there's a huge difference between mediocre bi & good bi

Robert Montalvo

Hi this is Robert Montalvo I've been walking the acrobat bilingual fence in deep south texas for many many moons...I've sent out 100's of demos and still nothing...I'd really appreciate some help from some of you seasoned pros...thanx.

Robert Jadah · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006, 18:55 (GMT) Post subject: your demo

Robert:
To me, your demo's as good as anyone's...but therein lies the rub. With the hundreds of voices scrambling for each posting, yours might just get grouped in as too everyday. I suggest you cut the competition by specializing in Spanish, and having a separate English demo, where you can cut loose and kind of invent a distinctive style.
In short, you may not be able to compete with doing a bit of each well, rather than one thing extremely well....
Just a thought,
Robert

Julie Williams · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 02:08 (GMT) Post subject: Critique of Robert demo

Hi Robert,

You sound like you come from a radio background. Are you in Houston? San Antonio? Your Spanish sounds great. For your English, as a person who hires talent, I'd like to hear a little more conversational delivery and more of a half voice sound.

In short, while your Spanish sounds very much like what they're going for right now... Your English sounds very "radio." I'm not knocking radio--I've got 30 years of radio under my belt! But remember, they get free talent at radio stations... they don't have to pay you for the "radio" sound. What's more marketable right now is the "real" sound.

Pretend the microphone is the listener's ear. Shhh. Just talk to them closely. With your voice, if you can master this...there'll be no stopping you!

I disagree with the previous critique, in that, I think your demo has the right amount of English and Spanish. However, I don't think any of the English spots is really strong. Perhaps the car spot at the beginning... only because car companies do still hire that sound at times, but don't put it first in the demo.

In South Texas, I recommend that you contact Condra/Artista Talent Agency in San Antonio. Tell them that Julie Williams sent you. They do a LOT of Spanish VO casting. Their number is 210-492-9947.

Also, you'd benefit from a workshop that helps you become more "real." I do workshops in San Antonio--but I only get there about once every 18 months (I'm on west coast) Bob Magruder, in Dallas, does periodic workshops in Houston still, I think. You can find out about them by calling Actor's Etc. Talent Agency. I can't remember their phone number off hand!

Be sure to check out all the free info I have for talent on my web site. It's voice-overs.Com.

Good Luck, Robert! You can do this!

Julie Williams "voice-over Chocolate"
www.voice-overs.com

Nikki Saco · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006, 19:17 (GMT) Post subject: Bilingual demo

Robert, Julie's advice was really good. All of it. Your English VO could be a bit more intimate. The difference between what everyone calls "natural" and "announcer" VO is your audience. Natural VO is more intimate and targeted to an audience of one or two people. Announcer/radio VO is targeted to a group. Spanish markets do still like targeting groups more, but the English stuff needs to be more intimate.

The "listener's ear" visualization Julie mentioned is an excellent exercise. The mic can be a friend's ear, a family member's, a lover's - it depends on the message you want to convey. Imagine your audience of one or two and the quality of your voice will start to change and become more intimate, more natural. Let's face it - we don't go around talking to people in public address mode as if we're giving a speech. That's why the intimate voice quality is called more natural . . . . I'm beating a dead horse. You get the idea.

As for marketing exclusively in one language or the other, I think that would depend on what type of VO work you're after. For IVR work and presentations, I've found good work because I'm able to offer both languages unaccented. So there's definitely a bilingual market for that. However, if you're going after broadcast markets, your Spanish VO seems stronger and more marketable.

Your voice has a wonderful quality. I loved the wine spot in the English demo on your member page. That was nice.