VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Dez36r · Joined: 13 Sep 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Cincinnati

I have an open audition today to be represented as a voice-over at a local talent agency and have to present a one minute monologue and am seeking some advice. This being my first ever audition for anything in the entertainment business there is a little bit of nervousness as I have no idea what to expect. I am having a difficult time finding a "perfect" monologue to present to these agents and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on how I should go about impressing them this afternoon. I wrote my own little monologue... What do you think?:

As an inexperienced voice-over actor, I have had an extremely difficult time coming up with a one minute monologue, so I went to the internet. After several hours of searching for what “stands out,” what will make an impression on those who hear my voice to get representation or a job, and how to even get started in this business, I was still at a stand-still. So I went to the most likely source of information, actual voice over actors.
Working as an educator and a coach, and through my research, I have found that there isn’t a better resource than those who have actually experienced what I am interested in. Contacting such voice over actors, I was shocked that not only did they respond enthusiastically, but also gave great advice on: 1. How to get into the business, and 2. How to make an impression. Having such reliable resources from those who have actually made it in the voice over business has been a confidence booster and has sparked even more interest in becoming a voice over actor, hence why I am here today.
Going back to finding the perfect one minute monologue I thought I would quote a movie, read from a cold script, or even reading scripts from a commercial, but have decided to tell my story to you through my own personal monologue. In hopes that you find my voice unique and profitable I leave you today in hopes of an outstanding impression and a potential client. Thank you.

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Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens... and the unforeseeable that which your life becomes...

Whit · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:03 am Post subject:

Hey there. I'm in Cincinnati too! I organize meet ups here, you should join us sometime. I post about them in the events section.

About your open call... here's some really blunt advice and a little info.

If they're asking for a monologue, you should give them an actual monologue.

All the agencies in the city will charge you to be on their roster. Don't sign anything that says you are exclusive to them... there's one in town that might try that.

My advice would be to wait until the next open call (if it is who I think it is they have them monthly) and prepare a monologue. Better yet, wait and get some training under your belt and and a demo before you seek representation.

Dez36r · Joined: 13 Sep 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Cincinnati

Thanks so much for the feedback, and you are exactly right about the "monthly" auditions. I had a friend who went through them and he had to pay for them to rep him and he has yet to have a gig. I will definitely have to check out the meet ups, I'm on the west side of Cincy, but it sounds like a great time and with experience in the room, I could really learn a lot. Thanks again for the advice and feedback, it's great to have this kind of support, especially when I have no idea about how to even begin. All I know is that everyone tells me I'm entertaining and should give this a shot. Any advice on a trainer here locally?
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Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens... and the unforeseeable that which your life becomes...

Bish · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:40 am Post subject:

My alarm bells started to ring when I read about an "open call", and then Whit's comment regarding the agency charging for representation. IMHO, any agency worth its salt has probably got a full roster and a dog-pile of professionally produced demo CDs from VOs seeking representation. When they are seeking to add to their lists, I can see that an open call may turn up a viable candidate, but it seems a bit dubious to me.

That being said, going in with your eyes open may be a worthwhile experience. Doing your thing in front of a (hopefully) critical audience could be good for your own development. The only downside may be that you don't put your best foot forward in front of this particular agency, that door may remain shut to you.

As for your monologue... it's an interesting observational piece, but it absolutely screams out, "I'm a noob, I don't really know what I'm doing here. Please give me a chance." However true that may be, I think you'd be better off walking in, exuding an air of confidence and professionalism, and delivering a monologue that includes some narrative, some quoted speech from a couple of characters, and some emotional range in the delivery. Take a novel from the shelf and find a small section where a conversation is in progress. I would avoid movie scripts as you are dealing with character only and not any narrative. Find a piece and own it. You've got a minute... and that's a pretty long time to hold someone's full attention... especially as they've probably sat through ninety-three already. Grab them in the first ten seconds, and tighten the grip with the next fifty!

Good luck.
Peter
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
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Whit · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:50 am Post subject:

Rocco Dal Vera is great and here in town.

http://www.roccodalvera.com/

Whit · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:00 am Post subject:

I should mention I haven't trained with him myself, but know him from my days working at a studio and scheduling his students demo creation sessions. Solid demos (that I was happy to submit for jobs), personable guy, strong focus on acting, and knows the business well.

JBarrett · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:33 am Post subject:

Is it just me, or does the idea of an agent asking for a monologue for VO representation sound like the agent doesn't know what they're doing? For an on-camera actor, I can maybe see that happening, but not for VO.
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Justin S. Barrett
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:56 am Post subject:

...i'm with the "confused" camp on this one.

one doesn't (or, in my opinion, shouldn't) memorize a VO script before going in to do one. why would an agent want someone to audition as a voiceover talent in that way?

the few times i've been in discussion with any agents about representation as a voice talent, i'm asked for my demo(s)...not to stand up and recite something.

if those are the rules with this particular agency and it's worth the trouble, i'd just get a good single-voice :60 radio script, go in with that in hand, and deliver it.

would be interested to know how this turns out.
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rowell gormon
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"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:02 am Post subject:

Ditto...

One of the wonderful things about VO is that you don't have to memorize.
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Bish · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:08 am Post subject:

Absolutely... nowhere in my missive above did I imagine you standing there without copy in your hand... I can't even remember a single line Smile

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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.

todd ellis · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:11 am Post subject:

NOT a memorizer.

recently told a prospective agent that.

it was not a problem for her.
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heyguido · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:12 am Post subject:

Sounds like a squirrel to me....
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Bruce · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:05 am Post subject:

If you don't have experience or audio or video clips to back it up, prospective agents can and will ask for you to perform something for them. It shows how well you can lose self conscience and assume a character, even if it's an enhanced version of yourself. Trust, yet verify, someone once said.

B
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Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:

I'm sitting next to Justin on this one.
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