LEADS AND READS - WEEK OF 5/05 TO 5/11

JJ Wright · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008, 12:57 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Allison. All were opened, but no ratings and haven't heard anything.

Cia Allan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

It often crosses my mind that maybe some employers could just take the recording and run - particularly when the audition is the whole script. They open it and then there's no ratings. I've got a couple of 5's in recent months and heard nothing more. For a recent touristy thing which had no script, I sent a demo that had previously got me a 5 star rating. These guys gave me a 2! So what are they marking- gender? pitch? mispronunciation of a weird word (which is correctable)? what?

Voice 123 don't keep tabs on who got the gig. They just post the jobs and compute the invitations.

I watermarked all my auditions for a while so nothing like that could happen, but in the end I didn't get any jobs with those so I ultimately reckoned that if I've spent the time doing the read and sending it off, then watermarked or not, it was still my time and if they take the recording and run - well at least my voice is out there even if I didn't get paid!

David Bosco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 281

Cia,

Please check you Private Messages again, I sent another in further response.

I just played a few of the demos on your site. Your work is excellent. No wonder you receive a lot of 5s. I've received a few 5s, and some 1s and 2s, along with a boatload of 'no rating's. So what are they grading? Beats the heck out of me. It's all subjective. I've heard some fabulous auditions (posted here on L&R) that only rated a 1 or 2 and some that were just OK in my opinion and came in at a 5. (Ratings revealed voluntarily by the talents of course)

So far, of the few jobs that I was awarded via V123, none of those received any rating. So, although it's difficult, I do my best to ignore the ratings. When you go to the market, the 1s as the 5s will buy you exactly the same,..... nothing!

I've watermarked only once and was very proud of my efforts on that one. I was sure it was a winner. A lot of editing, multiple voices and sound effects, and I think it got a 2 rating. Possibly because of the watermark, or they just didn't like it. Perhaps they were insulted that I watermarked, showing a measure of distrust, but I'm sure some others wouldn't have cared. I've given up on watermarking as you have for the same reasons.

Cia Allan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks David for your time and encouragement. Laughing

Kent LaTurno · **Voice Talent** Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 212

Hope everyone has been well! Haven't auditioned much in a few weeks - I jumped back in yesterday... A birthing center in Maine.

Speaking of birthing - a sincere Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Cia Allan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Hope you didn't 'jump in' with the moms!

In the UK, we had our mothers day in March!

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

I have to 2nd David's flowery comments regarding your work, Cia! I just listened, as well. What a wonderfully-warm and engaging voice. You have a beautiful ability to pull the listener right into your story and make them believe it (the "radio drama" demo is fantastic!)

The bottom line: don't take much stock in the ratings system here.

And Kent: nice to hear your big 'ole voice on here again. You do such awesome work - it's always a pleasure!!

Best regards,
David