As I still have a day job and another part-time job, I hadn't yet done any auditioning, but in March, I decided my membership fee was being totally wasted if I didn't at least give it a shot. So I auditioned, with high hopes. I didn't understand how to read the site at first, but as I figured it out, I began to realize that about half of my auditions hadn't even been heard by the clients. I didn't know whether to feel more or less frustrated by that. Because I felt I might be missing out by not finding good projects or auditioning after too many others had already submitted, I decided to use a couple of vacation days to mostly spend time on my voice over business, and to spend a good deal of that time auditioning. I planned poorly, choosing April 17th and 18th, not realizing until later that Good Friday was a terrible time to try to work, because many businesses close that day, or gear down to at least close early. There weren't many auditions to even take a stab at, although I did devote time off to marketing in other ways.
To be completely honest, I don't really want to spend that much of my time working this site, and I would prefer to cultivate my own client list, but I felt more determined, and sure if I just got my audition in at the right time and the right person heard me, that there was no reason for them to choose anyone else. I can do the job as well as anyone. Beginning in June, I noted a higher percentage of my submissions were at least getting listens, and several of those were marked as "liked." Even though I was pretty certain something would eventually come my way, I was still surprised to see a different subject in the inbox of the email account I use especially for the site. It said money had been deposited for me because I'd been awarded a job. I couldn't even figure out how to get the script at first, but once I realized where the message was, I found the file, and quickly figured out how to upload my mp3. The client must have been happy enough because the file was accepted, and I got a 5-star rating, which I guess is how I got bumped to the site's Home page. At that point, my demos got more listens, which is really what I want as much as anything. I suppose that's how I got heard by someone else who invited me to audition for a project which wasn't supposed to be a great match, but is now going to be my next project--so I've booked two within a few days.
Getting the jobs I got last week was a big boost. For about a day. Then, I just became greedy for more, but maybe "greed is good"? I don't know, but getting the work just makes me want more work and gives me hope. A recent fortune cookie told me "Your current plans are going to succeed." Do I believe in a little piece of paper someone in a factory in California stuffed in a cookie? No. Do I believe in me? Yes, I believe I do.
"Can you hear me, the sound of my voice?" I hope you will.
