VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Neil K. Hess · Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:29 am Post subject: Just for fun

What would you say is your biggest strength as a VO talent aside from your actual voice? (If you are comfortable sharing) What areas are you most focused on improving?
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http://neilkhessvo.com

melissa eX · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:56 am Post subject:

A voice talent's biggest strength isn't the voice at all. It's the ability to bring yourself - who you really are, not who you pretend to be - to every situation a script can describe. No one's interested in hearing a "voice" say words meant to express fear or joy or laughter etc. But they ARE interested in hearing how YOU express emotions. How Neil Hess is fearful, or happy. We all express ourselves differently and that difference that's our greatest strength.
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from crime...to the divine(R)
bilingual vo

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

Empathy. You are repeating someone else's thoughts and trying to live within their world. If you can't relate to it, you will fail at the task at hand.

Bruce · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 9:46 am Post subject:

What Melissa and Dan said, and why computers won't be effectively doing our job for some time to come. I pride myself on my ability to interpret copy which is one more way to describe years of history and observation being applied to copy in ways that relate well with the intended audience.

It's hard to fake experience.

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. .

Mike Harrison · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 10:04 am Post subject:

Melissa, Dan & Bruce: BOOM!

Still too many (clients, too) are under the impression having a "nice" voice and possessing the ability to read and speak is what VO is all about.

Being able to correctly interpret someone else's words, often on topics we know nothing about, giving the words their proper weight, as if they are our very own, creates an ENGAGEMENT with those listening which leads to the desired results. Two examples: advertisers want listeners to remember what they heard in their commercial so they (hopefully) buy what was offered. In corporate eLearning, the goal is that the learner remembers what they hear (retention) so they are able to later recall and apply the knowledge (thereby, hopefully, improving their performance).
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:29 pm Post subject:

DougVox · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 8:09 pm Post subject:

That I love the marketing side of our biz.
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Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 11:03 pm Post subject:

Eye contact.

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:55 am Post subject:

every morning i look at a photo taped to my mirror. i stare at it intently for several minutes and say ... "you, sir, will NEVER be doug turkel." then i cry a little bit, and start my day.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:41 am Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:55 am Post subject:

Oh dear me NO! Skill and gear not of equal importance. I am able to fly an Airbus (awesome gear) and a Piper Tomahawk (completely sh*t) Smile

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:26 am Post subject:

Gear and voice may be equally important, but skill trumps both.
And some might say marketing trumps all of them. Gasp

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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:36 am Post subject:

Indeed. I stand clarified (corrected).
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Bruce · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:21 am Post subject:

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:17 am Post subject:

I GOOGLED "marketing" WHO KNEW?!