Hi all,
I wanted to share a new website and idea with you all. I found a site that is brand new and on the ground floor, which I think will grow into a great opportunity for us as songwriters. It is called "Ecastactors", and is mainly for people who want to do voiceover or modeling work etc. I talked the founder into having a category called "music catalogue" which is for tv/movie directors to review music for use in their projects. I thought some of you might have instrumentals or songs you would like to add to the catalouge suitable for soundtracs, etc. You can become a member here while it is on the ground floor, because it is free to join. Most of these sites charge you to join, like Voiceover123, but since this is new I believe we have a good opportunity for some more contact and exposure for free and I think it is growing well. You can go take a look at it and see if you would be interested.

http://ecastactors.com/

Good luck to you all and have a great day,

Letha

Letha:

I don't do many instrumentals but I'll take a peek at the link you so graciously provided.

Thanks,

Dave

http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/DaveRice

I put a couple up - thanks for the suggestion. Do you know if there is really anyone shopping to buy rather than sell songs there?

Hi Dave and Colin,

I don't think it has to be instrumentals, it can be anything that has potential for a soundtrack or movie or even a commercial. I believe the man who founded the site already works in the field and has connections. He did write back and say this:

"Very good, as I know a few independent movie makers that I know hire original scores for movies.
Thanks,
Pat C"

Yes, I believe that their are shoppers looking in there also. If you look at the bottom of the site, and click on the "auditions" page, you will see a few opportunities. This is brand new as of a couple days ago, and I have faith that this site will grow for some reason.

Thanks for looking at my post, and if you join, by all means let's be friends on there lol.

Good luck,

Letha

Hello again, Letha:

Your latest post indicates you received a reply from Pat C. I looked for a way to contact ecastactors.com and could not find a button or link or even an address anywhere on the site. Can you share this pathway with us? I have some concerns I'd like to discuss with Pat C. or somebody there.

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave,

I only know how to contact him through the email on the site, so I am not sure if you have to be a member to correspond or not. His name in the site is ABCTVads. You can try and see if you can email without being a member. I did not see any readily available link either. I just guess I am assuming that the site is so new it is still evolving, and I expect they will start charging a memberhship fee if it succeeds. I have believed that it is a legitimate site, but if you find out differently, please let me know.

Letha

What kind of word is Ecastacors?

Hi Ben,

I think it stands for Electronic cast actors. The site is for people who want to do voice overs for commercials and radio and tv. You can record your parts (if you ever get one) and send it back by internet to be mixed in, or lots of different options. It is like "Voiceover123, which is an established site that costs quite a bit a year.

This site is brand new, and I found it through an add for a female voiceover needed. I am the one who suggested the category "music catalogue" for film etc and he created that category. I think Dave is wanting to check it out more thorouly to verify it is not a scam, which is always a good thing. I just went by my feeling on this one, and I have no rhyme or reason as to why I think it is legit.

Letha

Words are a large part of advertising. You want them to jump out and exite you. Somehow the word Ecastacors doesn't do that. That's all I meant.

Hey Letha,

I checked it out, and it seems more like a social networking site more than anything else....

"New to ecastactors?!
ecastactors is the best way to get your videos, pictures or audio files, to the people who matter to you! With ecastactors you can:
Show off your favorite audio, video or image files to the world!
Blog the videos you take with your digital camera or cell phone!
Securely and privately show videos to your friends and family around the world!"

At this point, I'll think I'll give it a miss. It's the "blog your videos taken with a digital camera" thing, that I think, makes it more of a social site, than folks who are serious about digital media.

There's nothing wrong with it, but I don't see a great deal of professional opportunity here. Maybe, at this point, not worth the bother, but you never know how it might turn out.

cheers, niteshift

Hi Niteshift,

Thanks for checking it out. You might be right, I don't know yet. When I look at some of the opportunities that the auditions page has it has some open casting spots that were specific to my area which I thought was nice, but it also has some very strange scripts that people are putting in there now. I also thought that when it told me the number of "auditions" that these were actual auditions that the founder had solicited somehow, but I tested it. I listened to one of my submissions a few times to watch the number, and the number of auditions changed with each view I gave to it, so that number is in fact just the number of "views".
So I am not as excited about it now as I first was. I will just watch it for a while. So nice to have people we trust, meaning you all, to help check these things out and discuss them with.

Thanks again,

Letha

Letha:

Thanks for "returning to the site" to attempt to find a link or phone number. I share Niteshift's concern that it is only another social site. The site I am using now (it is 100% free) is simply a place to put your songs so others may hear them... and only the participants may comment and "vote." Frankly, I don't put alot of value in the "votes" 'cause most of the voters are afraid that they will be "pounced upon" if they tell the truth about a song or artist. As far as I have been able to determine, ShowCaseYourMusic has no "lock" on A&R Departments and it is probably never visited by the "brass" in the Music Industry. Don't bother trying to send them an e-mail. It won't happen.

I hope you won't give up on ecastactors. Just be aware that they may be making promises they are not yet prepared to deliver. I wish them well and hope that they don't evolve into just another "social site." I'm not anti-social... I just want to stay focused on my songwriting and pitching. I don't have extra time to spend "schmoozing" with imaginary fans.

Regards,

Dave

http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/DaveRice

Hi Dave,

I appreciate your thoughts and time spent looking into the site I submitted. You know, I am very gaurded in my belief in the benefits of most contacts and offers regarding music, I have had so many sharks over my many years. I understand that there is a reality that we can make it in the music profession, but it is not an easy road and you have to keep your faith and drive. I have a friend who thinks it is crazy to even let any of my creations be heard, and once upon a time I was too afraid someone would "steal" my songs that I would never have posted them. I changed my mind when I realized I have a closet full of songs, and a million more in my head, and I'd just as soon not die with them all left there. If someone steals something of mine, I guess it will mean it must have been good lol.

Anyway, I just thought I would let you know that I got an email telling me that I was submitted for a 3 minute voiceover and asking what I would charge, and I replied. I am interested in all forms of using my voice, whether it be singing or narrating or getting the opportunity to create a commercial. Now, just because he says I was submitted, I guess it doesn't mean it is necessarily true. It also doesn't mean that whoever he submitted me too will choose me, but there is a chance in both, no matter how small. Most likely, I would not be the one chosen because I am inexperienced in the field really, but if I ever do get any jobs or exposure from the site, I will come back in and post it to let you know. If you don't hear from me in this thread again, you will know it had no benefit for me, lol.

Thanks so much for taking time to talk it over,

Letha

Letha:

I'll keep my fingers crossed. It's nice to know your work was submitted for the voiceover. Time will tell. Please keep us posted if and when convenient. Best of luck.

I feel very much like you. Keeping the songs I have "bottled up" for fear of being stolen away by some unscrupulous leech would mean that they probably would never be heard by the general public. If I never make any money from them, I would prefer that they are at least available for listening. Of course, having the best of both worlds (income from a platinum label... LOL!) would be wonderful.

Best regards,

Dave