Outside the box submissions
Ok, so clients come to VB because they know VB will bend over backwards to give them best quality read as quickly as possible, and it will be exactly what they asked for.
Problem: sometimes a client either doesn't actually know what they want, or they don't know how to describe it.
Solution: Offer a submission option for talents called "Out of the box".
Example: Client submits a 3-person casting wanting a "perky, sexy, serious recording for a presentation for my government clients". VB offers 2 bucks for the 20 word audition and $10 for the whole thing.
As a talent, I could choose to do an audition to the customers specifications and get my $2 (after VB-approval),even knowing that likely the client won't be satisfied. Or I could choose the out of box option, and submit my best read, which the client might or might not like. The audition ($2) would not be paid to me even if the client picked my out-of-box submission, because this was unsolicited. However, since my read was picked, I would go on to earn the $10 full-read pay-out.
Advantage: Clients who DO know what they want and how to ask for it, never have to waste their time listening to out-of-box submissions. They get the service that they know and love which no changes to their experience. Clients who are uncertain or curious can listen and have more choices (at no extra cost to VB).
Disadvantage: There could be more submissions for VB to review HOWEVER they would only be quality reviews. No subjective interpretations of what the client is asking for.
You could choose to limit us either regular or out-of-box submissions, allow one of each (as long as the regular casting is open), or even allow multiple out-of-box submissions by a talent. Or you could cap the total number of out-of-box submissions allowed.
Whatcha think? Talk amongst yourselves....
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I am digging the idea, Cat! Let me bounce it off a few of the minds around here and get back to you.
Here are some of the cons I see:
1) As you mentioned, the time and effort it takes to listen to submissions. We have a pretty small team compared to the amount of audio we get per day. But, with the new application process now in place, we are weeding out those with poor quality equipment right away, so it may not be much of an issue.
2) Clients choose us over other options, like our sister service Voice123, because they don't want to listen to hundreds of auditions. They just want to hear exactly what they asked for. We would probably want to limit this.
I'd love to at least ask a few clients what they think of the idea. As a voice actor myself, I totally empathize with everything you're saying and I think this is a pretty clever idea! As always, thanks so much for your input. :)
Cool, Tara! I look forward to seeing what you all come up with :) -- Cat