Diminishing revenue from voice123

Paul Seed · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 5

Hello from sunny London,

This is my first post on this forum - I never really share my thoughts and I hope this doesn't come across as a really negative rant, but I'm feeling increasingly frustrated about the decreasing amount of work coming through Voice123.

I've been registered with Voice123 for five years. In the early days I picked up some really good work, some of which continues today. But now I seem to spend most of the time auditioning and little more... I also feel the quality of the seekers postings has dropped - most of the time the rate is just too low. Recently I was offered a job of 80 pages of A4 text (11 point) for £150 ($300)... a man has to make a living! Are the voice seekers just looking for the lowest possible price and are there voices who would work for little money?

Is there something missing from my auditions, maybe my fees are too high, or maybe it's the style of my voice... maybe there are too many voices auditioning for the work, or the demand is more for American voices... possibly the voice seekers aren't really serious and no-one wins the work?

I'd like to know if you have any thoughts... or is it just me?

Cheers,

Paul

Simon Hill · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 288

As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with your voice!

Plus you've got a killer studio setup. Most likely cheaper talent is the culprit.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

And you are far from alone in your situation. I have let my subscription here expire, for similar reasons.

And here's the irony for me.

I have only been doing voice over work since 2005. I started with small projects and phone work, through personal contacts. When I heard about 123 at a workshop, in June of 2006, I thought I'd give it a try. I was amazed at my success that first year -- though a real newbie, I landed several jobs within the first 6 months of my subscription.

I must give 123 credit for this -- it was a major encouragement for me, and provided me with a couple of clients with which I still do business.

As time went on, I did everything right. I worked on my craft. I read the right books. I got coaching. I upgraded my equipment. I took a course in ProTools. I expanded my reach through personal contacts.

Now that I am much better at this than I was in 2005, (and therefore increased my rates), I have also seen a major decline in gigs booked here. Too many voices, too few good clients. And for those few, it seems to me that the same few voice actors get most of them -- I gather that from anecdotal evidence.

So, in short, no, Paul -- it's not you.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008, 14:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Ditto to all of the above.

I was one of the more successful talents on this site, and over the past 2 years or so have landed several DOZENS of jobs. Lately it's been a real dry pit, though.

IN FAIRNESS: I'm seeing this on all of the voice sites, though.
I think it's a combination of several possible factors:

- Economic woes are squeezing clients' budgets. They're being forced to pay less and also forced to outsource less work. I'd be willing to bet a lot of clients who - a year or two ago - would have said, "Let's get a pro to voice this" is now saying "Let's get Bill over in accounting to voice this; he's got a nice voice..."

- An influx of too many online players. Not only in terms of the number of online voiceover sites out there, but in terms of all the new blood coming into the game. Some are good, most are not. But it means you're now auditioning against many more people and against many who are willing to do a $500 job for $25.

Just my thoughts, but I could also be way off base here.

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

Lance Blair · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008, 17:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott is right, but there's cheap and then there's just the weird and cheap gigs that are showing up. Few substantial products or projects.

I understand the budgets going down...but for me it's not about the money. Too many of the projects are very Fly-By-Night with bad scripts and bad products, which is why I'm now officially not a Premium Subscriber.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

I have to agree with Lance. That was the most disturbing trend.

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

September Day Leach · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1526

I don't know. I get a great deal of my work from V123. I think that the included phone patch checkbox has a good bit to do with that. If you can't check that box, you are missing some good leads. It has been a bit slow of late, but I remember summer always slowing a bit. Take this time to contact your local ad agencies and get on their rosters, work on your demos, take a class. Hell, go for a walk. Wink

To be listed with V123 is a choice everyone has to make for themselves. If you don't get back enough to justify the auditions and subscription fee, then it's not for you, But I do believe that you can make a decent living by only having V123 and Voices dot com. Do I think it's the smartest marketing plan? Not at all. VO is a big beast and like all big beasties we have to sometimes slay, it helps to have a lot of good weapons, some loyal friends to come along for the siege, and a damn good Plan B.

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Ditto what Ember said.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, ISDN and Phone patch will make a difference, for sure -- you end up in a much smaller pool.

I think it also has to do with the type of voice you have and what your strengths are. There are definitely more leads and better leads for certain voice types than for others.

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

I would also add, even though a job has a "low budget" rate stated, you should audition anyway, and state your rate.

I land alot of gigs here, and most of them are those that were "low budget" but I just dictate my rate and I get it.

Clinton Nobles · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 197

An interesting quandary, says I.

With all this talk about Pro-Con of Voice123 and other net.voice.communities out there I am wondering what I should do. I know that I am in no way professional at this and that I am learning always more. However, I know at some point you have to start trying and learn by getting beat up. Locally isn't that available yet because I know I am not ready to commit money to recording a first demo (as someone said you cannot afford to have "first" demo . . . I want it to be good). I want to start auditioning, because I feel that it will train me and make me better for when I am ready to move into the Big Leagues. Here comes a biggy . . . . I don't want to waste my money.

I know what you all are probably thinking . . . and you are probably right (hee hee who can say Magnum PI lol) I am probably wasting my money by trying to submit. However, I feel like reading books and practicing infront of a mirror are only teaching me so much. I haven't been able to find acting classes locally and I am scheduled to go to two workshops at the end of this month. I am doing all I can at the moment and I would like to do more. Maybe I am being to anxious about it . . . or trying to move to quickly, but that is because I love this and want it to be a reality and not just a dream. I know that I will probably not get hired (or even get hired) from auditioning at this level, but I will be learning with every attempt.

Mostly my question is what site (if any) will be best for what I am doing. I don't want to waste my money and join a site that isn't going to actually teach me anything.

I would like your thoughts on this. I respect all of your opinions very much and weigh my enthusiasm against it. Thank you all for your time and help.

Greg Houser · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 174

Clinton,

have you tried auditioning for community theatre, or various online radio plays & such to further develop your acting chops?

I know that I've mentioned this in the past, but really, without a demo you're not going to be asked to audition anything, and you need experience before you get that first demo ready.

I agree that practicing can only take you so far, and to that extent I always tell people to get out there and perform... take risks! There's nothing lost if you take a few weeks to rehearse and do a local play, or to find a local improv group and learn a bit, or even to start auditioning for a radio play.

Pendant Productions is a good place to start.

As is www.yesand.com , and www.improvresourcecenter.com

There are also national organizations dedicated to the regional and community theatre groups... find them.

Otherwise, really... you're just throwing your $ away.

Yes, you're inexperienced... in many ways so am I. Don't let it be a crutch to keep you from progressing. If you're not ready, then you're not ready... but do something to help you take that next step.

/from the sermon Second Letter of St. Greg of Gearslutzs to the Clintonians
// Wink