Random Thoughts for Newbies

[Scott Pollak]

I may actually have been the one who asked Connie to post that everywhere a 'newbie' was likely to wander and I'm so glad you did here, Connie. Thanks so much. GREAT stuff!

[Morningstar]

I just love this post (meaning the very first one) Scott, thanks for sharing.
Claire

[Titanium Tone]

I'm new to the business too and I personally DON'T CARE how difficult it is or about the ones who fail, they aren't me. I'm too busy thinking about the jobs I WILL be getting and not worrying about the people who won't work. I'm not getting into this business to fail and I don't take it lightly and everyone else who's in it needs to think the same way. I'm also not focused on how much money I'll make, I'm focused on being the best voice actor I can be for ME, the rest is just the fruits of the labor that come with the hard work determination. I will ALWAYS practice and take classes not because it's what they tell me to do in class but because I LOVE what I do. I have been doing this in one way or another since I was seven and I have no intentions of stopping now. This is only the begining.

[MarkCSmith]

Was referred to this thread off my first post, great info, thanks!

[kiwiborn]

There are some very good points in this thread.

[paulstrikwerda]

My blog entry "Busting 5 voice-over myths" deals with the same issues.

This discussion reminds me of the time I started my own training business in The Netherlands. When people saw me teach a seminar, they thought that this was all I did. The truth was that the actual teaching only took up 15% of the time.

Running one's own business includes many aspects that are less than glamorous. People forget about the time spent keeping the books, doing countless auditions, constant self-promotion, investing in equipment and trainings, memberships of voice-over sites.... and the money spent on health insurance, car insurance, rent/mortgage, basic needs etcetera, etcetera.

Some people are attracted to our line of work because they believe it's "easy money". After all, what could be simpler than talking into a microphone, promoting products? Almost 40% of professional voice-overs makes less than $25,000 per year, even after having been in the business for 10-25 years. Over a quarter make less than $10,000 per year (see my blog). That means they're not even making minimum wage. So, if you're new to this business, you better have a partner who's supporting you, or a nest egg you can use, or you have to find a steady job to make ends meet.

In Harlan Hogan’s “Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor”, Harlan quotes Dick Moore of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFTRA. Moore says that of the eighty thousand members the union represents, no more than a hundred people do most of the voice work.

So, if you're thinking of becoming a professional voice-over, think again. Just because others say you have a nice voice, doesn't mean you're ready for the Metropolitan Opera. Just because you take nice snapshots, doesn't mean your pictures are ready for National Geographic.

It's great to dream. It's fantastic to pursue your heart's desire. And it's also a lot of hard work, sometimes for 18 hours a day.

As they say: it can take many, many years to become on overnight sensation!

[Scott Pollak]

Paul,

Excellent article. I saw a few comments in there that looked very familiar to what I wrote, so at least we're on the same wavelength.

I'd LOVE to post a link to that blog on the Voice123 forums, but I'd bet they wouldn't leave it up there since it tells such stark truths about the industry AND mentions competitors' names.

[paulstrikwerda]

Mike Gomez of voice123 told me the following:

"We have around 4,000 active Premium subscribers on the site and these are the stats we keep regarding hirings:

50% - book at least 1 a month
30% book between 1 & 5 a month
20% book more than 5 a month"

Of course there's no way to independently verify these numbers. It's easy to understand why pay-to-play sites paint a rosy picture of the possibilities and potential of the industry. They need subscribers to grow, and painting a grim picture of voice-over land is not going to get "desperate hopefuls" to sign up for their service.

No matter what we do, write or say, there will always impressionable people who are ready to open their wallets and wait for the magic to happen. Charles Darwin already knew that only the fittest will survive. These days, it's the "survival of the smartest". But you know what? People have a right to stay uneducated and ill-informed. Wasn't Louis Armstrong the first man to walk on the moon?

[JoeActor]

Originally Posted by paulstrikwerda

Mike Gomez of voice123 told me the following:
"We have around 4,000 active Premium subscribers on the site and these are the stats we keep regarding hirings:
50% - book at least 1 a month
30% book between 1 & 5 a month
20% book more than 5 a month"
Of course there's no way to independently verify these numbers.

Actually Paul, I can verify them quite easily. Not only are they improbable, they're impossible.

Let me elaborate:

1) They can't tell who really books a job - the information is not in their system.

2) I'm a premium member - I don't book 1 per month. According to this, 100% of their 4,000 premium members book at least 1 job per month.

3) The worst? These "statistics" just don't add up:
50% book 1/month (50% X 4,000 = 2,000 X 1 job = 2,000 jobs)
30% book 1-5/month (30% X 4,000 = 1,200 X 2 jobs = 2,400 jobs)
20% book > 5/month (20% X 4,000 = 800 X 6 jobs = 4,800 jobs)
Total jobs booked per month = 9,200 jobs
... which is really interesting since the average total jobs posted per month this year is less than 950:
•January(803)
•February(845)
•March(1023)
•April(982)
•May(933)
•June(1076)
•July(945)

Gee, they're only off by 90% or so!

Ok, to be fair, let's give them a larger benefit of the doubt.
Let's say they meant the following instead:
50% don't book any jobs - out of the remaining 50% that do book:
30% book 1-5/month (30% X 4,000 = 1,200 X 1 job = 1,200 jobs)
20% book > 5/month (20% X 4,000 = 800 X 6 jobs = 4,800 jobs)

That's still 6,000 jobs booked per month... just a tad short of the 950 jobs posted per month, no?

And that's not even taking into account the jobs that never see the light of day, ones that pay squat, or don't pay at all.

I wanna say that I've seen it all from V123, but they never cease to amaze me.

Shaving Cream,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio
SoundsGoodToYou.com - Joe J Thomas - Voice Actor

[ChrisMezzolesta]

FWIW, I keep pointing Craiglist posters here who post like "Hi, I'm a new voice talent and I'll work for you for free to get some experience!"...I feel it's my duty as a pro VO to keep the record as straight as possible in regard to the realities of the newbie end of things and the potential pitfalls...the old "copy and credit" syndrome. Couple the "do you really have what it takes" with the "don't ever give it away and give hirers the idea that they can keep getting it for free".......Glad this thread is up here.