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Bobbie West
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 37
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 Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008, 01:24 (GMT) Post subject: wierdness abounds!!! |
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hey everyone,
I'm in the middle of a crap throwing fest over this topic in a related forum ( I recommend you read the %#*@! ) but let me have any interested party memorize this for the test at the end of the semester.
A SPEC SPOT IS NOT A FREE READ. It's a bet on the come. Do These!
A FREE READ IS A FREE READ. For newbies or as a favor. No pro should do these more than once in a while. And certainly don't let anyone know you that you'll do it for dinner or you'll have every skank producer sending you flowers!
It's as simple as that. 
God, I love my work! |
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Bobbie West
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008, 01:34 (GMT) Post subject: here's a good one |
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I 'm in a crap throwing fest over in a related forum. If you haven't been there yet, check out :
http://voiceoversavvy.com/ftopic4509.html
to see how the other half lives.
PS note to Scott P: hi old buddy! Been a while. I moved twice, got sued, got married, and smashed my hip. ( in that order) Busy busy!
"This is a little saying" |
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Dan Popp
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008, 18:10 (GMT) Post subject: Bet with the client, not against him |
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The way I look at this is that the person asking you to work on spec is asking you to place a bet for him. He is the one with the vision for the project, and the knowledge of the project. Shouldn't we expect him to put his money where his mouth is (or where your mouth is)? If this is such a sure thing, why doesn't he pay you up front, betting his own money that it will come through? No, he wants you to take that risk for him. My response to that is, "No, thanks.".
In order for something like this to be tempting to me, I would have to get more than my usual rate if it came through, or "points" or some other reward for sharing the risk. |
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Bobbie West
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008, 20:44 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Post subject: Bet with the client, not against him
The way I look at this is that the person asking you to work on spec is asking you to place a bet for him.
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Dan, you slugged your post with the answer so why did you change your mind with the next sentence?
Anywho, don't get the idea that I'm suggesting that you just throw your talent away on just anyone that asks! Of course you'd want to have a relationship with this producer.
Why does it seem like some people here have such an all or nothing, black or white outlook? Supposedly, we are speaking to one another to enlighten and inform so that you may use that other persons experience to make better decisions for yourself. There is no always right or wrong in my book, just differing circumstances in which you may need some form of reference to make the best decision for yourself and your career. But I digress. when you find a hard working producer or agent that is approaching a client that hasn't decided to advertise or not, a lot of times cutting a spot with his name in it will knock him off the fence - in our direction. Seeing, or in this case, hearing your name in lights affects people more positively than calling him and asking him to buy some advertising. As I said before in other words, if that saleman and or producer doen't sell a client on advertising, you, my friend, do not have a career in voice work. Work with people as you see fit but don't form an all or nothing attitude about a situation until you investigate it. Or, at least till you have walked in the other person's moccasin. (and had the door slammed on it a bunch of times!)   |
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Dan Popp
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008, 00:45 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Bobbie West wrote: | Dan, you slugged your post with the answer so why did you change your mind with the next sentence?
Anywho, don't get the idea that I'm suggesting that you just throw your talent away on just anyone that asks! Of course you'd want to have a relationship with this producer.
Why does it seem like some people here have such an all or nothing, black or white outlook? Supposedly, we are speaking to one another to enlighten and inform so that you may use that other persons experience to make better decisions for yourself.
As I said before in other words, if that saleman and or producer doen't sell a client on advertising, you, my friend, do not have a career in voice work. Work with people as you see fit but don't form an all or nothing attitude about a situation until you investigate it. Or, at least till you have walked in the other person's moccasin. (and had the door slammed on it a bunch of times!) |
Bobbie, I'm sorry that my first post here was so misunderstood. First of all the title of my post agrees with the content - "betting with the producer" means putting your money where he is putting (or not putting) his money.
Secondly, I didn't mean my view as an ironclad rule for everyone. Of course there are different circumstances, different talents, different markets, etc. If I were just starting out, I would think that spec spots were a great way to get my foot in the door as well as gain valuable experience. After 20 years of this, though, and a client base that keeps me very busy most of the time, I just don't have the extra hours in the day to do what may or may not be freebies.
Now that may change, of course. And if I had a salesperson with a great track record of selling specs (as some on this thread have), that would alter the situation as well.
When I was in radio I did plenty of spec spots, so I have indeed walked a mile - probably 3 - in the other man's moccasins, as you put it.
Perhaps the black-and-whiteness is in the eye of the beholder? I certainly don't tell people they have no career in voice work! In fact I encourage many, and have mentored a few in this business.
"Anywho," I hope that clarifies my earlier post. All the best to you, and to each, her own.
Last edited by Dan Popp on Fri Jan 18, 2008, 03:40 (GMT); edited 1 time in total |
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Frank Cabanski
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 87
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008, 03:29 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Good will? If you're the person who provides the voice over for free, then you're that "free VO person." The value placed on your VO skill, in that producer's mind, is 0. When it's time to pay, they're going to look for a "professional."
You can either be the person who does the work for free and thus has lots of free work, or the person who charges and has less work, but paid work.
You may do spec work as a favor, to help out the producer, but it's not likely to turn into paid work.
BTW, that's may as in "possibly" and not may as in I'm giving you permission or expect you to listen to my command.
For the person who said "A SPEC SPOT IS NOT A FREE READ. It's a bet on the come. Do These! " I agree. Get a contract that specifies pay for the demo if the project sells, as well as an audition for the project once it goes into production. |
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