Honestly as somebody who bought a mic, started fiddling with recording software, and started reading and practicing scripts a good year and a half ago I needed to hear this. I've recorded I don't know how many demos, I've memorized and regurgitated countless scripts, but I can't justify the expense of any of the premium sites just yet and I have setup up profiles on and then avoided these free sites due to the constantly repeated stigma of being associated with Fivver or the like. (which honestly irritates the shit out of my wife seeing a mic and a laptop setup in my closet studio while I hit save on another audio file that will never see the light of day) Long ramble to say that there is a lot of good, common sense advice and perspective here that has encouraged me to hit that forgot password button on Fivver and give it a go.
Like I keep saying to people, it’s your career and your income. You do what you need to do and don’t let the opinions of people who don’t know you and don’t care if you eat dictate your path.
In the US, conspiring to prevent someone to get employment, blacklisting, is illegal. If that casting director is keeping and sharing a list of blacklisted actors here in the US, preventing them from being hired, then he should be investigated.
It's just another fine example of Supply & Demand. The industry is changing, just as the music industry needed to change with the advent of digital file dissemination.
Exactly. The work from home / digital / gig economy etc. Is here and if you are still trying to do thing like they did it even ten years ago you are going to struggle
For years people have been telling me to get into voice overs, including people I met in the field who did this work. I'm now 48 and looking for a career change and want to give it a go. I'm just sort of overwhelmed as to how to start. My head is spinning with information.
I was so glad to find this today! Thank you. Someone shared an article with me and told me I should get off Fiverr immediately because I will be blacklisted. And I was hugely concerned. But I’m new and I have the ability to work whilst learning on Fiverr. I will stop panicking and stick with my plan now.
I feel the same way of animation… I couldn’t get a job in a studio and I decide to work on these platforms since it’s my only option … never give up your passion ✌🏻
Fiver has been pretty awesome. Ive only been using it for 2 months and I’ve made more than I thought I would. Just work you’re butt off, and with a little skill, everything will work out just fine
I'm honestly a straight up newbie to voice overs and I've honestly had so many questions about where someone like me can even begin to even look for potential gigs, send demos or ways to practice and advancing skills in a place that'll help me grow. I even joined a group on FB and asked about using fiverr and all I got from a few people was don't do it cause the blacklisting. Like for a group that claimed to be all about helping others to get a foot into voice overs literally no other form of help, suggestions or tips was said on their end. The only good advice I've seen in there in a different post was from 2-3 other people out of all the others saying to try out casting call club or even checking with a local station for it. Everyone just says "YOU GO ON FIVERR HAVE FUN GETTING BLACKLISTED" and that's it. It's to the point where people saying that just sound like they're saying it to discourage anyone from even trying to get into voice acting by just making it sound next to impossible while also trying to demonize you for even asking about something you're curious about.
The community CAN be a little toxic but most are happy to help. Fiverr can just make people feel like they are being under cut. The reality is I audition for loads of gigs and I do land some, but think about the amount of ads you hear on the radio or tv that you never even saw let alone auditioned for. There is so much out there and there is no BLACKLIST police out there to put you in voice over jail
This is an extremely important subject, particularly in this day and age, for multiple reasons. What's considered "cheap" today will be considered a treasure trove of talent tomorrow. I remember when HBO started releasing made for cable films in the early 80s. A lot of people in the industry thought they were crap. I realized a lot of these people were of the old studio system and didn't want to see cable challenge the old studio system or the Big Three American networks, CBS, ABC, NBC. Now look at HBO. It's a brand of high quality. Game of Thrones, Westworld, great made for cable movies starring the likes of Al Pacino and Hellen Mirren with top drawer directors. Anytime someone sticks out their necks and challenges the old platforms, they will catch some flack. You will survive and thrive, and so will others who have the gumption to get it done. It's called the free market, but sometimes you have to fight to keep it that way. Good luck to all. I'm looking into getting into the game myself.
Great video man. I really enjoy all of your insight about this particular industry. Because your videos I got inspired to start voice acting. I already made about a hundred bucks on voice bunny in a few days, all from audition requests. I think I might start a fiver as well though. Being blacklisted is really not that scary because I mean for us up and coming voice actors we are essentially already blacklisted because they have no clue who we are so that's not a viable way to make money anyway at the moment.
Any chance you’re still monitoring these comments form a year old video? I’m just getting started and everything has directed me to Fiverr to get started. So I’ve been putting a TON of work into setting up my profile as professionally as I can. But now I see your video talking about blacklisting and it a the first I’ve heard of it. Has anything changed in the year since you posted this? Am I wasting my time or should I still move forward?
Right? I've heard from people absolutely do Fiverr, absolutely do not do Fiverr... Like I don't get it how do I even make money or get experience if I have not chance on P2P and agency if I have no work history??
I saw his comment the other day and had to stop. I went and looked at his UA-cam, saw his lack of backtrack, and thought about it again. The fact is, as you point out, there are bills to pay... and besides, as much as I'd like to work with Mark Hamill as a video game voice over or something like that, you have to start SOMEWHERE.
Quality=/=Money. You can argue a product's quality is dictated by how much it costs, but even that doesn't hold water when manufacturers cut corners and still charge an arm and a leg. When it comes to services, especially VO you could easily have someone doing low pay work and still give great, quality performances. Blacklisting someone under the assumption of their work being lesser just because of the services they use or how much they charge is ridiculous. Personally I think its much more troubling that the majority of the VO market is not monopolised per-say, but cornered by the subscription sites, making it prohibitively expensive for people to even really get their foot in the door unless they've got the cash. And again, money doesn't equal quality. Is it really fair if someone has the perfect voice for a project, but no way of actualising that because its being done through a site that charges half a grand a year just to even try and get work? Then there's a whole other discussion to be had about gig economies and their nature, but I digress.
Well said. A good example is the beats by dre headphone. They are “high price “ made from the cheapest quality material. It’s all just marketing. …. Kinda like the London housing market. You pay for a post code not a quality home
Great vid! If you were starting over today, with the information you know now, would you consider using a different name on Fiverr? I know its easy to say no based off this video that you dont care if someone blacklist you, but honestly speaking what are your thoughts on using a pseudonym? BTW, correct the spelling of because in your title😊
Well I do have one on Fiverr but only because it wouldn’t let me use my name. So I have GlasgowN it’s hardly hiding to be fair. Ultimately do what you feel comfortable with
He’s free to do as he pleases, of course, but that’s quite pathetic honestly. Sifting through entire rosters, blacklisting names because *they* chose to find work on a platform, to pay *their* bills? Seems like he has too much time on his hands, and he must not be working much.
There’s a market for everything. A cheap one and expensive one. Who blacklists you? A church or small organization or a student can’t pay what a business can pay. Professionals don’t like Fivver because it undercuts their business.
That’s the perception but in reality I don’t think that is the case. Most sellers in voice still charge hundreds for a delivery. I THINK that most $5 only sellers are perhaps the new / amateur seller but they don’t keep those prices long. It’s not in anyone interest to keep them that low. The seller makes no money and Fiverr it’s self makes little.
I just saw a project on Casting Call Club for some E-Learning type work and observed the language contained within the project brief, it seemed very restrictive and blunt possibly a little self absorbed, sure whatever. Then we get to the actual characters to be auditioned for and there is no script just the 'tell me about yourself and your career so far'. Alright cool I guess, but then I listen to one of the auditions calling out the nature of the project for how gate keeper like and how out of touch it is as well as BS 'perception' of emerging talent not being capable of producing professional grade audio. The kicker is I wondered about black listing as a voice actor, stumbled upon this video, and saw that THE same guy that left you the comment is the one trying to cast for this project. Yeah must be one of those 'institutionalized' talents that don't want everyone to succeed, giving that project a miss and not working with this dude.
A lot of people do. Even my account has an unbreakable code of GlasgowN. It’s more that it’s a bit of an outdated view and one that can be damaging to people who could be making a little or a lot of money on freelance sites
Honestly as somebody who bought a mic, started fiddling with recording software, and started reading and practicing scripts a good year and a half ago I needed to hear this. I've recorded I don't know how many demos, I've memorized and regurgitated countless scripts, but I can't justify the expense of any of the premium sites just yet and I have setup up profiles on and then avoided these free sites due to the constantly repeated stigma of being associated with Fivver or the like. (which honestly irritates the shit out of my wife seeing a mic and a laptop setup in my closet studio while I hit save on another audio file that will never see the light of day)
Long ramble to say that there is a lot of good, common sense advice and perspective here that has encouraged me to hit that forgot password button on Fivver and give it a go.
Like I keep saying to people, it’s your career and your income. You do what you need to do and don’t let the opinions of people who don’t know you and don’t care if you eat dictate your path.
Great advice. Fiverr can be used as a stepping stone for jumpstarting your career and getting the practice you need.
Exactly and being “blacklisted” is hardly something to worry about
In the US, conspiring to prevent someone to get employment, blacklisting, is illegal. If that casting director is keeping and sharing a list of blacklisted actors here in the US, preventing them from being hired, then he should be investigated.
I wouldn’t know if he is or isn’t doing that. I would hope not.
It's just another fine example of Supply & Demand. The industry is changing, just as the music industry needed to change with the advent of digital file dissemination.
Exactly. The work from home / digital / gig economy etc. Is here and if you are still trying to do thing like they did it even ten years ago you are going to struggle
Well said and I completely agree. Some people over-moralize what are actually just straightforward economic decisions.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
@@CrownStagVoiceover : )
As a re-emerging voice artist I really appreciate these videos. I am trying to get back in and these videos are helping! thank you for this
My genuine pleasure
For years people have been telling me to get into voice overs, including people I met in the field who did this work. I'm now 48 and looking for a career change and want to give it a go. I'm just sort of overwhelmed as to how to start. My head is spinning with information.
2 years since jumping in and my head still is spinning :) I am looking for a coach now, going to a few sessions. I need someone to direct me
Good common-sense advice. If critics can't give you a better idea to succeed, their advice and opinion are worthless.
It’s worse when they try to sell you an alternative that profits them.
I was so glad to find this today! Thank you. Someone shared an article with me and told me I should get off Fiverr immediately because I will be blacklisted. And I was hugely concerned. But I’m new and I have the ability to work whilst learning on Fiverr.
I will stop panicking and stick with my plan now.
Good plan, honestly it’s all stories and fear mongering
I feel the same way of animation… I couldn’t get a job in a studio and I decide to work on these platforms since it’s my only option … never give up your passion ✌🏻
Never indeed
Fiver has been pretty awesome. Ive only been using it for 2 months and I’ve made more than I thought I would. Just work you’re butt off, and with a little skill, everything will work out just fine
I'm honestly a straight up newbie to voice overs and I've honestly had so many questions about where someone like me can even begin to even look for potential gigs, send demos or ways to practice and advancing skills in a place that'll help me grow. I even joined a group on FB and asked about using fiverr and all I got from a few people was don't do it cause the blacklisting. Like for a group that claimed to be all about helping others to get a foot into voice overs literally no other form of help, suggestions or tips was said on their end.
The only good advice I've seen in there in a different post was from 2-3 other people out of all the others saying to try out casting call club or even checking with a local station for it. Everyone just says "YOU GO ON FIVERR HAVE FUN GETTING BLACKLISTED" and that's it. It's to the point where people saying that just sound like they're saying it to discourage anyone from even trying to get into voice acting by just making it sound next to impossible while also trying to demonize you for even asking about something you're curious about.
The community CAN be a little toxic but most are happy to help. Fiverr can just make people feel like they are being under cut. The reality is I audition for loads of gigs and I do land some, but think about the amount of ads you hear on the radio or tv that you never even saw let alone auditioned for. There is so much out there and there is no BLACKLIST police out there to put you in voice over jail
This is an extremely important subject, particularly in this day and age, for multiple reasons. What's considered "cheap" today will be considered a treasure trove of talent tomorrow. I remember when HBO started releasing made for cable films in the early 80s. A lot of people in the industry thought they were crap. I realized a lot of these people were of the old studio system and didn't want to see cable challenge the old studio system or the Big Three American networks, CBS, ABC, NBC. Now look at HBO. It's a brand of high quality. Game of Thrones, Westworld, great made for cable movies starring the likes of Al Pacino and Hellen Mirren with top drawer directors. Anytime someone sticks out their necks and challenges the old platforms, they will catch some flack. You will survive and thrive, and so will others who have the gumption to get it done. It's called the free market, but sometimes you have to fight to keep it that way. Good luck to all. I'm looking into getting into the game myself.
Where's the 'LOVE' button for this video! Great perspective.
#sortitoutyoutube lol
@@CrownStagVoiceover exactly LOL!
Great video man. I really enjoy all of your insight about this particular industry. Because your videos I got inspired to start voice acting. I already made about a hundred bucks on voice bunny in a few days, all from audition requests. I think I might start a fiver as well though. Being blacklisted is really not that scary because I mean for us up and coming voice actors we are essentially already blacklisted because they have no clue who we are so that's not a viable way to make money anyway at the moment.
Thanks for that. Voice money is not a platform I’m familiar with. Worth checking out?
@@CrownStagVoiceover hahaha typo, meant voice bunny.
Any chance you’re still monitoring these comments form a year old video? I’m just getting started and everything has directed me to Fiverr to get started. So I’ve been putting a TON of work into setting up my profile as professionally as I can. But now I see your video talking about blacklisting and it a the first I’ve heard of it.
Has anything changed in the year since you posted this? Am I wasting my time or should I still move forward?
Right? I've heard from people absolutely do Fiverr, absolutely do not do Fiverr... Like I don't get it how do I even make money or get experience if I have not chance on P2P and agency if I have no work history??
I saw his comment the other day and had to stop. I went and looked at his UA-cam, saw his lack of backtrack, and thought about it again. The fact is, as you point out, there are bills to pay... and besides, as much as I'd like to work with Mark Hamill as a video game voice over or something like that, you have to start SOMEWHERE.
Exactly.
Quality=/=Money. You can argue a product's quality is dictated by how much it costs, but even that doesn't hold water when manufacturers cut corners and still charge an arm and a leg. When it comes to services, especially VO you could easily have someone doing low pay work and still give great, quality performances. Blacklisting someone under the assumption of their work being lesser just because of the services they use or how much they charge is ridiculous.
Personally I think its much more troubling that the majority of the VO market is not monopolised per-say, but cornered by the subscription sites, making it prohibitively expensive for people to even really get their foot in the door unless they've got the cash. And again, money doesn't equal quality. Is it really fair if someone has the perfect voice for a project, but no way of actualising that because its being done through a site that charges half a grand a year just to even try and get work?
Then there's a whole other discussion to be had about gig economies and their nature, but I digress.
Well said. A good example is the beats by dre headphone. They are “high price “ made from the cheapest quality material. It’s all just marketing. …. Kinda like the London housing market. You pay for a post code not a quality home
Great vid! If you were starting over today, with the information you know now, would you consider using a different name on Fiverr? I know its easy to say no based off this video that you dont care if someone blacklist you, but honestly speaking what are your thoughts on using a pseudonym? BTW, correct the spelling of because in your title😊
Well I do have one on Fiverr but only because it wouldn’t let me use my name. So I have GlasgowN it’s hardly hiding to be fair. Ultimately do what you feel comfortable with
10:14 *“You can, be a, blacklisted or not, Voice Over Artist.”* 🤣
He’s free to do as he pleases, of course, but that’s quite pathetic honestly. Sifting through entire rosters, blacklisting names because *they* chose to find work on a platform, to pay *their* bills? Seems like he has too much time on his hands, and he must not be working much.
There’s a market for everything. A cheap one and expensive one. Who blacklists you? A church or small organization or a student can’t pay what a business can pay. Professionals don’t like Fivver because it undercuts their business.
That’s the perception but in reality I don’t think that is the case. Most sellers in voice still charge hundreds for a delivery. I THINK that most $5 only sellers are perhaps the new / amateur seller but they don’t keep those prices long. It’s not in anyone interest to keep them that low. The seller makes no money and Fiverr it’s self makes little.
I just saw a project on Casting Call Club for some E-Learning type work and observed the language contained within the project brief, it seemed very restrictive and blunt possibly a little self absorbed, sure whatever. Then we get to the actual characters to be auditioned for and there is no script just the 'tell me about yourself and your career so far'. Alright cool I guess, but then I listen to one of the auditions calling out the nature of the project for how gate keeper like and how out of touch it is as well as BS 'perception' of emerging talent not being capable of producing professional grade audio.
The kicker is I wondered about black listing as a voice actor, stumbled upon this video, and saw that THE same guy that left you the comment is the one trying to cast for this project. Yeah must be one of those 'institutionalized' talents that don't want everyone to succeed, giving that project a miss and not working with this dude.
If you're that worried about being blacklisted, why not just use a pen name for fiverr?
A lot of people do. Even my account has an unbreakable code of GlasgowN. It’s more that it’s a bit of an outdated view and one that can be damaging to people who could be making a little or a lot of money on freelance sites
I was Fiver, left due to pricing. Now on the platforms I want to be. Well said !
Which platforms do you prefer?
I imagine the Union people hate Fiverr.
Yeah possibly, it’s more perception than reality. Thing change as they have a habit of doing. If you don’t adapt you get left behind