NEW THREAD: Ones we didn't get

Ronald T Robinson · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1008

On all of the above jobs you've quoted, IT AIN'T ME EITHER!!! I got the "thanks, but no thanks...." on all of them.

NOT ONLY DO I SUCK - I'M TOO EXPENSIVE IT SEEMS. WHAT IS THIS... A LOW BALLERS' PARADISE?

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

cue spooky music...you are now entering the Buy Lite zone...
where a large shadowy cadre of voicers - thousands strong - are never seen...never heard at VoiceOverSavvy.
They know of us. They laugh their hollow, papery laughs.
And they submit for everything. They quote rates lower than their ethics. In the normal world, many of them are successful voice artists and actors. You may even know some of them.
But here in the Buy Lite zone, they work anonymously...with different names and forms.....
They laugh their hollow, papery laughs.
They are the Pod People. They are stealing VO's soul. They are getting the work.
fade spooky music

Paul Sleboda · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 235

Ditto

Paul

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007, 04:56 (GMT) Post subject:

12:55 a.m., Monday, March 19.... just got home from a late-nighter at the radio station and I'm ALREADY starting out my week with my first "thanks, but..." note. Man, it started early this week. Funny thing is, I felt solid on this read (it's on the DoD thread):

"Welcome to ****** Health Care Center, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility where we offer a team approach to health care and focus on each resident's individual needs.

We offer amenities and services to make our residents feel comfortable and right at home.

Meals are served in our warm, cozy dining rooms, and our registered dietician is trained in planning special diets. Meals include alternative selections and we gladly accommodate special requests. Our Ice cream Parlor is open daily for the enjoyment of residents and guest for a special treat or a dessert after dinner....."

Ronald T Robinson · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1008

I felt pretty good about my own presentation as well, Scott.

But, you know what?

That copy could have been written by somebody who was working part-time in Accounting.

Why didn't they just give it a standard "Welcome to Fort Fogie. For all your elderly needs...."

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007, 12:57 (GMT) Post subject:

Less than 8 hours later, my second "thanks but..." of the morning, for:

"Looking for a read which is authentic, real, and non-announcer sounding, but still positive. Think the style of a national financial commercial. US English speaking Female or Male. Adult sounding, not too old, not too young. Non-union. For an in-house meeting for a financial company. Less than 1 page script. $175. Digital mp3 or Wav.

"Part of *** vision is to serve our members holistically… To find places where *** can intersect in the story throughout their lives.

When we help members manage resources at these specific life points, AND in ways that honor God – that’s when we’re truly ONE"

Okay, we all get the point; I'll quit adding to this thread. Enough rejection is enough.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007, 13:57 (GMT) Post subject:

I have NEVER gotten one of these (in over a year @ V123) ... and I was never concerned about it until Scott started posting about all the "Thanks but No ..." messages he gets. Now it makes me feel like everyone at the prom got a corsage but me - even though I'm allergic to flowers.

Philip Banks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 404

Does anyone send out their auditions "pre-ignored" to save the client time? I believe this practise could be the beginning of the start of something which could end up finishing the termination of an entirely new approach to client/talent relationshipasiation.

Alan Simmons · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 220

I recently deleted a lead from "the other site" that was requesting a vo for an audio book. The client stated that he wanted someone who was willing to work on (and I quote) a royalty basis. What the?... Is crack so cheap that anyone can get it now?

See, even though I don't get much work, I refuse to be the guy that comes in and either underbids or agrees to do ridiculous stuff like this just to get work. I think we all need to stick to our guns, no matter our level of expertise.

~Alan

Todd Ellis · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007, 14:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Alan - same thing happened to me. We went through a very lengthy "honing" process with no further discussion of my quoted rate - so I assumed all was cool.
When we got down to putting it in writing he came at me with a percentage of the gross ... "Huh?", I said. "You haven't been signing your emails "James Michener" ... did I miss something?" Not that I'm Kirk Douglas either, but this guy is gonna sell 4 books on the internet and I'm gonna get $3.68 for my 450 page read? Naw.
Authors are hard to deal with, though. A VO friend of mine (who does VERY high-end work) told me that he was contacted by the author (well known author) and the guy sent him a copy of the book to base his quote on. My friend got the book - offered his quote and the author went ballistic - saying he should do it for free just for the exposure. Now this is a guy who does national spots for Jaguar, BMW, Black & Decker - hosts & narrates a show on Court TV, etc ... he doesn't NEED that kind of exposure.
Oh - and the author billed him for the book.

Alan Simmons · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 220

Todd,

It never ceases to amaze me how pompous people can be. Oh well, makes for great posts anyway... Laughing

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

Scott:
I, too, worried about my lack of rejections.
Never had anyone told me how much they didn't want me.
I, too, stood before the mirror every night and said, "Why won't someone please take the time to tell me I suck as often as Scott does?"
I, too, had no corsage on my Spider-man jammies. Hell, I didn't even have the jammies.

Last week, I happened to change my V123 e-mail address. Since then, I've received one dozen beautiful GO AWAY messages.

They do not make life better. They're a bit like Oscar Wilde's comment on Niagara Falls: the second great disappointment of a young bride's honeymoon.

Now, I really just want those jammies.
No, I mean new ones.

Voice On!

Lisa Zachary-Kent · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 453

Ever since that first, "Thanks, but no thanks" letter the other day, I've been getting TONS of them.

I feel I owe it all to Colin. This sudden surge of these letters seems to coincide with my posting the demo he produced for me. Before that, I was simply disregarded, not even WORTHY of being told I wouldn't be used. Now I've cultivated a little COURTESY from them.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007, 01:46 (GMT) Post subject:

Literally MONTHS ago I auditioned thru V123.com for some sort of long-term, ongoing, pitifully low-paying audio book project. It was so long ago I'd totally, completely forgotten about. Well, the planets aligned, the earth moved and I got the most unique "Thanks, but...." letter this evening:

"Hello there,

I want to take the opportunity to thank you sincerely for the demo you provided.

You were a finalist in the the choices we presented to our client.

At this stage, the client has made an alternative choice from you.
However your name and demo is being kept on the "high list" should one of the finalists drop out of the schedule.

Again, everyone was very impressed by the standard and accuracy of your work, do not be surprised if we contact you in the future, regarding this project."

Love that phrase: "the client has made an alternative choice from you."
Laughing

Todd Ellis · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007, 01:57 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott --- at least you're on the "High List"

i think I was on that list in High School ... Hmmm? I don't really remember ...