Online Auditions - how many's too many?

[roger]

You're all stars and all pros or I wouldn't have bothered asking the question of this august group.
Thanks for your diverse and well thought out responses.
It's always a learning experience and I need to hear all takes on the matter.
-roger

[BobbyH]

Originally Posted by Lizden

when I went the online route of Voices & V123 I was auditioning, doing custom demos EVERY DAY....I lost count after about 500 demos with no gigs

Hi Liz,

You are an exceptional talent and have successfully navigated your way into a career. Congrats! Please do not take the following as a direct attack at you. You only provided an example to use, so I can address the masses:

I feel the route stated above should not be recommended at all to anyone starting out in VO. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a producer to find the talent required for a job, because of the hundreds/thousands of "talent" following that path. Think of the man hours ($$$$) lost due to the fact a producer has to sift through people sending in a "practice" read. Talent need to practice on their own time and their own dime.

If you, the reader, is just starting out, please follow this path:

1. Develop as a talent. (Take acting classes, vo workshops, etc.)
2. Buy professional gear. (Not the Guitar Center special of the month.)
3. Get a professional demo.
4. Begin marketing. This includes the online casting sites and signing with an agent.

If a person wishing to make a real go at VO does not follow these steps in this order; they will most likely fail in their quest. This is a business, not a pipe-dream.

[Lynn Benson]

So BobbyH ... as a new dude and a guy that is going to make a strong go at this when I am ready ... WHAT GEAR?

[Lizden]

Originally Posted by BobbyH

If you, the reader, is just starting out, please follow this path:
1. Develop as a talent. (Take acting classes, vo workshops, etc.)
2. Buy professional gear. (Not the Guitar Center special of the month.)
3. Get a professional demo.
4. Begin marketing. This includes the online casting sites and signing with an agent.

Hey Bobby!
No offense taken whatsoever! I'm in a constant state of "what can I do to improve" so I thank you for the compliment.

I TOTALLY agree with your 4 step plan. I was already just past your #3 when I started with the Online marketplaces. (By the way I STILL take classes & workshops whenever I can). I was already doing paying gigs from my own contacts...it just seemed like the online stuff took a while to kick-in...I was just using that example so as not to discourage Roger from keeping at it. Hey, If I can do it....

I don't think anyone should go to the online marketplaces until they are able to record from a clean/quiet home studio set-up. I didn't until I had my gear set-up & tested & approved by several clients who I had previously been going on-site to.

It's all a process...The online marketplaces are just one piece of the marketing puzzle, but for me they will remain so as long as I keep getting gigs.

In terms of an agent...well...even if you do have an agent (I do have one in a market outside my local area) you still need to keep hustling. You can't just sit back & wait for the agent to get you work....hmmmm wouldn't THAT be nice!

You're right this IS a buisness, and I'm SO glad to be a part of it!
Keep on keepin' on!

Peace!

Liz

[connieterwilliger]

If you, the reader, is just starting out, please follow this path:
1. Develop as a talent. (Take acting classes, vo workshops, etc.)
2. Buy professional gear. (Not the Guitar Center special of the month.)
3. Get a professional demo.
4. Begin marketing. This includes the online casting sites and signing with an agent.

This is a good list - in my talk on Self-Evaluation at VOICE 2007, I broke it down to 4 key areas which tie 3 and 4 above together and add the element of general business requirements. But the order here is what is important - so many people make the demo first - before they are ready to start marketing, before they have the ability to do a professional recording.

Talent, Technology, Marketing, Business

1. Develop as a talent and know the idustry, where you fit and your competition. (Classes, research, listening, self-evaluation)
2. Know the technology required to deliver professional quality material. (Do you need the bare basics, or do you need a Whisper Room and ISDN?)
3. Have a marketing plan in place which includes developing a great demo and a database of contacts. (Don't do the demo until you know what you have to sell and who might want to buy it.)
4. Understand the business aspects of this business and if you have what it takes to survive and thrive. (Bidding, contracts, invoices, follow up, wondering when the next job will come...)

Something that has been added to the responsibilities of today's voice talent with a home studio is that now we have to be able to live up to our professionally produced demos (and if you want to compete against the best, you will likely need a professionally done demo.) That means before you start marketing your demo, you need to know that your "studio" is acoustically sound, that you know how to use a professional audio recording software, and that you have a professional grade mic.

Yes, these boards are great to ask for some help in an emergency, but if someone asks how to save an MP3 file, then it is pretty clear that this person has flip flopped some of the steps.

[Lizden]

Connie ROCKS!!!!
Her Self Evaluation talk was awesome!

L.

[BobbyH]

Originally Posted by connieterwilliger

research

The one word I forgot to mention, and probably the most important.

Did you know more people will do online research about purchasing a toaster, than they do before purchasing a house? This is probably the biggest purchase a person will make in their lifetime. But, for some reason , they do not look up current home sale values in the neighborhood they are looking to move into in order to make comparisons; they do not research the taxes that might be involved; they do not hire a lawyer to look over the mortgage contract, so they don't get caught in a predatory lending scam. Amazing...a few simple steps taken before jumping in head first can save someone a ton of money and gain them piece of mind.

For the beginner: Before you make a life changing decision and put a dime into starting your voice-over career, do some research:

• Who are the top agents and managers; and why are they on top? Who are the talent they represent and why?
• Can you name the majority of the top talent in the VO niche you are currently pursuing? Can you name them after hearing them in a spot, show or promo? How did they get there?
• What gear are the top talent using and why?
• The business, believe it or not, also involves people who are not agents or talent. How are you keeping up with advertising and entertainment industry news?
• What has your accountant suggested is the best way to set up your business?

To put all of this another way: If you are passionate about doing this for a living, you should already know the answers to the questions I have asked or are heading to Google, right now.

[Lizden]

Oh, Man, I LOVE this thread!
Right On, Bobby!

Let's see...it's 10:34 ET on a Sunday night and yep...I'm, lookin' to see what's going on!

I am propably a bit more obsessive than some when it comes to being on line (the terms "get a life" and "are you EVER offline" have been used more than once in my regard! ;-) but I really AM truly passionate about this business, and I pretty much always have it on my mind.

Yes, I annoy my husband a bit when I tell him NOT to mute TV spots 'cause I want to hear who's voicing it...."name that voice" is daily game in ths house....I have Google Alerts set to key words....I'm always looking for the next workshop/class....all while caring for my 90 year old wheelchair bound mom...so it's not like I don't have responsibilities...but I TRULY love my job and yes Bobby, I know the answers to most of the questions you asked....not all, but I'm workin' on 'em! ;-)

Actually the questions that you & Connie asked made me feel pretty good about the progress I'm making. Let's be frank. I am NOT making a million bucks as a Voice talent. But I am making - as a friend so aptly puts it - a living wage, that I have concrete plans on increasing as the months & years go by. I am ALWAYS looking ahead at those of you that are further along on the path than I am...I have so much to learn, and I'm loving every minute of it.....I have had wonderful people support me on my VO journey so far, and I hope to be able to turn around and lend a helping hand to someone coming up the path behind me.

OK...I need to cut back on the caffeine & stop munching on these great chocolates that a wonderful friend from Scotland just sent me ;-)

Peace!

Liz

[Jodi Krangle]

What a fantastic thread. :) I've really learned a lot reading all this. And actually, I do also know quite a few of the answers to those questions you asked, Bobby. :) I have a bit of an advantage though in that I've been doing Internet Marketing for many years (about 12 - and I SO am with you about "always being online", Liz. ) and have been working on my own either telecommuting or simply self-employed for the last 10+ years. This has give me a bit of a background in how to start a new business - at least on a personal, sole-proprietor level.

Oh - and I just landed a job on Voices.com where the fellow chose me (for the initial audition, at least) because he liked my *last name*. <laugh> Hell - I'll take it! I still had to audition and got the job despite competition (woohoo!) But don't get discouraged. You can land a job for any NUMBER of reasons - some of them actually kind of silly.

All the best,

--Jodi

[Lizden]

YAY! Jodi! Congrats!
A gig is a gig, no matter how you get it!

Peace!

L.