Earlier this week, Voice123 announced that they will now offer a Premium Platinum Subscription. Your questions came in throughout the week, so I figured we can answer them in one big shot!
“Why do you appear to be “soft selling” this, when it seems like something many would want?”
- Simply put… Price, responsibility, transparency, and we still think SmartCast offers a great service.
- Price…We are making a point, “If it seems too high, it will not make sense for you to have it.”
- Responsibility…Voice123 already knows you can’t have hundreds of voice talent auditioning for one job. It creates a race to the bottom.
- Transparency…Websites are obligated to explain what they are doing to help you decide. If they don’t, you are using the wrong website.
- We think SmartCast works…There are talent who benefit from SmartCast by reminding them of their choices throughout the year.
“Who would want this and why? What does it mean?” Specifically voice talent who…
- Tired of using multiple accounts on Voice123
- Want to use ONE account, ONE email address, and ONE website (Our work pays better by talent’s choice)
- These folks are at the top of their game. They audition 12-15 times a day, selective, and still work on top of that…It is now a life-style and full-time job.
“Am I right for this?”
- You will know when you know. Honestly, you wont pay more and suddenly get more work just because you are first.
- I read stories of people who went out and purchased ISDN, a new mic, and new studio, but they had never even made a demo, taken an acting class, or edited before. Although it is cheaper to get started now than years past, the skills required for business and acting have not. You will just know when you are ready because it will make sense to you.
“Will it affect those on SmartCast right now, or will more jobs go to these folks?”
- No, not at all. Not everyone is right for every job. People use websites to get more quality choices. If they thought they would only get the same few items each time, eventually they would get sick of the store.
“Are you serious? Where do you get these ideas?”
- Since July 2007, Voice123 has had a customer feedback service in place handled by voice talent to translate the needs of other voice talent. Ideas for solutions to problems come from the Voice123 community at large.
“Why are you treating voice talent like second-class citizens?”
- OK, now wait. That’s way over the top! Why? Some history…
- For years, Voice123 has had an average of 4000 voice talent as premium subscribers. Out of that group, especially those who endured the SmartCast release in July 2007, there were less than 100 who told us, “I love you guys, but you drive me nuts. I get hired all the time. I only want to use YOU. Please meet me halfway!” We are helping people who have already been working around the website.
- Ultimately, very little has changed, other than creating a convenient method for voice talent. Also, again, I mentioned before…If you run a website and you do not come clean with people about what you offer, your transparency is called into question.
- One final note on that….Your reality is what you make of it. You define yourself, and no one else.
“How does this compare to other similar subscriptions out there?”
- Fun fact: We have no idea. But YOU have told us. You see…In January 2008, I wrote my first blog for Voice123, and the same day all of my accounts on competing websites that I had before working here, were removed. I got the boot! LOL
Hey…I understand competition. It’s cool. Never be afraid to be competitive, as long as you show respect. Competition is a part of any business!
If you are interested in this Premium Platinum subscription, please email me at steven@voice123.com.
About the author
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Steven is the Community Manager of Voice123 |
Posted in: This Voicing Life on Voice123, Whats new with Voice123
Mike Erdmann
August 11, 2012
I have recently joined Voices123 as a Standard subcriber. I have been receiving voice coaching sessions with Terry Daniel and will soon be making a professional Demo with Terry’s guidance. I would like to take advantage of your services when I have a profession demo in place. In the meantime I have submitted a “test project” audition. I welcome any feedback you can give me. Can I submit other script reads in the meantime that are being sent to my email? Or is it best to wait until I have the demo that I’m working on with Terry Daniel?
Wendy
August 13, 2012
You still haven’t commented on the issue of whether it can possibly be relevant to voiceovers who do not have an American accent: you mention people auditioning 10 – 15 times a day: there isn’t that volume of work for British voiceovers such as myself on this site! I think it would be helpful to voiceover like myself to be reassured that this Premium membership is not something that can currently be relevant or make business sense. I look forward to your reply Steven.
Steven Lowell
August 13, 2012
Hi wendy,
British voice talent nor any talent outside north american, will not need this.
Again, if you don’t fit what I described as people who currently maybe interested then you won’t need it.
Why won’t it affect you? You don’t have much competition given your language is on a mainly north american site.
Also, the work is not so abundant that you feel you can usee this sitee only.
Maddie
August 13, 2012
Hi Steven,
I have been set up for voice 123 for about a week and a half. I am standered subcrider. My voice over coach Debroah Richards said that i should be getting at leats 10 auditoins a week. but i have only gotton one which closed before i had a chance to record it. Can I get more auditoins by joining platnum, or is it just that thre have not been many auditoins for my range. Or any other things I should know? Also i do have a demo on voice 123 and profile is complete.
Steven Lowell
August 14, 2012
Maddie,
Please check the video on how the website works on http://youtube.com/voice123voiceovers
You do not get 10 auditions by default. There are reasons people get invited and you have to know what those reasons are, which I explain in the video.
Rachel Fulginiti
August 15, 2012
I have a question. I have been a member for several years. When I first started at V123, I was booking jobs quite frequently and everything was great. I have noticed for the past year or year and a half, though, it seems like many many times: 1) I am in the “number 1″ position for a job, yet I never get contacted regarding it or 2) the audition doesn’t get listened to at all. Would being a Platinum member remedy this at all? I am also wondering if there’s any way of tracking who gets these jobs, if they ever actually get produced and if the people they hire were from V123? Thanks.
Steven Lowell
August 15, 2012
Hi Rachel,
First things first…Your initial problem with being ranked 1st is discussed in an earlier blog I wrote last month about “what feedback actually matters”.
As for people not listening…You can prevent this, and I wish more talent would use the tools at hand to avoid this issue. Voice123 displays what Voice Seekers listen at the bottom of every project. You would be surprised how much “job selection” plays a role in getting work. You have to know what people work the way you want them to, by the info we display. On average more than 75% of auditions are opened. That lesser 25% is EASILY preventable with the info we give.
Being a Premium Platinum remedies the problems of:
1. Waiting for SmartCast to invite you when you know you were meant for something.
2. The issue of having to use more than one account, website, and email.
BUT…these folks are STILL selective, and STILL dont waste time on jobs they dont agree with.
I notice many still audition based on budget and if it matches. If thats all they base it on, there is much they overlook.
As for knowing who gets hired…Voice talent tell us, but we dont track it. We connect people and dont get involved in a talent’s biz unless they ask. We also have customer feedback coming in everyday from seekers and talent who tell us about what happened when they use the site.
Best to you!
Steven