Some nice voice seeker feedback and gratifying emails too

Bettye Zoller

Just want to share with you all that I'm quite pleased that maybe, just maybe, the voice seekers on this board are becoming kinder and gentler? Well, anyhoo, I've received about six really nice emails from voice seekers who did NOT hire me saying that altho they chose another, they wanted to tell me they knew I was a pro and would keep me in mind for the future and thank you etc. Nice. And I recvd. two emails recently from voice seekers saying that they do not "rate auditions on 123 because they are a busy advertising agency and no time to rate people...but wanted to say to me that they appreciated my audition and time." I'm wowed. This is a first and I joined 123 back in 2003!! And I'm getting the majority of my auditions OPENED now and when the new smartcast started this was not the case. And I'm getting more ratings and good ones too. I suspect Voice123 has been really really trying to educate their voice seekers. I say this because I HAVE NOT CHANGEd but the seekers have! Keep up the good work.

Allison Scussel · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007, 05:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank you for the words of encouragement Bettye! You're story is an uplifting read for many of us. I've only been with V123 for the past 6 months, and don't have the experience you do.
Thank you for sharing this info!
I've had a couple of private leads respond by saying "we like you, but we'll consider you later". Your testimony is encouraging.

Bettye Zoller

Yesterday, a conversation with one of my voiceover students for whom I had made a demo prompted me to tell you all of this observation: She said she often deletes auditions without doing them when over 15 or so have already auditioned. She said she "knows that she would not be listened to." I asked why. She said she believes only the first few auditioners are heard by the voice seeker. THIS IS UNTRUE. I know from speaking with many producers and major advertising agency creatives nationwide over the years that the process with most is this: They quickly take a listen to a tiny portion of an audition (or CD demo) and if interested they then mark it to return to later as a "finalist" or to put it in the stack of "good reads." The reads that, for whatever reason, do not "hit the mark" are discarded without hearing them in entireity. Of course, once a voice seeker has chosen his voice, obviously he would delete the rest of the auditioners UNLESS he keeps voice auditions, as some do, to refer to at later dates when seeking voices for other projects. Just because you do not win an audition means nothing. You have been HEARD and just maybe that person will remember and use you later or contact you privately later for other work. Remember: In this business, acting, you have to be heard ... you have to play to win!!!! Look past the immediate money if you're planning this as a business. Words to the wise from a veteran of 36 years as a voice talent and coach and audio engineer. Voice 123 is a wonderful site. Use it. Good luck!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007, 01:03 (GMT) Post subject:

Very true, Bettye. I got a call about a month ago from a client who had posted a lead more than 6 months ago here on V123. I auditioned for that lead and heard nothing back because I wasn't chosen for that particular job. But 6 months down the road that client had a request come up that he thought my voice would be a good fit for and he called me out of the blue. So far I've voiced 2 local spots for HIS new client with hopefully more to come. So yes, submit... you just never know.

Bettye Zoller

Just in case you didn't read my post on another part of this forum, I'm also very pleased that 123 is getting me higher paying auditions and that's great. Also, just in the past five days, I've received about six private messages from voice seekers asking me to please "add a line on the end so they can play it for the client" or "can I do the front faster so client can hear to time." And I know they can't use without paying me because I always carefully do something that means they cannot use it. I don't use watermarks either...I just leave out a word or say different firm name etc. Of course, sometimes I don't have to do this because I know the voice seeker to be legit but if I don't know them or they are in foreign country etc I'm a bit more careful. Words to the Wise...but all in all, it's been a very good week for me on 123 and I feel I'm making new good client contacts too for the future!

Frank Cabanski · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007, 08:50 (GMT) Post subject:

I've recently received similar emails, some glowing about the custom demo and my "amazing talent," but no jobs.

Bettye Zoller

I continue to receive voice seeker requests to do another take or to send it to them at a higher kbps rate etc. I am still in the running for a $1000 job and $600 job so keep the faith. I have "dry spells" on 123 with no jobs from it too...but of course it's only one of my job sources. I have agents in six states and have my own business in my recording studio. I continually remind my students and clients that you must think of website job centers as an "addition" to your career and not your "entire career." You must have the advertising agency jobs, the nationals that pay residuals, in order to make serious money. Union jobs too. Keep this in mind.

Hannibal Brown · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007, 03:59 (GMT) Post subject: Rewards

My biggest reward in a mail is when the customer tells me ¨We have chose you to do the job¨ besides that... nahhh
My biggest encouragement are jobs, those are the best prizes I can get.

Hannibal

http://hbvoices.tripod.com

Gaston Taillefer · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007, 16:13 (GMT) Post subject:

I cannot what think of voice123... before become a premium member, I received several projects per week and since I am premium registered I received only 2 projects....
I sent 2 demonstrations more than one week ago and none was listened Evil or Very Mad