Comments on: Re-inventing the “re-”

By: Arlene

Arlene — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:57:32 +0000

I currently have a subscription that will run out in September. The only reason it runs until September is because they gave me a few months extension after I had problems receiving e-mails from them and customer service failed to serve their customer. It would appear that serving the voice talent that pays their bills is very low on their list of priorities.
I do get mostly the extremely low paying leads (my stats are very low because I rarely get rated (when I do get rated I usually get a 3 or 4). If I get rated every 10th audition, I can’t exactly compete with the person being rated very 4th or 5th audition, but that’s a whole different issue). The thing I’ve noticed recently is that the reminders seem to come when they have a very low response rate. For example, I’ve been getting “reminders” for gigs that pay say $50 for 2 .30s and only 16% of the allowed respondents have submitted auditions. Logic would dictate that they are getting the low response numbers because the rates are so low. However, logic doesn’t seem to be V123′s strong suit.
And, I do not intend to renew my subscription especially since they have increased their basic membership by $100.
Arlene Kahn

By: Dave Courvoisier

Dave Courvoisier — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:30:08 +0000

Peter,
I agree with you on all counts. Well said! Indeed, they’re the victim of their own designs.
Thanks for commenting, my friend!
Dave C

By: Peter O'Connell

Peter O'Connell — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:00:07 +0000

Dave:
My opinion is (and did you ever really doubt that I’d have one on this subject ;) is that V123 is reaping the natural results of its business model.
That is, you have thousands of voice talents auditioning for V123 jobs where only one person can be chosen. American Idol does that same thing and their process takes from January to May! And as with AI, V123 has some very suspect “talent” out there…untrained and, well, untalented! But yes there are some talent voices in the V123 mix.
But here’s the complaint from VO’s whose talent I do respect: if you’re not right there on line when the V123 job post comes up, you’re going to be audition # 250 and you’re probably not going to get heard. And besides, Lord knows how many crappy auditions the client has already sat through and probably isn’t in a hurry to continue to do. Its not “snooze you lose” but rather “blink you lose”.
So that’s one problem with the model as I see it.
The second problem I see with V123 is if you pay crap, by and large you get crap. Now there are certainly VO exceptions to that (sadly many good voices are in my opinion whoring themselves out by taking what’s ever offered on V123 and hurting both the industry and themselves.) But clients know V123 as low ball city rather than as a talent resource. Its a lousy reputation V123 has established, I think.
I have a free page on V123 but I will not pay for the service. If they want to provide me with a free page to help my SEO, then fine. And believe me, I’ve considered even removing that page as V123 is becoming such a low ball brand to be linked with.
Many people are chasing the VO dream: for many it will only be a dream and for others, they’re trying to pay bills on VO alone — which is not an easy task. For those folks I’d advise a little less dreaming and a bit more time with a calculator. Get real; and no, it’s not easy.
Dave, as a mutual friend of ours has noted, one has to have some spine in this business. If you know what you’re worth for a job, get that fee (wiggle a little if you need to…a LITTLE) but know your worth. Then (and here comes the spiney part) live and work your worth.
V123 hasn’t, doesn’t and doubtful will ever allow voice talents to do that under their current business model.
Best always,
- Peter