Saturday, July 08, 2006
Voice Over Today eNewsletter
Here is a e-Newsletter from Voice-Over today that I find interesting. So i decided to post it here....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOICE OVER TODAY
July 8, 2006
1.) WHY DO 95% OF DEMOS GET TOSSED?
2.) SUMMER CLASSES GET YOUR CAREER JUMPING!
3.) HOME STUDIO & PRO TOOLS SUPPORT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOICE OVER TODAY - July 8, 2006
Helping Voice-Talent Build Careers.
Published by EDGE STUDIO
www.edgestudio.com
New York - 212-868-edge
Washington DC - 202-398-edge
Connecticut - 203-374-edge
Tele-Training - 888-321-edge
SINCE: 1988
MEMBER: Better Business Bureau
RECOGNIZED: Voice and Speech Trainers Association
SPONSOR: National Public Radio, Recording For The Blind & Dyslexic
REMEMBER...
NOT ONLY DOES EDGE STUDIO OFFER:
- training
- evaluations
- demos
- marketing resources
- guidance
EDGE STUDIO IS ALSO AN ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION FACILITY
SOME RECENT PRODUCTIONS:
- Disney picture books (32 so far)
- U.S.Army training videos
- Celebrity CruiseLines travelogues
- Smithsonian Educational series programs
- Aetna website narration and training videos
- TIAA CREF promotional videos
- Royal Caribbean promotional DVDs
- Dannon television commercials
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.) WHY DO 95% OF DEMOS GET TOSSED?
There are plenty of voice over jobs out there. Really. At Edge, we cast,
produce, and record thousands of them every year.
Not surprisingly, Edge receives many, MANY demo submissions from voice
talent looking for work. Every one is reviewed and considered for our
talent library.
But guess what. Upwards of 95% of demos received are unusable BECAUSE THEY
LACK FOCUS!
This article will help you build your voice over career by explaining how
to focus your demo.
THE PROBLEM
The majority of demos we receive contain a mishmash of script excerpts on
them - anything that the aspiring voice talent believes adds variety.
Think about it: If retail stores simply stocked their shelves with a
mishmash of stuff, consumers would have a difficult time finding what they
need. Likewise, casting professionals often have a difficult time finding
the voice talent their clients' requests.
THE FIX
When producing your demo, carefully consider the excerpts you demonstrate
on it. Show off your voice, of course, but do it in a way that shows off
the styles that your voice, your vocal delivery, and your local market are
most appropriate for. Don't worry about including one of every type of
voice over style on your demo and having as much variety as possible. In
other words, don't try to be the "other guy," because the "other guy" does
it better than you can.
(Because we know how important focus is, Edge Studio continually emphasizes
this when training future voice talent. We even have a special Demo
Preparation session prior to producing each demo. Via telephone or at one
of our studios, our goal is to ensure that each demo produced here is
marketable enough that our own clients (which range from Disney to the
U.S.Army) will hire the new voice talent.)
CONSIDER WHEN PRODUCING YOUR DEMO
- Your local market. Which sectors of the voice over industry are casting
professionals in your area looking for? Which sectors pay well? Which
sectors are growing? What sectors create on-going work with long-term
client relationships? Consider these things BEFORE producing your demo, so
that local casting professionals have a need for you. and so that you can
maintain long-term clients, with solid income.
- Your delivery. Being a "Jack of all trades" is generally not the most
effective way to increase your workload. What is effective is only
demonstrating vocal styles that come naturally and easily for you - even if
that means you only demonstrate one style. This is because casting
professionals generally hire voice talent who naturally have the delivery
they require. Therefore cluttering up your demo with artificial dialects
and accents, as well as any delivery that is a stretch for you, rarely gets
you work. (Remember: you can try to sound like someone else, but someone
else out there does it more believably.) So do what you do well, not what
others do well. Therefore skip the announcer style car spot and focus on
documentaries if that is what your natural voice delivery is more fitting
for.
- Your passion. Hate commercials? Then don't record them. Someone who
likes them will enjoy it more and will therefore sound better. Pursue your
aspirations.
- Your terminology. Don't have a medical background? Then do not put
medical narration excerpts on your demo. This is because casting
professionals will hear a medical excerpt on your demo (the one you spent
months memorizing and consulting dictionaries to be able to pronounce), and
will hire you to narrate medical narrations. If you cannot read medical
scripts "cold," then do not demonstrate them on your demo.
- Your contacts. Work in a large corporation? Then leverage your contacts.
Offer your voice over services to the HR department and suggest that you
record the "welcome to our company video," "job fair video," and so on.
Talk to communications and record the telephony systems (menu-prompt,
information on hold, voice mail, etc.). Talk to marketing and advertising
to record commercials, trade-show exhibit videos, and promotional material.
Go down the hall to the training department to record training videos.
Speak with the web department to narrate flash presentations, on-line
tutorials, "welcome to our home-page" narrations, and so on. All in all,
look for work where you already have contacts.
- Your personality. Fidgety? Audiobook recordings are not for you - you'll
never be able to sit still long enough. Consider short recordings. Always
consider the best type of work for YOU.
- Your creativity. Can you read a line ten different ways? If so, you're
ready for cartoons, talking toys, and other types of voice over that
require creativity. If you tend to speak somewhat repetitively, consider
on-line tutorials, documentaries, etc - as these narrations usually require
less dynamics.
- Your listener. Want to keep their interest? Well listen carefully. don't
just use one of every type of script. Instead take the style(s) that work
best for you, and demonstrate variety within those styles. For example, if
educational voice over is best for you, show one excerpt of a pre-school
"speak and spell" game, one high-school computerized test, one foreign
language learning program, one adult continuing education program, etc.
WANT WORK?
One of the few things standing between you and it is your
demo. So take pride in your demo. Liken your demo to you a resume -
something that everyone meticulously sculpts, and do the same. Carefully
consider all the points listed above. Create a demo that has focus and
GETS YOU WORK.
WANT HELP?
Want help with your demo? Call us at 888-321-edge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Sonibyte, the industry leader in podcasting and audio periodical
production, is looking for readers to join their team. Voice over artists
work from home through a web-based workflow system. You must have your own
recording equipment. Clients are generally large, national publications.
Voice-over artists are paid by the word, and jobs generally recur on a
weekly or monthly basis.
You can learn more at www.sonibyte.com. All interested parties should email
resume and/or experience along with a demo or link to careers@sonibyte.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.) SUMMER CLASSES GET YOUR CAREER JUMPING!
To participate, call 888-321-edge.
Read through these.
Which one(s) will get your career jumping?
Put these on your resume to help get you "in the door."
Employ the techniques to help get you "more work."
Many offered via telephone too!
$79 - Do Voice Over From Home
$79 - Marketing
$99 - Technique
$35 - ACT-UP
$35 - The Audition Ringer
$99 - Audiobook Intensive
$99 - Audiobook Advance
$179 - package for both Audiobook workshops
$119 - Animation & Character Intensive
$119 - Animation & Character Advanced
$199 - package for both Animation & Character workshops
Expect acclaimed instructors, candid feedback, and value that will build
your career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
An essential tool for anyone working in audiobook narration--AudioFile's
Audiobook Reference Guide is worth checking out. The best sourcebook to the
audiobook industry with over 375 listings for audiobook publishers,
producers, and directors-with their contact information.
To order your print copy now for only $49.95 (inc. s/h), call AudioFile at
800-506-1212 or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com
An excellent deal for your own Voice Talent listing, the Expanded Listing
includes a copy of the Guide, a subscription to AudioFile, print & web, and
the listing with text credits, 5-minute sound clip and direct link contacts-
for just $125. For info on the Voice Talent listings, email
guide@audiofilemagazine.com or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.) HOME STUDIO and PROTOOLS SUPPORT
Get Better Paying Clients with Better Sounding Recordings.
. . . This should pay for itself.
- Workshops
- Private Consultations
- Guidance
for
- Microphone Choice
- ProTools
- Soundbooth Construction
- Installation
- Operation
Sure beats reading manuals all day.
. . . And helps ensure your clients get the quality they expect!
New York - 212-868-edge
Washington DC - 202-398-edge
Connecticut - 203-374-edge
Tele-Training - 888-321-edge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A DEMO?
We're always searching for new voice-talent.
Please email your MP3 demo to: demosubmission@edgestudio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A WEBSITE?
Adding active links on your website can expand your profile while
increasing search-engine results. Take this opportunity to add a link to
Edge Studio. Visit www.edgestudio.com/link.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WANT TO ADVERTISE in Voice Over Today?
Results have been great!
Email info@edgestudio.com or call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-321-edge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
send an email, with your old email address in the subject line to:
VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com
for example:
from: joe@new-address.com
subject: joe@old-address.com
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
send a blank email to:
VoiceOverToday-off@edgestudio.com
TO CONTACT VOICE OVER TODAY'S MANAGER
send your message to:
listmaster@edgestudio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 2006, Edge Studio, LLC. All rights reserved. This article is
protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws
and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated,
transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in
any medium without the prior written permission of Edge Studio, LLC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO SUBSCRIBE: send a blank email to: VoiceOverToday-on@edgestudio.com
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a blank email to: VoiceOverToday-off@edgestudio.com
TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: send an email, with your old email address in the subject line to: VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com For example:
From: joe@new-address.com
To: VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com
Subject: joe@old-address.com
An acknowledgement message will be sent to both the new and old email address, when the change process has been completed.
TO CONTACT VOICE OVER TODAY'S MANAGER: send your message to: listmaster@edgestudio.com
To unsubscribe, click on the following web page.
http://cgi.mail-list.com/u?ln=voiceovertoday&nm=ronlisy@aol.com
Voice Over Today was emailed to ronlisy@aol.comv
This is a recurring email from a double opt-in mailing list.
You voluntarily signed up for this mailing list, and also
replied to our confirmation email.
You may leave at any time by following the instructions above.
If you have troubles getting off this mailing list, please print
a copy of this message, including the list name and your email
address, and mail it to
Listmaster
mail-list.com
1302 Waugh Dr. #438
Houston, TX 77019
USA
July 8, 2006
1.) WHY DO 95% OF DEMOS GET TOSSED?
2.) SUMMER CLASSES GET YOUR CAREER JUMPING!
3.) HOME STUDIO & PRO TOOLS SUPPORT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOICE OVER TODAY - July 8, 2006
Helping Voice-Talent Build Careers.
Published by EDGE STUDIO
www.edgestudio.com
New York - 212-868-edge
Washington DC - 202-398-edge
Connecticut - 203-374-edge
Tele-Training - 888-321-edge
SINCE: 1988
MEMBER: Better Business Bureau
RECOGNIZED: Voice and Speech Trainers Association
SPONSOR: National Public Radio, Recording For The Blind & Dyslexic
REMEMBER...
NOT ONLY DOES EDGE STUDIO OFFER:
- training
- evaluations
- demos
- marketing resources
- guidance
EDGE STUDIO IS ALSO AN ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION FACILITY
SOME RECENT PRODUCTIONS:
- Disney picture books (32 so far)
- U.S.Army training videos
- Celebrity CruiseLines travelogues
- Smithsonian Educational series programs
- Aetna website narration and training videos
- TIAA CREF promotional videos
- Royal Caribbean promotional DVDs
- Dannon television commercials
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.) WHY DO 95% OF DEMOS GET TOSSED?
There are plenty of voice over jobs out there. Really. At Edge, we cast,
produce, and record thousands of them every year.
Not surprisingly, Edge receives many, MANY demo submissions from voice
talent looking for work. Every one is reviewed and considered for our
talent library.
But guess what. Upwards of 95% of demos received are unusable BECAUSE THEY
LACK FOCUS!
This article will help you build your voice over career by explaining how
to focus your demo.
THE PROBLEM
The majority of demos we receive contain a mishmash of script excerpts on
them - anything that the aspiring voice talent believes adds variety.
Think about it: If retail stores simply stocked their shelves with a
mishmash of stuff, consumers would have a difficult time finding what they
need. Likewise, casting professionals often have a difficult time finding
the voice talent their clients' requests.
THE FIX
When producing your demo, carefully consider the excerpts you demonstrate
on it. Show off your voice, of course, but do it in a way that shows off
the styles that your voice, your vocal delivery, and your local market are
most appropriate for. Don't worry about including one of every type of
voice over style on your demo and having as much variety as possible. In
other words, don't try to be the "other guy," because the "other guy" does
it better than you can.
(Because we know how important focus is, Edge Studio continually emphasizes
this when training future voice talent. We even have a special Demo
Preparation session prior to producing each demo. Via telephone or at one
of our studios, our goal is to ensure that each demo produced here is
marketable enough that our own clients (which range from Disney to the
U.S.Army) will hire the new voice talent.)
CONSIDER WHEN PRODUCING YOUR DEMO
- Your local market. Which sectors of the voice over industry are casting
professionals in your area looking for? Which sectors pay well? Which
sectors are growing? What sectors create on-going work with long-term
client relationships? Consider these things BEFORE producing your demo, so
that local casting professionals have a need for you. and so that you can
maintain long-term clients, with solid income.
- Your delivery. Being a "Jack of all trades" is generally not the most
effective way to increase your workload. What is effective is only
demonstrating vocal styles that come naturally and easily for you - even if
that means you only demonstrate one style. This is because casting
professionals generally hire voice talent who naturally have the delivery
they require. Therefore cluttering up your demo with artificial dialects
and accents, as well as any delivery that is a stretch for you, rarely gets
you work. (Remember: you can try to sound like someone else, but someone
else out there does it more believably.) So do what you do well, not what
others do well. Therefore skip the announcer style car spot and focus on
documentaries if that is what your natural voice delivery is more fitting
for.
- Your passion. Hate commercials? Then don't record them. Someone who
likes them will enjoy it more and will therefore sound better. Pursue your
aspirations.
- Your terminology. Don't have a medical background? Then do not put
medical narration excerpts on your demo. This is because casting
professionals will hear a medical excerpt on your demo (the one you spent
months memorizing and consulting dictionaries to be able to pronounce), and
will hire you to narrate medical narrations. If you cannot read medical
scripts "cold," then do not demonstrate them on your demo.
- Your contacts. Work in a large corporation? Then leverage your contacts.
Offer your voice over services to the HR department and suggest that you
record the "welcome to our company video," "job fair video," and so on.
Talk to communications and record the telephony systems (menu-prompt,
information on hold, voice mail, etc.). Talk to marketing and advertising
to record commercials, trade-show exhibit videos, and promotional material.
Go down the hall to the training department to record training videos.
Speak with the web department to narrate flash presentations, on-line
tutorials, "welcome to our home-page" narrations, and so on. All in all,
look for work where you already have contacts.
- Your personality. Fidgety? Audiobook recordings are not for you - you'll
never be able to sit still long enough. Consider short recordings. Always
consider the best type of work for YOU.
- Your creativity. Can you read a line ten different ways? If so, you're
ready for cartoons, talking toys, and other types of voice over that
require creativity. If you tend to speak somewhat repetitively, consider
on-line tutorials, documentaries, etc - as these narrations usually require
less dynamics.
- Your listener. Want to keep their interest? Well listen carefully. don't
just use one of every type of script. Instead take the style(s) that work
best for you, and demonstrate variety within those styles. For example, if
educational voice over is best for you, show one excerpt of a pre-school
"speak and spell" game, one high-school computerized test, one foreign
language learning program, one adult continuing education program, etc.
WANT WORK?
One of the few things standing between you and it is your
demo. So take pride in your demo. Liken your demo to you a resume -
something that everyone meticulously sculpts, and do the same. Carefully
consider all the points listed above. Create a demo that has focus and
GETS YOU WORK.
WANT HELP?
Want help with your demo? Call us at 888-321-edge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Sonibyte, the industry leader in podcasting and audio periodical
production, is looking for readers to join their team. Voice over artists
work from home through a web-based workflow system. You must have your own
recording equipment. Clients are generally large, national publications.
Voice-over artists are paid by the word, and jobs generally recur on a
weekly or monthly basis.
You can learn more at www.sonibyte.com. All interested parties should email
resume and/or experience along with a demo or link to careers@sonibyte.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.) SUMMER CLASSES GET YOUR CAREER JUMPING!
To participate, call 888-321-edge.
Read through these.
Which one(s) will get your career jumping?
Put these on your resume to help get you "in the door."
Employ the techniques to help get you "more work."
Many offered via telephone too!
$79 - Do Voice Over From Home
$79 - Marketing
$99 - Technique
$35 - ACT-UP
$35 - The Audition Ringer
$99 - Audiobook Intensive
$99 - Audiobook Advance
$179 - package for both Audiobook workshops
$119 - Animation & Character Intensive
$119 - Animation & Character Advanced
$199 - package for both Animation & Character workshops
Expect acclaimed instructors, candid feedback, and value that will build
your career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
An essential tool for anyone working in audiobook narration--AudioFile's
Audiobook Reference Guide is worth checking out. The best sourcebook to the
audiobook industry with over 375 listings for audiobook publishers,
producers, and directors-with their contact information.
To order your print copy now for only $49.95 (inc. s/h), call AudioFile at
800-506-1212 or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com
An excellent deal for your own Voice Talent listing, the Expanded Listing
includes a copy of the Guide, a subscription to AudioFile, print & web, and
the listing with text credits, 5-minute sound clip and direct link contacts-
for just $125. For info on the Voice Talent listings, email
guide@audiofilemagazine.com or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.) HOME STUDIO and PROTOOLS SUPPORT
Get Better Paying Clients with Better Sounding Recordings.
. . . This should pay for itself.
- Workshops
- Private Consultations
- Guidance
for
- Microphone Choice
- ProTools
- Soundbooth Construction
- Installation
- Operation
Sure beats reading manuals all day.
. . . And helps ensure your clients get the quality they expect!
New York - 212-868-edge
Washington DC - 202-398-edge
Connecticut - 203-374-edge
Tele-Training - 888-321-edge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A DEMO?
We're always searching for new voice-talent.
Please email your MP3 demo to: demosubmission@edgestudio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAVE A WEBSITE?
Adding active links on your website can expand your profile while
increasing search-engine results. Take this opportunity to add a link to
Edge Studio. Visit www.edgestudio.com/link.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WANT TO ADVERTISE in Voice Over Today?
Results have been great!
Email info@edgestudio.com or call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-321-edge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
send an email, with your old email address in the subject line to:
VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com
for example:
from: joe@new-address.com
subject: joe@old-address.com
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
send a blank email to:
VoiceOverToday-off@edgestudio.com
TO CONTACT VOICE OVER TODAY'S MANAGER
send your message to:
listmaster@edgestudio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 2006, Edge Studio, LLC. All rights reserved. This article is
protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws
and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated,
transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in
any medium without the prior written permission of Edge Studio, LLC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO SUBSCRIBE: send a blank email to: VoiceOverToday-on@edgestudio.com
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a blank email to: VoiceOverToday-off@edgestudio.com
TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: send an email, with your old email address in the subject line to: VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com For example:
From: joe@new-address.com
To: VoiceOverToday-change@edgestudio.com
Subject: joe@old-address.com
An acknowledgement message will be sent to both the new and old email address, when the change process has been completed.
TO CONTACT VOICE OVER TODAY'S MANAGER: send your message to: listmaster@edgestudio.com
To unsubscribe, click on the following web page.
http://cgi.mail-list.com/u?ln=voiceovertoday&nm=ronlisy@aol.com
Voice Over Today was emailed to ronlisy@aol.comv
This is a recurring email from a double opt-in mailing list.
You voluntarily signed up for this mailing list, and also
replied to our confirmation email.
You may leave at any time by following the instructions above.
If you have troubles getting off this mailing list, please print
a copy of this message, including the list name and your email
address, and mail it to
Listmaster
mail-list.com
1302 Waugh Dr. #438
Houston, TX 77019
USA
