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Greg Houser
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 174
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 Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 05:15 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Lee Gordon wrote: |
The results will be viewable by the person being tagged when this stage is completed, and not available to the general public.
The results are for informational purposes only right now, and do not influence the way SmartCast assigns leads.
We are only in an experimental phase, so the current tagging that is happening has no effect on SmartCast or anything else.
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Uhm, unless they're changing how their SQL queries currently operate, that's not an entirely accurate statement. SmartCast already uses filtering based on certain meta tags, in addition to other aspects put on one's webpage. If they do this in the manner which I'm thinking they will (going by the literal definition of tag), then it would be searchable by both their search engine, and by Google, Yahoo!, etc.
| Connie Terwillnger wrote: |
I think the point is that it is being done soley to see if it will drive eyeballs to Voice123. |
Yep. It's a kind of spamming. Depending on how they use certain aspects of the site in reference to referral URLs and the like, it could really boost them in the major search engines when it comes to certain keywords.
PS: Lance, you are far to generous to me with your comments... though I won't refute any of them  |
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Diane Havens
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 1281
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 12:24 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Yes, and if you'll notice since they stopped direct linking our web pages and the V123 site to this forum, our comments here don't come up in the first pages of a google search -- at least not the last time I tried finding one.
So they definitely were looking for a way to replace that visibility -- the reason they created this forum in the first place.
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Diane
Veni, Vidi, Voci
http://web.mac.com/dbhavens |
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 15:55 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Lee Gordon wrote: |
So, for the moment, it would appear that concerns about tagging are much ado about nothing. If somebody tags one of our demos, we can fret over it, be flattered by it, ignore it, or do whatever we want about it, but it apparently has no actual impact on anything. |
Then I say: "Why do it?"
It's like them saying, "David, we at V123 are going to take a Sharpie and scribble your name on the trunk of a tree somewhere in the Amazon rain forest. It won't have any actual impact on anything - but we're going to need your $295 fee to help us pay for it."
"V123. We drink our own bong water."
David |
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Lee Gordon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 17:20 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| David Oxford wrote: |
Then I say: "Why do it?"
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If you mean "why is Voice123 doing it?", apparently, for reasons I don't fully understand, tagging such as this enhances Voice123's ranking in search engines, which benefits all of us because it theoretically helps attract new voice seekers.
If you mean "why would any of us tag someone else's demo?", I have no idea, other than to try to win one of the five 1-year premium memberships Voice123 is awarding to participants.
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For more voice over demos, my life story, and other foolishness, please visit my website at www.leegordonproductions.com |
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Bettye Zoller
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 03 Aug 2003
Posts: 163
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 18:02 (GMT) Post subject: Why would a busy professional want to hear others' demos? |
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Why would I want to visit sites and hear other people's demos when I have limited hours in a day to do my work etc? And what good does it do a voice talent on 123 to have OTHER voice talents hear them? WE DON'T HIRE. I'm totally flummoxed by this tagging thing...I see what people say about "rankings in search engines" but why would people take time to hear demos on the site when they are a vo talent themselves? Producers...well...that's maybe a better idea...to give a prize to producers who hear the most demos on V123...why wasn't that the "gimmick?"
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Bettye Zoller: CLIOS, ADDYS, GOLDEN RADIOS, AUDIES, Member Voice and Speech Trainers Assoc., AFTRA SAG, 34 years a pro. |
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 18:19 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Why would a busy professional want to hear others' demos |
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| Bettye Zoller wrote: | | Why would I want to visit sites and hear other people's demos when I have limited hours in a day to do my work etc? And what good does it do a voice talent on 123 to have OTHER voice talents hear them? WE DON'T HIRE. I'm totally flummoxed by this tagging thing...I see what people say about "rankings in search engines" but why would people take time to hear demos on the site when they are a vo talent themselves? Producers...well...that's maybe a better idea...to give a prize to producers who hear the most demos on V123...why wasn't that the "gimmick?" |
Because V123 probably thought the seekers' time was too valuable to spend time tagging demos. I would imagine that's true - but, then again, the talents' time is valuable, as well. I barely have time to do any of this...and this is the first time in a long, long time that I've actually posted on the forum here.....so, like you, I can't imagine having the time to go through this obviously ill-thought-out exercise that serves no real purpose, other than to stroke the egos of it's creators so they can gloat about "another new, wonderful service we provide," blah, blah, blah.
Again, I say they should just do the things that actually BENEFIT both the seekers and the talents and forget about all the cutesy dim-witted 'marketing' efforts. There are many, many ways to improve search-engine marketing and this isn't one of them.
"Voice 123 - we drink our own bong water!"
David |
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Bettye Zoller
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 03 Aug 2003
Posts: 163
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 18:31 (GMT) Post subject: I love your post, David |
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Hope you post more often. Yes. Totally agree. Maybe some of you out there in "savvyland" can tell 123 they should do a PRODUCER promotion getting them to hear more of our demos and get more familiar with who they really like on this board! That's a money idea for sure!
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Bettye Zoller: CLIOS, ADDYS, GOLDEN RADIOS, AUDIES, Member Voice and Speech Trainers Assoc., AFTRA SAG, 34 years a pro. |
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Lee Gordon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 20:03 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Why would a busy professional want to hear others' demos |
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| Bettye Zoller wrote: | | I see what people say about "rankings in search engines" but why would people take time to hear demos on the site when they are a vo talent themselves? |
Well, we've been doing it right here for quite a while in the Leads & Reads section. But it's more like "Show & Tell" than anything that has an actual work-related purpose. We post our demos for one another to listen to and critique if they want to, but it's mostly just for our own amusement. It can be an enlightening experience hearing the many different treatments the various pros (and "pro hopefuls") give to the same piece of material. But it's not anonymous and we share these things with each other because they are our friends and we are doing it for fun. (And sometimes we're just showing off.)
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For more voice over demos, my life story, and other foolishness, please visit my website at www.leegordonproductions.com
Last edited by Lee Gordon on Sat Jun 07, 2008, 20:10 (GMT); edited 1 time in total |
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 20:10 (GMT) Post subject: |
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I doubt V123 is committed to any REAL success over the long haul. Someone else posted earlier (I don't know if in this thread or elsewhere) that the V123 business model is set up to generate new cash on an ongoing basis, mainly from newbies with "the gleam in their eye." With time, those who've been around long enough to know better figure out sites like this aren't worth the hassle and move on. Why else would V123 continually keep adding these features that do more to detract from success rather than foster it? (See the aforementioned reference to 'newbies.') I wouldn't think real professionals need to be scolded/coached like first graders...especially by the likes of the creators of Bozoland. As long as there's a steady supply of fresh, new money coming in, then by V123's standards, success has been achieved.
David |
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 20:11 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Why would a busy professional want to hear others' demos |
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| Lee Gordon wrote: | | Bettye Zoller wrote: | | I see what people say about "rankings in search engines" but why would people take time to hear demos on the site when they are a vo talent themselves? |
Well, we've been doing it right here for quite a while in the Leads & Reads section. But it's more like "Show & Tell" than anything that has an actual work-related purpose. We post our demos for one another to listen to and critique if they want to, but it's mostly just for our own amusement. It can be an enlightening experience hearing the many different treatments the various pros (and "pro hopefuls") give to the same piece of material. But it's not anonymous and we share these things with each other because they are our friends and we are doing it for fun. (And sometimes we're just showing off.) |
As usual, well said, Lee!
David |
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Ron Reid
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 98
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 21:54 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| David Oxford wrote: | I doubt V123 is committed to any REAL success over the long haul. Someone else posted earlier (I don't know if in this thread or elsewhere) that the V123 business model is set up to generate new cash on an ongoing basis, mainly from newbies with "the gleam in their eye."
David |
That is why I feel that all of us "Pros" should get in there and tag the crap out of those sucky "wannabes" and let them know how awful they really are. I mean really pull a Simon Cowell on their butts and tell them to, "Not Quit Their Day Job"
It's obvious that V123 isn't going to do it.
Someone has to!
_________________
Ron Reid
ron3669@suddenlink.net
rockin@llano.net
http://ronreid.voice123.com |
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008, 22:11 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Ron Reid wrote: | | David Oxford wrote: | I doubt V123 is committed to any REAL success over the long haul. Someone else posted earlier (I don't know if in this thread or elsewhere) that the V123 business model is set up to generate new cash on an ongoing basis, mainly from newbies with "the gleam in their eye."
David |
That is why I feel that all of us "Pros" should get in there and tag the crap out of those sucky "wannabes" and let them know how awful they really are. I mean really pull a Simon Cowell on their butts and tell them to, "Not Quit Their Day Job"
It's obvious that V123 isn't going to do it.
Someone has to! |
Ron:
I don't disagree with you at all - but I also think that most Pros are busy earning their living and too busy to spend time tagging someone else's auditions. Like Bettye said: why do I want to spend so much time listening to someone ELSE's auditions anyway? The Leads & Reads thread is set up for us to listen to other talents' auditions (willingly submitted by the talents) so if we're wanting to hear other approaches to a particular script, we can always do that (which can be a valuable tool!) But to just spend time perusing through crappy auditions for the sake of tagging them is a bit unfathomable to me. For this very reason (along with many others,) I think the whole idea of 'tagging' is ridiculous because it will be those who have nothing else to do who will spend time tagging auditions - and just like some seekers who I feel are fully unqualified to give ratings, well, you see where I'm going with it.
David |
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Lee Gordon
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008, 00:36 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Ron Reid wrote: | | I feel that all of us "Pros" should get in there and tag the crap out of those sucky "wannabes" and let them know how awful they really are. I mean really pull a Simon Cowell on their butts and tell them to, "Not Quit Their Day Job" |
Completely unnecessary. The free marketplace will sort that out. Those of us who do have a bit of talent have a tough enough time getting hired for the jobs we audition for. The unqualified hoardes will eventually tire of paying $300 for the opportunity to have zero success and will have to revert to their day jobs just to put food on the table.
I'm beginning to believe this whole tagging thing is a tempest in a teapot. At the end of the day, it will have very little impact on anything, in my opinion. This afternoon, when I submitted a demo, I availed myself of the opportunity to try out the tagging process. I listened to perhaps a dozen demos and was actually quite relieved to discover that a fair amount of my "competition" is really no competition at all. I was tempted to tag only one of the demos I heard, with the terms "enthusiastic" and "friendly."
As far as telling it like it is with some of the lesser quality demos I have heard, I am subscribing to the old adage, "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."
_________________
For more voice over demos, my life story, and other foolishness, please visit my website at www.leegordonproductions.com |
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Ron Reid
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 98
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| Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008, 02:13 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The unqualified hoardes will eventually tire of paying $300 for the opportunity to have zero success and will have to revert to their day jobs just to put food on the table. |
Lee. You may be right.
Perhaps I am just frustrated right now.
However, I don't think the majority of the, "less than standard" demos I heard on the tagging site are from those paying for a premium subscriber service.
Which brings me to another question:
How long does a standard subscriber get to keep their demo on V123?
There are some things in my humble opinion that really should not be allowed to run their natural course:
Black Plague
Hitler
Wannabe's on V123
I mean, if I were a Voice Seeker and came to this site for the 1st time because Google told me it was the best and least expensive stable of talent on the net, I would be upset after coming across some of what V123 has allowed on their site.
I would then go somewhere else to get my voice talent, all the while spreading the word that V123 is not the place to go.
And all of us know that word of mouth is the best advertising.
These bad apples are spoiling it for everyone!
Sorry for ranting...I just hate to see V123 going down the tubes.
_________________
Ron Reid
ron3669@suddenlink.net
rockin@llano.net
http://ronreid.voice123.com |
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Diane Havens
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 1281
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| Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008, 02:19 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Oh, if it were only so simple. These are not people who hope to make a career out of voice over. These are hobbyists and exhibitionists with day jobs they have no intention of quitting. And they are NOT going away, because even as one leaves, another will come along to take his or her place.
_________________
Diane
Veni, Vidi, Voci
http://web.mac.com/dbhavens |
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