I'm writing to share about my most recent booking through Voices.com. Specifically, I've read observations on social networking websites and reviews about how winning bookings through Voices.com "is such a numbers game, you need to submit your audition faster than any other applicants, forget about ever getting reviewed if you're not one of the first to respond..." and so on.
Now, I realize that the "Pay to Play" marketplace is not for everyone, and it is very easy to get discouraged when you see so many other talents landing jobs you "know" you should have gotten, if only you had been poised over your computer when the listing popped up, and you had the chance to beat everyone else to the audition but this really was not the case with my latest job.
I responded to an "Educational" listing by submitting my primary demo, which includes samples of my teaching and narration delivery. When the job "Closed" on the Hiring board, I was listed as submission 51 of 85. The client responded to my submission with a request for a sample reading of their text, and from that custom read, I was awarded the job.
The client shared with me that he had listened to close to 90 submissions and chose me because he liked my voice and "teaching" delivery, I had placed an emphasis on "reading to instruct," and indicated that he would like to collaborate on future educational projects!
In my experience, the Voices.com marketplace is just that - a marketplace. There is a lot of competition for the jobs that are listed, and I'm sure that many talent feel the urge that to be "first in line" is the only sure way to be awarded a job. In this case, my marketing plan of responding to a listing with a demo that was specific to the client's needs, and following up with a custom read, in a timely manner, moved me from #51 to #1!
Many thanks to the team at Voices.com for a service that puts me out in front to those who need the best of what I do - teach!
I concur.
I auditioned just recently, using the client's script. The client responded saying we wouldn't collaborate on this project but they were impressed with my voice and that I auditioned using their actual script, and that they would be hiring me in the future.
I look forward to the day.
Your right Dan, it is "deeply" discouraging when one is plugging daily at auditions and nothing comes back, it's like hitting gulf balls into the darkness hoping to see where it goes than it disappears into the abyss. Well ,at least now , the new system either gives a green check or a thumbs up to tell you if you were close or short-listed.
Thank you so very much for your encouraging article and giving initiatives to those, like myself, that there are seekers that DO listen even if your #81 on the list. "First in doesn't necessarily mean first heard"..
Cheers!