VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

imaginator · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:44 pm Post subject: I sure hope I sound alike...

...got a call this morning from long-time friend/producer nick archer in nashville, asking if i'd done any regional tv spots for a bank recently. i mentioned a nice little job i did this summer for a particular bank with a year buyout in eight states.

he told me he'd been contacted by that same bank and asked to try and find someone for some radio spots who could sound like the guy they have on their tv ad.

turns out it's me.

the nice thing is...i've known nick for more than 30 years, and he wasn't sure it was me on the dvd audio. (thank you nancy wolfson and marice tobias for helping me with that "sound" issue!)

the scary part is...what if i don't get the gig because they don't think i sound like that guy?!?!??

(meanwhile, i'm having the biggest laugh i've had in a month!)

at least now i know what my "voice type" is: i'm a "rowell gormon type".
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

scottnilsen · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject:

That's very funny, Rowell.
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

JBarrett · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject:

Eddie *really* thinks it's funny. Smile

Me too, BTW.
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imaginator · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 4:16 pm Post subject:

it's okay. i laughed too. very loud and long...and happily.
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rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
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jsgilbert · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject:

Consider yourself quite lucky. In my case, they usually don't bother looking for the "guy". (well, when I'm the guy)

I had two interesting things happen to me this year.

One, where I was sent a script from my agent along with a link to something on Youtue, where they wanted us to sound like the announcer. I clicked on the link and it was me. Oddly this was six weeks ago and I booked it, but they didn't give me a firm date and it looks as though they may now be "going in a different direction."

The second was where a friend of mine sent me an email with an attached mp3 file and asked if it was me. It was. Apparently he was brought in to do an audition and asked to match the voice.

Neither one of us got the gig. Well, I wasn't even considered. although I had thought of doing the audition for him and having him slate and send it in.

The 4 stages of a v.o.'s career:

Who's J.S. Gilbert
Get me J.S. Gilbert
Get me a J.S. Gilbert soundalike
Who's J.S. Gilbert
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:32 am Post subject: Re: I sure hope I sound alike...

Pam · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:54 am Post subject:

Congrats! You are now a descriptor. Way to go Rowell!
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Now what did I come in here for?

CC Heim · Backstage Pass Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 401

kgenus · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:58 am Post subject:

Being yourself is always good. I remember arriving a studio in NYC that will remain nameless. I got inside the booth, put the headphones on and eventually a disembodied voice in the headphones says, "can the talent here me? <yes> play him the match, please."

They played it.

me: "Sooo... what am I matching?"

them: "Damn, you nailed this guy already!!"

me: "That's because it's me."

them: "What's your name?"

me: "Kevin Genus"

them: "You have ISDN at home?"

me: "Yes"
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Genus

ricevoice · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:40 am Post subject:

off-topic: Kevin, that Motorola spot you linked in your signature is awesome!
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:49 am Post subject:

Last year somebody posted a job on Voices.com with a link to a YouTube video of a 1970s era Ford commercial. They wanted to try to match it. I sent them a reply telling them I wasn't auditioning for that particular job but the announcer they were trying to copy was Don Morrow, that he's still working, and I gave them a link to Don's website.
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Voice President of the United States
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject:

JBarrett · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject:

I fear that in some cases, the reason that a client asks for someone who sounds like Talent X is that they don't want to pay the fee for Talent X. A job doesn't have the budget for Morgan Freeman, so they say they want someone who sounds like him.

Similarly, if you audition for a job where the specs list your own name as the sound to match, and you don't get the job, it could be that they don't really want you. They may already know what you cost, and are hoping to find a less-expensive version of you.
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