VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Kevin Delaney]

I have a new article published at VoiceOverXtra.com, titled "The Art of the Audition: Relax - Have Fun With It!"

I say that auditioning for VO should never be stressful or unpleasant. Indeed, your ability to relax and enjoy the process is essential to your long-term success as a voiceover artist.

You can read the article here:
http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=1vmffn2y

[Mandy Nelson]

Kevin, I enjoyed reading that. As one who rarely auditions, I've rarely enjoyed it. But lately more and more interesting stuff is coming my way and it's time to have fun with it.
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[captain54]

there's really no magic formula for being successful at auditioning, except maybe doing about 3 million of them before you start to get the hang of it.

I'm sorry Kevin, there's nothing fun about auditioning for me. its a huge pain in the butt for me. No matter how much I try to talk myself into it being otherwise. Being judged, facing rejection, getting in the elevator after the audition and running thru the hundreds of ways you "shoulda woulda coulda"

[CarynClark]

I enjoyed it too, Kevin.

I actually enjoy auditioning... I guess b/c it gives me a chance to play and see what I've got.
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

[Philip Banks]

Kevin, how do you qualify your auditions?

[ballenberg]

I see where Philip is going. He likes to tell us that he almost never auditions. I caution anyone reading that viewpoint to understand that he is in the vast, vast, vast (can I say it enough times) minority. This is a business that's all about auditioning. For almost every single job. Auditions are the lifeblood of the business. Unless you're Philip.

[Philip Banks]

'tis true, I don't! Why should this be the case? Because I qualify audition requests. I'm like my Dad who always said the he never gambled unless he knew he was going to win and knowing he was going to win took the fun out of gambling.

Bill is correct, auditioning is where it's at but the smart money is on qualifying auditions. It's really hard to walk away from a potential job until you look closely and realise that it is about as much a potential job FOR YOU as the numbers you've chosen for the lottery are the easy way to riches.

[Bruce]

I've had a couple of discussions recently about the (disturbing? bothersome?) trend of having to audition for almost everything these days. Auditioning used to be largely reserved for the biggest markets and the biggest dollar projects because so much was on the line when choosing a talent. Otherwise producers relied on demos and recommendations from agents and such. However, now that every Tom, Dick, and Harriet in the VO biz has a home studio, clients can, and now do, ask for custom reads much more often. Well, it does beat running down to the agent's office to record an audition.

I'll try an experiment the next couple of times I post a job at the P2P sites. I'll listen to just the submitting talents' basic demos first and select a couple of top candidates, then I'll go back and listen to the auditions and see how the choices compare. I'll let you know what I find.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[Lizden]

I think because I have auditioned so much over the past few years, there really isn't a fear factor in it for me anymore.

And I think that IS due to the fact that the industry has changed and it's not just the big jobs that require an auditon anymore.

Like Caryn, I have fun with it.
Like Philip, I qualify my auditions (Yeah...unlike Philip I DO still audition, but I don't audition for EVERYTHING that comes dowen the pike )

It's like anything else in this biz, part of it and subjective,
Either you're right for the job or not....I have NO control over that decision, so why fret over it?

I HAVE felt excitement & nervous energy over auditons for some big gigs in NYC, but not fear. I go in, do my thing, leave, call Moe to tell her how fun it was/how it went, and go on to record the jobs I already booked & have to deliver!

Bruce, I'd REALLY be intrerested in what you find!
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

[Deirdre]

[Eddie Eagle]

[Bob Bergen]

This is a fun thread!!

First of all, I really enjoyed your article, Kevin! You have a good outlook that wreaks of success!

I as well love auditioning! Besides keeping the machine well oiled, it's a creative high. Since 99% of my auditions are in my home studio, I have no one there to judge me. That said, even when auditioning for a casting director, my advice to all is to never audition to please anyone but yourself! This doesn't mean you shouldn't be available to direction. But don't define direction as correction! Usually when one gets direction it's because they like you and want to like you more!! And there's a fine line between confident and cocky! No one wants the latter! But the confident actor gets the gig! And the mic doesn't lie!

You will be confident if you go in with the philosophy that you are there to have fun, not to please the buyer.

Having fun, I think, is the most important part of the audition process. If you are concerned about pleasing you aren't committing to your choices. You are in your head worrying when you should be creating.

Think of your audition as a party, and you (the host) are inviting others (the buyer) to join your fun! Do it with confidence and fun and they are bound to want to join the party!

Now, I'm not quite sure what Philip is referring to with "qualifying auditions." That's a term I've not heard. I do pass from time to time on auditions. Maybe it's a game that is too throaty and doesn't pay enough to risk hurting. Maybe they are looking for an accent or dialect that I don't excel at. OR it's just something I chose not to do.

It's OK to pass on auditions!!!!

NOW-not all auditions are fun! But I'd say the majority are.

Have fun! Enjoy the journey! Today's audition is an insurance policy for another one, or a job! Often times the buyer passes this time for whatever reason. Maybe their client wants a celeb. Maybe they want someone newer, or someone who they recently worked with and want to work with them again. But if you are good, you will be remembered! And you never know when that audition from weeks/months ago will bring you work!

[Philip Banks]

To qualify an audition one merely takes into account a number of the points made by Bob and others. Does this audition make good business sense? Whilst it may not be possible to be certain one can be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that an audition does or indeed doesn't make sense. Put ego, wild optimism, superstition and false hope to one side and take a business view. Someone has the right to offer to buy my house for $27.35 but that does not oblige me to sell it for that price.

My most recent audition was for a major international brand, the TV campaign would earn me 6 figures. The ad agency were auditioning 4 voices, I was one of them. Did I do it? Yes. Did I get the job? As far I know I didn't as I did the audition about 3 weeks ago. Was it worth the effort? Yes.

[KaraEdwards]

Just like everyone else- I love auditioning!

A couple of days ago I was asked to do an audition over ISDN. I mentioned to the director that I wish all auditions could be done over ISDN- I love being directed!

He remarked it wasn't really an audition, as I was the only one he was 'trying out'.

I thought for a moment before replying, "I wish all auditions were via ISDN and that I was always the only one being asked to 'try out'."



[Oh- and I did book the job...woohoo!]
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Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[captain54]