p2p voiceover sites #wovochat 2-25-15

P2P Voiceover SitesTwitter Chat

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET

#[email protected]

#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org

Featuring

J. Michael Collins & Matt Cowlrick


Q1: How are P2P’s GOOD for the

voiceover marketplace? #WoVoChat

A1: Online sites allow talent from around the country

and around the world to access the industry like never

before. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A1: Online sites create an open and dynamic

marketplace where success is based on merit, not

connections. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A1: Online sites create work where none existed by

allowing clients access to voice talent in a manner free

of bureaucracy. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


A1: Online sites help talent grow and progress in their

career by enabling them to develop their business from

the ground up. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A1: They level the playing field and give new

producers access to voices with the online tools they

understand. #WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly

A1: They bring jobs, educational content, connect

people to people and sometimes sponsor community

events. #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell

A1: Democratize the audition process, so talent

doesn’t need to be in LA or NYC here in the US.

#WoVoChat

@vallencourt


A1: They allow talent to connect with customers they

may not meet otherwise. #WoVoChat

@lisaricevoice


Q2: How are P2P’s BAD for the

voiceover marketplace? #WoVoChat

A2: P2P founders often come from industries such as

tech & marketing & don’t have the same experience in

VO as agents and talent. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A2: As such, focus is sometimes on transactions

(fees, subscriptions) rather than fair rates and

conditions for talent. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A2: Talent can become too fixated on P2P’s & not seek

direct relationships w/ad agencies, production houses &

marketing depts. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO


A2: Some P2P’s have a reluctance to be transparent

about their processes, which prevents accountability.

#WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A2: P2P’s are bad in that they teach talent to conform

to their guidelines and needs, not necessarily those of

the talent. #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell

A2: They inhibit (or sometimes prohibit) VO client

communications. #WoVoChat

@PeterBishipVO

A2: As a producer I have to sit through many levels of

“professional”. #WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly


A2: Too much encouragement for speed-auditioning.

#WoVoChat

@JCDunnVOX


Q3: Are P2P’s taking over territory that

agents traditionally held. #WoVoChat

A3: Yes and No. P2P’s are growing their base in the

local and regional commercial markets, but not so

much in the national market. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A3: P2P’s are acting as clearing houses for jobs many

agents don’t handle, like internal narration and

elearning. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A3: P2P’s offer an egalitarian marketplace that requires

not introductions or contacts, unlike most leading

agencies. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


A3: Online sites help talent grow and progress in their

career by enabling them to develop their business from

the ground up. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


Q4: You design the perfect P2P. What

would it look like? #WoVoChat

A4: The owners make money by subscribing the

clients too, not just the talent. #WoVoChat

@CourVo

A4: The site has some way of qualifying the

professionalism of the talent. #WoVoChat

@CourVo

A4: Owners hold to minimum compensation formulas for

the different genres, and keep to them. #WoVoChat

@CourVo


A4: Auditions come with a report of how many people

have auditioned already.(some do so now) #WoVoChat

@CourVo

A4: Talent have access to all or most of the available

jobs. #WoVoChat

@CourVo

A4: The use of understood rates to eliminate

underbidding and dragging down rates for the entire

VO industry. #WoVoChat

@JCDunnVOX

A4: Some type of rating for studio/audio quality would be

nice. #WoVoChat

@lisaricevoice


A4: One that requires a reasonable and fair structure for

work performed, and weeds out unprofessional talent.

#WoVoChat

@vallencourt

A4: Something that doesn’t intervene with vo-client

relationships. #WoVoChat

@AudioCaroline

A4: Incorporates feedback for the artist. Poor quality?

Didn’t like the tone/pacing? Bad read? Etc.

#WoVoChat

@scottmedvetz

A4: Where the needs of the VO talent are just as

important as the needs of the client. We both need each

other. #WoVoChat

@FaithCoonsVO


A4: Tools and resources to be successful for a

freelancing lifestyle. #WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly


Q5: What is the best way to make

money consistently on the P2P

sites?#WoVoChat

A5: Audition aggressively for all jobs that are within

your ability range. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A5: Cultivate and nurture long term relationships with

clients to grow self-sustaining business. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A5: Present yourself in a professional manner at all

times, from your demo to our profile, to the language

you use with clients. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


A5: Be aware of the quality of your competition. Amateurs

do not have success on the big two sites. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A5: Currently? Sit in your booth and jump on every

audition that suits your skills. #WoVoChat

@AudioCaroline

A5: Be lucky enough to get ahead every time.

#WoVoChat

@steveovoice

A5: Taking the time to participate but finding which one is

worth your time consistently, that’s the conundrum.

#WoVoChat

@FaithCoonsVO


A5: Bid over the range if that’s what the job is worth to

YOU. Don’t get into a lowball war. #WoVoChat

@PeterBishopVO


Q6: Are P2P’s merely a stepping stone

to some other marketplace paradigm

that is emerging? #WoVoChat

A6: The P2P’s have certainly introduced functionality,

speed and cloud-based service to the marketplace.

#WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A6: In time there may be more of a convergence of the

traditional agency model & online casting. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A6: Some production houses have vetted, professional

talent banks & have developed and intuitive casting

process for the client. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO


A6: As their marketing efforts become more competitive

vs. P2Ps(investment in SEO & ads) we may see more

traffic to those sites. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A6: The new VO paradigm production approach will

be streamlined, efficient and consistent. We all work

as partners. #WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly

A6: Pay-to-play but not ALL day. Spend a fraction of

your time on them and then spend the rest of your day

doing REAL marketing! #WoVoChat

@voiceoversbytd

A6: I hope it is & lead to client seeking VO’s directly &

that we can also serve as the client care mgmt they need

in a project. #WoVoChat

@FaithCoonsVO



Q7: Are P2P sites good or evil?

#WoVoChat

A7: Neither. They are marketplaces where we sell our

wares. Like any marketplace they charge rent in

various forms. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A7: They are companies who exist for the purpose of

profit, not to hold hands and sing cumbaya. Your job

is to earn from them. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A7: They can be forces for good if talent hold the line on

pricing. P2Ps are creating work from thin air, which

helps us all. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


A7: They can be evil if we give in to the myth of too much

competition and undercut prices. Then it will be a race to

the bottom. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A7: If they work for you, got for it. If they don’t, move

on. #WoVoChat

@jerrysvoice

A7: No black and white here. Shades of grey.

#WoVoChat

@scottmedvetz

A7: Like everything in life there are always two sides of

the coin. Some are more evil than good & vice versa. U

need to be wise. #WoVoChat

@FaithCoonsVO


A7: More like “not for everyone”.#WoVoChat

@ChuckDavisCreat

A7: They are neither good nor evil. Like money-they

are a tool. It’s how YOU use them that defines them.

#WoVoChat

@VObyMoe

A7: Websites are good in theory. How people use them

and run them can turn evil. Every action is a reaction to

something else. #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell

A7: Not evil but frustrating. From producer side, I’ve

looked to P2P for VO types to fill niches and

searching was frustrating. #WoVoChat

@karndawn


A7: Those are strong opposites. Each P2P has pros

and cons. Talent must decide how much they want to

invest time and money wise. #WoVoChat

@lisaricevoice


Q8: What are some of the problems to

having a listed rate card? #WoVoChat

A8: Not all clients are the same. A local company may

not have the same budget/exposure as a

multinational. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A8: By listing publicly on a site, seekers may find it

cheaper to book through P2P than directly, cutting your

ability to negotiate. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A8: There is the danger you will be seen as an item on a

shop shelf, rather than a professional vendor. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO


A8: You are in less control of your career. Inflation

adjusts annually; does P2P’s rate card? #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A8: I never list rate cards on my site. When working with

clients direct, everyone has a different budget.

#WoVoChat

@voiceoversbytd

A8: Removes negotiating power, doesn’t take into

account localized overhead, puts power of pricing in

the wrong hands…not done... #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell

A8: Every project is a different animal with different

needs. Price accordingly, not with a cookie cutter rate

card. #WoVoChat

@AudioCaroline


A8: That is the key to all of this! Do not undersell

yourself! Everybody has a price of how much they will

charge. Think about it! #WoVoChat

@BobGlavinVO

A8: Because OUR rates are often not the same as the

clients. Both ways. #WoVoChat

@steveovoice

A8: The union has a rate card…but you can bet your

sweet bippy that Brad Pitt doesn’t work to it! #WoVoChat

@PeterBishipVO

A8: If you send a rate card will they smile or gag?

Rates are all over the place in US. I try to work with

client’s budget. #WoVoChat

@jacksvoices


A8: On occasion, the client may be willing to pay more

than your published rate. “He he mentions price first,

loses.” Confucius #WoVoChat

@Joes_SpeakEasy


Q9: What are the things everyone

needs to succeed in online casting?

#WoVoChat

A9: Talent and training. Don’t jump online before you

are ready. Work with a qualified coach. You will be

competing against pros! #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A9: Awesome demos. 50% of online jobs are cast

through private invite and direct booking from you

demo. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A9: Technical savvy. You must have quality acoustics

and the ability to edit your audio well. If in doubt, talk to

the EWABS guys. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover


A9: Patience. It doesn’t happen overnight. It took me 6

months to book my first 30 or so jobs online with 15 years

pro experience. #WoVoChat

@jmcvoiceover

A9: Advertisers are under constant pressure. Become

the best possible production partner to support those

needs. #WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly

A9: Listen to how the client wants the script read and

submit 2-3 takes. There are too many people in this biz

who don’t listen. #WoVoChat

@voiceoversbytd

A9: Be smart in choosing the jobs you are legitimate for,

and have the compensation you deserve. #WoVoChat

@CourVO


A9: Just being the best service provider/partner

possible. #WoVoChat

@ChuckDavisCreat

A9: Practice, patience, persistence, professionalism.

#WoVoChat

@MelsBritishVOs

A9: Let’s not forget technical standards. Don’t use a $50

USB mic on the kitchen table…as some P2P’s tell you is

fine! #WoVoChat

@PeterBishopVO


A9: Take risks with copy reads. Be something everyone

else is NOT. #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell


Q10: What can talent do to foster a

better P2P marketplace? #WoVoChat

A10: Educate yourself on usage and appropriate

rates. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A10: Think long term career. Perpetual buyouts can bring

about severe loss for you business in the future.

#WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A10: Don’t see the internet as it was 5 years ago. Jobs for

web are not as ‘non-broadcast’ as they used to be. #rates

#WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO


A10: Don’t be afraid to speak up & ask tough questions

of both P2P staff AND your fellow talent. Take ownership

of your industry. #WoVoChat

@DownUnderVO

A10: Speak up! Hold to your rates! You’re worth

it!#WoVoChat

@CourVo

A10: Don’t settle for low rates. #WoVoChat

@LorencePamela

A10: Stand for what you know you are worth and avoid

everything you wish did not exist. #WoVoChat

@StevenLowell


A10: Don’t give the lowball postings the time of day.

#WoVoChat

@AudioCaroline

A10: Provide quality and don’t underbid your talent and

skill. #WoVoChat

@vallencourt

A10: Talent need to actively create, improve and take

responsibility for the success of their career.

#WoVoChat

@VO_Kennelly

A10: Send them a copy of this #wovochat! Best piece of

customer feedback they’ll ever get in one place.

#WoVoChat

@MelsBritishVOs


A10: Realize it’s not going away & decide how you want

to interact with P2P without judging others who do.

Think like a biz owner. #WoVoChat

@FaithCoonsVO


Join Us for the next #WoVoChat on

Wednesday, March 11th

12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET!

Topic: ISDN vs. IP Alternatives

Check out the entire 2-25-15 #WoVoChat at

our Storify:

bit.ly/WoVoChat_5

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