VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Uchon · Joined: 03 Apr 2018 Posts: 3

Hello. What a great forum!

Ive had people tell me I had a distinct or soothing voice, and that maybe I should do something audio related.

I have no idea where to start so I decided to record myself reading something. I was hoping to get feedback from anyone who would be willing.

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Let me know what you think or how I could improve.

Thank you so much.

Rick Riley · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 12:52 pm Post subject:

Hi Uchon,

I hate to see posts go unanswered so I will help in that respect.

One of the reasons your post has probably not received any responses is your first sentence. “I’ve had people tell me I had a distinct or soothing voice, and that maybe I should do something audio related”

You probably aren’t aware but statements like that to those who do this for a living, regardless of how soothing your voice is, are like nails on a blackboard. If soothing voices or distinct voices were the criteria, most of us would be out of work. If you really listen to most voiceover work, most voices are not soothing and most are not distinct, as REALLY “distinct” often takes away from the message itself. Like having Gilbert Gottfried advertise for sleep number beds. Even though that might be quite interesting.

With that being said, we all have "distinct" voices. That’s how we know who’s calling when we get a phone call. Friend or stranger. So going underneath those two opening statements, what are you looking for in this post?

Not trying to be a wise guy here. Just want to know where you’d like to go with this.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:20 pm Post subject:

Welcome.

Here's the thing. Your friends are correct about your voice. Where do you go with that? Get some training in performance skills and the world will be your oyster.

Bon chance!

Uchon · Joined: 03 Apr 2018 Posts: 3

Thanks for the responses. Not sure what to say.

If in fact what you say is true--coming here and stating the reality of what I've experienced...i.e. going about my life and having friends and strangers note my voice as being distinct and soothing, encouraging me to record things, to the point where it got thinking "hmm, I might give it a try since people keep telling me to."

If that is so irritating("nails on a chalkboard") to the members of this forum then I'll look elsewhere for feedback. I'm certainly not going to lie about what I'm doing here.

As I am a total novice to this field, any advice I could take to directly improve my content would be enormously helpful to me (I'll look into training), but my apologies for wasting people's time.

Ta.

Rick Riley · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:46 pm Post subject:

Bruce · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 5:28 pm Post subject:

Rick's analogy of 'should you play basketball if you're tall' is spot on. You should pursue a sport only if you love it and must do it. Being tall helps but it's a tiny part of the game.

You should pursue a job in voiceover (or voice acting, or announcing, or audiobook reading, or any form of acting for that matter) if you love the idea, and the study, the practice, and hard work that go with it or any path you choose.

Yes, your voice is pleasant. You and thousands of others have nice voices. But only a few people really have the need to follow up. Are you one of them?

B
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Uchon · Joined: 03 Apr 2018 Posts: 3

todd ellis · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:49 pm Post subject:

hi uchon - this little corner of the web is a great source of information and unvarnished opinions. if you think you'd like to give talking out loud for money a try - i say gopher it! search the archives here for a wealth of information. look into community theater near you, maybe improv. there are people here all along the voiceover path - some can help you - some might even learn from you.

DO NOT go out & spend thousands of dollars on gear and coaching ... just yet. i don't say that because i don't think you can make it (i don't know) - but because there are lots of charlatans out there that will gladly take your money and tell you you are bound for stardom. rick & bruce are right - there are lots of "pleasant" voices out there - it takes more than that, as i'm sure you already know.

if you're looking for cheerleaders this probably ain't the place - if you want to learn - stick around. read - ask questions - develop a thick, thick skin - because in this business (even when you're successful) you get told "no" a hullava lot more than "yes".
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Bailey · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:53 am Post subject:

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

Seriously, when will we learn not to respond to first-time posters in the Critique section? How many times have noobs come in here and pissed on a pro's hard-earned expertise because Mommy didn't give them a trophy? From now on the first response should be "Do you want the truth or just say nice things so you'll go away?"

/Sorry, but not sorry. This guy's entitlement and sarcasm really got under my skin.

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 976

Hey buddy! First of all, it takes a lot of guts to hit a forum of any profession and ask for advice. Everyone has to start somewhere. And if beginners, or even those before they even know where to begin actually know where to begin, they'd be psychic. If that were the case, my advice would be to go into the stock market, not vo.

As you saw from the many responses, it's not about the voice. It's about the acting. There's no such thing as a good voice. There's no such thing as a bad voice. There are just good actors and bad actors.

I think what you need to take from some of these responses is, unless the compliments you are getting are coming from casting directors, agents, producers, etc., well, you need to consider the source.

I just took a listen to your recording. Buddy, I hear terrific raw talent. If you have never had an acting class in your life, you have natural talent. I believe we are born with talent. A painter is born with the talent to paint. An actor is born with the talent to act. Same goes for a singer, dancer, etc. As raw and untrained as your read is. it's also sincere and authentic. Your natural born talent comes through. But you need training and technique. You need solid acting technique so you have the skills to take your natural talent and repeat it at will. But you DO have natural talent!!

So drink it in that it's not about the voice. And, you need to learn the business of the business. You need to study and not put the cart before the horse. Those who are not in the know don't even know what the vo cart is, let alone the vo horse.

SO-for starters reads through this site:
https://iwanttobeavoiceactor.com

Dee is a good buddy of mine. And he has put together a very clear, well written site on vo, from beginner to working pro. I think you just need to understand exactly what vo is or means. Dee and I were on a panel at Comic-con a couple of years ago and someone in the audience asked, "I purchased a great mic and converted my closet into a pretty good recording space. How do I get work?" Dee asked if this person had any acting of vo training. He had nada. So Dee said, "Just because you buy a tuba doesn't mean you are ready to play in an orchestra!" Brilliance!!!

And I feel your frustrations regarding some of the responses here. If you are right for show business, all of this should light a fire under your ass with a passion and a desire to want this even more. If you really want to get into vo, then you've been given a great gift in your frustration. My advice is to check your ego at the door. Don't be insulted by some of these responses. Take what is being said and run with it.

I took my first vo class when I was 14. I was dreadful. At my first class I was told by a top vo actor I had zero talent and should stop wasting my parent's money chasing a pipe dream. As devastated as I was, I thought to myself well, that's one person's opinion. So, I will never work with him. So what??!! He actually made me want this even more. His arrogance and bluntness I took as a gift. The next time I saw him was 4 years later working on my first cartoon.

So, read through Dee's page. If you want to get an idea of the different genres of vo, check out the websites of the top vo agents in the industry:
http://atlastalent.com
http://www.cesdtalent.com
http://www.sbvtalent.com

There are plenty more, but this should give you an idea of the different genres of vo, and what you need to live up to and be better than just to pursue. Surf the actor's demos. Then google them, surf their websites, their social media pages. Research whom they follow, and who follows them. From agents to casting directors, other actors, etc. You will see electronic career road maps.

Also, spend a few hundred hours watching these interviews:
https://www.vobuzzweekly.com

You will see interviews with top actors, agents, producers from all things vo. And, everything I have posted is 100% free. Within all of this you will also find info on coaches, what to look for and look OUT for when it comes to coaches. You will learn what makes a competitive demo, and what gets an agent's attention.

Don't throw in the towel. And if you have any further questions, feel free to drop me a note. bob@bobbergen.com If you really want to pursue vo, you have a lot of work ahead of you. For now, just surf. You have literally hours and hours of content to take in. Get busy!! Wink

Rick Riley · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:11 am Post subject:

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

Bob, you're a saint. I'm not sure any of what you wrote will sink in, but your generosity knows no bounds.

Bruce · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:26 am Post subject:

I think it's time for me to assemble the best of our newbie advice in one spot so we can direct the curious to better paths to enlightenment.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

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

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:26 am Post subject:

When I signed up for the vo-bb I posted here so that other could hear what I did and in the post I was witty and light-hearted. OR SO I THOUGHT!

I WAS JUMPED ON FROM A GREAT HEIGHT. Such was the attack I wrote to Deebs, explained, apologised and suggested I be removed should she feel I wasn't a good fit.

Her response?

"Sure, yer fine! Let's see how it goes!"

Writing (posting) in one voice then that post being read in different voice can lead to a powerful class of problems. I learned that the hard way.