VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Bruce]

"It sounds like I'm always being facetious. That's why I never get voice over work. 'You sound like you hate the product.' " - Janeane Garofalo

One of those cases where sounding "like yourself" may not work so well.

Janeane Garofalo Commercial Demo

She's a fine actress and funny comedienne, but VO? Hmmm.


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. .

[Lee Gordon]

[Bob Bergen]

Actually, it's great!! And here's why.

A vo demo needs to represent where you fit into the world of vo. A celebrity does not need the kind of demo that we scale plus 10 middle class vo actors need and use. They aren't competing with us, even though they are competing for the same jobs. They need just what represents who they are in the world of show business,

This demo represents exactly who she is, which is a dry, sarcastic, cynical, comic. If a buyer wants her sound, yes, they could find that in a day to day vo actor. But most day to day vo actors will put that sound on someplace on their demo, rather than BE that sound. She IS that sound. For her, this is a great demo. Just like for most of us, it's not a great demo.

Now, here's where we can learn from this demo. If most day to day vo actors had as distinct a personality and sound, they would work more. But most are not as comfortable in their skin as she is. They haven't a clue how to truly be themselves on mic. This demo is a perfect example of one who knows exactly who she is. She's not trying to be all things vo. She has a one minute demo of exactly what she has to offer. It's not going to be right for everything. But there's no doubt when she is right.

I suggest most people out there learn from this demo. You don't have to like it or her. But you must appreciate that vo is about the marriage between the vo actor's brand and the buyer's brand. You don't have to be the right marriage for everything. You just have to be honest with who and what you are. This demo represents just that.

I know I've told this before, but years ago I was on a panel at SAG along with Don, and several other vo actors and casting directors. The question came up about celebs, and how we can compete. A casting director said that a celeb doesn't go to an audition or session trying to give the buyer what they want. The only thing they give is who they are. But they have spent years creating and nurturing who they are. They know exactly who they are. This casting director suggested that most vo actors haven't a clue who they are, even those well trained. They try to please rather than offer who they are. And if they presented their truth, their true personality, they'd work more.

This demo is a perfect example of that. Now, if I had a product to sell, she probably wouldn't be my first choice to represent it. But it works for many. And it's very "in" today. Like it or hate it, it's conversational, and in.

[Philip Banks]

Best circus trick in the world. A VO stands in front of an ace Archer. An arrow in placed in the bow then aimed at the VO who is standing 5 feet from the ACE ARCHER. The point of the arrow shines in the lights of the circus ring, it's sharp and deadly. The audience gasp, the drums rolls as the Ace Archer draws back the bow string. The audience all hold their breath. The drum roll stops as the ACE ARCHER lets the arrow fly through the air straight towards the centre of the VO's forehead. Cymbal crash! The audience applauds as the point misses the VO!

A couple of months ago I had my website stripped bare. VO friends challenged the decision, the web designer asked "what about .....". The web site is fine. It sells nothing. It helps everyone who visits move along quickly to the right voice which is probably not mine! THINK ON!

See above from Bob. Read and read again until the point doesn't miss you.

[Bish]

[Bob Bergen]

[Deirdre]

The only thing that matters is if they're buying what you're selling.
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[Philip Banks]

Sadly, most VO people have no idea what they are selling which is why they hemorrhage so much money on utterly pointless coaching, seminars and demos.

Lesson one - Learn self awareness. Everything else doesn't matter at all, it's possible to pick up the knowledge as you blunder along.

You know the tone deaf person who knows all the words to all the songs and insists on singing the loudest at all gatherings? That there is your average voice over. Popular, lovely person, huge heart but don't wait for the album "My life in song"

[todd ellis]

i have fared much better in business & in life since i dropped all pretense and decided to be me. i rarely audition, i don't try to make friends and i don't pretend to like/not like people, places, things & ideas because it's what i'm told i'm supposed to do. i have a black t-shirt that, in 5" high white letters says "I SHOOT BACK!" it is intended figuratively & literally. my self awareness might not meet the status quo, but it makes me happy.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bish]

I think Todd is the wise one here. There are so many people out there on social media that talk up their own accomplishments (or just plain lie) that we find ourselves under some form of pressure (however subtle) to be "like them". I will pontificate on FB occasionally... and have managed to upset a few people (so there's that)... but I do it either for my own amusement, or because I honestly think my pithy words will actually help. Yeah... we all have an ego.

There are so many people on social media telling me what I'm "supposed" to do... and nine times out of ten (with either a long or short tail) there's a pay-day for someone at the end of it. I have decided that the only valid use of Facebook is to purposefully challenge or annoy people... or let rip with some righteous indignation about something that's ultimately inconsequential... and that's simply because I enjoy doing it!

... or I may just withdraw.
That would be the wise thing to do (so there's probably no chance of it happening).
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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.

[Deirdre]

All the "marketing" and "networking" and "bullshitting" in the world isn't going to mean a tinker's damn if they're not buyin' what you're sellin'.

Our permission to work is completely predicated on the caprice of someone else's imagination. And too often, that "imagination" has a span from A to D.

I'm sick to death of people making it out to be a moral failing if you're not getting hired.
Sometimes you just aren't, because nobody is buying what you are selling.
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[Philip Banks]

Probably largely determined by taste in hats. Red velvet Berets are the headwear of choice for the "must hire" voiceoverist, Tis the way of things.

[Deirdre]

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[Bailey]

No more "Steam Punk"?
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"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[Deirdre]

Oh, that is not my hat.
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