A new Voices.com website for voice talent rookies?

Question

Hi.  By the way, awesome website!  As a rookie to the Voice Over industry I was curious if you have plans on expanding your market and offering clients an opportunity for lower rates and rookie voice talents a way to get more jobs.  I guess what I'm asking is do you have plans for a site that would cater specifically to newer voice talents?  Clients would enjoy lower rates as the rates could be half of what major league talents charge on the main site yet would give newer talents a chance to secure more jobs and experience.  This would not in any way undercut the main site but would encouragement more involvement from minor league talents which in time could step them forward to more involvement with the main site.  Any thoughts?  Thanks.

Answer 1

Boy, I sure hope they don't do that - and here's why:   If you are a new talent, there are plenty of creative ways to get ground-level jobs for experience.  You can contact your local cable TV station and see if you can offer a package to read their local ads.  Often they have very little budget for voice-over and welcome trained talent who want to build experience.  There are also smaller production/video facilities in smaller markets that have low, low budgets.  Do a little research in your area and see if there's someone who would like to use you for projects for a rate you both agree to.  And there are plenty of sites around where you can lowball to your heart's content.  One of the things that is WONDERFUL about this site IS the minimum fee.  Honestly, $100 is NOT a lot of money for voice-over.  If you create a site where clients can pay less, clients will go there, since many are trolling the bottom for the best rate (they'll post on those "other" sites to find the lowest bidder).  Of course, in the end, better clients know they get what they pay for, so for better jobs, stick with a better site (this one).   If you are new, and not booking, keep auditioning.  Ask for feedback on demos and auditions (I offer it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one), seek additional training or coaching and keep trying.

Comments

I appreciate your comment and some points are well stated.  However, since I used the analogy of the big and small leagues, what you are telling new or small league players to do basically is to practice in their backyard and send out flyers to prospective fans in hopes that some day they will make the big leagues.  Obviously the best way for small league players to get to the big leagues is to play in a smaller market with paying fans not to go around soliciting hopeful fans.  Carrying this analogy forward your suggestions raise questions.  If you're a big league talent please chime in or if you're with the small league talent group your ideas are appreciated as well.  Thanks for your input.

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Well, unlike major/minor league baseball, new talents actually get to "play" for the same fans on this site.  In baseball, talents expect lower paying games while they hone their skills (and both major and minor league players continue to use coaches to sharpen skills and point out areas of potential growth).  I didn't suggest giving your talent away for free. When I worked small market jobs, I would take that money and immediately re-invest it, in classes, in demos or background music, etc.  Again, unlike minor league ball, you can build skills, while still trying to land major-league clients.  If, after some time, you still aren't booking - get coaching and keep trying.  And to be really honest, this isn't the "majors."  The majors, in voiceover, would be getting feature-film animation jobs on major motion pictures or union radio and television commercials that pay residuals.  These gigs, while they can earn you a consistent, decent living, aren't  usually the highest paying, "A-level" jobs.  More high-profile clients are using the site, but it is usually for buyout work (no residuals).  I recently saw a posting for "Dawn" dishwashing liquid.  That commercial, once recorded, could be used on any TV or Radio commercial and run endlessly.  As a union job, you would get residuals when the spot had run a certain duration and be paid a full recording fee again (plus residuals) when renewed.  This is an amazing site to do steady, non-union work at a fair rate.  Like most acting jobs, there is lots of competition.  But, I've found, after 30 years as an actor, that voice actors are a generous lot.  Ask questions.  You'll get help and grow.