VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Jeffrey Kafer]

In my bid to do VO more or less full-time, I've updated my reels. Below are links to my commercials and narration reel. I'd appreciate feedback, pos or neg.

http://jeffreykafer.com/Jeffrey_Kafer_commercials.mp3
http://jeffreykafer.com/Jeffrey_Kafer_corporate_Documentary_Narration.mp3
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[Deirdre]

Dear Jeff,
I love love love your sound. I really truly awesomely love the sound of your voice, I really love it.

I heard 7 elements in the commercial demo.
1. Drop Phone
2. Bank of Seattle
3. Success
4. Best Gift Evar
5. CRM Learning
6. Cowboys Fan
7. Denim Lawfirm?

Nice mix of stuff. The first element is casual, Bank of Seattle is more serious. I think the 3rd bit is too casual too soon with the "ya know". Frankly that whole "ya know, a wise man once said" part can be taken out. Who cares about some other wise man? YOU are the expert. You could say "It's true—" or some other lead in.
I loved the best gift! a scream. totally believable and a nice change up in style and sound.
CRM learning shows your signature sound again.
Cowboys fan— an excited you.
"Why settle for less?" nice little mix, with our favorite Jeff Kafer goodness, altho' I couldn't clearly hear the client's name.

Jeff— here's my most blunt take: You need more acting skill. I hear an excellently controlled voice with a fab studio setup clearly enunciating sentences that have odd emphases. You don't seem too "get" what you're saying.
The 44 Cowboys piece had the most natural flow, but I wasn't quite sure I believed you were a real football fan.
What I'm hearing reminds me of most actors doing Shakespeare— they'll throw emphasis wherever they think it sounds good because they can't really get a grip what is being said.

In your commercial demo, the result is a "read". It's nice, but it's a read. You're not telling me a story, not yet.
Have you tried the jam technique recently? Where you tell the commercial in your own words so you can get to the kernels of meaning? I do this with densely-written stuff, because I can't otherwise find the melody, as it were.
To continue the musical metaphor: You are playing all the notes, and you're playing them in the right places. But the dynamics are out of order because in some phrases the wrong note (word) is being stressed.

Does that make sense?
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[Philip Banks]

The demos are what you do and they show your skills admirably. Every demo for a Voice Overist should sound like your demos. What you are doing at the moment is generating an income but what you need to do now is make an aspirational demo. People need to hear where you are going, where you want to be.

"This man is obviously a network voice"

"This man is a national commercial voice"

"This man is the voice of the mega-bucks corporates"

The key to creating this sound is to select the scripts and then get someone to direct you. In choosing the right person as your director the next demo will really open some doors.

What I've heard scores 96%, all you need is to get a 97.5% demo score to be assured of a full-time income from Voice Overising.

[Jeffrey Kafer]

Hey guys, thanks for listening.

Deebs, I totally get what you're saying. A kind soul on the VO-BB whom I trust has offered to give me some phone coaching to help with just those issues. I won't out the person but I am very grateful to him, and to you for providing such a nurturing place.

Philip, scoring a 96% from someone of your caliber is a huge boost for me, and is encouraging me to reach for that 97.5%. Heck, I may even go for a 98%.

Thanks, guys!
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[Edo]

Jeffrey, I'd put you before a hiring squad immediately...

[Mandy Nelson]

I likey though I do agree with all that has been said (mostly to the extent that it applies to the things I know about and may or may not be passionate about sufficiently enough to support all that I am thinking now or may think in the future). May these demos, be it in their current state or with more acting pizazz, bring you into the land of the full timer.
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006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband