Hard limit on # of samples
After cutting back on my samples to meet the suggested level of 50 (which I discovered after being deactivated in December), I found that...upon reactivation...I was not being seen and favorited with even close to the same frequency as when I had many more samples previously. At some point, this IS a competition for visibility...as Mr. Bunny knows well by using stats to rank our visibility. So, after perusing the age ranges and purposes that I serve, and discovering that my first sample sometimes showed up 8 pages deep...I have determined that this is a real problem.
As always, I respect VB's right to run their business however they wish...and I will try to find ways to be in compliance with the rules, while always looking for a leg up so I can snag more work from the site. So, knowing that the suggested # of samples is 50, I decided to take a look around today and see what others had...and I specifically targeted those with hundreds of ratings/reviews. In about 15 minutes...here's a list of what I came up with...with the Bunny Pro names censored so as to not make this seem personal towards them (which it's not):
Voice actor #1RJ**** - 1006 samples!
Voice actor #1RI**** - 683
Voice actor #5R2**** - 414
Voice actor #1E7**** - 406
Voice actor #14B**** - 381
Voice actor #3P8**** - 307
Voice actor #2TQ**** - 235
Voice actor #644**** - 219
Voice actor #7A0**** - 183
Voice actor #B0D**** - 172
Voice actor #5BF**** - 168
Voice actor #3R1**** - 150
Now, I don't think I need to comment on this information. It's pretty clear that there's a whole lot of excess at play here. Also, it's only fair to acknowledge that I would have been third on this list back in December, before The Big Slash. :)
My recommendation would be something along these lines:
- a hard cap of 150-200 samples, period
- this should include the ones added by VB/client by permission (maybe you could cap that at 50 out of the 200 and the older ones could be bumped from that category automatically when the limit is reached).
- that this be applied uniformly in very short order, and the Pros be given a date certain for compliance, lest those samples just be removed automatically from your end
This would be a much fairer approach to all, and would likely force the Pros into focusing on posting only their very best work...which only reflects better on VB's service.
I do understand that a review process is underway, where quality issues are being addressed...and that it's not going to be completed for many months. That's all good, and this isn't intended to interfere with that in any way (in fact, in listening thru many of the samples on the site, I've been fairly appalled at the quality of quite a number of them...and the other day, I ran across a completely blank 30-sec sample!). It just provides a more level playing field.
The quality issue really rests with the Pros, anyhow. If we want Favorites (and the ensuing work), we need to 'up our game' in terms of performance and audio quality. Mr B does need to ride herd on the talent as well, but primary responsibility/obligation of the Pros ought to be stressed as well...at least, in my view.
Thanks for listening!
C=
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Hi Chuck,
Thank you for your message. As you mention above, for almost a year, the QC team has been actively cleaning the samples we showcase in the search. The main reason being to improve the experience of our clients, so they can pick the perfect one for their project in an efficient manner. Also as important, we want to have a healthy search, where the best samples are showed first, and give more exposure to the most successful Pros.
Additionally, we've also noticed that some of the samples are not really good examples for the clients. For that reason we now have a quality control process for samples in place.
As you also point out, one of our main concerns in that front is the unbalance between the number of samples among the Pros. Some Pros have indeed way more samples than really necessary! However, not to worry, as Mr.B is well aware of this, and he organizes the samples in such a way that allows visibility to all Pros.
It's important to understand that a sample is the opportunity to show the client the abilities as a voice actor, and therefore everyone must be selective and showcase only their best work. As time passes by, we all develop better skills and quality, so it's also important to update the samples periodically.
So, thank you again, Chuck, we've taken note of your suggestions.
Kind regards,
Juan.
I'm encouraged to hear that samples are organized to allow visibility to all Pros, though I must say my experience does not necessarily line up with that claim. And I also don't understand why the most egregious violators can't be notified immediately that they need to pare down their sample count by a date certain. It seems to me that it shouldn't rest on the availability of hours of the in-house VB labor force to go through and do it for them. If someone has hundreds and hundreds of samples, why can't they be told to cull them themselves, or that on an upcoming date announced ahead of time, it will be lopped off automatically by Mr. B on their behalf, and that they might want to focus instead on exercising their own judgment first.
Just some ideas for you. Thanks for the response, Juan!
best,
Chuck
Hi Chuck
We will certainly do that, too! However, we have to make some improvements to our system first before we can do that. Why? Because we need a way to ensure that these samples are also cut down, and not just cut today and then reuploaded tomorrow. See what I mean? We've taken a huge step though as we've reduced our sample count already by almost 5,000 compared to last year. So, we're getting there! Slowly, but getting there.
Hopefully, this sample balance will be acquired this year so let's look forward to that!
Thanks for the progress update, Angela!
No problem, Chuck! I promise that we're working and hard! It may not be as visible at first, but we do take a lot of steps to ensure things get better.