VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[John Huss]

Anybody out there do celebrity voices? I can do about 80 or so and would like to incorporate these into voice over work.

[craigcrumpton]

When it comes to my vocal repertoire, I'm not a voice-counter because I'm lousy with math, but I'd say have a pretty decent personal inventory.

I don't get much VO work out of them -- in the last year I've voiced Bill Clinton for an event promo spoofing "The Office," and did a series of celeb impressions for a site offering voices for GPS devices. They all paid too, and the latter was even a gig I booked through Craigslist.

But I get a lot more mileage out of them as a live performer doing gigs as an impressionist.

Here's a couple videos of live performances with celebrity impressions that have netted me a fair amount of work in the last few years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i4DgnZw4fo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VlfECmmiDY

You should also be aware that doing impressions for VO work -- especially any commercial work -- is a very tricky area that has potential legal issues:

http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2009/02/bettye_zoller_shares_experiences_celebrity_voiceovers.html
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[Lee Gordon]

I do some celebrity impersonations (most of the celebrities I impersonate were alive when I started doing them but are now dead). Over the years I have gotten a little work that way, but more often than not I use them as the basis for creating other characters. For example, last year I was cast in a game as a character that was loosely based on Richard Dean Anderson's potrayal of Col. Jack O'Neil in Stargate. But it wasn't a straight-up impersonation; I just attempted to replicate the attitude.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
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[Darren Altman]

Yep, I do impressions and am contacted by companies to deliver for various campaigns, such as Virgin Mobile. I have an impressions reel on my site, but for those US voiceoverists... you won't get any of them as they are mainly from the UK!!
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[whalewtchr]

Radio Stations at times are looking for Impressionists/Celebrities to include in their Imaging, especially when something is "breaking" or is in the water cooler mode. I used a David Lettermen sound a like at one point and he was very good-Obama is obviously a commodity and the fast talking guy was a hoot when used with Contest Winners promos. Impressions are ok when used to parody...not ok to endorse...so yes very tricky indeed.
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jonahcummings

[jrodriguez315]

Craig, that was wonderful! I used to do singing impressions as part of a stand up act when I was in my 20s but haven't done them in years.
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Joe Rodriguez, Bilingual Voice Actor | The Voiceover Thespian Blog

[mcm]

I don't believe I was heretofore aware of how SERIOUSLY talented Craig is. Where have I been?

Wow.

[craigcrumpton]

[Moe Egan]

Ditto what Mary said- Craig- those were awesome.
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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
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[craigcrumpton]

[ConnieTerwilliger]

Craig - OK to use one or two of these links on my class blog - we are starting characters this week and it would be fun for them to see what you are doing physically to get the voices out. The placement, tempo and rhythm changes are super!
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[craigcrumpton]