I supposed this is encouraged.

Ty Unglebower · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2

No, not everyone does it, but it seems most people prefer it if new people make an appearence here on the forum. I have had a premium account for a month, but I generally hate forums of any kind, so I have put it off. But to be semi-social, I will introduce myself.

I am Ty. All other information you could possibly want is on my profile.

I am not bitter or anything like that, but I have some opinions to share, just so people in the forums know where I stand. Perhaps others may have found themselves in situations similar to my own.

Voice123.com was an exciting experiment for me, when first I came into contact with it. But it is not an experiment I see myself continuing when my subscription expires. I suppose I can blame that on what I now know to be the highly unusual and extremely rare circumstances under which I came to be aware of it all.

My first contact with it was with a friend of mine who works in a company that has more than once made use of the talent database here at Voice 123. I had never heard of this place before, but when she described how she made use of it, I was encouraged.

As marketing director of a small company, she needed voice overs. She came here, entered keywords for the type of voice she was looking for, and proceeded to listen to the demos...and offer a private lead to the person she liked for any given job.

As I have had some voice training, and a whole slew of acting training, (it is what I studied in college), I figured this would be an ideal supplemental income sort of thing. I present my voice, and those small companies or studios, or film students in college who are looking for "that voice" would search, as my friend did, and if they liked my samples, fine. I washired for their little project. If not, someone else at some point would.

It has become clear that I made a mistake. This service is not what I thought that it was. (as described above.) I honestly did believe it was mostly for smaller jobs, and for people who were just starting out. I did not realize it was mostly for people who have already been in the business for 10 or 20 years or more; or for talent seekers looking for national commericials, and world wide distribution narrations and other such huge, high end projects that in all liklihood I never would have even attempted to be a part of. I have been an actor for 8 years, and was an FM radio broadcaster for four. I was not famous, but I am good, and I thought certainly good enough for the occassional voice mail message for "Widgets, Inc" in Small Town USA. If indeed I am qualified to do such work, it does not seem likley I will find it here. Not when 200+ people are applying for the same job.

Apparantly, very very few people here, become hired in the manner my friend hired voice talent.

Here in the forums there seems to be, from what I gather, many nice people. Some of the advice is sound, while other pieces of it seem a bit unrealistic for the average person. I will not of course use any names, or pinpoint which specific advice I find counterproductive or hard to believe, but suffice to say I have been taught that I probably should not bother. (Not directly, just in general from reading these forums.)

I have gotten no work at all from the service. While I know, based on my reading, that it can take years of subscriptions to get one single job, I have also learned that given all of the things one must do in addittion to that, (according to many "veterans" here on the forum) I have no real chance of accomplishing the goal I set out to do when I opened my account. (Being a reliable, talented go to guy for Widgets Inc. when they need "a voice") Thanks to these forums, I have been duly educated in the fruitlessness.

Those of you helpful people out there who may read this, and decide to listen to my demos and offer explanations as to why I get no work, I thank you for your potential interest and expertise. However, I probably would not bother if I were you. I know it would be terrible to most of you. My profile has recently been gutted...I have only two small unimpressive demos there right now as place holders, until such time, (if any) I decide to spend thousands of dollars for 60 seconds of my own voice, so as to possibly once a year land a 100 dollar job.

And no thank you I will not submit samples of any new demos to be torn apart on the voice over Idol forums.

In closing I just want to say I am not a bum looking to get rich quick. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday, and I did not come out of nowhere. As my resume indicates, I did not just shoot into this sort of thing out of the blue. I am not allergic to hard work, as I assureyou I have done alot of it to buildthe type of resume I do have. I simply thought I had some talent enough to play a little Carolina League baseball for some folks.

So, that is my introduction, my assesement, and my prospects.

Amy Snively · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 1028

ROFL!

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

Uh... hi?

Victor Harris · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007, 20:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Ty,

Okay dude, we hear you. Don't think that everyone here is happy with the high response rate to auditions. However, we keep putting one step in front of the other. Go ahead and throw your demo up on here. There are several of us here to render assistance. I have even had people call me at home.

If you need help, just ask. We have heard numerous demos from people who have been radio DJ's or reporters...but that doesn't make them voice over actors. Its just not the same. If you are too thin skinned for this business, then just walk away now. I promise, you get more "No's" in this business then "Yes's".

As far as equipment, yes, you will need the basic stuff. You don't have to have lots of expensive stuff to get going. Your kidding yourself. A computer, a good mic, and some software, used in a nice quiet part of your house (closet?) is all you need. You can get better stuff down the road.

As far as this service being a place for pros...I think not. Last year, these kinds of services only amounted to maybe 5-10% of my business! You have to market yourself and its constant. Like almost 75% of my day is marketing. You say you are a DJ, I mean what the heck, you have more marketing contacts at your disposal them most people right off the bat.

We are not bad people here. This is a loney business at times. This is a place we can enjoy some company, either professionally or personally. So, come on and join us.

You can pm me anytime if you have questions. So, stop being a "Putz", and surrender yourself as a student a little. You might be suprised what some of us can teach you....or you can teach us. Wink

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Wow Ty!
It is a little weird, I am new...about one month in and just like you no work.

I don't have radio on my resume, but I have tons of public speaking experience from small meetings to presenting at large assmblies 500 or more people.

I am quite a bit older than you I think. I and sold my business a couple of years ago to spend time with my kids.

I have been really lucky in my career before this one, but a buddy of mine has always said, "the harder i work, the luckier I get".

I have been essentially bankrupt more than once...I am talking people banging on the door and no electricity, but I never gave up. I always believed in myself (something I learned in the military) so I knew that even though things were bad, I had the ability to make them better.

So you have a decision to make. If you have just tried this and know it isn't for you, then fine...find something else to pay the bills. But if you are quitting because it is hard, then I suggest you suck it up and try a little harder.

Vic is right, there are a ton of people here who will help you out but you have to humble yourself and ask.

Heck, you might even make a friend or to in the process.

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007, 23:12 (GMT) Post subject:

Hello Ty,

Man sometimes it´s ok to feel frustrated, but this business it´s all about perseverance and hard work, Like Victor said (Thank you Victor) we are all here to offer support and learn from each other.
If this is your dream, I mean to be in the VO business, don´t give up. I personally have seen a ton of talents start in Voice123 with great results after some time, it requires a ton of effort, talent and just keep going at it.

Count on this community, you´ll be surprised how everyone here is willing to give you a hand.

Best to you.

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

Gentlemen, please.
Ty isn't really complaining that it's too difficult.
I read him as saying he didn't expect to be up against Vic, Sid Whatley, Colin Campbell, Scott, JS, Scott McF, and a host of other heavy hitters.
He assumed they were hanging around the Beverly Hill hotel pool and he would have to beat out Madge Skablonsky and stutterin' ol' Uncle Wilfred for small-time stuff.
He does have a point, in that a lot of fine full-time talents are scrabbling for the $150 jobbers he thought he'd be able to scrounge.
If that's what the lad is saying, I think we should let him quietly leave the kitchen. 'Cause if he can't stand the heat......
Voice On!

Todd Ellis · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007, 04:38 (GMT) Post subject:

Wow.

(good to see you back Victor)