New profile, New Demo - critique please

Les Lakow

This is my first foray into the voice talent marketplace, and I'd really appreciate your feedback. I've been following some of the forums for a few weeks now waiting for my demos and I'm anxious to "hear" what you think. Given my experiences in other industries, the kind of peer support I've seen here is refreshing.

www.voice123.com/leslakow

Thanks

Les

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008, 15:33 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey, Les...saw your lament in the newbies section; sorry no one responded here 'til now. But I had a minute and gave a listen so here's what I hear.

First let me say I personally love voices like yours...very textured with lots of natural character to it.

That being said, I don't think your reads do your voice credit. You're very old-fashioned announcer, which truly isn't in much demand outside small local markets unless in parody. Your reads are stilted and too precise on one hand, yet you seem to almost slur some words on the first clip on the narratives reel. eg., I think you stumbled where one word ended with "th" and next started with "s" -- you stumbled because you tried to pronounce both distinctly instead of making it smooth and conversational. You also pronounced the word "a" with it's actual sound in front of the word "worldwide". Why? It's phonetically a schwa, making the sound "uh" except in front of words starting with a vowell. Additionally you have a staccato delivery and unnatural pauses.
I'm nitpicking. But all these little things are adding up to make you sound not real.

The best clip in my opinion was the first on the narratives (in spite of the note above) because you sounded like you were leaning forward telling a group of kids what you just found...there was motivation to your read. The commercial reel's bright spot to me was the thing with Hawaiian music behind. You seemed to almost relax for a moment there. Wink

Les, you have to loosen up. Take some improv. Find characters within you. Do that interesting voice credit.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008, 17:22 (GMT) Post subject:

To me, this is almost a mirror-image of the demo and comments on Crystal Thomson's posting just above this one.

You have a really unique voice, and that's really good. You do, however, sound a lot like another guy here, Hail Wilson, whose voice I also have always loved. You, like Hail and Crystal, have a texture to your voice that gives it a very distinct 'feel'.

I think Melba was right when she talked about the old school, stilted delivery. I cringe whenever I hear local, small-market radio announcers use a long 'a' in copy when it should be pronounced as an 'uh'. It shows a lack of training, because they're speaking unnaturally and over-enunciating.

Les, just relax, loosen up. You're really, really close to where you need to be. Another thing I'd do is to probably replace all those high-profile commercial spots that everyone recognizes with something else that still sounds authentic, but that won't immediately make the listener think "Hey, I've heard that before and that wasn't the guy who did it!". I'd lose the AllState, the BMW, the BASF spots, and put in some other things that showcase some versatility and yet still sound like genuine spots.

And again.... relax! Enjoy what you're doing here! And, like Melba, I think the Hawaii spot comes closest to where you need to be.

None of this is BAD by any stretch of the imagination. And you ARE close to being on target. I'd say just practice a bit more, get more comfortable with delivering the copy as Les and NOT as an announcer, and you'll be kickin' butt.

Doug Parks · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008, 17:25 (GMT) Post subject:

Les, Les, Les.

Some rough stuff in that demo. Just didn't have a natural flow. You sound like you need to loosen up. Literally--I'm talking about your facial muscles as well as your delivery. I also think you might lose some focus as reads go on at times.

But I also have some good news. I heard some promise in there in spots. I think that a voice coach could help you TREMENDOUSLY. There is someone (whose name escapes me) who comes highly recommended on the sale thread that would be at least a good place to start. Good luck to you.

Cameron Thomas · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008, 18:02 (GMT) Post subject:

Yeah, check out Phyllis Day...she'll hook you up.

Cheers,
Cameron

Les Lakow · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008, 18:22 (GMT) Post subject: Thanks and keep it coming!!

Great feedback so far. Thank you for taking the time. Nice to know my voice is marketable even if I still have to learn how to use it Smile

Not sure where to get replacement material for the "stock" ads at this point. The demos were produced by the company that offered the intro training.
Hopefully I'll have a few reads in the near future to post - but I don't know about getting music matched to them
I will definitely look into some coaching ASAP.
Thanks again. I hope in the future I can pass it forward to another newbie.

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Les -

I'm curious how you would sound on a ribbon mic, which would impart some warmth to your voice. The mic you're using now is a bit cold/sterile sounding to my engineer ears. Unfortunately good ribbon mics can cost a bundle. If you're not made of money you could get a Shinybox (www.shinybox.com). Jon imports these from China and does QC on the ribbon tension and probably some other stuff (such as removing the extra layers of silk/nylon and wire mesh which make these mics sound colored in a bad way). If you are made of money you could pick up an expensive new ribbon mic or look around for an old RCA 44BX or 77DX and have it refurbished (and which would have collector value). With a ribbon mic you would also need a preamp with adequate gain. Alternatively, you could look into something like a Heil Sound PR 20 which would sound warmer than the mic you're using. Either way, it would be an experiment as far as you're concerned as you may or may not like the new sound better.

(AFTERTHOUGHT)

I see you are in the Boston area, so perhaps there is an audio rental house or even a recording studio which would rent you a ribbon mic for a day which you could try.

HTH.

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Also check out the Fat Head mics:

http://www.cascademicrophones.com/cascade_FAT%20HEAD.html