Hello!

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007, 05:52 (GMT) Post subject: Hello!

Hey everyone,

I stumbled onto this forum and boy am I super glad that I did!! I have barely any experience. I have like 8 radio air checks and a couple demos that I made, but I don't know if they are any good. I don't know if I am any good for that matter.

I worked in radio for a year as an intern and then a producer and I absorbed as much as I could take from everyone. But I'm still intimidated about being here and trying to slide in the door with all of you pros.

My question is, what do I do now? Where do I start? I want to get a job but I'm afraid because I've only done them through the radio station, never anything super professional or anything. I am getting a whole audio setup for Christmas that will include a mic and a mixing board, etc. So I'll be all ready to record stuff, but what? Should I just keep trying to perfect my demo? And then what?

Thanks for listening.

Caity

Erik Sheppard · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007, 15:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity, could you upload your demo so we can get a better idea of where you are at?

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007, 16:03 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Hello!

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 05:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Okay, so I should be focusing on taking classes and stuff, and not even worrying much about my demo or getting work. I guess I'm trying to go from point a to point c without spending time in between.

I uploaded some demos on my profile. They are all radio ones. I don't know what to say in any other kind of demo. I'll attach one here- it's the first one that I ever made. I'm aware that I talk pretty fast in it.

Thanks for the advice!

Caity

James Lorenz · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 05:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity -

I like your voice and think it could be very marketable but not only do you speak very fast, there isn't much emotion attached to it. You're just rattling off the copy.

Take the time to listen to some of the demos here from other women like Deby Ceders, Allison Scussel and September Day Leach. Here how much acting plays a part in reads.

I think you have the potential, but just need to put in the work.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 06:10 (GMT) Post subject:

Cameron Thomas · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 12:13 (GMT) Post subject:

Just briefly (as a relative newbie myself), sounds like you have a clear, younger voice...I like it. I'm sure once you absorb all the info here on the forum, you'll come up with a great demo with more variety and more emotion in your reads. A note about your current demo...too much music--you'll want to clip a lot of that out with quicker transitions to your voice.

Cheers for now,
Cameron

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 13:25 (GMT) Post subject:

Caity, as promised, here's my perspective on your voice and demo.

Let's start with the good stuff. You have a fresh, young, fun, friendly and cute voice that is highly in vogue now. With training and practice, you may be able to pick up some work. Without training and practice, though, probably not. James was right on target when he said you just sound like you're reading the liners, and that's not what clients want. They want a voice that's real, believable, and can convince the listener.

Your aircheck is, of course, NOT a demo. It's an aircheck, and you can't use those to get voiceover work. Even as an aircheck, though, it shows your inexperience. You're very stiff and stilted in your delivery with no spontaneity, ad lib, banter, or casual comfort level. If I were to guess I'd say you'd spent almost no time behind a mike and were thinking about every single word you were saying. I could hear the nervousness in your delivery.

I'm hoping by now you've read the sticky that I recommended at the top of this "Newbies" forum. You need a lot of training, coaching and practice. You may be a fast learner who is trainable and can absorb like a sponge. I don't know. But your comment about getting from point "a" to "c" without doing the work in-between... well, you won't get to "c" by doing that. You NEED to do the work.

I wish you all the best!

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 14:18 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!!

I just want to say that I understand that there is a LOT of work involved and I never meant that I expected to get from point A to point C, I meant that by going straight to making a demo I was doing that on accident. I am a very dedicated and hard working person in general. I didn't mean to offend anyone by implying that I didn't take this seriously as a job. Also, the sticky note was the first thing that I read when I came to this forum. I really liked it.

Can anyone recommend a good voice over coach or class in the LA area or even better- Ventura County if you know where that is? I would really like to learn how to convey more emotion in my voice.

Scott- thanks for letting me know that an aircheck is not a demo... I wasn't sure.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007, 16:56 (GMT) Post subject:

You're welcome, Caity. As I mentioned, you have a really good voice quality. Get the training and you could do something good with it.

I personally have used Nancy Wolfson in the L.A. area. There are many other great coaches and no doubt if you post a query on the "General Chit Chat" forum you'll get a lot of recommendations.

Nancy can be reached at: braintracksaudio@yahoo.com
Her website is braintracksaudio.com

If you contact her, please tell her I recommended her to you.

Can't wait to hear where you go from here! Merry Christmas!

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007, 04:24 (GMT) Post subject:

Cool Scott! I checked out her website and it looks good. If I decide to go with her I will definitely tell her you referred me.

Allison Scussel · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007, 04:51 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity...
You have a youthful sound and can go miles with it with the right training and knowledge.
As for personal training in the LA area, I've expressed my opinions in the past about Rodney Saulsberry.
www.rodneysaulsberry.com
I live on the east coast, but took one of his workshops over the summer b'c he was highly recommended by a collegue. I adored every minute spent in the studio with Rodney. He's a pro who also encourages the power of positive thinking. Even if you don't attend one of his workshops right away, he has a couple of books that make awesome reads. Should you decide to purchase one of them, please tell him I recommended you.

Good Luck!! Here's to wishing you all the best .
prost

Sabrina Sterling · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007, 19:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity,
You have a very nice clear youthful voice. I wish you all the best. I just read what Allison said about classes with Rodney Saulsberry and agree. I've attended his teleclasses and despite being very nervous at first, I really enjoyed them and think they helped me. He is a very encouraging positive voice coach. Rodney has classes well worth attending and his books are brilliant too, he is a wonderful motivator with lots of good ideas and advice for voice over work, business and life in general.

www.voicexox.com for a little bit of English in your Ears

John Weeks · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007, 03:57 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Caity,
I know a guy who got 2 copies of a voice over book for Christmas and wanted to give the spare one to someone who was new to the business. He says "you only pay for shipping". I thought of you.
You might want to jump on it if you're interested because I'm sure someone else will!
Please PM me and I'll give you the information.
Good Luck in your voice over career.
John

Caity FitzGerald · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007, 22:12 (GMT) Post subject:

Allison and Sabrina, thanks for the recommendation. I will surely look into it. I listened to your demos and really liked them. They give me something to think about. I've been listening to a lot of demos lately as recommended, and practicing too.

John thanks for thinking of me! I PM'd you already.

Caity