| Numerous prospective professional voice talent have | | | | been referred by someone they trust, your CD, cute |
| contacted me asking for advice on how to get into the | | | | as the label is, probably won't get heard if you |
| business. They ask, "What do I need to do?" Wow, | | | | randomly drop it off or mail it. This is why your |
| talk about your loaded question! And to seriously | | | | marketing efforts will be so important -more about that |
| address it, requires a long winded answer! | | | | in just a moment. As for the snap judgments when |
| I've been a working professional voice talent and | | | | agents, casting directors or producers do listen to |
| actress for 25 years. I have taught classes and | | | | voice over demos, try it yourself. Visit a voice talent |
| workshops on becoming a professional voice talent, | | | | web site and just cruise through the voice over |
| although my schedule doesn't often permit it. Since I'm | | | | demos. At first, you might listen to each demo all the |
| hearing more and more often from aspiring voice over | | | | way through. Then, you'll find yourself, hearing the first |
| performers, I thought I'd try to cover some basic topics | | | | few words, and feeling like you've got the essence of |
| and offer suggestions and hints from my experience. | | | | that particular voice and you're ready to move on. By |
| Although voiceover for commercials, on hold | | | | the way, listening to other professional voice talent |
| messages, and narrations might seem to be an easy | | | | demos is a great way to learn what you're going for - |
| to learn process to some, there are many facets | | | | and what you want to avoid. |
| involved in actually becoming a working professional | | | | Be sure to find out what the studio will charge for your |
| voice talent. And, there are continuous changes! | | | | voice over demo. Some studios offer a special rate to |
| So, you've been practicing the breathing and warm up | | | | talent producing a voice over demo. Others will not. |
| techniques. You've also been practicing reading aloud | | | | You will have to pay for studio time, editing, effects, |
| anything you can get your hands on, including | | | | music, and duplication. Studio time varies, but can run |
| advertising copy in magazines and newspapers or any | | | | around $100 + per hour. Some studios offer "demo |
| radio or tv copy you can find. Is it time to make a | | | | packages" where they help you select copy, direct |
| demo? Only you can truly answer that question. Do | | | | you, and then edit the finished product. These are |
| you feel confident? Have you been taking classes or | | | | great if you make sure to find a good one and you've |
| at least practicing reading to others? | | | | got the cash to spend. They'll run you $1,000 and up! |
| When you feel you're ready to try a voice over demo, | | | | You will probably be recording in the studio for about 1 |
| find a reputable studio with an engineer who produces | | | | hour and then the editing process, with the addition of |
| a lot of commercial and corporate work. This voice | | | | sound effects and music, may take another couple of |
| over demo will be your major selling tool and you want | | | | hours or more. This is why you want to be as |
| to get it right. You want it to be as professional as | | | | prepared as possible! If you find a good voice over |
| possible. If you want to rough out a voice over demo | | | | coach, it would be helpful to have him or her attend the |
| on your own recording equipment or on paper | | | | session to help direct you if you're working at a local |
| beforehand to take with you to the session, that's fine. | | | | studio who doesn't offer a demo package. You will |
| It might be helpful for both you and the engineer. But | | | | need to budget some payment for the coach as well. |
| don't do a first time, beginner, homemade voice over | | | | One of the most excruciating things for a performer |
| demo and start trying to get an agent with it. Some | | | | can be trying to create that perfect voice over demo. |
| might listen, but they're going to send you for a | | | | It's hard to be objective and hard to know what to cut. |
| professional voice over demo before they start | | | | An experienced "ear" can be a tremendous help. |
| representing you for voice work. If you're working on | | | | You'll want a CD or two of the finished demo at |
| your own in the voice over studio without a coach to | | | | minimum. If you have an agent or are seeking an |
| direct you, be sure you work with a very experienced | | | | agent, you'll need to either drop it by or send a copy to |
| engineer and someone with whom you have a good | | | | them. Most everyone uses CD's exclusively these |
| rapport. These guys, who have been engineering for | | | | days - either that or an MP3 sent via the internet. |
| many years, have heard it all and can give you | | | | Many agents and internet listing services request that |
| valuable guidance, but, you don't want to be completely | | | | you mail a CD as they are concerned about opening |
| intimidated by them either! As a beginner, you may just | | | | attachments. You'll have to either have professional |
| want to make one generic voice over demo to start. | | | | CD labels made or create your own with special |
| Try including a variety of styles and use commercial | | | | software on your computer. But don't just take a |
| and corporate narration scripts if you feel your voice | | | | marker and write your name and number on the CD. |
| would lend itself well to the corporate world. But the | | | | You may not have to have the fanciest label, but it |
| first voice over demo you should create is definitely a | | | | should be a professional looking, easy to read label. |
| commercial voice over demo. | | | | You can either have many copies of your CD voice |
| After you have some actual work under your belt and | | | | over demo made by a studio or web sites that |
| have acquired copies of actual spots you've done, you | | | | specialize in making copies of CDs or you can burn |
| may want to create separate specialized voice over | | | | them yourself as needed from your master if you |
| demos which will be edited from actual work. Keep | | | | have the required computer skills and equipment. You |
| the demo SHORT - 1 to 1 ½ minutes or less. Most | | | | probably don't need a huge quantity of your voice |
| directors and producers make a decision in the first | | | | over demo CDs on hand as you may find the need to |
| few seconds - much as we'd all like to think they listen | | | | "tweak" the voice over demo as soon as you actually |
| all the way through to hear all that we can do. That's | | | | do some work or to meet the requirements of your |
| assuming, of course, that they even take the time to | | | | new agent. |
| listen at all. Sorry, it's a tough world. Unless they're | | | | Next time, more about voice over agents! |
| casting something at that very moment or you have | | | | |