VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[melissa eX]

Plenty of improv in NYC. UCB - long form. And the Magnet and the PIT are a few of the best. I did some of UCB's program. I've been meaning to check out Magnet, I have friends who rave about it and it's really inexpensive.

Sent you a PM

[BillSleeper]

Hey all,

Just a quick note to reply to the great feedback from all of you in regards to Christian's first demo recordings. I'm pasting the official response from Heather Costa, Director of Operations at Such A Voice:

"We just wanted to thank everyone for their honest and constructive feedback. You all have very valid points and things that should be addressed on his demos. Christian, our apologies that you have a product that you're not completely confident in. We would like to go through it again with you and revisit all of these concerns. You have a great sound and tremendous potential. We'll be sure to make this right!"

Again, thanks for the support and valuable information and insight everyone!!!
_________________
Bill Sleeper
The Voice That's Yours!
www.BillSleeper.com

[Bob Bergen]

OK, my turn!

Christian, I as well hear your passion for wanting to be the best VO actor you can be! That's more than half the battle.

I am in agreement with all that's been said so far. And, it shouldn't at all make you feel down. It should light a fire under your ass and drive you to do whatever it is you need to do to become the best voice actor you can be!

You made a demo before you were ready! I did as well. When I was 16. I play that demo for my students to show that it's possible to be a working actor today having started with a premature crapola demo years ago. The difference is that back then the only ones who heard my demo were buyers I mailed it to. By posting it online you are allowing the entire VO universe to hear you. And even if you take it down, you never know who might keep it.

The only thing a voice actor should post is brilliant work!!!

Here's a general note to everyone. (I'll get back to you, Christian, in just a moment) Bottom line: Everyone knows when they are demo ready. It's that pure confidence that you know in your heart you can read any piece of copy, without a ton of prep time, and deliver a performance that establishes your personality and brand immediately. And you can do it with any piece of copy, good or bad. You know you may not be what the buyer is looking for vocally, but you know you can nail your read. You know you are brilliant. This is not cockiness. It's the reality of what separates the competitive and the non competitive. It's not a matter of hoping you are good. You know you are good. And even if you are not what the buyer is looking for in this job, you know they will remember you the next time when it's a better fit.

Performing VO should be organic. It's as easy and organic as the simplest things you do daily in your life that doesn't require practice or a training manual. Like brushing your teeth. You can do that in your sleep. It should be second nature to bring copy to life. And you know your style, your personality, your brand so well you can bring it to everything. You know how to adjust and tweak your brand for the different styles of VO. You just know.

What you don't know is if you will work. No one can know that. And if you can, you are clairvoyant and shouldn't be wasting your time pursuing VO! Get into the stock market FAST!

We not return to our regularly scheduled posting on Christian.

The demos you have also don't feel competitive. Besides you not connecting with the copy, none of the spots sound real. Even a demo made from scratch needs to sound broadcast real. And lose the fading! If the demo fades the listener fades. Many of us will redo a real spot that has actually been on the air for our demo. Often a broadcast spot, especially for TV is over produced. Many of the top working pros in the business have demos consisting of broadcast spots and spots made specifically for the demo. But all should sound broadcast real.

On your demo, I can hear that "sameness" that has been discussed on this thread that makes your demo sound like a demo. Same mic, same distance from the mic, same music library, etc. It's that sameness throughout that makes it feel like a demo.

And, YES, get thee to an acting class. AND improv! Improv is the best training any actor can do, whether your thing is VO or Shakespeare. But they key word here is actor! You are having trouble being real, being honest, being yourself with the copy because you lack the proper tools to do so. Yes, you have natural talent. But you lack the technique and grounding that will allow you to repeat your skills at will.

Here's the difference between a trained actor and a non trained actor:
A trained actor makes a choice.
A non trained actor makes a guess.

You always need to make choices. Choices that when applied sound spontaneous and extemporaneous.

It ain't easy! If it were more people would be working.

I studied VO for 4 solid years, studying with every VO teacher in LA. I studied acting for 2 solid years and improv for 3. I'm not saying this should be your journey. But it doesn't sound like you've committed a fraction of this, yet you made a demo. The demo tells every agent and buyer you are as good or better than everyone else already working and represented. They demo is the final step. The demo is made when the questions stop. When the confidence in your work is there.

You just know!

Here are some examples of demo producers I personally like. Keep in mind that if you ask 20 different people their opinion on demos you'll get 20 different opinions of what is good and what is not. This will make you go bat shit cuckoo! But I think if you compare your demo to those made by these producers you'll get a good sense of what's lacking in yours, and how much work is ahead of you:

http://demosthatrock.com/portfolio.html
http://www.mmvoiceover.com/

Now, if this business is really for you, or rather if you are right for this business, you will do whatever it takes to get competitive. Allow yourself the need, time, and opportunity to grow. You will get there if you really want it. And you will do whatever it takes to get there.

Member FDIC.