Voice-Over Talent Tips!
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 photo. Your voice demo is your business
card to the voice industry and you cannot get work without
one.
Just as models include tear sheets in their portfolios, established
voice talents 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 will them on file for future voice work consideration.
Often, talents are hired on the strength of their voice over
demos. In many cases, though, they will be invited to 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 shows that you have experience, talent and potential.
The samples you include on the voice demo you make, or
have made for you, ought to sound like spots that might have been
heard on-air.
Find a good voice coach. This is highly recommended. When
you look for a voice coach, be sure of their references.
You need a coach who understands what advertising agencies and
producers are listening for in professional voice over
talent. Don't make your voice over demo before you are
ready. First, find a coach who can help you build your skills
before you make an investment in studio time. If there is no voiceover
coach in your area, you might search the internet for any
reputable long distance coaching. There are many helpful books
available.
Every great voice demo starts with good commercial copy.
Well-written voice over scripts will showcase your reads
with varying emotion and character plus the energetic delivery
the market frequently requires. Be sure to strive for variety
on your voice over demo. Select voice over scripts
that show the full range of your capabilities. Good voice over
scripts can be hard to find. If you are having trouble locating
good voice scripts, here
is an online voice over scripts library that offers over
70 professional scripts perfect for use in your voice
demo.
A competitive voice over demo must be produced in a professional
recording studio which can provide the proper background music
and sound effects to mix along with your voice. Studios
can be expensive. Costs average $50-$100 an hour or more, according
to the calibre of the facility and the location. It might take
as much as 8 hours (sometimes more) for a beginner to produce
a professional voice over demo, including the recording,
editing , music selection and final mix. Once the voice
demo is produced, you will also need to pay for the duplication
of your demo plus any packaging 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. Call and ask to check out the studio
before you invest in making your voice over demo. Make
an appointment with the studio to visit their facilities. Ask
questions. Listen. Is the recording booth soundproof? Are the
recording staff pleasant? Would you feel comfortable recording
in their studio? Do they have voice over scripts available?
Ask the studio staff to play some examples of other voice
talent demos they've produced.
You would best choose a studio already being used by voice
over artists. The staff will have greater experience in working
with voice talents and providing all you need. An excellent
studio with very competitive rates and which also offers a voice
over demo package would be JL Studios.
It is good practice to warm-up before your voice over session.
Athletes, dancers, and singers all do a warm-up. Voice over
actors should do the same! The specific muscles used in performing
your craft can be kept 'toned' by using voice warm-up exercises.
Relax your neck. Stretch your face and shoulders. Open your mouth
wide, do some yawning and then tackle your favorite tongue twisters.
Warming up your voice allows you speak more clearly and
also relaxes you. When you enter the studio for a session, being
relaxed is very important in order to approach and establish your
character quickly. Follow these guides and you will begin to make
the most of your voice over sessions.
Don't duplicate more than 50 voice over CD's at one time.
After you've sent out your first 50 CD's and you have received
some feedback, you'll be able to determine whether or not you
need to return to the studio in order to develop and fine-tune
your voice over demo !
Voice Over Scripts
The JL Studios voice over scripts
library contains real scripts from Regional and National
Agencies, Radio and Television stations from all across the country,
for both Men and Women in a wide range of age groups. Commercials,
Corporate, Narration, Promos and Public Service Announcements
- just about every kind of voice over recording you may
encounter. Select from our online library of voice over scripts
to find those best suited to your personal style.
