I'm a "Newbie." Am I doing something WRONG???

Tom Daniels · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 7

Hello everyone.

My name is Tom Daniels, and yes, as far as voice-overs are concerned, I am a "newbie." I've been "round and round, up and down the dial" of radio as the song goes, and after being replaced by computer automation at my last radio gig, I felt voiceovers might not be a bad shot.

I've been a premium member of Voice123 for a week now. OK...Maybe that's not a tremendously long period, but after recording over 50 separate custom demos and answering just as many leads that required them, I have received just five DECLINES. Nothing else. So the ones I have not heard from have either NOT made a decision, or are not telling me. But there have been no DEALS.

Pardon my paranoia, but I'm actually starting to think there's something wrong with my presentation. Simply put, I'm experienced, I'm self-contained (record, produce and deliver all from my desktop) and I'm relatively inexpensive. For every lead that has displayed a budget range, I've never been greedy.

Therefore, I hope it's only a matter of time, patience, and being a good voice and an even better "bidder." But as big as Voice123 is, there has GOT to be someone out there that can ante up some useful assistance that I didn't already cover.

There are 10 demos, as well as my headshot and full bio, at my website: tomdaniels.voice123.com.

I'd be appreciative of any help offered.

Cheers!
Tom Daniels

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

Tom, first of all welcome.

Second, it really ain't gonna get all that much better. Many of us on here have gotten a couple jobs after only several hundred auditions over many months.

Find other ways to market yourself besides this site. If you want to eat, you simply have to.

Scott Nilsen

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

Did I read that right, Tom? Did you say "one week"?
And "50 demos"?
You have not perused these forum pages overlong, have you, Sir?
I'm not going to take the time to navigate to your site until you've taken the time to read some of these countless posts.
Because, Tom, that would be an insult to the dozens and dozens of voicers here who are in the fifth month. And on their 600 th audition.
Read up.
Just a bit.
With a more respectful and informed background, I'll be glad to help in any way I can.
Voice On!

John Bigl · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 905

Welcome Tom...

In a year being w/ V123 i've gotten one gig via a local studio.. that gig included i re-take at half rate, and a quick police dispatcher VO.. so, w/ those gigs i paid for my premium membership and a tad more....

like robert suggested, reading every topic in the Forum index will be very helpful.. for marketing, the Newbie thread "Tips on auditions from a producers viewpoint" started by Talent and Voice Seeker Anthony Reece..

i waited a year before being involved in the Forums, imo, it was very possibly a costly mistake...

like you, the station i was w/ got beamed up by a mother ship network tossin us in house folks out... its an adjustment, yes, but we have the chops and desire ... whats also helpful is patience, persistence and practice...

Welcome and,
Be Well

Tom Daniels · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 7

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

Thank you, Tom.
I really appreciate the trip you've made around the boards, and the comments you've left.
I didn't mean to be snippy.
But so many good people are struggling along and.....well, you know.
Anyway, I strolled through your stuff, and welcome you aboard our bobbing boat.
First off, you need to take off the little blurb on your site about 'som characters', and listing Tonto, Ny Cabbie and Old Man. It sounds tentative and amateurish; plus there are some brilliant character people around here. Leave it to them. Besides - in fifteen years - I've never seen one request for Tonto.
Even the Lone Ranger didn't really need him.
And yes, you MUST consolidate your demos there. While I congratulate you on embarking on the difficult conversion from radio to voice-over, there're some demos there that just do not work.
You do not have the hard-sell delivery to bring off the Chrysler or Hazard pieces. Posting them therefore weakens your overall impression. Both were sleepy and flat, as were the Signature Limos and Smith Import deliveries.
Your Upbeat and Crystal Clear demos also sounded too much like a high-schooler forced to read his composition in front of the class. I did not get drawn in at any point. They were comatose. You MUST be able to breathe life into the dullest text.
The good news, though, is that you do serious seriously well. You emoting wowed me, especially coming as it did from an old radio guy. The Karastan bit was you in full oratory power. The beginning of the Narrative demo was very, very good.
In short, pull those puppies post haste. Grab the best of each and stitch them together into one 75-second ear-catching sizzler.
Leaving them up there like that will only detract from the wonderful first impression a seeker may have of you.
Obviously, you're going to be fine.
Hope to hear more from you.
Voice On, and On, an On, and On!

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

Hard to believe I have more to say, Tom, but I do...
go to Scott Pratt's demo at voice over Idol from yesterday.
With the stuff you have, you should be able to stitch together a similarly attractive Commercial demo.
That's what you should post on your site.
Quality over quantity.
Then add others as you accumulate a portfolio of good stuff.
Advice On!