VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Hello,

I'm a former broadcaster/writer (male) with voiceover experience from the olden days, now preparing to re-enter the field to handle some VO requests from former clients.

Because I'm new to much of today's recording technology and its impact on the field, I'm hoping you may have some advice/guidance in the following areas.

For the foreseeable future, I'll be spending time with an ageing relative and will be located far from audition sites, professional studios and people under ninety. With good recording gear, a quiet studio space and a high-speed connection, is participation in this industry possible/viable despite that comparative geographic disadvantage?

Further to that point--and fully understanding the subjective nature of the issue--could I ask for some real-world assessments, from both established pros and beginners, of the potential for, say, moderate success of a skilled, hard-working voice talent who's experienced in marketing and working strictly from home? (If there are daring opinions regarding income estimates in that situation, based perhaps over a five-year period, I'd be grateful and delighted to hear them. I do know there are a million variables and I'd allow for all of them in any feedback.)

Thank you all for your time; I really appreciate your insights.

Bruce · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:07 am Post subject:

If there's one business that is truly a telecommuting enterprise, it's voice work. Most clients don't know or care where you are, just that your reading style and your recording quality meet or exceed their desires. With a good broadband Internet connection you could do this work from a bunker in Afghanistan (oh but why?).

The closer you are to "hitting the ground running" the better you will do. You'll need the good recording space and decent equipment, a good representative demo(s) showing your capabilities, and an attractive website for displaying your work. Marketing is your final ingredient (and that can be done totally by phone and Internet) and that's finding production companies and agents who want to represent you, getting listings and links to your site, and probably playing with the pay-to-play sites.

The only thing where I think face-to-face is critical is getting some voiceover training or consulting to make sure you're as competitive as you can be. That personal interaction is far superior, especially in the early stages, to doing it over the phone.

Bon chance,

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Merci, Bruce...that's a good sequence of recommendations.

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

Robert, simply put.

You wish to do commercial VO - you'll need a commercial demo
imaging - need an imaging demo
narration/industrials - narration demo
animation - animation demo
etc.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

That's what I'd assumed; however, a colleague recently arranging agent representation was instructed by the two agents involved to forward a single demo incorporating his various genre samples.

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

Robert,

In what market are these agents?

That's the telling point. Looking at VoiceBank.net, you'll see niches in all the bigger agencies.

(by the way, we frown on quoting whole posts. Please see the Rules of Conduct: http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2019
I've taken the liberty to edit the whole-post quote.)
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Hi Deirdre,

One agent was in south Florida and the other was in Dallas.

(Sorry about the whole-post quotation.)

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

Compilation demos are very handy, and it's not a bad thing to have in your arsenal, but having separate commercial, character, narration, phone voice/IVR, audiobook, promo, and interactive demos is not out of the ordinary.

Heaven knows most people don't have demo material for all of these disciplines!
But having a separate demo for each of your own covered styles is a very good thing.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject:

Heh.

_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Robert D. M. · Contributor Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 29

Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:07 am Post subject:

so it would appear.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:55 am Post subject:

May I quote you on that?