Who gets the job?

Amy Snively · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 1028

As far as I can tell, there isn't currently a mechanism in place for voice seekers to indicate which talent, if any, has been hired for any given gig.

Wouldn't it be cool if they could check a box that says "This talent has been awarded the project"? And even cooler if there was a master list of projects by ID# along with the name of the VO that was cast, and the final price for the gig?

It's so disheartening to not get any replies. I think a lot of people give up on V123 prematurely because they aren't seeing enough personal action. They start to suspect that the jobs are fake, or spec, and that nobody is getting hired. A list like this would be good for the VO talents and for V123!

Phyllis K. Day · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 251

Jeremy Ryan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 17

Great idea Amy! This would be a very helpful tool... hopefully V123 will consider it.

Jeremy Ryan
www.jeremyryan.biz

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

Amy, Phyllis, Jeremy:
I think what you're suggesting here is vitally important, and it staggers me that - to my knowledge - no voice site lets their talents know if/when their peers got the job. This certainly makes it appear like a bit of a shell game.
What could be simpler than having the client confirm that 'Jeremy of V123' was hired? And passing that on?
The topic, incidentally, has been tossed around at Posting Boasting (General ChitChat; November 14). You may want to check out the short debate there.
Voice On!
Robert Jadah

Jeremy Ryan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 17

The price disclosure may be an issue for many talents & talent seekers, as they may not want their earnings/expenses to be public knowledge. I would rather not announce the financial details of my gigs. However, it would be nice to recognize and congratulate the individual(s) who get the gig. It would also validate the effectiveness of the V123 community.

Perhaps V123 could develop a section of the website where talents can voluntarily post successful V123 hirings? That would be cool.

Jeremy Ryan
www.jeremyryan.biz

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007, 22:07 (GMT) Post subject:

It seems that THE most important feature we ALL want is the ability to hear the winning audition. I agree with that concept totally. We all need a reason to carry on. When you hear no response to (in my case thousands of auditions in less than a year) you can become discouraged. So... if I am not good enough.. who was? I spent a few hours listening to my over one thousand auditions tonight (yes, I keep them all) and I can't help but wonder... who did better than THAT. Maybe I have too high an opinion of my work.

Kathleen Keesling · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 746

Colin-

I agree with you 100%. I want to hear the winning audition if it is possible. Maybe V123 could keep an updated sampling of the winners of the week?

-Kat

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007, 23:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank you for the response! We are all trying to get better. It is heart waming to know that we can all talk and relate in spite of the intense competition. I really like this forum and intend to contribute as much as possible. I have a good technical expertise to contribute as well so if anyone has any questions of that nature, ask away.

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

Like I said, this is a repeat topic, with much input back in November.
It is, however, very important.
I took a listen and - for the life of me - cannot understand either how Colin has ONE THOUSAND unsuccessful auditions.
Colin, you've got chops, man. And resilience.
I salute you.
I still feel, though, that just knowing a V123'er got the job is enough for me. Since we can never know anyway what the next client is looking for, it would only be confusing and disconcerting to hear winning submissions.
We've got to do our own thing well...our way. Like Louis T. suggests (or is it Todd?): it's not what we do that decides, it's what the client wants.
That's one thing we don't need: to subliminally mimic a dozen winning playbacks a week.
And to resent the stupid client who picked THAT one - why THAT one? Mine was better.
But I do remain unconvinced that every posting is filled, used, and paid.
I continue to suspect that many postings are just feelers, or a fine way to accumulate free audio for pilot ads and personal projects.
Other sites simply reflect answered leads as being Closed or Open.
That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence in client integrity either.
And don't forget that if V123 throws up hurdles for customers, many will just log in elsewhere. And the talent will follow the leads.
That's why I think a simple "Filled by V123 talent on January 12" is enough for me. And if the winners wants to volunteer their success on this forum, that's a great help to all of us.
More is too much.
Robert Jadah

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007, 01:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Well, let me first say that I have been a member since February (less than a year) and my "answered leads tab says "1210".) I have gotten maybe four jobs. It is hard at this point to not feel that I suck. BUT, I have been in and around this business since I was 16 years old (now 4 Cool

and I've got to say it is "who you know" more than the quality of your work. This applies to other talents and industries as well. I am determined to make this work for personal reasons (mostly related to the fact that it is the only thing I am good at.) I do have an extensive background in professional audio, radio, production and the like, but Voice is what I have wanted to do since I was a kid in elementary school. Teachers would ask "who wants to read aloud?" and my hand would go up and she/he would say "you need to give someone else a chance." This is my dream and I won't give up and I think I am pretty good at it.

Jeremy Ryan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 17

Robert et al,

My apologies for missing the November 14 meeting of the minds, that was actually my birthday. party

Obviously this is a 'hot button' issue if the topic is still lingering (and a seemingly rather heated debate). I appreciate your skepticism Robert, and I am a bit intrigued by your perceptions. If the recognition of a fellow V123 talent getting a job that you auditioned for fills you with resentment for that talent, or for the talent-seeker, then perhaps you shouldn't have knowledge of the winning audition. The percentages could render you a very angry person. However, there are apparently many V123 members who feel that the information would be beneficial. It's all about marketing... If you owned a T-Shirt shop, wouldn't you like to know what color T-Shirt is the most popular seller? What you refer to as a 'mimicking' could very well be the thing that leads to success. Throughout history great achievements and great achievers have been influenced by others. We climb higher by standing on the shoulders of those who came before us. True, we all need to be unique and find our own niche, and that's exactly what this concept would allow. By understanding client demands we can all further develop our own individual strategies. It might even help to elevate the level of professionalism by cultivating higher standards... If V123 talent-seekers are successful in their search, then ultimately we would all benefit. In addition to helping the talent pool, providing success stories would validate the effectiveness of the V123 service.

Information is power! der klugscheisser

Jeremy Ryan
www.jeremyryan.biz

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007, 01:20 (GMT) Post subject:

I agree totally. It it ALL ABOUT marketing. We are just a stable of "announcers" and need to understand that.

I'm sorry for the mangled post earlier, I DID NOT type it that way.

We can differentiate ourselves with "niches." One may be good at certain characters, another at institional (my favorite) and another at doing screaming car dealer spots (my second fav.)

A quote from JFK... "we do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard." Suck it up and be the best you can. I market every day. EVERY day and I am not doing so well and I don't think I sound bad. I am particularly proud of my technical setup and ability.

Rambling now... so I'll quit.

Colin A. Campbell
www.AffordableAnnouncer.com

Jeremy Ryan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 17

Keep on, keepin' on Colin... you sound GREAT!

Jeremy Ryan
www.jeremyryan.biz

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007, 01:37 (GMT) Post subject:

Well.. you sound better. What am I doing wrong? I've got all the best equipment, I've listed to the best of the best for many years. Are any of you people a student of Orson Wells, possibly the best voice talent that ever lived?

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

I appreciate Jeremy's points, but his t-shirt analogy sort of makes my argument for me.
I mean, I would know that the pink ones were outselling mine because....well, they're pink, and mine aren't.
Voices aren't commodities any more than parts of an orchestra are, and posting the winning clip only leads to a slippery slope where we would next want clients to explain why they selected that one.
And what was wrong with ours.
We hear winning voices every day: on the radio, on TV, on the internet.
We'd quickly tire of listening to two dozen auds every week that beat out ours.
And, please, Jeremy...I never, ever alluded to resenting a fellow voicer's success. In fact, I'm the one who wants confirmation that one of my stablemates got the job, remember?
Keep on Voicing!
Robert Jadah