Hello-I'm a voice over talent in the U.S. I've been on Mandy for 18 months now. I have not gotten any jobs and was wondering if anyone knows, on average, how many voice over talent are potentially applying for any one job. When I get an email from Mandy of a job match, I apply to most of them, although some are not even close to what I have on my profile, such a Spanish speaking male, (I'm a white female). What are the odds of having my audition heard by anybody? It's hard to believe, given my success on other platforms, that I haven't gotten one job. I had one false start with someone who wanted IVR but then they said they were not doing it. Another just said thank you for applying but we've chosen someone else. That's it. That is all the communication I have received. I was wondering what other's experience has been and maybe some tips for being heard. Am I in competition with thousands of other VO talent when I submit an audition or is it under 100, for example? I've asked Mandy but they did not have an answer for me. They said they don't know. I'm ready to cancel my subscription with them but thought I'd reach out and see what others have experienced before I do. Thanks so much.
I've gotten some very nice replies from people but no business yet on this site, and I've been here a few years. It's inexpensive for a casting site considering the biggies can cost up to thousands of dollars for the good stuff. I have had interest, but no jobs yet.
These are all very enlightening posts. I just recently joined for a month trial. I've been on Backstage for a year with only a few nopay but very fun jobs. Thanks to this post, I will watermark all my auditions.
With regard to scams, I did submit my info to the 1starr ad. That too has the familiar odor of scam. I'll update my experiences on the 1Starr Enterprises post that Donald Deane started.
I'd imagine that casting directors and producers job for picking someone if they don't already have a favorite go-to has to be kind of tough sometimes. If I sat there and listened to too many people I would end up with a case of "paralysis of analysis" and flipping coins while my boss is saying hurry up and pick somebody!
Wow, what a shame reading all these disappointing stories...I signed up on the free plan years before it became Mandy, and had a few auditions but never landed a paid bit. I presumed mostly because I didn't qualify to even apply to 99% of the jobs listed unless I paid for the 'premium membership', but also because of the limited files (one) I could upload as a sample reel.
Sadly, I finally took steps to update my studio and equipment and decided today to buy in to a membership for a year, and now I see mostly a lot of talented people who've been paying for the privilege to apply for paid jobs that never really materialize in terms of actual work.
I wish I'd read these before I entered my info and clicked on the "pay" tab
Just keep at it Chris. The least that can happen is you'll get the practice and it's better than gambling. What might apply to any of US might not apply to YOU at all. Just audition and forget about it. On this site they don't tell you if you got at least shortlisted.
Thanks Michael, I'm paid up anyway so might as well use the additional opportunities to build up the audition resume and gain more experience, right? That can never be a bad thing.
Right. I personally think that your stuff sounds on point to what's been trendy in characters and when I'm not supposed to be able to tell that it's you; I can't! I can certainly imagine that for example if they needed a new artist for the voice of Venom you'd have no problem with that.
Over a year and only one "viewed" application with a paid "membership". Doesn't seem to be a great place to find voice over work. I'll finish out the year, but (unless the sky opens up), I'll be moving on.
I try to have a large variety of voices and tonalities available to demo. I may upload a sample of an audiobook reading with multiple character lines if it might help.
I believe your voice is very suited to all the files you have as well.
Can't hurt to keep at it.
My 1 month "trial" paid period is almost up and I can see why so many folks are disappointed. During this time, there were no more than 6 possible matched VO jobs. Pretty darn poor.
Robin how much in that long time would you say you auditioned?
I made a profile on a couple more of these types of sites; one of you have to give them 29 Euro per month just to audition and the other is upward of 600 year... You'd have to book several projects from them to cover that too. Worthless.
I don't audition. I'm a director of photography with HDTV, 4K, Super16 film and drone cameras, two AVID Symphony edit systems and over 50 regular clients. Global credits, global clients. Four Presidents of the United States. Thousands of broadcast and corporate credits. I've been in the business over forty successful years - without a blemish. Mandy doesn't work for me - free or paid, but I hope it works for you.
Ditto. I’m a voice actor with a lot of training and (I’d like to think) some skill but little pro experience, trying to use Mandy as a relatively inexpensive booking platform. It hasn’t worked. Submitted many auditions but few have even been listened to, and I’ve gotten no bookings. Relevant (American male VO) job postings have also sharply diminished in the last few months, which may be a good thing by saving me wasted audition time. In any case, Mandy isn’t worth even its low subscription cost and I won’t renew. If anyone has found other VO platforms more fruitful, which ones?
Mine is a paid up lifetime one. I figure it's just a highly saturated market like barber shops and pizza joints but they typically hire only one person at a time.... And if I'm not good enough then I'm not good enough!
Same issue here!! Only been here a couple of months. Wow, didn't think this place was a scam but now i'm wondering. I have submitted several auditions ( I only read a few lines for tone etc) but have not heard from anyone... I joined Upwork (free), and while the pay rates seem very low, I have gotten responses from companies and scripts to audition (again, I never read the entire script for an audition). But no $$$!!! Very disappointing. Guess I have to see about an agent.
I have paid for over a year, and have yet to receive a paying gig. I have the market cornered on polite rejection letters however. I am wondering if this is all just a farm system for getting VO's for free. I try to not send fully completed auditions and if there's practically a mini "novel" IN the audition, i'll only record a few lines, so they get a taste without being able to snag the whole thing.
Honestly I make more money doing dj drops via Facebook than I could ever dream to make here (so far).
Getting more and more frustrated with Mandy! Beginning to believe this site is a SCAM. I think most of these job posts have already been filled before Mandy posts them. So far, a complete waste of money and time.
I agree that it's frustrating to keep auditioning without any responses. But, that is part of the business of 'acting...'
I booked a nice series of Explainer Videos via Mandy. The Agency contacted me about directly after I sent an audition for something else with a higher price tag. Still, I haven't been disappointed, and I certainly recouped my annual membership fee. BUT, the amount of auditions that are right for me make me question resubscribing once my year is up. The only plus is that it is REALLY inexpensive compared to other P2Ps.
Hi All -- wondering if this will continue on as Mandy now that it is part of Backstage? Seems like a much bigger platform on the GS site with more potential.
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