VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Benjamin Stovall]

I'm quaking in my boots as I post this, but this is the one place I know I'll get the undiluted truth, which is what I need. This is by no means where it needs to be and that's why I'm posting it. The community's feedback is greatly appreciated.

Ben

http://xrayfission.com/audio/CommDemo.mp3

[Scott Pollak]

Hey Benjamin... quit shakin', dude! There's no reason to be! Even if you totally sucked - which you totally don't - there'd still be no reason to be fearful of posting a demo. If you were really floundering and nowhere near ready to be making a demo, there are folks here who would very nicely urge you to seek out more training and practice. (Not me, I'm a hard-hearted s.o.b. who doesn't pull any punches).

There's a lot of good stuff going on here. For starters, you have a wonderful voice. You have a sound that could easily be 'national'; just mature enough, good diction, great tone, nice delivery. I'm not sure yet if it really stands APART from the crowd, but it's a good sound.

Here's what works about your demo:
- for the most part you're obviously very comfortable with your voice and how you deliver the printed word
- there's just enough variety to keep us interested and to show you're not a one-trick pony
- good length

Here's what I'd think about changing:
- Replace the "Curb your Enthusiasm" music under the first spot. For one thing, I'm betting it's copyrighted and you didn't get clearance for it. For another, it's SO recognizable that I was paying more attention to it than your voice. You don't want that. Find some music that doesn't draw so much attention to itself.
- Ditto the "More than a Feeling" byte in the second cut. Lose that before Boston's lawyers come suing your butt big time.
- I love the idea behind the Flintstone spot and it adds some well-timed humor, but there's something so weird going on with the EQ that it REALLY distracts from the spot. What on earth is all that?? Almost sounds like your voice is phasing in and out. Fix it. (And again, a copyright caveat: If that's really Fred's voice yelling, be careful. I'm not sure you'd be in the clear using it)
- Bed, Bath and Beyond: yet AGAIN, it's the music, my man. That cut is SO recognizable and so loud in the spot, it's really all we listen to. And if you recut or remix it, lose the "www" before the URL. Almost no one uses that anymore and it's a useless waste of 9 valuable syllables and about 1.6 seconds of precious time. Truly, when I hear "www" in front of a URL, I yawn and think, "Some old fart wrote this". (And this is coming from an old fart!)

But you got it going, Ben-jammin'. I really like your sound, dammit.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Bob Bergen]

I do agree with Scott on the music. Mostly because it's so recognizable as the theme to Curb. I don't have a problem with the usage. If this had been a promo demo, and you were doing a promo for HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, it would only make the demo better if you had the theme. Promo demos, trailers, etc., always use clips from the product they are promoting. Commercial demos should strive to have the authentic product music as well. I know many out there are scared to use real production, but the copy you are using is also protected as well. NO ONE sues over demo content! Worst thing that will happen is you may be asked to take it off. Again, for every one person this happens to I can name 1000 it hasn't happened to. And the agents, casting directors, and buyers want to hear a demo that sounds like real broadcast spots. But I'd remove the music because it doesn't work for the demo, not for any legal reason.

I'd pick another spot than that water spot. The entire planet read for it and it's currently on the air. Very well known by all the agents and buyers and they will compare you to who got cast.

The demo also needs to be edited tighter. Benjamin, if you email me your email address I'll send you a tighter edited MP3 to demonstrate what I mean. porkysvoice@aol.com

But I agree that you have a nice voice and read! I'd love to hear more! You are on the right track! Loosen up a bit. Lemme hear more of Benjamin. But I think you are talented! BB

[Benjamin Stovall]

So Scott, first you tell me there's no reason to be scared, then you say:

[Benjamin Stovall]

Well, this was my first try at putting together a demo reel and I learned a lot doing it, but you only get one shot at a first impression, so I'm going to get one done by a professional. In the future I'd like to get good enough at it to update my own. The help with how to edit it and music/spot choices was invaluable to me. I will heed your advice, guys. I was also thinking that I might be able to draw out more of my unique style if a had a spot featuring interaction with another actor.

A quick concern on that; I've read in a book by James Alburger that spots with another actor of the same sex can be confusing for the listener and that the opposite sex should be used if possible. But, many of the demos I've listened to from the good folks here, use same sex actors for those kinds of spots. Is that an outdated sentiment?

Finally,any recommendations for a place to record my commercial demo in Los Angeles? I've read some old threads, but do those still hold true as of now? I was considering Matt Graue in Burbank. It would be great if it's possible to take home a Pro Tools session file, but that may be asking for too much.

[Bob Bergen]

Hey Ben!

Marc is a terrific! One of the best! That said, I think it's always best to shop around, compare work, and quite frankly you need to really connect with their personality. Your demo producer is also your director. There has to be a mutual respect and trust. They have to respect your talents and your knowledge of what you bring to the table. On the other hand, the talent has to trust the producer knows what they are talking about being that they work in the business of VO, demos, etc., and they know what the current trends are in advertising, promo, etc., depending on what genre of VO you are looking to demo.

Here are some other producers I really like, in no particular order:
http://www.demosthatrock.com/
http://www.mmvoiceover.com/
http://www.voiceoverdoctor.com/Voiceover_Doctor/VoiceOver_Doctor.html

OH-and yes, I do agree that doing a partner read with someone of the opposite sex is ideal. The listener needs to know who you are. Often I've heard a demo where there is a partner read with someone of the same sex. When I point this out, I'm told, "But that's a real spot!" Understand, a good demo does not mean the spots are real. Often a real spot sucks for a variety of reasons: from bad production to a bad performance. The demo needs to be brilliant, not real!!! Make sure YOUR demo makes YOU shine! D

Hope this helps! B

[Benjamin Stovall]

This is gold, Bob. Can 't thank you enough.

Ben