Auditions that just go away....?

Ed White

I would say that on at least 3 occasions over the last 3-4 weeks or so on V.Com, I got some leads that had a lot of lead time, (instead of the today or tommorrow as a lot do), I'm not one of those that responds to everything, but when certain ones "come down the pike with my name on them" as they say, I print them out, highlight the due date, and put it in line to be recorded. I'll do the "gotta have it tommorrow" ones, and save the best for last when I got plenty of time to savor it. Well ,when I finish with a killer cover letter, a wicked pissa mp3, and attempt to reply, it's no where to be found! Vanished. Taken by aliens. I've searched all over, even in the deleted section, Gonzo! The kicker is the deadline is still 2-3 weeks away!. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal SOP? Would a seeker get overwhelmed with auditions before the deadline and take it down? Maybe get cold feet for the project?
Which brings me to part 2, how do they get the auditions, are they all sent at once after it's closed, or as they come in?

Thanks,

Ed

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008, 20:10 (GMT) Post subject:

First of all, I ignore those deadlines except if I have time to do only one demo before I have to go out, and they all pay the same, I'll do the one with the earlier deadline first.
However, keep in mind that over at Voices, just like in the pre-SmartCast days at Voice123, everybody and his uncle is free to submit demos for any and all jobs they care to and if you aren't among the first 20-30 people to submit a demo -- irrespective of the deadline -- there's an enormous chance it will never get listened to.
Even when we know the finite number of leads the seeker has requested (thanks to SmartCast) and it is relatively small, a shocking percentage of those submissions never get opened. This morning I received a lead for a job in which the seeker had requested only 40 demos and 36 had already been turned in. I knew I didn't have much time to get in on the action, so I clicked the "Submit" button to give myself the hour "grace period" in case he reached his quota before I could finish recording my demo. I then proceeded to do the recording, trim it up, enter it and the requisite "Related" demo in the appropriate places and hit the green "Upload" button only to be told the seeker had manually closed the lead after receiving 37 demos.
Three more freakin' demos and he couldn't wait for them? zensur

Fortunately, that sort of thing has only happened to me once or twice.

Ed White · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008, 23:42 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Lee,
So I'm hearing that one should submit right away, before the fonts are dry on the hard disc! With an audition with a 2 week deadline, there could be 50 on the same day? Voices should make the seeker put a ceiling on it. A lot of people are doing a lot of work for nothing.

By the way, my summer neighbors (on the Nubble) have had quite a snow year. Brown's Ice Cream won't be opened until Labor Day. (Maybe I'll see you in your new sports car with you moustache blowing in the wind.)

Keep warm.

Ed

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008, 11:19 (GMT) Post subject:

Neighbors on the Nubble? My brother lives in Kittery. When I was up there at Christmas time, we took a little drive up the coast to check out Nubble's holiday decorations. Seems almost silly since you can see Whaleback, White Island and Portsmouth Harbor lights from his house.

Frank Cabanski · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008, 18:17 (GMT) Post subject:

I've recently noticed that nearly every one of the demos I submit are opened, and a lot of times within minutes of submission.

But leads sometimes disappear or close, sometimes with a replacement added but not submitted to me via Smartcast.

If a lead fits I cut a demo immediately. I'm not a busy voice over artist yet, hoping to become one, but suggest the same. Set aside Voice123 demo time, look at leads during that time, cut the demos ASAP.