Why do so many voice seekers not review auditions?

Question

I am fairly new to voices.com, and have submitted about 40 custom demos for jobs. I take the time to record multiple takes, choose the best from those and then clean up the recording (remove breath sounds, etc.). Of those 40, literally only FIVE have even been reviewed! I make a point of not responding to requests that have been up for a while, but so many jobs are only up for one or two days that this does not limit things as much as one would think. I can appreciate that a voice seeker does not want to listen to audition number 100 if they find several good options before that -- but why do they not limit the number of auditions?  Also, since voices.com always says there are "0" auditions until AFTER you submit a demo it is impossible to gauge what jobs are a waste of time. Is this just evidence that voices.com and other online marketplaces are not worth the trouble? I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi Andrew -

I've been using Voices.com successfully since about this time last year and have booked over 70 jobs from it, so for me - it HAS been worth it.  I've been doing VO for over 20 years and Voices.com is one of the most useful tools I've ever found.  But like all tools, you need to learn how to use it to its fullest.  I listened to your demo and your reads, once heard, should do well.  You need to turn around your auditions faster.  Do a couple of different takes and send them.  Don't do breath clean up, unless you suck wind like a Hoover!  If the overall quality is good and you give engaging, varied reads, you will have a good shot.  I submit 10 -20 auditions per DAY.  The "0" submissions of "X" is how many you have submitted.  The second number is how many have been submitted before you.  The percent match system will place you higher in the order the higher a percentage you match to the client job (the client doesn't see the percent match but WILL see you sooner if you are a better match than others, even if they submitted first).  That said, I find it's most productive to be within the first 50 folks to submit.  So, if I open a job and see "0 of 60 Submitted,"  I personally delete it.  Yes, you might still get a listen, but you are hoping that the client is willing to listen to a good number of demos to get to you.  I then sort my jobs by language.  I do a lot of dialects, but usually only for commercials or cartoons.  I'm not trying to pass myself off as British to the British.  So I delete the ones that are for British companies.  Next, I sort by pay.  Jobs that pay better, of course, get more hits, so to get in early, you want to do those FIRST.  Then, I look at what's left.  For the lower paying jobs - which are worth doing - quick and easy?  Phone systems - usually very fast.  A quick :30 or :60 - sure.  Although auditions come in throughout the day, a bunch come first thing in the AM and another set in the afternoon.  Do a little triage, get your auditions out faster and do more of them.  Hopefully, you'll see a rise in your hit rate.  Other people have other systems for handling the traffic.  Just work as fast (and well) as you can.

Good luck!

Comments

Deborah: Thank you very much for the tips (and for taking the time to listen to my demo!). I am particularly glad to hear that it is not necessary to do a full clean up for each audition -- because that is really the thing that slows down my turn around. I have been doing a few takes of 5 or 6 jobs, then cleaning them up and submitting -- but i also have been fitting the auditions around my day instead of getting them in quick -- so that is going to change!  Thanks again!