Voices123? Voices.com? Other? Where oh where???

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Permalink Reply by Tim Simmons on December 12, 2008 at 11:42pm

I think I have a similar problem. My voice leans toward character stuff. I don't know of any character/animation only site. :) I joined voices.com (the $200 plan) and so far (maybe 9 months) I've landed 1 eLearning gig, 1 DVD learning series, an audio book, a PC game (7 characters) and a couple other small jobs. I've probably sent 400 demos in since I joined. Every 100 auditions I land 1 job. :) So, I'm not even paying bills yet but I like voices.com because A) your demos can be stereo (unlike some OTHER sites) B) the demos can be up to 128kbps in quality (unlike some OTHER sites) C) you are not limited in how many auditions you may submit (like some OTHER sites). Voices redid their site and basically screwed up a lot of stuff from a functionality point of view. It's as if they hired someone to redesign it who just learned how to use FrontPage. Yeah, it makes no sense to change something and make it harder to use. BUT, I decided to stay on voices.com. They do have character jobs come up as well as the normal radio voice stuff.

Good luck.

Tim

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Chester on December 13, 2008 at 1:02am

I've heard good and bad about Voices.com. I have a VERY limited amount of do-re-me right now so I want the best possible site! Thanks a million for the advise! I hate being limited for anything because I have a large range but not a "commercial" voice. I have a demo up on voices (free) but after a month not one person has listened. Guess I need to do the pay thing.

As mentioned I am re-doing the demo and it will be up on the DEMO CRITIQUE here within days. Take a listen!
Thanks
Shelleyfofelly

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Permalink Reply by Johnny "Jay" Johnson on December 13, 2008 at 5:50am

I have to agree with that...but both of my membership fees have already paid for themselves on both sites though...

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Permalink Reply by Frank James Bailey on December 15, 2008 at 11:08am

I have always wondered about Voices.com and Voice123.com (there is another one called VOPlanet.com too) They are all kind of the same but my biggest question is, is it worth it?

I've been in radio for 20 years now and I've been told I have that good announcer voice. The kind of voice you hear on radio station imaging, TV Promos or maybe even movie trailers. But what I really want to do is character/animation. (I'm a big goof ball anyway...LOL)

With the membership fees to these sites going as high as $300 a year, can someone actually make there money back and (or course) make a profit?

Frank

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Chester on December 15, 2008 at 11:40am

I had a free 2 month trial at Voices123. I loved the chance to see all the scripts at the end of the day. I was frustrated by the ones where I didn't get invited to audition. The gigs I was invited to were mostly for narration, IVR etc that I wasn't right for. I have a wide range but they are character in nature so even trying the IVR bit was frustrating. Do any of the other sites have a free trial? I have 2 demos up at voices.com...NO ONE has even heard them! Granted I haven't paid yet but after 2 months you would think that SOMEONE might have stumbled across them...
How does VOPlanet work? Are either of these 2 better for animation?
Shelley

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Permalink Reply by Johnny "Jay" Johnson on December 13, 2008 at 5:48am

Truthfully, it has been my experience that it's the networking you do prsonally. Going out to conventions or seminars and meeting people who know people. I met an agent by going to a sci-fi convention, I didn't kow she was an agent and after we hit it off she learned I do voiceovers she asked to hear some and I did some for her.

I have gotten some decent gigs from both voices123 AND voices.com but overall my most fruitfull experience has been voice trading with other talent and networking with the right people.

I have been voice trading (that is voiceover for a voiceover since I am also a producer) with a guy in Ireland for almost two years, just recently a customer I've done well over a dozen things for upped his order and now I'm getting paid to do the in-store audio too. Minor investment for some 30 second ads and now I'm being paid a decent wage to do the much longer in-store stuff too.

If you'd like some more practical experience to add to your resume check out my website audiofanfic.com and click one of the Doctor Who stories at the bottom of the page. We're doing fanfic audio dramas, which are fan written dramas. Since they are copyrighted material we can't charge for them so the talent is totally voluntary but it makes for great experience if you're interested and eventually we plan to do one for original works of fiction which would allow talent to get paid for their work.

Good luck! I look forward to the demo and would love to give my 2 cents...

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Chester on December 13, 2008 at 11:28am

WOW! Great advise. I would love to take part in voice sharing. Your audio books are great. Count me in!
Shelleyfofelly

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Permalink Reply by Joe J Thomas on December 13, 2008 at 12:04pm

Hi Shelley,

It's Joe from Julie Williams forum.

There are other groups out there for practice as well. Dream Realm (dregold.net) and Pendant Audio are two more to check into. Neither one pays, but it's not bad for practice.

If you're really serious about doing characters, cartoons, anime, video games, etc... you may have to move! There's some work in Dallas with Funimation, but the majority is in Los Angeles. Don't get packing just yet - you'll be competing with some heavy hitters, so you need to be in top condition.

If you haven't already, you may want to get into theatre and improv. Both are excellent for building real character personalities, with more depth to them. Even the silliest characters have to connect with the audience and be "real" on some level...

I've gotten some character work thru online services, but the majority is from my agent and contacts in LA.

Hope this helps - see you on Julie's forum ;-)
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Chester on December 13, 2008 at 3:54pm

I'm in BURBANK! Perfect for Animation! I have several years of Improv, acting etc. Just getting into V/O. Thank you for the suggestions.
Shelleyfofelly

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Permalink Reply by Joe J Thomas on December 14, 2008 at 11:53am

Great!

There are some wonderful classes here. Susan Blu (Blupka), Bob Bergen, Kahlmenson, Marc Cashman, etc...

I took several with Cynthia Songe from Blupka. She also produced my demos.

Cheers,
Joe

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Permalink Reply by Shelley Chester on December 13, 2008 at 6:33pm

NEW DEMO IS ON THE CRITIQUE PAGE!

I appreciate your opinion!!

Shelleyfofelly

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Permalink Reply by Ed Mace on March 9, 2009 at 2:23pm

Hi Shelley,
I belong to both sites currently and my strengths are also more in the character arena as well.I have found that there a number of auditions for character voices on both sites.Once you do get chosen,then chances are better for you in terms of establishing a relationship with those clients for repeat work that doesn't involve the 2 sites. I guess it's about getting your foot in the door and if belonging to a VO site helps,then go for it : ) Regarding the other areas of IVR,website promos,etc.,sometimes it doesn't hurt to approach them as simply different sounding characters. Good luck,Ed Mace

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