Voice 123 vs Voices.com (updated)

Here's the rundown on these two pay to play companies:

Voices.com

Cost: 300 a year

Job Type: Escrowed jobs. So clients pay them, then they take a cut and pay you through paypal.

Amount of Jobs: Lots

Extras: A legitimate review system based on work. Great customer service. Easy system.

Voice123.com

Cost: 400 a year

Job Type: Just auditions. You get notified and you can audition, whether you get the job or not, it's up to the client to contact you directly through v123.

Amount of Jobs: Lots

Extras: Not a great system, (there is no next audition button) and the customer service has no ability to help you if you get screwed over. Ugh

First off, Voices.com is head above tails better than v123. They manage the job itself. You don't have to send invoices. You work through them. The amount of auditions is consistent and the jobs have a minimum of 100 which is perfect. It creates a serious client. V123 sometimes posts ridiculously small pay jobs. I've had to turn down a few.

However, if you are successful in voices.com then you absolutely should invest into v123. Here's the main reason, they have upped the amount of jobs. I would say it is on par with the amount of jobs that voices brings me. This used to be much worse. I have auditioned for 900 percent more than the average user, and I can tell you, I am picky about auditions. And the quality has gotten a little better, I'm seeing less no budgets and more of at least 100. But, remember to read the LENGTH portion of the audition. You may get something that is a heck of a lot bigger than you expected.

Oh and a quick note, I SLATE. I purposefully slate every audition, and if anyone says don't slate, SLATE ANYWAY. They should be thanking you for not watermarking your stuff. You will run into clients that think that they are doing you a favor.  These are just bad clients. Here are a few key rules to live by.

1) Always slate auditions.

2) Ask them to specify a time deadline, if it's quick you can ask for more.

3) Never work until you have an email stating you are awarded a job OR a deposit awarded through voices.

4)  Inform clients of your pickup rounds rules. I usually do 2 rounds for smaller projects. 

Voice123 has some major caveats. You must be a business if you join them. This means you have to be prepared to negotiate your fees, get invoices out, contact late payers, and keep track of all jobs. Clients WILL forget to pay you if you don't remind them.  The other major caveat is you never know what happens to these jobs. At least with voices, you kind of see the awarding. With voice123, there is no clue. Also, they have to nerve to ask if you were awarded the job. 

Despite all those things I hate, they get me lots of auditions and a small percentage end up turning into jobs.  Similar percentage of voices. But, I repeat DONT get it unless you are successful at voices.

A great way to set up goals for this, if you are a newcomer. I'd say pay for voices.com. Make 600 with voices. Put three hundred away for your next year membership wtih voices. Now, make 400 for v123, Pop that in and do the same thing. Once you have secured the next year and got your money back from this year, start saving up. 

If you want to take a crack at making non union vo money, then this is the ticket. It takes efforts , time and practice. But, you can do it. Take care.