Demos for amateur voice actors

**JTurnblat** · 02-04-2009, 06:02 PM

I realize this is aimed more at unofficial, online VAs, but surely the majority of us don't do this just for fun and want to get paid someday. I know I'd like to try, after I get enough practice in this area of the field.

I attended a panel of fairly well-known VAs at the last Dragon*Con, and one of them (I think it was Vic Mignonga) said you should not show off your best imitation voices for potential employers in an audition or demo. He said something along the lines of, "Your Homer Simpson impression may be spot-on, and that's great for parties, but it's no good for getting a job because we already have someone who does that voice.".

If you want to make fandubs of animes or video games, should you specify that if you are able to accompany any text with your mp3 (such as a YouTube description)? I have a voice I want to use some time that was inspired by the Warcraft peons, and of course I'll use it around my friends for quotes, but should I read unrelated dialogue with the voice in my demo so people won't think I'm just impersonating a peon? The text made it sound like it's OK to do a Sonic the Hedgehog voice or some other popular character, provided you speak an interesting or emotional line with that voice.

**SaiyanSerenityV** · 02-14-2009, 02:48 PM

Okay, so I've read the tips in here, but it seems to be more directed at character reels. I'm trying to make my first commercial reel, and I guess I need a few pointers.

Do you try to mimic an actual commercial, or pick a product and write something yourself? Where's a good place to get background music? What other things should I look out for, specifically for a commercial reel?

**Fonsetorigo** · 03-02-2009, 03:37 AM

Thank-you for this! I wasnt sure what I should and shouldn't do, so thank-you very very very much!

**VeilofSecrets** · 03-09-2009, 02:46 AM

wow

This was helpful thanks

**SaiyanSerenityV** · 03-09-2009, 04:50 PM

Doesn't anyone have any advice for me? *looks at last post* D:

**Voiceroy** · 03-27-2009, 10:22 AM

> Do you try to mimic an actual commercial

I wouldn't recommend imitating an actual commercial, but if you hear one you like the copy from it might be useful. But it needs to fit your unique style and delivery. Don't imitate what you hear in the original.

The first thing to keep in mind with a commercial demo is that it feature your natural voice. You can make your reads more high-energy and "animated", but it still needs to be *you*.

You ever watched those ads for certain type products where some woman pulls a product from her purse and it's still in the original box? Or you hear/see some ad with two people talking and it just sounds awkward because you know it's a conversation that would never happen in real life? That's what you should avoid.

Make it conversational and genuine, like you're talking to your best friend and you earnestly want them to try this product or service.

> or pick a product and write something yourself?

You could do that too, as long as your copy is solid. Here's an example: Go to http://videovoicebank.net/app/promoList.do?Search=Ok and search for "George Lowe" and click on the demo listed for his rep with Arlene Wilson -- he wrote all the copy and it's hilarious. I don't know that I'd recommend that to a newcomer because the copy and the performance have to be solid. George has been writing his own material for decades.

Also, magazines ads are a great source for commercial copy. Read them out loud and keep the ones that fit your style of delivery. Pick out like 20-30 of these ads -- the more the better. You can always narrow it down later during post, so it's better to have a little excess copy than to come up short and have to go back in later to record more.

> Where's a good place to get background music?

First, download freecorder.com for your browser.

Then, use http://obtmusic.com/ for lots of free radio-quality background music clips.

> What other things should I look out for, specifically for a commercial reel?

- If you're wanting a professional commercial demo to send to agents, clients, and casting people, don't produce your own demo. Just don't. There are far too many members on voice123.com who have produced their own demos and it's *really* obvious. Find a studio experienced in demo production in your area. Ask to hear client samples in advance. You should also hire or get the assistance of an experienced, professional voice coach. As you can see, getting a demo produced ain't cheap. But the old adage applies that you get what you pay for. If you don't make an investment in a quality demo, you're not going to get quality out of it. And you won't get hired.
- Keep it within a minute.
- Don't save your "best" for the end. Those first 10 seconds are *the* most critical. Most agents, casting people, and clients don't even listen to more than the first 15 seconds of a demo unless they really like what they hear.
- Don't include any character voices or impressions on a commercial demo. You can "cheat" a little and hint at a character voice for a quick transition effect, but it still needs to sound close to your "normal" voice.
- Organize each read so they're paced well -- a quicker read followed by a slower one; a high-energy read followed by an emotional one. Play around with the organization until it comes together as a whole.
- Avoid using reads that are connected to each other with the same product or service. Your demo doesn't need to "tell a story". It needs to show your style and ability to sell a product or service, with a variety of different reads.
- Have professional voice-over actors evaluate your demo via forums like vo-bb.com and voice-overs.com.
- Don't allow background music and sound effects to overpower and outperform your voice. The background music and SFX should serve to provide a backdrop for your voice and compliment it, not be featured. They can be used very, very briefly for transitions between reads, but they need to be really quick.
- Spend some quality time listening to the demos on videovoicebank.com. I'd also recommend listening to the demos of the nominees and winners of Voices.com annual "Voicey" awards:
http://voiceactors.wordpress.com/200...award-winners/ -- if the quality of the final cut of your commercial demo doesn't even come close to what you hear from other professionals, then either you're not ready yet or the demo still needs more work.

How's that for advice? And was it worth waiting 2 weeks for it?

**CptShadow** · 07-24-2009, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Haushinka

Well, even putfile is better than youtube for amateur stuff. I'll gladly listen to/critique someone's demo if it's on putfile but waiting for a video to load just to hear someone's voice is kind of ick ;;

For some reason Putfile isn't working (I think it got taken down or bought out) is there any other free website i can use, I don't know which ones in your opinion look more professional then others