Advice taken - new opinions requested

Rajiv Hasan

Hi,

Thanks to all those who earlier contributed their thoughts on my original 'showreel montage'.

I've managed to cut the main demo down from 3 minutes to under 2 (still a bit greedy for some, I'm sure!). Just wondered what opinions people might have on the updated version.

http://rajivhasan.voice123.com

Thanks and have fun...

Rajiv

Rosko Lewis · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 13:09 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi, I went to check it out at your link but there appeared to be a server issue... Can you attach it?

Rosko Lewis · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 13:10 (GMT) Post subject:

Ah, its because you put "..." at the end. Will listen now.

Rosko Lewis · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 13:15 (GMT) Post subject:

In my humble opinion I find if a demo flits from character to character nice and quickly it doesnt matter if its a little longer. I found yours kept me interested. If you took someone who reads corporate narration for example it needs to be more compact and to the point.

Rajiv Hasan · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 13:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for that, Rosko.

Nice to see someone else with a longer demo, too!

I've just checked your's out. I liked some of the character styles and your delivery is very clear. Perhaps it would help to have a slightly tighter edit in parts, as some of the pauses felt a wee bit too long for me - especially at the beginning, where I think you would benefit from coming in earlier over the music. Hope you don't mind my input!

Once again, though, thanks for your opinion.

Cheers,
Rajiv

Paxton Greene · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 01:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Rajiv!

WOW!!! You have got some chops. Way to go man! My only comment would be to shorten your montage demo on your voice123 website. Rock!!

Pax

Rajiv Hasan · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 17:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for the feedback, Pax (your stuff ain't too shabby, either!).

Any suggestions on what I should keep/cut on my main demo? I do my own editing, so trimming wouldn't be a problem - although I doubt I'll get it down from 3 minutes to 1!

I'm pretty new to the web-voice world and obviously have much to learn - especially about marketing myself. Do you know much about agents? I'm based in the UK, but I guess the system would probably be quite similar in the US(?). I've got a few jobs through a foreign language agency (for Indian accent work), but I'd really like to branch out and make full use of all my vocal styles - especially in character/vid-game/animation work. Is it possible to have more than one agent?

Anyway, that's enough pesky questions for now...

Have fun - and congratulations on your successes so far.

Rajiv

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006, 18:08 (GMT) Post subject: Rajiv Rules

Rajiv:
That - Sir - is close to a tour de force. Great, great stuff.
But since great doses of fluff don't pay the bills, let me be micro-picky.
It is, of course, too long. You could, for example, trim it by shortening the musical bit towards the beginning and severely curtailing the Simpson imitations. There is not a great demand for Abu and Smithers and other secondary character imitations, even if you do them so well. So it almost becomes like showing off. (Although, admittedly, if I could do it like that, I'd want to boast a bit too.) Similarly, the German, French, and Spanish clips have no real part to play in your demo. You simply will not see anywhere a request for non-German speakers to do laudable, cartoony German phrases. Accented English, maybe. So if you're a polyglot, do demos in the other languages rather than paste them on here.
Your production quality is spot-on. Admirably so.
As to an agent on this side, it's the old Catch-22. A voice agent won't even listen to your demo until you can impress him with a body of work.
I salute you,
Robert Jadah

Rajiv Hasan · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006, 03:14 (GMT) Post subject:

Many thanks for the constructive criticism, Robert.

I've managed to knock about a minute and a quarter off my main showreel - adding here, chopping there. I'd be interested to hear what you - or anyone else out there - thinks about the updated version.

http://rajivhasan.voice123.com

Cheers,
Rajiv

PS. Love your rich tones, by the way... (probably heard that before!)

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006, 16:02 (GMT) Post subject: Rah,Rah Rajiv

Rajiv:
Voila!
Methinks that be one of the 3 best demos I've heard on V123. Tough to shrink it any further with all those characters jostling to be heard. Could save a couple of seconds without the rolling R's - which aren't necessary; the joke stands without them - and the last Sean Connery, which I think anyway should go elsewhere. It's a better sign-off with Homer's beer.
But that's me micro-kvetching again....
After all, if I admit that you've reached perfection, I'd as well take my equipment to the hock shop, retire to the rocker, and leave you to it.
I think it's great. Good job, Sir Voice.
Robert Jadah

Joe J Thomas

Rajiv Hasan · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006, 17:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Re: http://rajivhasan.voice123.com

You're a kind man, Robert... (you may cease genuflecting now!).

I've tried a couple more snips and clips, as I think you're advice generally makes good sense. One or two things to pick you up on, though...

Although I have - as suggested - cut the Simpsons stuff down considerably from the main demo, I think it would be pretty tough for you (or anyone else, for that matter) to speak for the world's voiceover clients when you say there's not much demand for such and such a character. From my brief experience, Voice123 is used by clients from all over the world, and if just one of those should happen to like my Barney, Quimby or Apu (not Abu!!) etc, it would be good enough for me.

Also, the 'Sean Connery' clip you referred to was meant to sound rather more like Walter Matthau - obviously still some room for improvement as far as the impressions go!

Nonetheless, I do appreciate your comments and will seek to be worthy of such esteem. Feet on the ground, head in the clouds...

All the best, guvnor!
Rajiv

Rajiv Hasan · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006, 17:56 (GMT) Post subject:

Good to hear from you Joe JT,

Just heard some of your demos and really like your styles - the British stuff is excellent, although there is one minor detail you could easily set right. In the piece which talks of taking 'diamonds back for custom alterations' - the accent seems a bit too posh and southern to turn custom into the more northern 'koostum', if you know what I mean...

Anyway, congratulations on your successes so far, and good luck with the journey onwards. Me, I'm just starting out...

Cheers,
Rajiv

Joe J Thomas · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006, 18:07 (GMT) Post subject: