JMC Voiceover Source Connect
jmichael@jmcvoiceover.com
202-738-1151
  • Home
  • My Demos
    • Commercial
    • Crisis Commercials
    • Medical
    • eLearning
    • Corporate
    • Automotive
    • TV Promo
    • TV Narration
    • Radio Imaging
    • Telephony
    • Political
  • Recent Work
  • Demo Production
    • Demo Production
    • Demo Production Guide
    • Commercial
    • Medical
    • eLearning
    • Corporate
    • Automotive
    • TV Promo
    • TV Narration
    • Radio Imaging
    • Telephony
    • Political
  • Coaching
    • Coaching
    • Voiceover Coaching Guide
  • Photo Gallery
  • Success Club
  • Podcast
  • Events
    • Euro Vo Retreat
    • VO Atlanta
    • One Voice Conference USA
  • Public Speaker Training
    • Public Speaker Training
    • Public Speaking Coach
  • Giving Back
  • Blog
  • Contact

Online Casting Unlimited & Platinum Tiers: An Insider’s Perspective

by J. Michael Collins

Love them or hate them, online casting sites are a fact of life in today’s voiceover marketplace. People from all walks of the business will continue to disagree over what they represent for our community. That said, with all the recent discussion surrounding the top tier memberships on online casting sites, I thought it would be appropriate to explore these levels from the perspective of an insider, and offer some thoughts on when and whether one should consider making such a large investment.
As a point of reference, I was a Platinum member on Voices.com for about 5 years until upgrading to Unlimited on September 1st, 2015. I have been a Platinum member on Voice123.com for about three years now.
There are currently three high-end membership levels available. On Voices.com, the Platinum and Unlimited memberships, and on Voice123.com the Platinum membership.
Let’s look at Voices.com first.
Since February 2014, all paying subscribers to Voices.com, (Premium lite, Premium, and Platinum,) have been subject to a system called VoiceMatch Invitations. This system was created to try to limit the number of auditions submitted to each job, as they were routinely exceeding 200.  What it does, in essence, is restrict all subscribers to seeing 20-30 out of the 40-50 public auditions posted daily that would match a well-filled-out male or female profile. The distribution of the auditions is entirely at random. There is no advantage to being Platinum within this system. You play by the same rules as everyone else. Your submissions are not seen earlier or ranked higher. I cast from Voices.com through a separate account and through client accounts, and I know this to be the case both from the talent perspective and that of the casting director. If I submit the 50th audition as a Platinum, I will likely be somewhere on page 2 or 3 depending on my VoiceMatch score.
The advantage Platinum talents do receive is strictly in search results. When a voice buyer searches for talent on Voices.com, they can do so by searching demo categories or keywords, with filters for gender, age, etc… In all of these search results, Platinum members are displayed first, (with the order among Platinum members determined on a random, rotating basis.) They are followed by Premium yearly members, Premium Lite members, and non-paying Guest accounts, in that order, (and also with the order among each tier randomized on a rotating basis.) As such, Platinum talent can generally expect to receive more private invitations resulting from appearing early in the search results, as well as direct bookings from the contact information on their profile page. Contrary to speculation, all paying members of Voices.com are allowed to post their contact information on their profiles.
Voices.com offers Platinum talent a variety of marketing bells and whistles, including annual press releases, and these can be valuable to very new talent trying to build name recognition. As a practical matter, however, the only functional advantage of Platinum over the Premium tiers is the extra visibility in search. If you have killer demos visible in most or all of the major categories, this can result in ROI.
Platinum costs $2,500/year as of this writing.
The new Unlimited tier, which went live on September 1st, carries all of the benefits of Platinum, with one further feature: It eliminates the VoiceMatch Invitations algorithm for subscribers, allowing Unlimited talent to see all of the public jobs posted to the site that match their profile. In others words, instead of seeing 20-30 auditions per day, Unlimited members will see 40-50, (and more….in my first two weeks as an Unlimited member, I have routinely seen as many as 60 jobs per day.)
To be clear, neither Platinum nor Unlimited offer any kind of advantage on a job-for-job basis. Even Premium Lite members see the auditions at the same time as the Platinum and Unlimited tiers, and the order in which auditions appear to the voice buyer is still determined by VoiceMatch score. So, a Premium Lite member with a 100% VoiceMatch submitting at the same time as an Unlimited member with a 95% VoiceMatch will still be listed higher in the voice buyer’s inbox than the Unlimited member. 
Unlimited strictly provides access to more public auditions. It is still up to the Unlimited member to follow the standard best practices for success on Voices.com if they want to be competitive, as no advantage is given.
These tiers are not a means to bypass other qualifications.Rather, they are a lot like buying a front-of-the-line pass at Disney World. You get the same experience, just with a bit more of a personal touch and a few access advantages……but you still must be this tall to ride this ride!
Unlimited is a $2,500 supplement to the Platinum tier.
Voice123.com offers a single high-end tier, called Platinum.
Voice123.com Premium paying members are subject to a system called SmartCast, which is designed to limit the number of auditions voice buyers see by discouraging talent from auditioning for projects that are not an ideal fit for their skills, and from auditioning too frequently altogether.
SmartCast considers two factors when deciding if and when a subscriber receives an audition:

1.) The frequency with which the talent submits auditions. If you are submitting more than 5 auditions per day, or your percentage of auditions and proposals submitted compared to similar talent exceeds 200%, you may begin to see fewer and fewer auditions from Voice123, as SmartCast will determine you are taking too big a piece of the pie, and other talent should have the chance to submit before you.
        2.) Your pricing choices. SmartCast will determine whether you prefer lower or higher budget jobs based on your bidding history, and you will be more likely to receive those types of projects early in the audition distribution process.
Voice123.com’s Platinum tier has one feature: It turns off SmartCast, allowing you to see all auditions that match your profile the moment they are posted. Because SmartCast is actively designed to limit the number of auditions that talent submit, this provides a distinct advantage for Platinum talent in that they can audition without fear of consequences, and are therefore far more likely to be in the first few submissions for any job they choose to audition for. For quality talent, this leads to substantial ROI.
Voice 123.com Platinum costs just under $5,000/year as of this writing.
A few more things to consider…….
All of these tiers are designed for professional-level talent who are capable of being competitive on all or most of the auditions they submit. I have personally experienced strong return on investment from Voices.com Platinum and Voice123.com Platinum, and am now starting to see ROI from Voices.com Unlimited, which I expect will pay for the premium over Platinum within a month.
Not everyone will see the same results. What’s the old phrase? Your miles may vary?
Let’s be very clear…..these sites are a meritocracyregardless of how much money you throw at them. 
Yes, the Platinum tier on Voice123.com does offer a booking advantage, but a dilettante dropping $5K on a membership on either of these sites is likely to be very disappointed with the results. You must have the skill set, knowledge of tactical best practices for each site, and the ability to audition frequently and produce professional audio in order to see any return from these high-end memberships.
To that end, I always advise my VO students to consider two metrics when determining if this level of investment in an online casting site is likely to pay off, and you can apply these metrics as well.

1.) Do you routinely book at least a job per week from the site in question, having done so over a substantial, (say 6 months,) sample period?
      2.) Does the cost of the membership represent less than what you make from the site in question in an average three month period?
If the answer to either of those questions is no, then your chances of seeing ROI from these tiers is likely limited, and you would be better advised to invest that money in the continuing development of your skills and studio. If the answer is yes to one or both, then these tiers might be a good fit for you.
As the debate over online casting continues to rage, it is more important than ever that those interested in participating in these marketplaces stay armed with the facts. It is unlikely that everyone in the VO community will ever be of one mind about what these sites mean to our industry, and I’m not interested in rehashing a debate where minds are unlikely to be changed. For now, better to keep the information flowing freely, so that all involved can make informed choices.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bev Standing says

    September 14, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    "Ditto". J. Michael Collins has the facts straight and provides great advice on this ongoing discussion.

    Thank you.

    Bev Standing

  2. Cristina Milizia says

    September 14, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Thank you for writing this J.Michael!!!! 🙂

  3. amyefisher says

    September 14, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Fantastic information and perspective. Finally! Thanks J. Michael for answering so many questions for so many who were ill-informed.

  4. Just call me trash says

    September 14, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    Hi Michael,
    Here's a question if you are willing to share. Have you recouped the yearly fee in work from auditions on Voices or Voice 123 respectively each year?
    Thanks
    Eddie

  5. J. Michael Collins says

    September 14, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    Hi Eddie,

    Thanks for your question.

    It's hard to answer that question in a way that doesn't sound self-aggrandizing, but simply stated, I recoup more than the yearly fee for Ultimate/Platinum in an average month from each site.

    This, of course, is not the result most can expect. I would refer you to the metrics I detailed in the article to determine if these tiers are a good fit for you.

    Regards,

    J. Michael

  6. Jill Goldman says

    September 14, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    Helpful info, J. Michael! Thanks!

  7. Diana Birdsall says

    September 14, 2015 at 11:39 pm

    Thank You J. Michael! The most succinct article on the facts ever written. Kudos!

  8. Lance Blair says

    September 15, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Thank you for your insight and honesty. I especially appreciated your Disneyland analogy and thought its conclusion "but you still must be this tall to ride this ride!" to be excellent. This is very valuable information for anybody using or considering using Voices or V123 so that they can have the best ROI.

  9. Unknown says

    September 15, 2015 at 11:00 am

    Thanks for the insight! I have always wondered how the premium tiers worked.

  10. Just call me trash says

    September 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    Gratitude Michael.

  11. Shireen says

    September 15, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    I so appreciate this article. I understand the frustrations people have, but I'm so glad to have a better handle on what each tier means (without negative commentary). It's a model that works for some — not for others. But it's a fact of this business, of all businesses, quite frankly. The internet has changed how things work — forever. Better to understand the current state of affairs so you can determine your best personal strategy.

  12. PanRight Productions says

    September 18, 2015 at 10:15 am

    Very good overview. I might also add that, if you're regularly working and only use V123 etc as a stop-gap or "filler" for slower periods, then it's also not worth your pennies, IMHO.

  13. Cristina Milizia says

    April 6, 2017 at 9:10 am

    Thank you for writing this J.Michael!!!! 🙂

Primary Sidebar

Archives

Subscribe

Receive News & Updates
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

RECENT TWEETS

@jmcvoiceover

July 2nd 2022 05:07:39

The man, the myth, the legend! George Whittam absolutely nailed it. From the computer-assisted design specs to a da… https://t.co/b7NwI0eXFt

@jmcvoiceover

July 2nd 2022 12:07:27

@DavidGilbertVO Yeah, when the insurance guy came to do their inspection he was pretty impressed.

@jmcvoiceover

July 1st 2022 07:07:29

Studio build at the new house is underway. https://t.co/t8HRcrrMlQ

@jmcvoiceover

July 1st 2022 01:07:48

Love this spot I had the chance to voice for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer as part of a new national campaign. Had a ton o… https://t.co/EsK5touP0B

@jmcvoiceover

June 30th 2022 09:06:26

No conference would be complete without a marketing master, and ours at One Voice is the brilliant Tom Dheere!
Joi… https://t.co/1bov3kWEpd

@jmcvoiceover

June 30th 2022 12:06:51

RT @JenLanhamVO: Don't miss "Voiceover Trends with JMC" with @MarcGuss & @jmcvoiceover. TONIGHT at 8:30 PM on @clubhouse! https://t.co/Oxh0 …

@jmcvoiceover

June 28th 2022 11:06:41

I’ll be Clubhousing with ACM’s Marc Guss about VO trends tomorrow evening at 8:30ET/5:30PT.

Check it out here: https://t.co/l5sqgHZQqI

@jmcvoiceover

June 27th 2022 03:06:08

RT @CastVoices: Just over a month out 🤠 Have you registered for
@jmcvoiceover's OneVoice Conference yet? Our own
@LizAtherton3 will be th…

@jmcvoiceover

June 27th 2022 12:06:34

The great Carin Gilfry joins us at One Voice USA to discuss how you can replicate her dominance in the online casti… https://t.co/1hJD8FOs58

@jmcvoiceover

June 21st 2022 04:06:27

So this is kinda cool.
#vo #voiceovers #voiceover #voiceoverchallenge #ovcusa #voices https://t.co/i2UvKC0jhs

@jmcvoiceover

June 20th 2022 09:06:57

RT @TaraTylerVO: Just couldn't wait to share my new #voiceover demos from @jmcvoiceover! Give em a listen on my new site: https://t.co/hAoF …

@jmcvoiceover

June 20th 2022 08:06:53

The absolutely brilliant Rick Wasserman will be in Dallas with a breakout and a workshop at One Voice!

Check out t… https://t.co/s3mRmIwuu4

@jmcvoiceover

June 17th 2022 05:06:00

Well, we just had to have Goofy back, right?
Bill Farmer returns to the One Voice Conference USA with a breakout se… https://t.co/apE7VunQRG

@jmcvoiceover

June 17th 2022 08:06:34

https://t.co/7RXG7jVRF2

Very cool getting to be Mission Control at the top of this new spot for Amazon and Disney/… https://t.co/MPx2AhqQeJ

@jmcvoiceover

June 15th 2022 11:06:58

@elonmusk @spideycyp_155 @teslaownersSV @TheTexanNews @MayraFlores2022 What you need to do @elonmusk is spend a cou… https://t.co/xJwKRA3jcU

@jmcvoiceover

June 15th 2022 01:06:52

https://t.co/837YGSd5qD

JMC Demos is thrilled to welcome Scott Brick into the fold as our new Audiobook Division D… https://t.co/Zee3R3uLYc

@jmcvoiceover

June 13th 2022 03:06:04

Stefan Johnson has 6.9 million followers on TikTok.

Might be time to learn a thing or two about social media mark… https://t.co/3lNXKAbIoA

@jmcvoiceover

June 13th 2022 12:06:15

https://t.co/AXNAj6cKJJ

Episode 30 is out with One Voice USA Keynote Andia Winslow!
Graeme Spicer fills in for me… https://t.co/YBDiWeIsAD

@jmcvoiceover

June 13th 2022 10:06:51

https://t.co/7tYqQNdT0z

Join the JMC team today on Clubhouse! https://t.co/nnktZnJ3Vx

@jmcvoiceover

June 11th 2022 08:06:30

@SilentSheepdog7 I would expect it to sell out around mid-July

@jmcvoiceover

June 11th 2022 08:06:37

@SilentSheepdog7 Find a way!!! :)

@jmcvoiceover

June 11th 2022 07:06:03

Legendary anime and video game Casting Director Mami Okada of BangZoom is taking One Voice BY STORM with 2 panels,… https://t.co/WAjz2qxpge

@jmcvoiceover

June 9th 2022 11:06:58

Hockey time! https://t.co/6YyL8j35uJ

@jmcvoiceover

June 8th 2022 09:06:04

When you want to learn audiobooks, you learn from the undisputed GOAT, Scott Brick!
And look at all the learning yo… https://t.co/Hia3nY8ihk

@jmcvoiceover

June 7th 2022 09:06:20

RT @Mama_Greenfield: #Voiceover peeps- this is going to be SO good! Definitely mark your calendars. @jmcvoiceover and Anna Collins each run…

@jmcvoiceover

June 4th 2022 03:06:51

It's a double dose of the brilliant Alicyn Packard at One Voice USA! https://t.co/gT3u6ajlQL)
Be among the best at… https://t.co/UWy0jxijyP

@jmcvoiceover

June 3rd 2022 08:06:33

Conferences are about learning how to book, and what better way to do that than to learn from the people doing the… https://t.co/R0wVwv5iwq

@jmcvoiceover

June 1st 2022 02:06:05

You like agents. We like agents.
The One Voice Conference USA has got them, including the always brilliant Portia S… https://t.co/yt3UQAlQyO

@jmcvoiceover

May 31st 2022 10:05:53

RT @SickingerHolly: Coming up in June our monthly Peer Workout and Voiceover Legal with @robscig. After that, @HearBradHyland, @TomAglioVO,…

@jmcvoiceover

May 31st 2022 09:05:07

@MarcScott BLASPHEMY!

@jmcvoiceover

May 30th 2022 12:05:26

https://t.co/hEYmD32Lyx

Audit spots remain available for my commercial webinar with VO Xtra tomorrow. Are you read… https://t.co/ZTfiRKS9do

@jmcvoiceover

May 30th 2022 10:05:22

Remembering all of those who gave their lives to defend our nation.
To you and the families who have grieved your… https://t.co/hLOyBq8NBE

@jmcvoiceover

May 29th 2022 02:05:51

Ready to trust and be brave?
The incredible Kay Bess joins the One Voice Conference USA!
Be among the best at the O… https://t.co/QoYErDpubZ

@jmcvoiceover

May 26th 2022 04:05:46

We did not go small for One Voice Dallas.
We're thrilled to welcome Disney TV Animation Casting Director & Talent… https://t.co/eQ2f57KfRY

@jmcvoiceover

May 25th 2022 08:05:51

We now have one private registration available for the Switzerland retreat this September!

DM me or email jmichae… https://t.co/a3xoS6xHC9

CONTACT
202-738-1151
jmichael@jmcvoiceover.com
  • Home
  • My Demos
  • Recent Work
  • Demo Production
  • Coaching
  • Photo Gallery
  • Success Club
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • Public Speaker Training
  • Giving Back
  • Blog
  • Contact

Privacy Policy
©2022 J. Michael Collins // Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites