VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[kitstern]

OK, I'll start. I'm feeling discouraged to see that several of my auditions haven't been opened, and several didn't issue invitations to talent. Maybe it was better not knowing?? I'm feeling it's a waste of time, and I'm considering not renewing.

Anybody else want to offer input?
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Enjoy life, this is not a rehearsal.

http://www.kitziestern.com/

[Gregory Best]

I did 140 audtions on Voices.com and nothing. I did 8 under the new V123 SmartCast and got a job. Maybe it was luck. I also took Connie's advice and am much pickier in what I audtion for.
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Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com

[Philip Banks]

Neither voices.com nor voice123.com are providing me with jobs or auditions worth doing.

[Moe Egan]

I had a great start - two jobs in the first week of the change over...since then a few private leads but nothing to plan a parade around.
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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

[Brett Mason]

[TC]

I guess it's a matter of perceptions. The added data I get from the new system just validates what I'd been assuming all along about how often auditions even get heard. But I'm very selective about which jobs I audition for, so I don't ever feel like I'm banging my head against the wall, because I just don't audition that much. I can see, though, where it would be discouraging for people who audition a lot.

[Dave]

Hmmm... let's see. Zero results as a member... zero results as a non-paying member. All in all I'd say it's still working just about the same.
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. If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you.

[robert jadah]

Some three weeks ago, I stopped auditioning at both sites, since
relatively few are ever listened to and it gets tiresome to talk to the wind.

But jobs trickle in. Two new clients last week told me they don't go through the site process; one said it's just "too cumbersome." They listen to demos (and Savvy, said one) and contact the voicer directly.

So it may still be a valid part of overall marketing.

[RickReid]

I've had memberships in both Voices.com and Voices123.com for more than two years. I figured out quickly that submitting auditions against a hundred other people wasn't a good use of my limited spare time, but I've kept my accounts current and I include a mention on my profile that I don't audition unless directly requested.

Finally, this past week I got my first job as a result of my presence on these two sites, The producer sent me a private lead message, then tracked down my phone number and called me, rather than going through the cumbersome casting process on either site. He said he likes searching and browsing these sites to find new talent and urged me to keep my profiles posted even if I don't do auditions through them.

[kitstern]

Rick, that's good information. I'm considering keeping my membership just for marketing purposes.
_________________
Enjoy life, this is not a rehearsal.

http://www.kitziestern.com/

[CarynClark]

No complaints here from the SmartCast point of view. I book work from both, more from voice123, though.

Ok, one little thing I'll point out (again... I know, I'm a broken record)... clearly the search function on these sites is very important. Try a test and see where you pop up, using various search terms.

I know not everyone can be on the first page, but I wish the searches were better. Things that could be improved, in some way:

a) there are people who include themselves as say, "teen" when they really cannot do a "teen" voice believably, and they show up earlier in the search than those that can (I certainly don't say I'm a "Senior"... and even "Middle Age" is a stretch, but sometimes there are leads that are "Middle Age" that I can answer.) Maybe they could display sample ages for each age category so that the seeker knows if he wants a 30 something, he should check off "young adult" and "middle age". I dunno.

b) the general order in which people are displayed. For V123, the ratings have something to do with how you rank in the search. Now, if you look at the new stats, I think they're heavily weighted by people who don't audition at all... and there appear to be alot of people who don't audition... which brings down the average auditions answered, and thus, for those of us who do audition (I only answer 50% of the auds I get though), increases our percentage of auditions submitted. All of this, plays into our "percentile" which I'm guessing, plays into the search rankings. Not good.

I just emailed V123 this weekend about this. I'm hoping to speak with someone there today. The search is obviously too important to be ignored.
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

[tackerman]

Like Rick I've had memberships to both for 2 years. Modest success with one and little with the other.
My memberships for both expire by the end of the year and I don't plan on renewing. Time to funnel my marketing $$ in some new directions.

[Rognog]

I just got a V123 email showing me my private stats. I audition about twice as much than the average Premium Member (I was surprised at that stat but I discriminate more than I used to and I consider it a part of my "keeping in shape" routine) and my rating is pretty good.

Since the 2.0 changeover I've gotten two gigs. I still receive a monthly retainer from a client I picked up this year. Since I'm making more than the annual fee and I have a nice profile to refer clients to it still works for me!
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Tom Dheere - The "H" is Silent, but I'm Not!
www.tomdheere.com

[JTVG]

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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

[Lizden]