Lance Kistler’s Post

In my experience, a hold is merely a function of the "busy work" of advertising. It wouldn't surprise me that they bill the client for the service....lol. The reason they make these idiotic requests, is because there's so many parties involved on their end - especially with commercial shoots. One person is trying to bring together eight or more different schedules together on one date - including the voice talent. A hold can only bother you if you let it. I get them basically every week. If I chose to fill up my calendar with that nonsense and worry about one session overlapping another, I'd have a heart attack. Say "yes" and go about your day! If they come back with a firm date/time and there's a conflict - deal with it then. Tell them another client had a hold for the same date.....you need to take your dog to the vet....whatever. I rarely have an issue arranging time for any booking.....and yes, I'm always busy. Bottom line, don't take the request personally or let it frustrate you. It will never end. Consider yourself lucky you're on the short list and then, let the chips fall where they may.

In my world - the time slot isn't locked until the session is booked. Period. We schedule several weeks out most of the time - and until there's copy in hand - and the mission is a go - the talent is free to do whatever they want. Production people asking for blanket holds are dopes - and in the wrong business. The most I ask when people read for me is, "Are you going to be around on these dates?" ie - What is your general availability. I don't start asking for times until I know we have the work - and they know they have the job. 25 years of this - and there is nothing - I repeat nothing that important - and certainly no one that important - where talent that haven't won the job should be expected to lock out days and times for a maybe. Self-aggrandizing folks with imaginary importance trying to hold sway over people they haven't hired or booked yet? Please... I am - and have always been on the side of the talent. Until the job is theirs - their time is theirs. Change my mind.

Honestly, if I’m understanding you correctly, I don’t believe that solves the problem, because I audition for more than 100 jobs a week. If I held times for all of them, I’d have to remember the times I was holding for all of them and be limited from auditioning for others. That would take up a lot of organization/admin time. Currently, I audition for almost everything, knowing there’s a 99% chance that if I book it, I’ll be free or able to move things around because some jobs are flexible on my own time. If I had to hold times for every audition I did, I would surely miss out on work for jobs I hadn’t yet booked.

100% agree, you said exactly what I was thinking. To add value to the discussion: Sometimes, agents request your UNavailability (if it falls on the recording date(s))directly in the file name, e.g. AVO_MikePaul_NA-07.12.24 from 3-5pm.mp3 or AVO_MikePaul_SourceConnect_NA-07.17 thru 07.19.mp3 for example. No harm in being unavailable; if you can't move it, you can't move it. If you can, try to move it... but if not, and you're the right voice, I've found they work around your schedule whenever possible. Some productions cannot provide this flexibility, but most can in my experience.

Thank you, Lance. I recently had a hold for two days and then a release... it annoyed me I had to ask ( not sure when they decided) and wasted two days waiting. But, I probably wouldn't have minded if I booked the final job.:) I agree that it's really helpful for producers to be a little flexible if possible. I want every client to feel like a priority, but this week, both wanted the same time slot, lol, luckily, it worked out. Plus, it's summer in Maine and I do like to enjoy these brief, lovely, days when possible. :)

Why do record times demand so much flexibility? Are all plans not solidified before hiring the voice talent? "I do not expect any talent to have NOTHING else booked on a given day! Great talent are BUSY! " Are casting directors really this arrogant? Because we are busy. If not with another booking, then with auditioning or working a job that allows us to be flexible, but not to this extent.

I think it’s good to have recording dates listed but also be flexible because things change all the time. I as a talent can be flexible within reason. I do all I can to accommodate the client.

I’ve recently auditioned for several different roles in an upcoming film (on camera work this time vs VO) and the shoot dates are listed July 22nd through August 31st. I let my agency know I’ll be unavailable until the 30th of July and they said to go ahead and audition as the roles might be able to be moved around for the shoot if I am selected. So I actually appreciated that. Now I’m in the waiting game to see. The last day for auditions is the 16th so I’ll probably be on the road before I hear anything (if I hear anything that is). But I totally agree. We can’t “hold” days at a time and ignore our other clients. That’s not fair to us or our clients.

I like that, especially for people who are trying to get into the industry and have other duties like family, jobs, etc.

Ah, the courtesy of a release! It's the simple things that make you feel valued.