Pissed

[Diane Maggipinto]

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]

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]

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]

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

[todd ellis]

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

[Colin Campbell]

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]

Originally Posted by avitoots

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]

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]

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]

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