So, several months ago I decided to sign up for free to see what kind of voice over jobs are available through the thumbs down freelancer platform...UpWork. Getting registered with them was pretty fast and easy. But here's the funny part. ONE DAY after I signed up, (ONE DAY!) I received an email from them stating my account was being suspended because I wasn't auditioning for enough jobs with them. I barely had a chance to put my headphones on after I signed up when their suspension email came in. Most of the voice over jobs on there are "crapola" from all over the world including some where they want you to work for free. Or the phony promise of better paying future work. And the bulk of the jobs are VO folks who are fighting over a $10 job! I immediately deleted all my sign-up information.My conclusion? It's a nasty place to try to win decent VO jobs. Bottom of the barrel jobs are in abundance there. And I have found the people who want a really good voice over but don't want to pay, are the biggest pain in the butt to work for. You actually have to pay UpWork with their screwy connect tokens to audition for jobs. Take a hard pass on UpWork for voice jobs. Even if you're new to voice over and need experience, run, don't walk from UpWork. Their wonky audition process is beyond stupid and insulting. From what I've heard from former employees, many in upper management there are clueless about the VO industry. For them, it's all about how much money they can make off the site. (Sound like another well known voice over website?) If you think my review of UpWork is harsh, Google them. Reddit has some very specific (raw) reviews. Getting paid peanuts, or nothing at all, is a terrible way to launch your voice over career. You never want to be branded as the "cheap voice over guy/gal." It will follow you throughout your career.
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