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Voice-Over
Actor Talent Tips!
By
Jeffrey Leclair
If you are entertaining the
idea of breaking into voiceovers, your voice over demo is
an absolutely essential marketing tool. Not having a voice
demo is like an actor trying to get work without a head
shot. Your voice demo is your business card to the voice
industry and you cannot work without it.
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Just as models include tear
sheets in their portfolios, established voice talent make
a short (usually 90 second) compilation of current voice
over work. They duplicate this on CD and send the discs to
producers, casting directors, and clients who keep them on
file for future voice work consideration. Often, talent
are hired right from their voice over demos. In many
cases, they must audition for the job.
No one in the voice over
industry wants to work with a beginner who has little, or
no voice over experience. To break into voiceovers you
must produce a voice demo that sounds like you have worked
before. The samples you include on the voice demo you make
(or have made for you) should sound like they are actual
spots that could have been on the air.
If you can find a good voice
coach, this is something that is highly recommended. If
you do look for a voice coach, be sure they have good
references. You need a coach who understands what the
advertising agencies and producers are listening for in
professional voice over talent. Don't make your voice over
demo before you are ready. Find a coach who will help you
build your skills before you make the investment in the
studio. If there is no voiceover coach in your area,
search the internet for reputable long distance coaching.
Every great voice demo starts
with good commercial copy. Well written voice over scripts
showcase your reads with different emotions - roles -
energies, and that the market requires. Be sure to strive
for variety on your voice over demo. Select voice over
scripts that show the full range of what you are cpable.
Good voice over scripts can be hard to find. Make sure the
resource your choose has multiple script categories
including Commercials, Corporate, Narration's, Promos,
Public Service announcements - just about every kind of
voice over recording you may come up against.
A competitive voice over demo
should produced in a professional recording studio which
has the proper background music and sound effects to put
behind your voice. Studios can be expensive. Costs average
$50-$100 an hour or more, depending on the caliber of the
facility and location. It can take as long as 8 hours (or
more) for a beginner to produce a professional voice over
demo, including recording, editing , music selection and
the final mix. Once the voice demo is produced, you'll
also have to pay for the duplication of your demo and
mailing costs.
Be sure to shop around before
committing to a studio to record your voice over demo.
Recording studio rates are competitive. Many studios even
offer special voice over demo package deals for voice
talent. Check out the studio before you invest in making
your voice over demo. Make an appointment with the studio
to just go in a take a look at their facilities. Is it
soundproof? Is the recording staff pleasant? Will you feel
comfortable recording there? Do they have voice over
scripts available? Have the studio play you samples of
other voice talent demos they've made.
You will want to choose a
studio which is used by voice over artists. They'll have
lots of experience in working with voice talent and should
have everything you need.
It is good practice to warm
up before your voice over session. Athletes, Dancers, and
singers warm up. Voice over actors should do the same!
After all, you are The specific muscles used to perform
your craft should be kept 'toned' by using voice warm-up
exercises. Relax your neck, stretch your face and
shoulders, open your mouth wide, or perform your favorite
tongue twisters. By warming up your voice you speak more
clearly. and also relax you. When you enter a studio for
your session, being relaxed is very important in order to
zero in and find your character quickly. Follow this
advice and you will make the most out of your voice over
session.
Don't duplicate more than 50
voice over CDs at a time. After you've sent out your first
50 cds and received feedback, you'll know whether or not
you'll have to go back into the studio for some
fine-tuning to your voice over demo!
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