As voice actors, we go through a ton of casting calls and job posts everyday. And because of this, we notice a lot of questionable, if not downright dodgy casting calls all over social media.
Even worse, we notice a lot of people responding to these calls. And we can’t really fault people for expressing their interest, largely ‘coz they probably don’t know what a scammy casting call looks like.
So that’s why we decided to point out some red flags that indicate a casting call probably isn’t legitimate, and therefore, probably isn’t worth responding to.
Red Flag #1 – Overly Generic Casting Calls
These are basically casting calls that don’t say anything about the project, and just say “we need voice actors” in different ways.
They’re generic so they just want to get as many respondents as possible. Sometimes, there isn’t even a project to cast for – they just want to farm as many samples as possible. Why? Well… that’s a topic for another time.
The point is, think twice before responding.
Examples of this type of casting call:
“We’re looking for a talented voice over artist to create engaging ads.”
“If you have a great voice and a passion for creative work, let’s connect.”
“We’re casting for an exciting new project and we’re looking for voice talents.”
Nice, right?
Red Flag #2 – Vague or Missing Details
Yeah, this is related to #1, but we wanted to expound a little. Legitimate casters will share as much info about their project as they can.
For one thing, they’ll let you know what company they work for, and if possible, their client. Sometimes they’re limited by non-disclosure agreements (or NDAs), but the point is that they tend to be very transparent about their projects and requirements.
They’ll also give you details about the project, like the kind(s) of voice(s) they need, the language and accents necessary, and more.
Other useful information includes the length of the material, where it will be used, where it will be published or broadcast, the offered fee… this list can go on and on.
The point is – if there’s something you need to know about a project, a legitimate caster will probably give you a direct answer, and if not, they’ll give a clear reason why they can’t.
Red Flag #3 – Unofficial or Personal Email Address
For most big projects, expect to correspond with an someone using an official email address, like “person@company.com” rather than “fakename@genericemail.com”
There are exceptions to this, of course. Especially if you’re dealing with indie projects, boutique firms, or other smaller entities. The key here is to recognize when it’s acceptable to use an unofficial address, and when it should raise some alarms.
Red Flag #4 – “Inbox me” or “DM me”
Going back to #1 and #2, legitimate casters will try to be as transparent as possible. Scammers, on the other hand, will refuse to answer questions. Instead, they will direct you to an email address, or an instant messaging app, or anywhere else your conversations are hidden away from the public.
Sure, there’s *some* information that should be kept private, but basic stuff like the things we mentioned in #2… that stuff should be out in the open.
Red Flag #5 – They Ask for Money Upfront
A legitimate casting call will NEVER ask you to pay to audition. You don’t have to pay to lock in your audition slot, to file some supposedly necessary paperwork, or to cover some sort of registration fee.
They should be the ones paying you, so if they require you to pay, walk away, block them, and report them to the proper authorities.
Red Flag #6 – Unbelievable Offers
An email just landed in your inbox: you just got a $20,000 offer to voice a series regular on a major streaming service! Can you believe it?
Now you gotta ask yourself a few things. Who sent you the offer? Do you have a working relationship with them already? If not, how did they find you? Did you send them an audition? So. Many. Questions.
Random roles from major productions aren’t going to suddenly land on your lap. Sure, it could happen if you have an especially skilled (and well-connected) agent. But first… do you even have an agent already?
The fact is, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Red Flag #7 – AI By Any Other Name
Tying this to the previous point, these are sometimes tied to ridiculously high offers, but there are also some that offer dismally low rates.
This topic also deserves a whole discussion by itself, but the point is that if you choose to train an AI model, no matter what words are used to describe it, you need to be very careful. You need to know exactly what you are allowing your client to do with your voice – ‘coz once they have it, who knows what’s possible.
Do you have other red flags you’d like to share? Please leave a comment below, or otherwise contact us, so we can add to this list. Thanks!