VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Neil K. Hess

What would you include in your bio if you are just starting out in VO?
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http://neilkhessvo.com

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:47 am Post subject:

Find any relevant info such as theater or radio training/experience. If you have none at all, don't write a bio.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:51 am Post subject:

personally, i'm a big fan of not writing a bio. if they hear you and like you and hire you ... what difference does it make.

jmhoymmvttfnaflciodiscontinueuseifrashpersists
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Jason Huggins · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:59 am Post subject:

Bio content CAN help with SEO...however...if you don't have anything to write about, it won't make a bit of difference.

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

I used to be in Todd's camp and thought my work would speak for itself. But my present position is that people like to work with people... personalities... NOT voices. Create a bio. Just don't make it an essay. If you have no credits, at least speak quickly about your training and, more importantly, about who you are as a person.

cyclometh · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:05 am Post subject:

I didn't write a bio until I was asked to for the various narrator pages I was going on. And I try to keep it super short. Never understood the importance of a bio or headshot in the VO business, to be honest.
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Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net

Bish · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:31 am Post subject:

I lean towards the "people like dealing with people" school of thought... especially when dealing with a solo entrepreneur. Keep it relevant (no one cares if you like cats) and don't have it on the front page... make it easy to find, but a definite conscious action by the site's visitor.

I know when I'm looking at site (not necessarily VO related), I often wonder "who is this guy" and a short bio can answer that question and make me more "benevolent" towards them... which means, "more likely to hire, everything else being equal."
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

jsgilbert · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:07 pm Post subject:

I have cast, hired or referred well over 300 different voice actors in my day and never once did a bio of any kind enter into it. I can tell you though that I pretty much trash things that come from people who call themselves, "Fred Jones - The Only Voice You'll Ever Need" or "Bob Smith - Smooth and Guy Next Door".

If I land on a site like that, it's less than a count of three before I'm usually outta there and at best, that v.o. had better have the most absolutely incredible demos I have ever heard in my life. Not a drop of room for "slack"

This ain't my opinion either. I spend lots of time with the agency folks. It provides many producers and directors with a much needed laugh and that's about it.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:15 am Post subject:

The post above is worth around $100,000 a year to a VO, not a joke!

Most VO web sites are set up by VOs for themselves - Internet candy, when you do not feel loved, eat some; that's why most VO web sites end up over weight! See what I did there?

Create a captured soldier's website. Under the terms of the Geneva Convention it requires Name, Rank and serial number anything else is torture.

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

If you must have a bio you may as well make it up - I don't think anyone reads them anyway!
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Colin Day - UK Voiceover
www.thurstonday.co.uk

Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:22 am Post subject:

I'm happy to provide a bio (but only when asked for) because it shows I've been on a semi-interesting full circuit through the performing arts. However, I've also been in the business longer than you've had corpuscles, young master Neil, so that's not a fair example. As long as my experience is however, my bio is as short as possible, too.

Make it short, but never false because of that one in a hundred chance they'll catch you. "A young and rising voice talent and educator", "a winning smile that comes through", things along those lines may be all you can offer right now but they may be enough if they like what they hear.

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. .

Bish · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:53 am Post subject:

I just checked my "about me" page... It actually contains nothing except a reiteration of what I am (a male Brit VO), where I am (in New York) and the fact I have an ISDN equipped studio... oh, and an artsy-fartsy picture.

I was grateful for this thread's prompt to review it, as it reminded me I needed to remove the reference to a "home" studio. I dislike the connotations. I think for anyone who's spent any time, effort and money on getting their home environment to "broadcast quality" there may be an subconscious appeal in letting people know... but it is irrelevant, and the word itself can imply an amateur status... it's up there with "custom demo" Smile

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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:14 am Post subject:

Worst thing possible for a VO is to get the vote of approval on his/her web site from another VO.

Fact - I think that Peter's web site and Bruce's web site are mostly sh*t. THEY HAVE NO SHAME AT ALL!

Fact - They both work regularly and get paid properly.

Increase your income from VO work by using this testimonial.

"AWFUL!" Philip Banks

Bish · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:28 am Post subject:

This from a man with a picture of Lex Luthor on his front page!
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

heyguido · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:33 am Post subject:

1. Nobody is reading your webpage, your LinkedUp, or your FacePlant.
2. If you have nothing worthwhile to say..... Don't.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"