VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

voice of vicki · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Oregon

This morning I was told by a prospective client that I didn't get the job because his partners decided they really wanted a male voice. (By the way, I am female.) It was said in the apologetic and cowering tone I can imitate so well by now, having heard it too frequently. It is by far my most bruising reason for rejection, maybe because there is nothing I can do to be better next time.

We work in an industry where men voice the truck commercials and women voice the cosmetics ads, I get it. I don't want to turn this into a debate on sexism in the workplace, just a chat to see what you think and know.

My first agent told me, about a decade ago, that 90% of VO jobs go to men.
Does anyone know an accurate percentage?
Is there a way to find out?

Oh FYI--the job I lost was narrating an educational video game about dinosaurs.

Bruce · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

Don't feel bad Vicki. I've lost quite a few jobs to women over the years too. It goes both ways all the time.

I haven't seen a statistic on it, but judging from the agency talent rolls I've seen and what I hear on the air I'd say it's 55/45 at the most in favor of men and is probably much closer. Listen to national TV spots...a lot of women. Watch Lifetime or other networks and shows that cater to women. I'll bet it's 55/45 the other way. That "90% of VO jobs go to men" line may have been true in the 1950's, but certainly not for the past few decades.

Heck, I heard a woman VO on a TV ad for Boeing's military division the other day. The times, they have a'changed.

Bruce
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Deirdre · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject:

Sometimes clients like the sound of a guy not so much because he's a guy, but because they like his sound.
They don't know how to say "we liked this guy. . .um. . . just because." so they say "we wanted a guy" when they simply mean "we wanted THAT guy."

Don't worry about jobs "lost" to men. I read for nearly everything that doesn't have to interact with "a wife".

If I still don't land the job, I just drink more whiskey and smoke more to add that authoritative resonance to my voice.

fixed a dang typo
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Bailey · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:

Just to be a little contrary...
I have heard more male voices doing movie trailers, and more women doing TV/radio commercials. Most of the network voices also appear to be male dominanted... guess I can use that word. They only way you can satisfy your own curiosity is to watch 8-12 hours of TV/radio... and keep score. I haven't seen any results posted on the web... just lots of speculation and opinions.
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anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

Be very careful of what you decide to focus your energies on. As self-conscious artists (and sometimes insecure as well) we sometimes look to numbers to explain why we either haven't done so well in one area or for consolation when something doesn't go the way that we would've liked. In the end, by focusing on this men/women ratio and rejections based on same, you may just attract those scenarios more and more. It's mind taffy.

That's not too far off from me wanting to know what my booking/audition ratio is - it's counterproductive.

Best wishes and may you take full advantage of the jobs that are already yours that you don't even know about.

-Anthony

donrandall · Guest

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:28 am Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:55 am Post subject:

BenWils · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:

DaveChristi · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:04 am Post subject:

voice of vicki · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Oregon

I can't think of the Movie Trailer Guy's name, but I saw a video piece on him--limos and luxury and the whole pie. I think he is ripe for parady, all you rumblers out there-- make us laugh.

Diedre--I was going to reply that the one client I spoke of had a male voice locked in his mind, he had already cast the role as a male. When you said you audition for everything, I had a revelation! I will tell my agent from now on I want a shot at all the auditions, even the ones specified for males. My agent can tell clients that her Talents will accuse her of sexism if they are locked out of an audition.

I like it. Even if I sound laughable voicing a monster truck competition, I would enjoy the novelty.
I usually get cast as the voice of "Sensitive Subjects".

And Anthony, I truly appreciate your words on where to focus attention, but sometimes you have to identify the barrier in order to overcome it. I think that just happened!

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:05 pm Post subject:

patfraley · Guest

The most equitable genre in voice performance is without a doubt audiobooks. It is probably 40-50% female talent. Of the last 12 audiobooks I've was requested to produce, 11 were done by females. PF

JeffK · T-Shirt Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 276 Location: Oz

DB wrote:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

Does red wine count for anything? Cuz a fine 2001 Cab during last night's cabaret (nyuck nyuck) had me sounding all Lauren Bacall-like this morning. Made that Community Calendar announcement much more interesting...!
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