VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

RJ McNicol · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 5:23 pm Post subject: Demo length short and sweet

As a new member to this astounding and professional crew I'd like to ask if you get more work by having a short promo reel as opposed to a long reel and demos of each possible scenario. For me the shorter the better. But I'd like to get input from the legends here. I've bought the chocolate, all of it and am willing to do lama duties as I have a pen and barn ready to go!

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

Demos are lucky to get a listen longer than 4 seconds. If they don't love you in 4 seconds they won't love you in 4 minutes. Keep your promo demo at one minute.

The longer demos would be animation and games, which average a minute and a half, and audio books, which need to show you can handle long passages. I myself don't do audio books, but I've heard 3-5 minutes is not unusual.

Frank F · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 5:44 pm Post subject:

Well, you asked for a legend and you could not get a greater one than Bob Bergen.

Bob's answer is exactly what many of the guru's say is right and, for what it is worth, I agree.

Frank F
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RJ McNicol · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:13 pm Post subject:

Wow, thanks Bob for the feedback. I couldn't agree more. I am not animation and games kind of guy, I'd love to be but I know my strenghts, so I'm very happy with your answer. And Frank your a legend in my books, after reading through a gazillion of posts of yours, especially on mics and pres et all, before uttering my thoughts, so your thumbs up on Bob's response is well noted. The reason I asked is this. I use to have every voice scenario on my site, but then made it short a suite within 30 seconds, because if they don't get it in, as Bob said, 4 seconds then you are not right for THAT job, but it seems that I'm getting more work the shorter the demo. Just my observation. Thanks guys.

Frank F · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:53 pm Post subject:

I am so embarrassed. The credit goes to everyone I have ever worked with for my knowledge in certain areas. And, as I said Bob is a legend.

Hey, if :30 seconds is working for you - win with it!

Frank F
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Deirdre · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:54 am Post subject:

Short demos are the shiznit. 4 segments— 30 seconds for commercial.
Narration may be a minute MAX but like Bob said. . . 4 seconds is the make-or-break.

For games, "granular" is the best means of displaying your wares. Very short, single-focus demos, especially if you do creature sounds.
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ballenberg · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 2:24 pm Post subject:

[quote]Short demos are the shiznit. 4 segments— 30 seconds for commercial.

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

My first demo, in 1983, was five and a half minutes.

30 or 35 seconds feels about right for commercials today.

Having sat in many casting sessions, some voices don't get even four seconds.... NEXT!!!

I'm gobsmacked these days if a new client mentions anything other then the first cut on a reel.

Specificity is the key. The days of the generalist are well behind us.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:25 am Post subject:

My new commercial demo is 1:28 and I have no problem with that length. My attitude is that if they only want 60 seconds, they can stop playing it.

Here it is, in case anyone wants to listen. Don't think I've shared it witht he VO-BB yet. Produced by Cliff Zellman.

https://soundcloud.com/jeffreykafer/commercial-demo
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:01 am Post subject:

Well, here's a test. Come up with an imaginary commercial project in mind. Pick a delivery style you think would be good.

Then, go and listen to several commercial demos... people here on the VO-BB or a talent agency roster, or a production house like Sun Spots. See if you can't tell within the first few seconds whether each person you hear matches the voice qualities you have in mind. Then by 30 seconds into the demo you should be able to discern whether they have the interpretive talents to deliver your message, yes? In most cases you would never need to go beyond :30.

I think the only reason a voice seeker would go beyond 30 seconds of listening is if they really like your voice or if your demo is particularly entertaining (hint, hint, friends). And of course if you're not in the ballpark of the voice they're looking for they'll usually stop after just a few seconds.

There's nothing wrong with demos a minute or longer, all of mine are. But I'm thinking that anything beyond the very first few clips is entertainment for one's self, their family and friends, and something for us to critique here on the board.

My experience is that very little is cast through demos these days anyway. It's almost all fresh auditions of client copy or networking. Sure, I get one or two emails/calls a month with someone new wanting to hire me off of my website demos, but that's a whole lot less than it used to be.

B
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:21 am Post subject:

Demos get you into agencies. Then it's all about the auditions.
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Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 3:58 pm Post subject:

i cast a lot of eLearning stuff for major pharmaceuticals. i generally give a demo 7 seconds. i very likely will not hear the next 53 (or more) seconds. if i'm REALLY intrigued, of if i've stepped away for a cup of coffee and come back --- i might hear the last 7 seconds as well.
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heyguido · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:37 pm Post subject:

Since nobody else did.... I will.

It's you, Jeff. In the first :28.

There's a brand voice in there someday. Acerbic. Honest.

I like Zellman. Guy can do a soundscape with layers of storyboard.

What can I say? It's a bromance. Embarrassed

I can't wait to hear the next iteration.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

imaginator · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:32 am Post subject:

...makes one wonder if we shouldn't all just give up and have a :10 second demo and be done with it.

that's at least one of the appeals of having the voice-zam style demo: a string of under-ten-second demos labeled by type/variety for the producer to zero in on. i've no proof that it's worked for me, but it's the only real counter to the "get it in four seconds" rule i've heard yet.
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