VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Neil K. Hess · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:54 pm Post subject: If you could only have one...

...Demo, narration or commercial to start off your business with, which would You choose and why?
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Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

Commercial. I reckon it is easier to relate that into narration than vice versa.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:01 pm Post subject:

whichever you're strongest at.
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DougVox · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:45 pm Post subject:

Whatever the people I would be marketing myself to are expecting to hear.
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:28 pm Post subject:

My first demos were Commercial, but I always included something "narration-like" in there so they could hear the variety. I also threw in a little character bit or two, because I am one. I'm not sure how wise that is these days though.

Side note: Commercial and Character demos should probably be limited to one minute, give or take, and narration demos a bit longer. Then there's Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, et al.) and his character demo is 3 minutes long. But, he's one of those folks who can get away with it:

http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Animation/Men/Castellaneta%2C%20Dan.mp3

And of course Bob Bergen crams a ton of creativity into his 1:30 Animation Demo:

http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Animation/Men/Bergen%2C%20Bob.mp3

Good times,

B
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:43 pm Post subject:

What Jeffrey said.

If I were trying to get things rolling and wanted to get some traction as quickly as possible, I'd make the best demo I could in the genre of my greatest strength and get it out there.

When that demo begins to yield jobs, it will help build your bank account and confidence to move forward, whether that is in another genre, or further strengthening your current one.
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melissa eX · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject:

It depends. I also agree with picking the area you're strongest at and plan to market to - BUT if you're reaching out to agents and casting directors you HAVE to have a commercial demo. But, then, if you're just starting out you shouldn't be reaching out to agents and casting directors just yet.

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:37 am Post subject:

I agree with going with your strongest, most marketable skill for the first demo.

But this question made me think of how demos have progressed over time. This recollection is predicated on the fact that I was doing commercials right out of the gate, so that was my first demo. (Well, wait, I think my first demo was air checks of some TV staff announcing work during college.)

But back to my thread jack...

My first demo was a commercial demo produced on reel-to-reel. I still have it in its little white box.

Then a few years later, cassettes became the norm and suddenly I was able to produce two demos on a single easy to hand out package, so I added a narration demo.

Then came the CD and now I had the ability to add all sorts of demos to the mix, so I added a character demo - one CD for all - find what you want to hear. But I found that this required directing people to the right track on the CD.

With electronic delivery, I have even more demos and am able to send just the right demo out. Commercial. Commercial - multi-voice. Narration. Documentary. eLearning - teacher. eLearning - role play. Etc.

The biggest question for me is what to put on my website and in what order. Is the micro-site the way to go. One domain for each area - or one main domain with a variety of demos. Is Exact Match Domain a thing of the past? I have had corporatevideo.com for years and years and get requests every month from production companies asking me if I want to sell that domain. I do not - unless someone offered me lots and lots and lots of money for it. I don't produce anymore, but it seems to serve a purpose for me.

But all of this is far afield from the original question...

When you are ready to produce a demo, you will probably know what kind.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:32 am Post subject:

Your coach can also tell you what type of demo to make when you're ready.... You have been getting coaching, right, Neil....?
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Neil K. Hess · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:22 pm Post subject:

Yes, coaching has commenced. Smile

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