Okay-- so what's the REAL skinny!

Therese French · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 36

Hey all... as you probably all know, I'M NEWBIE-- you can learn more about me (probably more than you would ever have wanted to know) over in the "Hello, Howdy, et al."

I wanna know the real deal... I tend to be a realist; a visionary but a realist all the same! This biz is a competative biz... SO MANY VOICES and so little time SO-- here's my question:

--+How many here on Voice123 have made back their yearly investment for their membership here with jobs they've booked from Voice123??

--+How in the world can a Newbie like me make a break into the market with SO many talents out there??? Realizing, the jobs and variety of jobs are SOOO vast, there's plenty to go around-- (considering the average radio station airs 12 commercial an hour, 24 hours a day, multiplied by X stations not counting web or OTHER media!) the talents to fill these jobs are JUST as saturated!!!!

--+Aside of the typical "networking" and "it's who you know"-- and a decent demo-- what can a nebie expect her first year?

--+How does the guppie (or maybe the aoemeba at this point) swim with the big fish? (and don't say, "one stroke at a time..." he he)

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR WISE COUNCIL TO SHARE AGE OLD SECRETS AND TIPS OF THE TRADE!

Therese

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

I'll get right back to you on these fascinating points, Therese...I've first got to get past that long moaning and groaning and stamina thing you mentioned elsewhere.

Vroom On!

Vance Elderkin · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 184

So far this year, I'm breaking even on Voice 123 investment. But the year is still young, I haven't been able to VO full-time, and I'm an eternal optimist.

Therese French · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 36

THANKS Vance for the info...

Just tryin to make sure my investment is a sound one and there's actually a chance I would, at the VERY least, make my money back with one or two jobs.

Good luck to you Vance...stay in touch!

Therese

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

I'm ahead of the game by a wide margin... but that doesn't say much about the whole populace.

Even the folks at V123 don't know (since payment and casting is outside their realm), but they *may* have a better idea...

...,
Joe

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

OK, I'm back.
After a nice long cold shower.

I follow the boards fairly closely, and I would take an informed guess that
95% of solid, dedicated, auditioning talents get their membership money back. I would further venture that some 50% of solid, dedicated, auditioning talents get their money back and then some.

About 10% of solid, dedicated, auditioning talent actually makes a decent amount of change.

But please keep in mind that there are some 4,000 of us. And maybe 15% of them qualify as solid, dedicated, auditioning talents.

Just check the math: 40 genuine posts per week/2080 posts per year/4000 talents....

You'd better not use a V123 membership as collateral at the bank, if you see what I mean.

Voice On!

Anthony Williams · **Voice Talent** Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 663

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Very Good Robert!!! lachtot

:

Therese French · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 36

Yeah... I get ya Robert!!! LOUD and clear!

I have no intentions on making my mortgage payment or even my credit card payment with it at first...or maybe not ever! I work full time but would like this as a side line for-- "car wash money" he he (Bently that is!)

HOWEVER, don't misunderstand... I don't intend to sit around and wait for gold to be struck-- I intend fully to be (as you say) "a solid, auditioning talent"-- meaning, I will be taking this very seriously. I do very few things "half way"-- it's not in my nature!

SO ROBERT... (and all of you) thank you for the feedback. As soon as I make it to the "then some" part, we're goin to lunch-- or I could always apply it to your "online account"-- $5.99 a minute-- we'll see what you get! Shocked

Gotta go work on my demos!
T

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

Well Therese....

I'm still a newbie here myself....joined the site in Feb. I'm not really new to voiceovers, as I worked on and off in radio since 1988. But this freelancing thing I'm BRAND new to, and pretty much everything I learned, I've learned here. And I've learned A LOT in a very short time. This place is a WEATH of information to those of us starting out. I've gotten constructive criticism that has shaped me a great deal, advice on equipment, as well as good tips about where to buy music beds, and some have even been kind enough to give me a few free tools to use in my production here and there. These people are WONDERFUL!

Yes, I have made back my premium membership investment, and even WON another year's membership in a drawing that they hold every month in the General Chit Chat thread. (You can see the videos where Freddie draws and announces the winner here: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=voice123webinars ) Now, granted, if I had to LIVE on what I make, I'd be SCREWED! I've landed a few jobs, and feel pretty lucky to have, given my short time being here.

What I had originally intended to do, when I decided to do voiceovers, was contact an old friend of mine online who has an agent and got a national ad for Tylenol a couple of years ago. When I couldn't contact him, another friend of mine (who is now my partner in this...you can see him on my website) told me about Voice123. He had heard about it from a friend too. So...I joined, thinking....OK, BIG TIME, HERE I COME!! I learned real quick how stiff the competition is, and how hard its gonna be. But I would have quit already if I didn't think it was worth the effort. There are A LOT of talent seekers out there, and I keep believing that I'm going to be heard by just the right one(s) someday. I don't think this is a place to make a living...but I think it could be a TICKET to a place to make a living, you know? Its an excellent starting point.

This forum, like I said, is a WEALTH of info....just keep reading, and learning, and you'll be rolling with it in no time. Good luck to ya!! Very Happy

Therese French · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 36

THANKS SOO SOO MUCH for the encouragement! I too believe there is a wealth of information here to be had... I'm hoping to earn my way to deserving some of it!

THANKS for commenting and stopping by! I hope to hear from you again and hope to get to know you better!

G-night!
T

Debbie Deutsch · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 1338

I've made my investment back and then some, from jobs here at V123.
Have landed three jobs since last fall (Gals, just got the EastWest Mortgage gig with the neighborly ladies talking at the garage sale, remember? Got woman # 1)
Certainly not getting jobs at the speed of some of the other outstanding talents, but it certainly supplements my other career as a storyteller and speaker. So, I'm good to go!

Tom Greenlee · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 945

I have made my money back several times over, but oddly enough, not through public audition. It's all been through Private leads....a couple times I got the gig without even having to audition just based on my demo and the rest of the time were private leads asking me to custom audition a script and I got the gigs. Regardless of how you do it...(winning public auditions or landing gigs via Private leads) it's doing it that matters. I definitely think it's worth it.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007, 18:59 (GMT) Post subject:

I look at 123 as a script factory for practice and for the privaledge of being part of this community here at Savvy. The latter being more important than the former.

Every once in a blue moon, I get a job. For some reason, I never get job related private leads only from custom auditions for public ones. I don't know why that is other than maybe I'm not that good.

I audition EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (when there are auditions to do.) In 15 months I've done close to 1800 auditions. I've made my money back "and then some" but I'm not going to be retiring on it. BUT, the residual effects of this community just might lead me there. It is a spring board to bigger and better things.

One piece of advice that I learned the hard way. Don't audition for every single thing you see. Pick the well presented and APROPRIATE leads and concetrate on them. If they want you to recite the history of mankind for $50, DELETE IT. Not because you are too snooty to do those jobs but because it will lead you to more work. The leads you CONCENTRATE on while not waisting time on the ones that lead nowhere will get you more jobs in the long run that you feel better about from people who apreciate talent and don't mind paying for it.

Maggie's Voice · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 588

Maggie's Voice · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 588