Another Forum Question

[Bob Bergen]

Originally Posted by jason216

Although I can't say I've never done freebies...I think everyone here has...and I'm sure I'll do them again...I think which freebies you choose to do is the real crux. I'm not sure that just because you got a "pop-up" that that is a sign from above...and I haven't researched the site..and it really doesn't matter...but if you think that will benifit your career..go for it...

As far as hurting the industry...I'm sure it hurts in some ways, but with the pleathora of clients wanting.."conversational" voices...I'm sure they can get there fill at the free voice over mart...or just ask their uncle Fred do it for them..he's usually cheap...when sober...LOL

OK, enough sarcasm...There are a lot of ways to practice and get resume material for demos. Bergan had a great thing to say about demos...and I'm way paraphrasing here...but the jist was...you don't have to put on your demos things you've gotten paid for just because someone paid you to do it...put on your demos what you are "capable" of doing...as you grow and get higher quality work, replace the ones you have...a demo is a constant work in progress if your growing...

So if you don't have a lot of work to put on a demo...keep your demo short, and put the best sh*t you got on it...it'll grow

Live long and....
Jason

OOOOO-so close, Jason! ;-)

Basically, what you put on your demo is brilliance. If you do gig that isn't brilliant, for whatever reason (sometimes the mix sucks, sometimes you do) it doesn't go on the demo. You have one minute (and honestly, you'll really only get about a 4 second listen from most) to "wow' the listener. I probably critique about 20 demos a week from folks who get very defensive with, "But those are real spots! I got paid for those!" Well, so did Dustin Hoffman for Ishtar, but it was still a crappy movie!

So don't put on the demo what you are capable of, but rather what you are brilliant at! And as time goes on you will replace the bogus spots made solely for the demo and replace them with those brilliant real spots you got paid for.

[Jodi Krangle]

Very good advice, Bob. Definitely something I will take note of. :)

[jsgilbert]

There is a big difference between "freebies" and pro bono. Reading newspapers for the blind or even providing your skills as a voice actor for a Public Service Announcement or for an Art Student's project is a way of giving back and staying connected. I wouldn''t consider it practice. If I choose to do a voiceover for the Aids Walk or Breast Cancer, it will be the best performance I can give and I will spend as long as I need to make sure that it is. It is part of being a professional.

I have never done "freebies" nor would I consider it. Consider yourself as a professional. There are tons of producers and would-be producers that troll the internet, Craig's list and/or may be found lifting up rocks to see what crawls out from underneath. They pay nothing or next-to-nothing and often come weilding the largest contracts of all. They underbid projects and then must find talent willing to work for free, so that they may profit. We are in business. They are in business. There are costs of doing business, such as taking acting classes or buying a microphone. The hiring of talent is a COST that must be incurred. It is the obligation of someone who produces to pay for talent.

As for the carrot dangle of "We have no budget now, but if you help us out and do this for free now, we'll definitely remember that when we have money to pay a talent."

This is absolutely true. They will remember that you worked for free and since they could get you for free and they now have money, why in God's name would they hire someone who works for free and pay them? They will go hire someone who doesn't work for free.

Many professionals do pro bono work, but very few do free work. There is a difference and a distinction.

[Jodi Krangle]

Also very good advice. Thanks, J.S.

[TomConklin]

Thanks very much folks for all the great advice. I have decided that I am not going to do the Radiodaddy stuff. Besides what you guys have said, it just doesn't feel right - and that's good enough for me. And- Jason I presume your talking about Bob Bergen. He has helped me plenty. He answered some questions for me today. He's very savvy about this business and seems to be a very nice guy too.

[TomConklin]

Wow... Bob! How funny is this. I sent you an email today and you replied right back - and I didn't notice your post here. Small world huh. If responded to Jason and made a mention of how helpful you were to me today. In case you see it, I wasn't trying for brownie point. I meant it. Thanks!

[jason216]

Tom,

Yea I was refering to Mr. Bergen. (I spelled it right this time Bob) Although he and I haven't formally met...and we shall do that soon. He has provided a wealth of info here, and I take almost all of it to heart...I do wanna joust with him however...just waiting on the right moment..I'm sure he's got a sense of humor..I mean after all...he's tha tha tha thats all folks...Ya gotta love that

Keep at it Tom...this business is extremely subjective, and you never know what clients are looking for, or when they get that eureka moment and say,"...hey that's the voice we want..that's the guy..." that should give us all hope...always remember...if they are looking for Pee Wee Herman and James Earl Jones shows up...they send him home. Welcome to the acting biz...

Jason

[TomConklin]

I like the Pee Wee/James Earl Jones example. That puts it in perspective.

[jsgilbert]

If they're looking for Pee Wee Herman and you're the "James Earl Jones" and the audition was posted online, then I'd say walk away. But if they're asking for Pee wee and your agent sends you the audition, then it's simply your job on the audition to convince them that "James Earl Jones" as you perceive it and relate it to your acting and the copy, is the better fit.

This is part of the difference between what a trained professional does and someone who merely tosses spaggetti against the wall to see what sticks.

Everytime you see or hear something different, consider that the original call was for something else and that person who booked the job was able to convince the person doing the hiring to hire them.

[Julie Williams]

I do some work for free... for friends, and great organizations I believe in, and for a high school or college student who may need a short VO...

BUT... if someone pulls the "Do it for free this time... or do it for less and I'll give you a lot of work" I say, "Give me a lot of work and then we'll talk about quantity discounts AFTER we reach that level." Inevitably, the person who wants you to do it for less because they'll bring you a lot of work,
1) Always expects you to work for nothing. In other words, they don't value your service.
2) Has a different idea of what "a lot of work" is than I do!

Of course, there are the regulars I voice free for... like the Reader's Digest Podcasts for the Blind I do monthly (with the help of a lot of other great talent--THANK YOU!) for AIRSLA in Los Angeles.