Am I screwed?

Seth Adam Sher · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 56

As was pointed out in another topic, one of the best ways to get ahead in the game is to be on top of each and every lead that comes to you and respond to the leads as quickly as you can. Anthony Reese pointed out that "Castings come in by the minute and most respond within an hour. You do NOT want to be number 249 out of 250 replies as word is the list builds top to bottom"

Unfortunately I have a day job, monday-friday 8:30am to 5:30pm, with some overtime here and there. While I may be able to respond to certain leads that come in between these hours - the ones not needing a custom demo - there is NO WAY I would be able to respond to any other lead until after work hours, and by that time at least 150 people have already responded to the ad.

My question, of course, echoes the subject line. Am I screwed? I need the day job to keep a roof over my head, food on the table, finances to support my voice acting, but is it in direct odds with me getting gigs via v123? Or do I still have a chance?

I've been with v123 since mid-last year and have not received ANY paid gigs to this point.

I'm wondering if it's worth it to continue here. I'd like to believe it's worth it, but sometimes it's hard to tell.

Advice from one and all is appreciated.

Thanks, guys.

Alan Simmons · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 220

Seth,

I know where you're coming from. I'm doing this part time as well. Trying to squeeze in auditions (and not be #683) between work and home responsibilities is difficult. I've been getting up a little earlier in the mornings to do auditions. My voice even sounds a little better first thing in the morning. This may or may not work for you, depending on your work schedule, but it's something to consider. Good luck!

~Alan

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

This has been brought up several times on the forum...a lot of people are in the same boat.

But if you wnat ot be successful in this, voice123 can NOT be your only avenue. You have to be marketing yourself several ways, with voice123 being a small part.

Seth Adam Sher · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 56

Thanks, Scott. Smile

It's not my only venue - local papers, my agency, ads I've responded to on Craigslist, cold calling, other sites - but this was tailored to v123 specifically.

It may also be me just wanting to get things going and having to deal with my own impatience where gigs are involved. "I wanna work NOW!" my brain screams. Even over the work I ALREADY do online at Pendant Audio and Darker Projects, and with local Bay Area groups like The One Act Players and Shoestring Radio Theatre, and with those groups I do a LOT.

I just want more.

Greed, as the film said, is good! Twisted Evil

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007, 15:01 (GMT) Post subject:

Hello Seth,

It is difficult to answer you inquiry from one point of view. Some clients take the time and listen to all the demos they receive, some just choose a few to listen, etc.

One of the good things coming with the Version 2.0 is that the client will be able to specify how many demos they want to review and the same amount of talents will be contacted, this way we ensure that timing does not seem like a crucial factor or advantage.

Brian Hart · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 326

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007, 15:21 (GMT) Post subject:

Not really Brian,

It is just one of the little pieces of information we can release about the Version 2.0 and SmartCast, the main idea with all this updates will be to bring a much better and improved service to all of you.

Here´s a short introductory video: http://voice123.com/uploads/intro/introtl_doc.html

Brian Hart · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 326

Philip Banks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 404

We'll still get nothing but in a new, improved, 2.0 kinda way. Clients who pay nothing will get even more ways to help them for their free of charge service and the poor $195 a year suckers will be expected to put up with it.

Did I miss anything? Very Happy

Seth Adam Sher · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 56

Brian Hart · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 326

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007, 16:15 (GMT) Post subject:

The main idea is to make the site more professional and bring better things for the community. Voice123 has been working on the development of the V2.0 and new tools for about a year now.

Brian Hart · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 326

Frank Cabanski · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 87

I'm waiting too. It seems as if, with the new system, newbies like me won't even get to see many leads.

voices-com already took my money in return for a service that wouldn't play back the demos/responses I made. Six months later they responded, claiming they had responded to earlier calls and emails asking for help. They refunded only half the fee, meaning I paid $100 for six months of a non-functional service.

Last year I responded to thousands of leads on V123, and received a few small jobs. I'm working on a phone training/coaching, a demo, an agent, etc.

My experience last year with V123 was positive, and I feel worth the money. voices-com has been a complete waste. I'll wait to see how this new 2.0 works before spending any more money on an online system.

Cameron Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 479