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captain54
Lucky 700
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 744
Location: chicago
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 Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject: Insight from major client concerning VO Talent auditions |
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Booked and recorded a session with a major retail/appliance chain a few days ago and as we were preparing to record, all were listening to my audition and I received more than a few comments and kudos on the sound quality of my audition... the gig turned out to be 3 of 4 times more $$$ than originally planned...
I do not have an expensive or extravagant setup, but I'm aware of and strive to record a clean signal in an acoustically sound environment
The client mentioned that a good deal of the auditions were recorded very poorly "as if they were on the phone" or "were in a cave"..
Why someone would send out an audition like that to a major client is beyond me, but inexplicably, I guess there are talent that don't take auditions too seriously. Just so you know, gang...clients do listen and DO TAKE the sound quality of auditions VERY seriously. |
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Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
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Mike Harrison
M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Insight from major client concerning VO Talent audition |
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Congratulations on your booking, Captain.
| captain54 wrote: | | Why someone would send out an audition like that to a major client is beyond me, but inexplicably, I guess there are talent that don't take auditions too seriously. |
I will venture to say that there are still those who just don't know what they're doing; who have no idea what professional acoustic and audio quality is or how to achieve it. And I'm not surprised, what with the suggestions from those I call the 'Pied Pipers' of voice-over that – beyond a demo – all that's needed to be a voice 'talent' is a computer and a USB microphone and "you can record from home." It's very easy to sell demo packages by dangling a 'six-figure' carrot achievable with little effort.
One of the first things I would suggest to newcomers – before they buy any equipment – is that they visit a real recording studio and ask to be put in an iso booth to hear what proper acoustics actually sounds like.
In addition to Jeff's excellent blog post (see previous post), I would also highly recommend a post on Dan Friedman's blog:
The Most Difficult Part To Being in Voiceover
| Quote: | | To the frightfully misinformed: Voice-over is NOT a career available from a gum machine or by drawing the Pope in a pirate hat. |
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Bish
3.5 kHz
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:19 am Post subject: |
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There have been a number of posts/blogs/comments recently on the web about the validity of being able to do quick down'n'dirty auditions via an iPhone and stuff like that. Personally, I don't get it. Sorry if this is you and you find it a little disparaging, but I get the impression from the comments I've seen in its defense, that there's a hard-core of hipster VO dudes, running around NYC, from gig to gig that need the ability to audition while hot-footing it up Madison Avenue between studios. If these people exist, and the agencies know them and just wants to get their "take" on a read, then that's cool. If you have a client relationship that means you've got the gig anyway, then giving "the creatives" a couple of options up-front via phone may well be valid as well.
... but we're talking about the real world for the majority of VOs where auditioning is the norm. Putting out a good quality one shows that I care enough about it to make the effort. The word professionalism comes to mind.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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Chuck Davis
M&M
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 2389
Location: Where I love to be...Between the Vineyards and the Cows.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed Bish. We all know that any submission through an agent that doesn't sound professional in both performance and technical aspects never makes it past the delete key.
I'm sure the "on the phone/in a cave" quality auditions were the result of a P2P posting. These are the folks who will either get it and improve or walk away angry and disappointed within a year.
As far as recording on iPad/iPhone and the like. I guess there's some folks who can make it work to a point....and it will improve. How 'bout just using your laptop with a good mic and interface though? It's not that much more to schlep around.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11076
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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If one intends to audition then do it properly. The problem is really a combination of lazy clients, incompetent agents and deluded Voices, probably in that order. How do you fix a system designed to encourage everyone to waste the time of everyone else?
Because it's tough out there VOs need to value the time they spend looking for work, not allow anyone else to waste it and ensure that everything is wrapped in 24 carat quality.
For the record, I have not landed a single job from an audition in 3 months. Hunger and poverty stalk me like two giant stalking things. |
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Diane Maggipinto
Spreading Snark Worldwide
Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 6679
Location: saul lay seetee youtee
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:30 am Post subject: |
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hey kids, when you go to and pay for college, you really need to attend classes, do the assignments, study ... not just matriculate and wait for good grades.
same deal, no?
i like what bish says.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!
www.d3voiceworks.com |
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DougVox
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 1706
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:54 am Post subject: |
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| Diane Maggipinto wrote: | you really need to attend classes, do the assignments, study ... not just matriculate and wait for good grades.
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Wish I'da known this back in '83-'86. 
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Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com |
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