VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Ricky Key]

Hey fellow VO actors! I've been doing VO semi-professionally in a smaller market for a year now, and I'm looking forward to pursuing it full time in NYC. I'm in the process of revamping my website and other online presences, but I'd like everyone's opinion on my demo. Thanks in advance, and please be brutally honest. I look forward to trained ears taking a listen. I've been told it would be a better "animation/character" demo. What do you think?

https://soundcloud.com/rickykey/ricky-key-demo-compilation

[Bruce]

A couple of thoughts here Ricky:

Going to do VO in NYC is a bit like entering a marathon foot race with a few hundred guys from Africa in the mix. The phrase "you've got to hit the ground running" has a whole lot of meaning there.

In the big time, wherever that is, you really shouldn't mix character work with straight. The straight demo can have some "character" to it, but not wacky voices. You generally shouldn't sing in a character voice demo, but you're singing cut is on the border of acceptable in my opinion due to the nature of your other character stuff.

Better than me being picky, please go to VoiceBank.net, click on "Voice over Talent Agency", and go to the bigger NYC talent agencies and listen to the demos of everyday working voiceoverists, not the celebrities. Pay attention to guys in your voice range. How does what they're doing compare to what you've got on your demo? Soak it in. The majority of what you'll hear is what people are buying today, and not so much what's on your current demo.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

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

[Ricky Key]

Thanks Bruce! I agree with you completely. You've just mirrored what my VO coach has said to me. I'll have to reanalyze my approach for my next demo. As far as hitting the ground running here in NYC, I feel what you're saying. I've been able to wiggle my way into the door, but so far finding other VO people to talk shop or just have a cup of coffee with is proving to be hard. But nearly every VO person I've met is a sweetheart, so I'm not losing hope Thanks for the honest reply Bruce!