John Wants A Deno...Is It Spam?

[billelder]

I get an E-mail from a guy named John and wants me to read a full 2 minute demo and maybe later put music under it. Second, he did not address me by name. And, no last name for the guy and a gmail e-mail. Looks fishy to me.

Good Morning,

I was just wondering if you do free demos? we are trying to find a suitable voice and i was hoping you could demo of the small bit below, The full script is about 2 pages but i have only sent a small bit below would you be able to record the entire portion below as i need to see how the voice flows with it...... I was also wondering if you can back it with some music so i can see how it sounds with the music.

Please understand this will not be used for anything apart from the demo, If you suit us we will contact you with the full script and discuss payments. It would be used for a small video clip to go on a tv program documentary.

Feel free to make any modifications...... Can you get this demo done asap as we would like to get this finalised asap..

Regards,
John
Production Manager

[ScottLarson]

Looks like a phish for your services. I would pass, several typos in the pitch, and it looks like it came from the UK, simply from the phrasing of the request. If you do a demo, I would make it less than what he wants perhaps skipping over an entire sentance or two, acutally, I would just do the first and last sentences of the script, if they like your voice, they like it. Just my 2 cents worth
Scott

[Julie Williams]

I would do it... but I would do
1) NO production on it... send mp3 only
2) Cut only 1/2 of the script
3) Change names or numbers in the script and skip random sentences.

Then... when you bid, tell him that you require payment in advance before doing final job.
BTW... if it is legit and he wants prod on the demo, charge him more for it.

If he insists on music behind your demo, request a studio time charge in advance.

I don't know what someone would have go gain by PHishing for info on your services. Worst I can see is maybe he wants a free VO from you...so if you change pertinent info...then that's enough to not allow him to take advantage of you.

[voicy1stef]

Good advice Julie. It does look a litle dodgy doesn't it. It just doesn't sound 100% kosher!

[billelder]

Great advice. Thanks! The first tip-off is that my name isn't used in the greeting. Their last name isn't either. It's my experience that these proposals usually end in more problems than they're worth. I think I'm past their time limit when the "sap" has gone out of their "asap."

[bobbin beam]

I agree wholeheartedly with everyone's take on this.