Online Auditions - how many's too many?

[Joe Rodriguez]

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then your courage should appear. For if you will just persevere, you will conquer, never fear; just try, try again."
~ McGuffey's Reader

[Lizden]

Nice reminder, Joe! :-)

Liz

[Julie Williams]

Ok My two cents... oh wait... I don't work for "bottom feeder" wages!

Anyway... as a coach... (and I promise I'm not in coaching to gouge students of their money!!!!! But what we teach does have value and should be paid for) If you've done 3000 auditions and haven't landed job one, I do think that's an indication that you need to change your approach.

Why not post one of your auditions here? Let us hear it? There are a number of seasoned talent on this thread...and coaches as well...

But, even if it sounds self-serving, I have to say... have you had any training at all? If you've had lots of training and practice, and are not getting any work... then consider if you want to continue. If you haven't had any good training, and you're not gettng any work... you should find a good coach and get some training! (Or quit, if you want to) You can't expect to just jump into the biz with no training and compete with the best...

And in this biz... even beginners are competing with those with years of experience! You don't compete at "beginner level." You compete for real jobs in the real world.

[bobbin beam]

Hi Guys and Gals,
Roger, you are probably not alone. I don't teach and I am actually making a living at this business, and I am thankful for every job. The online Voice Malls should only be a small proportional component in your business plan. Don't bank on those to be your sole source of leads. And it is very crowded with formidable talent, and a lot of new people. There is a lot to do, and keep doing if you're going to get anywhere. My suggestion would be to keep training and keep trying. Stay committed and focused.

[roger]

Thanks Bobbin, Julie and many others,
An incredible volume of advice and encouragement. You're all really teachers whether you realize it or not and certainly examples to those of just starting.
I certainly never expected the P to P sites to be a great source of work, but I was mostly wanting to know other's experience with them.
I know training is the first and most important consideration when starting in this vocation. It's just not financially feasible for me right now to get (and pay for) coaching, attend workshops or even attend acting classes. So for now, lots of practicing, researching, listening, imitating and the like until resources are available. Oh, and plenty of knowledge to be gleaned from this and other forums.
I'm not discouraged and I will succeed.
Thanks guys and gals.-roger

[Lizden]

Originally Posted by roger

I'm not discouraged and I will succeed.

THAT'S the spirit!!!!!

Peace!

Liz

[Julie Williams]

Excellent info, everyone!
Thank you for posting. It's people like you who keep this forum great! :)

[Dick Rodstein]

It's never been easier to get one VO job, and never been harder to make a living at it.

I think you should enter voiceovers with the idea that if you're lucky, it'll be a source of supplemental income and whatever warm and fuzzy feelings that might generate.

However, the days when VOs were a license to print money are long gone. One good TV pharmaceutical account could run 7 years and you could buy two houses and a Cessna with that.

I never quite managed to make that dream come true, but I did take my wife to Europe twice in one year on one product's Xmas tags, all 43 of them ("Available at...."). Not any more. Not for a long time. That's over.

In fact, there came a time when a lot of friendly competitors were trying to sell me their second homes and used planes. That's when we all knew the tide was going out.

The fact that we're here spouting on this forum points to one of several reasons why. Today, the Net makes voiceovers possible FROM anywhere FOR anywhere, but when voices.com has around 1500 members and voice123 has over 3500, you will get lost in the shuffle.

Doesn't matter how good you are, or how much you've sprung for equipment or self-promotion or website optimization or whatever.

Dartboards, monkeys/typewriters, use your own image, but unless you land a juicy cable promo contract, don't quit your day job. In fact, try not to daydream about it.

When I started in NY back in the Pleistocene, when there was more than enough work for everybody and we all waited our turn, I was told that it would take five years to fully support myself as a VO. (I managed to do it in three, but that was plain dumb luck.) I can't imagine how long it might take a newbie to get fully self-supporting now, or if it's even possible any more.

It's like winning the lottery. Somebody always does, but it's never you.

What was once a viable occupation is now more likely to be a side business. Don't torture yourself with unrealistic expectations.

Dick

[JoeActor]

Hello Dick - welcome to the forum.

If you have a chance, please post an introduction in the Welcome area so we know a bit more about your experience and goals. Sounds like you've been at the biz for a while and have a lot of great info to impart.

I gotta say, you've bested J.S. for the "Harsh Reality" prize. In my opinion, it's still an achievable goal to make a living at VO. But it's no joy ride, and it takes a lot of hard work and skill (VO and Business).

Hope to hear more from you - cheers,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio