much like these message boards.

The part that frustrates me is not knowing if anyone has actually listened at all (voices.com) - or even worse, knowing that that they never "opened" any or all of the auditions (Voice 123).

I think it may be time to cut way back on the auditions and do some bookkeeping and reconnecting with old clients who already love me instead of doing all this speed dating.

But more and more good leads are showing up that are right up my alley!

It's all a balancing act! I'm off to an audition - this time for a play - and I will get a call (or email) from someone letting me know if I got the role, or if they went another direction.

Regards,

jsgilbert

12-06-2007, 12:40 PM

I liked this business before they put the v.o. booths in the agents offices. As if the agents don't have enough to do and SAg and AFTRA still only paying 10% to the agents, despite their cost of doing business skyrocketing. Having representation from several agents, I'm amazed to see so much duplication for many projects that just don't seem to cry out to have 500 - 1,000 people audition for them. Of course, if you do the math and figure that the auditions come from 30 or so agents and only look for 2 actors, the agent now has a (theoretical) 1 in 15 chance of booking a single talent. Even if the job pays $1,000, that means the agent makes $100, which doesn't go very far after paying all oftheir various fixed and variable expenses.

From a producers standpoint, I've conducted castings where there wasn't even enough time to here all of the 30 or 40 auditions, which makes me wonder who or what is listening to these 500 - 1,000 people.