Voices.Com - Voice123 - Three Questions

[karen]

Aloha, everyone!

I have a couple of questions about the talent sites.

1. I've noticed that my demos sound different on Voices.com (deeper, slower) than when linked to from my personal site and downloaded. It's not a bad sound, but it isn't truly what I sound like, so a client (I will get one, I will!) could feel mislead in booking me. Has that happened to anyone else?

2. Do you have a pay cut-off on which jobs you'll submit custom auditions for and which you won't? I mean the $25 gig at Voice123 that wants a custom audition seems a bit ludicrous ... And on a related note ...

3. How much does it hurt to submit your demos if a script "is provided for audition purposes" on Voices.com but the client doesn't necessarily say, "I prefer a custom audition"? Part of me knows I'm being a bit of a slacker here, but shoot, I paid good money for those demos and circumstances make doing custom auditions a bit difficult for now ... So I'm trying to gauge just how much of a slacker I'm being :-)

As always, I thank you for your time and input!

Karen

[Lizden]

Hi Karen!

1. No, I haven't had my demos sound any different on Voices. If the sound is REALLY different it, may be a conversion/sample rate issue. I think they down sample the demos. Just call them up & explain your concern, they're REALLY responsive & I'm sure they'll help you figure out what the deal is.

2. I do, but that is a TOTALLY personal business decision you have to make in terms of what your time is worth and whether you can give a good custom demo that had a good chance of landing you the gig.

3. Yeah, on Voices it is a bit different than on V123 where they explicitly TELL you whether they do or do not want a custom demo. That said, if they provide a portion of the script, there's a good chance that they'd like a custom demo. If you feel that your demos are in line with the type of script that is given (This applies mostly to telephony stuff I find) then you can probably get away with sending your demos....just keep in mind that another talent may well have given them a custom demo which will give the client a better idea of what that talent sounds like saying their words....Again, personal decision....On Voices you usually have more time than on V123 to submit, so if you feel there's a lead you'd like to audition for, I'd provide a custom demo as soon as circumstances permit.

About that fact that you "paid good money" for your demos...yeah I can understand that you want to have people listen to them and appreciate them, but on these sites, the clients mostly want to hear how you interpret THEIR words. A demo is just part of your marketing package...on these sites, you usually need to give the potential clients what they want, not necessarily what you want them to want (in this case your demos)...and so we're back to your #2....what's the budget cut-off and what's your time worth!

Wow...all this before my first cup of coffee!

Just my $0.02

Peace!

Liz

[thatvoice]

Karen you need to make sure your demos are set at 44.1...I had the same thing (slow playing) because I had somehow saved my files at 48k.

[karen]

thank you both so much!

-karen

[Robert Jadah]

The answer to all three questions, Karen, is:

It doesn't matter.

(Send in your very best read. Then forget it.)

Truthfully Yours,

[Lizden]

Yep, Robert...that'll work too!

Liz

[karen]

Yes, yes ... the Zen of voice acting ... I get it and will apply!

And, by Jove, I've fixed my demos on Voices.Com. Thanks again everyone!