VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Hal Whitney · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 3

A good friend of mine on this board suggested I get some feedback from the members on my demos. I've been a member for a few years but wasn't really trying to do VO "for real." I was working in another industry but now I'm retired and attempting to make VO a fulltime profession.

My demos can be found at http://www.HalWhitneyVoiceovers.com

Thanks

Ed Fisher · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:17 pm Post subject:

Since you asked.

I'll leave it to those much more qualified. (as certified by their VO income) BUT...I can tell you one thing they will certainly mention.

TOO LONG, TOO LONG, TOO LONG.

Your individual Demo "pieces" are too long. Once I've heard what you can do on a particular spot....MOVE ON. Otherwise you are wasting my time. Besides, I've got 200 more demos to listen to before lunch.

Laugh

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"I reserve the right to be completely wrong."

Bruce · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject:

Welcome aboard Hal!

You're going to get some frank comments here from the gang, but I hope you'll take them and work with them.

You're sounding your age (I guess) and the work for seniors who always sound like seniors is limited. It's out there, but awfully specialized. You also have a delivery I've heard hundreds of times before in small market radio and that limits your possibilities too.

However, in listening to your E-Learning demo I definitely heard a niche you should pursue. If you can find producers looking for warm and confident training or advice for seniors, you'd be a good candidate. Find enough of those and you can make a living at it.

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. .

Jason Huggins · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 3:04 pm Post subject:

I think you've got a great voice. You remind me of Scott Pollak. Not exactly, but you have a similar range. I'd check out his demos and compare them to yours (just for content, spot length, number of spots, etc., not that you should copy him). I personally think you could do great in narration/elearning, promo or commercial...I don't produce though and have no finger on the pulse of the market you'll be hitting. I'm marketing towards a totally different segment.

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:06 am Post subject:

Listened to a few seconds of each demo. You simply need to re-invent yourself and you'll be fine. I'm not hearing anyone at all just a sound and that's not really where the big bucks are to be found.

Ed Fisher · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:05 am Post subject:

In an effort to be a LITTLE more useful...

Here's some additional feedback. (for what it's worth)

Some of what I heard was the typical "Old time" small market DJ voice where you can tell it is being "forced." (if that makes any sense) In some, it felt like you were just saying the words. What I wanted to hear from you was to relax some of those neck and facial muscles and for "you" to come through. I heard a hint of it in some of you spots, but not many.. But in PARTICULAR...(as has been mentioned earlier) the E-Learning Demo REALLY caught my ear and sounded very usable. Also...I thought the "Harry Potter" themed Character was VERY good as well. Technically, the audio sounded rather "unfinished." Were these all recorded on the same mic on the same equipment? They all sound very much the same. I think they could use some individualized EQ and Compression. (But that's just me)

It would be useful for you to also read some of the other "critiques" that have been given here to others over time. I think you will find their advice useful to you as well, since many giving the advice are "heavy hitters" in the VO world.

Also...do not be discouraged since I'm a strong believer in persistence. And besides, there is always the strong possibility that I have no idea what I'm talking about.

P.S. I failed to mention. You DO have a good voice.
_________________
"I reserve the right to be completely wrong."

Hal Whitney · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 3

Thank you all for the great feedback. I wasn't surprised that my commercial demos were given a thumbs down. I realize they don't show much and have an "old" sound to them.

You all re-enforced my own thoughts that I was probably better at narrations and e-learning stuff than commercials and that's where I want to concentrate.

With that said, should I still invest any time and money in getting a professionally produced commercial demo?

The only critique I wasn't sure about was Philip Banks'

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:47 am Post subject:

You, like 50,000 others, are trying to sell "A VOICE". By re-inventing yourself, selling you, your sound, your unique interpretation of words, stories, conversations, thoughts, moods, styles you will open a door into a world of quality work.

It all starts by ignoring your voice, just a voice and paying attention to you and what you bring to the party.

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

Listen to Philip, Hal! It's perfect advice.

I think what he's saying is, it's not about the voice. It's about personality. It's about you being you. If you surf through Voicebank, you will hear literally 1000s of demos. 1000s of voices. No one needs another voice. What they need is YOU! Your style, your own individual cadence, that lil sumpthin that separates you from the rest. This is probably the hardest thing to master. These days, people are making demos and putting them out there before they master the skills needed to be competitive. It's a cart before the horse sorta thing. And they do this because they can, not because it's a smart business strategy. What you want to put out there is brilliance. Everyone wants to work with brilliant. No one wants mediocre. And there's no such thing as a good voice. Just like there's no such thing as a bad voice. There are only good actors and bad actors.

Now, I do believe you should focus on what you do best. But commercials are such a HUGE part of the day to day vo actor. I suggest you study and master that commercial read. It might mean acting and improv classes before further vo studies.

In keeping with the "it's about personality and less about the voice" thing, check out the following demos. All very different types, and not necessarily your type. But I want to share some demos that really showcase the personalities behind the voices:
/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Riley%2C%20Jack%20.mp3&title=Jack%20Riley" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a Hobo Tounge

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Riley%2C%20Jack%20.mp3&title=Jack%20Riley

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Brannon%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Chad%20Brannon%20-%20Commercial" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a Hobo Tounge

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Brannon%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Chad%20Brannon%20-%20Commercial

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Clotworthy%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Robert%20Clotworthy%20-%20Commercial" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a Hobo Tounge

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Clotworthy%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Robert%20Clotworthy%20-%20Commercial

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Paulsen%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Rob%20Paulsen%20-%20Commercial" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a Hobo Tounge

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1592/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Paulsen%20-%20Commercial.mp3&title=Rob%20Paulsen%20-%20Commercial

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Kane%2C%20Tom.mp3&title=Tom%20Kane" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a Hobo Tounge

/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1588/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial/Men/Kane%2C%20Tom.mp3&title=Tom%20Kane

Very diverse group, all very different. Tom Kane is the most announcery of the bunch. But this should give you an idea of personality driven demos and personality driven performances.

Wink

Bish · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:03 am Post subject:

When I started, I tried to be "a voiceover". Yes, I was lucky enough to get a reasonable amount of work, but it didn't take me long to realize I was trying to sell the wrong commodity. I shouldn't be selling my voice, I should be selling me. Philip's words rang true back then... as they do now (well, my interpretation of them anyway). I am more than my voice, I am a whole collection of disparate bits and pieces (experience, attitude, ability, sensibilities, whatever else) that together make my "song". That's what I'm selling, and it's unique.

A couple of weeks back I was contacted by a stranger... someone in the business who had heard me on a podcast. They had spotted me on a local TV ad and recognized me instantly. This made me happy.
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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.

richvoice · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:50 am Post subject:

Hal Whitney · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks again for all the great feedback. Now I've got to figure out how to create a new persona out of a laid-back, introverted, socially awkward individual. I need to become charismatic, magnetic and instantly, uniquely identifiable.

No problem. Next lifetime.