VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Rognog]

I booked my first Voice123 gig today! It's to narrate two videos for UCLA. It took me six weeks to book something since I became a Premium Member. Is that good? Could anyone share their booking experiences with Voice123 clients?

[Bailey]

[anthonyVO]

[Bailey]

[allensco]

Even though my V123 experience is about to expire (in July, I think), I thought taking that online recording tool off was a good idea too. I haven't noticed much of a decrease in the number of custom auditions though.

Rognog, I have yet to book anything through V123.

[anthonyVO]

hmm... interesting. that feature has always been an open door for crap.

maybe time will tell and v123 will start listening to its talents... nah - maybe not.

Never booked anything through v123 - I have however been contacted directly as a result of a listing... but that was over 1 year ago.

Make sure you get a deposit, p.o., or something that will guarantee payment. also, understand that universities are notorious for slow pay - lots of red tape to get a check from them. You must stay on top of it. (That goes for government as well).

-Anthony

[Rognog]

We already discussed invoicing and the pay cycle. They said it would take up to three weeks to get paid. I'd say that's a pretty good turnaround since it takes up to three months for some of my other clients to pay me.

So, has anyone else booked through them? Do I fall into the "even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while" category?

[Drew]

Over the past couple of years I've had pretty good success at least in terms of securing a couple of long-term clients. Not so much lately. I've booked as many as 3 gigs in a week and zippo over three months. So, it's hard to say whether 6 weeks is a good or bad average. When it comes to V123 and the sheer amount of replies, all of us rodents share some vision impairment issues.
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www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[brianforrester]

I no longer have a paid membership, however when I did there was not even so much as a sniff from directly through V123. That being said, I did manage to secure a couple of very profitable long-term clients through my listing. It definately paid for itself, but not in the direct manner that you would expect.

Good luck with the gig! I'll just echo Anthony's caution... you will get paid, but I'd be VERY surprised if it's within the 3-weeks that you mention. Moving into summer and the "off season" for universities, the parties that typically approve these things will be going on holidays, so it's not uncommon for the approval process to be stalled by a couple of weeks while the paperwork sits in a basket on a desk collecting dust.... Just a heads up so that you don't sweat too much when the cheque is a bit late.

HAPPY VOICING!
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Brian Forrester Voice Overs
www.brianforrester.com
brian@brianforrester.com
778.668.5715

[audio'connell]

Ah V123....what to do what to do.

I let my membership expire even though I had gotten jobs through it and its the same sort of conundrum I've always had...allowing myself to compete in a narrow forum with talents of various "experience" (so at this point in the description not too different from any other audition anywhere but here's the twist) among VO's that seem unusually desperate to low ball and clients unusually focused on looking for the lowest price versus any sort of voice quality.

I’ve made money off the site but that scenario gnaws at me. Its not the money, it’s the principle but I’m a voice actor so I’m not supposed to have any principles….you see my conundrum?

What to do, what to do?
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- Peter
audioconnell Voice Over Talent
Your friendly, neighborhood voice over talent

[Deirdre]

[donrandall]

I tried a year's membership. I got a little action, one good steady client, a couple of ittly bitty little things that really weren't much more than something to do - - and a couple of #&^(#@%'s that wanted to play the stupid game, so I told 'em to go play with themselves.

My membership expired months ago and I haven't renewed. I can make more money at my real job - - picking up beer cans from roadside ditches.

[Christopher French]

I'm glad this discussion is here. I've been going round in my head for months trying to decide if I should get a premium membership to either V123 or IV (both of which I'm a free member of). The only thing that sucks about either one of those is that you can't answer any auditions unless you're a premium member. I think they should let free members at least answer 5 auditions a month. That would be an inticement to upgrade. . .at least it might be. It makes me sick, every day, when I log into my hotmail account and there's 50 new messages from V123 for stuff that I'd really like to, but can't audition for, just because they don't have my money. I know the old adage goes "Ya gotta spend money to make money" BUT, I also have an old adage, "Ya gotta dangle the carrot before the rabbit takes the bait". They want to make more money, they need to start dangling more carrots.

(Interesting side note, did you know Mel Blanc was allergic to raw carrots? I found that out last night when I got emailed a little mini bio of Mel.)

Well, that's enough of my ranting and raving. I wish all my friends here continued VO success. Rognog, congrats on the V123 casting! Hope I get that lucky once in my lifetime.

Chris
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

[Mike]

[anthonyVO]

yeah, Chris.

If you get a direct lead you can answer it if you're a free member (if I remember correctly - it's been sooooo long). If I were you, I'd pay for it - get the experience of choosing your auditions wisely and recording and practice. Write it off at the end of the year.

-Anthony