Getting more people to audition for your project
Feb 19, 2018 17:34:24 GMT -8
Amree, Simon D. Aelsi, and 2 more like this
Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Feb 19, 2018 17:34:24 GMT -8
Many times, content creators get frustrated as they post a casting call that results in little to no interest. It may seem especially discouraging if other projects are getting lots of responses, while you're still stuck trying to get more than one or two.
There's no magic formula that will automatically make people interested in your project, but here are some tips that can help more auditions to land in your inbox.
Consider offering payment, if possible. Any type of payment, even a small one, will almost be guaranteed to see the number of auditions shoot up. It's harder for a lot of voice actors to make time for volunteer projects depending on their schedules, but many people who aren't otherwise able to may send an audition if they know some payment is involved. However, we most certainly recognize this isn't a feasible option for everyone---so have no fear, read on for more tips.
Format your post in an attractive, easy-to-read manner. No one wants to open up an audition thread or Google Doc and see a big block of text with no paragraph breaks, for instance. Use spacing and formatting to your advantage to make the post clear and readable.
Use pictures, if applicable. Certain type of projects such as audio/narration projects probably won't have a visual component available, which is fine. But if you do happen to have any sort of pictures that relate to your project (such as concept art of characters), please do consider including them. Not only will it help actors to easily come up with fitting voices, but it will also add an element of interest to your project and audition thread.
Include a brief background and/or link to your other work. Many projects, particularly volunteer ones, end up into the "producer's black hole" where they never end up being finished, and as a result voice actors can get discouraged from putting in a bunch of time recording lines for projects that never come to fruition. If you have a track record of finished projects, this lends credibility to your work and also lets auditioners know what kind of quality/style they can expect. You can also link to a YouTube channel, Kickstarter/Patreon, or anything else which shows your work (as a plus, fan engagement with your previous works/channel is a huge bonus for voice actors---this is one of the times when it might be okay to brag about how many subs you have!) Now, if this is your first project or you don't have a big following, that's perfectly fine too. You can add a short intro about what your concept for the project is, and if it's an interesting idea, it will speak for itself.
Use proper English. This is extremely important as it lends professionalism and credibility to your casting call. Like it or not, a post written in "text speak" with errors all over the place gives off the first impression of a producer who does not know what they are doing. Double check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation (use spell checker and/or ask someone else to proofread if you're really worried.) Now, if English is not your first language that is perfectly fine and people will generally be pretty understanding. There is a difference between a post with minor syntax errors written by a non-native speaker, and a post saying "hello i am writeing a fan fic of my original Character pls send me yuor Auditions to my email thx very much, Send asap!" You don't need to be needlessly formal, but learning proper business communication is an extremely valuable skill in virtually any field.
Check the comments. Some people just post a casting call once and never come back to check. While people will be sending their auditions through e-mail, occasionally someone may post in the forum thread or tag you on Discord with a time-sensitive question about the audition. Answering/acknowledging user responses (when relevant) demonstrates that you are engaged with your project.
Manage your expectations. It's good to be upfront with what you'll need, but sometimes producers (especially for volunteer projects) may have unrealistic expectations of their talent. I've seen things like "must attend weekly meetings on Skype/Discord", "required to promote the project on social media", "absolutely no leniency on deadlines will be given", and even a project which required that voice actors fill out an extensive "application form" just to audition (when the audition will largely speak for itself). It's okay to set goals and expectations, but don't shoot yourself in the foot. Remember that your voice actors are human too and especially for projects where no one is getting paid, you might have to make a few compromises here and there.
Look at successful audition threads for examples. Whether in the main board or in the "audition archives" section, look at the threads that have multiple pages of responses and the projects which have generated a lot of interest. What did these producers do that was effective? Getting an idea of how a good audition post generally looks may give you inspiration for how to format yours.
Consider posting in multiple places. We love our community here, but sometimes you've just got to cast a wider net! In addition to posting on our forum and Discord server, you may want to try sites such as Casting Call, BTVA, or even putting a post out on Tumblr, Twitter or YouTube (Twitter is huge for voice actors these days and many of them regularly check Twitter for casting calls.) If you're posting on another casting site, be sure to double check their rules for posting auditions as there may be some variance, but make things such as deadlines and open characters consistent across the board.
Be patient. Sometimes people will have their auditions up for a mere day or two and despair about not getting responses. Many people submit last minute, and it's okay to "bump" your thread (once every 72 hours max) with a deadline reminder such as "2 days left to audition!" Make sure to allow yourself enough time for auditions to come in---one to two weeks is ideal, as it can be harder to fill rush jobs at a moment's notice. Also remember that people may be auditioning more on weekends when they are less likely to have work and school obligations, so give it time especially if you posted on a weekday.
...Still not getting auditions? This is tough to swallow, but you may have to look at your project from an outsider's perspective and think about whether the project is actually interesting to people. It's hard because the project is your "baby" and chances are you poured a lot of work and passion into it, but there are certain things that just don't get a lot of interest from people, particularly things like fanfic readings, very amateur style artwork, or really long projects that will involve a ton of time commitment without a whole lot of payoff. It doesn't mean it's not worth trying, because you never know what will take off and what won't! But if you're posting in multiple places and still have no luck, perhaps it may be time to rethink your project a bit or even ask a friend to look at your post and give you some feedback.
Have you found any other tips that helped you get good responses for a project of yours? If so, feel free to share in the comments below!
____________________
The guides and resources on this forum are provided free of charge. However, if you found them helpful, I'd love it if you buy me a coffee!
There's no magic formula that will automatically make people interested in your project, but here are some tips that can help more auditions to land in your inbox.
Consider offering payment, if possible. Any type of payment, even a small one, will almost be guaranteed to see the number of auditions shoot up. It's harder for a lot of voice actors to make time for volunteer projects depending on their schedules, but many people who aren't otherwise able to may send an audition if they know some payment is involved. However, we most certainly recognize this isn't a feasible option for everyone---so have no fear, read on for more tips.
Choose an interesting and descriptive title for your forum thread. Vague titles such as "looking for voice actors" do not entice people to open the thread. Remember, this is an entire forum full of voice actors! Something like "Medieval fantasy radioplay / 4F 6M" or "Scottish accents wanted for indie action game" is much more specific and attention-grabbing. Including the deadline in the thread title may also help as a call-to-action.
**If your casting call is on social media or on our Discord server, make sure your introductory paragraph/project description is interesting, descriptive and to the point! "Voice actors, send me your reels" doesn't give any information on what you're actually looking for.
Format your post in an attractive, easy-to-read manner. No one wants to open up an audition thread or Google Doc and see a big block of text with no paragraph breaks, for instance. Use spacing and formatting to your advantage to make the post clear and readable.
Use pictures, if applicable. Certain type of projects such as audio/narration projects probably won't have a visual component available, which is fine. But if you do happen to have any sort of pictures that relate to your project (such as concept art of characters), please do consider including them. Not only will it help actors to easily come up with fitting voices, but it will also add an element of interest to your project and audition thread.
Include a brief background and/or link to your other work. Many projects, particularly volunteer ones, end up into the "producer's black hole" where they never end up being finished, and as a result voice actors can get discouraged from putting in a bunch of time recording lines for projects that never come to fruition. If you have a track record of finished projects, this lends credibility to your work and also lets auditioners know what kind of quality/style they can expect. You can also link to a YouTube channel, Kickstarter/Patreon, or anything else which shows your work (as a plus, fan engagement with your previous works/channel is a huge bonus for voice actors---this is one of the times when it might be okay to brag about how many subs you have!) Now, if this is your first project or you don't have a big following, that's perfectly fine too. You can add a short intro about what your concept for the project is, and if it's an interesting idea, it will speak for itself.
Use proper English. This is extremely important as it lends professionalism and credibility to your casting call. Like it or not, a post written in "text speak" with errors all over the place gives off the first impression of a producer who does not know what they are doing. Double check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation (use spell checker and/or ask someone else to proofread if you're really worried.) Now, if English is not your first language that is perfectly fine and people will generally be pretty understanding. There is a difference between a post with minor syntax errors written by a non-native speaker, and a post saying "hello i am writeing a fan fic of my original Character pls send me yuor Auditions to my email thx very much, Send asap!" You don't need to be needlessly formal, but learning proper business communication is an extremely valuable skill in virtually any field.
Check the comments. Some people just post a casting call once and never come back to check. While people will be sending their auditions through e-mail, occasionally someone may post in the forum thread or tag you on Discord with a time-sensitive question about the audition. Answering/acknowledging user responses (when relevant) demonstrates that you are engaged with your project.
Manage your expectations. It's good to be upfront with what you'll need, but sometimes producers (especially for volunteer projects) may have unrealistic expectations of their talent. I've seen things like "must attend weekly meetings on Skype/Discord", "required to promote the project on social media", "absolutely no leniency on deadlines will be given", and even a project which required that voice actors fill out an extensive "application form" just to audition (when the audition will largely speak for itself). It's okay to set goals and expectations, but don't shoot yourself in the foot. Remember that your voice actors are human too and especially for projects where no one is getting paid, you might have to make a few compromises here and there.
Look at successful audition threads for examples. Whether in the main board or in the "audition archives" section, look at the threads that have multiple pages of responses and the projects which have generated a lot of interest. What did these producers do that was effective? Getting an idea of how a good audition post generally looks may give you inspiration for how to format yours.
Consider posting in multiple places. We love our community here, but sometimes you've just got to cast a wider net! In addition to posting on our forum and Discord server, you may want to try sites such as Casting Call, BTVA, or even putting a post out on Tumblr, Twitter or YouTube (Twitter is huge for voice actors these days and many of them regularly check Twitter for casting calls.) If you're posting on another casting site, be sure to double check their rules for posting auditions as there may be some variance, but make things such as deadlines and open characters consistent across the board.
Be patient. Sometimes people will have their auditions up for a mere day or two and despair about not getting responses. Many people submit last minute, and it's okay to "bump" your thread (once every 72 hours max) with a deadline reminder such as "2 days left to audition!" Make sure to allow yourself enough time for auditions to come in---one to two weeks is ideal, as it can be harder to fill rush jobs at a moment's notice. Also remember that people may be auditioning more on weekends when they are less likely to have work and school obligations, so give it time especially if you posted on a weekday.
...Still not getting auditions? This is tough to swallow, but you may have to look at your project from an outsider's perspective and think about whether the project is actually interesting to people. It's hard because the project is your "baby" and chances are you poured a lot of work and passion into it, but there are certain things that just don't get a lot of interest from people, particularly things like fanfic readings, very amateur style artwork, or really long projects that will involve a ton of time commitment without a whole lot of payoff. It doesn't mean it's not worth trying, because you never know what will take off and what won't! But if you're posting in multiple places and still have no luck, perhaps it may be time to rethink your project a bit or even ask a friend to look at your post and give you some feedback.
Have you found any other tips that helped you get good responses for a project of yours? If so, feel free to share in the comments below!
____________________
The guides and resources on this forum are provided free of charge. However, if you found them helpful, I'd love it if you buy me a coffee!