Ty Ford wrote in
:

Hey Ty, thanks for taking the time.

1. Where are you?

I'm in Connecticut, about 1.5 hours from downtown NYC.

2. Have you read my cautions concerning getting into VO? (on
my site)

I've looked over your site but I must've missed that, so I'll do
that now. I've been scouring the web for information. Don't
worry, I don't have any delusions of grandeur or hitting it big
as the next Kasey Kasem or James Earl Jones. I have a
(reasonably) successful career that gives me plenty of time to
indulge in alternative pursuits ;-)


3. Being passably good at the art and craft of VO is
one thing. Being good at marketing your service is absolutely
required. It's 80% looking for work, 20% doing the work.
Unless you're prepared to spend about $1k on a demo, more on
it's replication and a LOT of time marketing yourself, save
the money for a nice vacation. The competition for "real life"
work is stiff.

Yea, I've "discovered" that it's not the panacea that uninformed
minds might think at first. I don't mind the small monetary
expense, but we'll see about the time. We do a lot of traveling
(~3-4 months of the year) on various excursions around the
planet. I don't want to sacrifice too much of that time, but
we'll see...

These days, even AFTRA/SAG people are cutting each others
throats to get gigs. I had a situation recently in which a
long-time narrator decided to give away his studio fee just to
get the voice fee (and to get the account away from me).
There's a special place in Hell for folks like that.

I value my time, as my profession is time-based. From the looks
of most hourly and day rates I've seen on may VO pros' web sites
this will be a considerable step down in income. I won't give my
time away. I'd MUCH rather lose a "gig" (gotta get used to that
term) or not compete for one at all then wholesale my time.

In New York, I hear there are AFTRA/SAG talent quite willing
to work for below scale.

AFTRA/SAG have done it to themselves, in my opinion. They have
been arrogantly pushing scale up without being mindful of the
market. The votes on contracts are based on membership. NY and
LA have the most, so, pretty much, what they say goes. NY and
LA have no sense of what life is like in the rest of the
country and they just don't care. I'm already seeing breakdown
in the lesser locals.

Is it worthwhile to be a member? I've read some varying opinions
on the matter. The pro I've been in contact with is mildly anti-
union, but says whatever works best for the individual, etc.

It's really sad. An entire way of working is melting down
because those who could make a difference don't have a clue.

Well, it's far from the only business that is coming apart at
the seams. I have pro photographer friends that are bemoaning
the advent of stock and royalty-free business models and the
dilution of the market by AP and others.

I'll scour your site some more now.

Thanks again, Ty!




Brendan