Just found Voice Over Savvy!!!

Sabrina Storey

I had no idea there was a forum here. How great! I recently signed up to voice 123 and have been submitting auditions on and off for a couple months. Of those opened, I seem to get a lot of 4 ratings. I am hoping this is 4 out of 5 and not 10, lol!

Production is pretty new to me as I have always had somebody else producing while I was mearly the voice, but I'm starting to play around and have a good mic and small set-up at home. My demo is REALLY old and as I prepare to do a new one, I'd like to get some opinions.

You can hear all the samples at:

www.voice123.com/sabrinastorey

Thanks so much!
Sabrina:)

Robert Jadah · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008, 04:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Welcome, Sabrina, eh?

Always great to have another Canuck on board.
OK, put the hot cocoa and cribbage board away, 'cuz the nice stuff's out of the way.

You're obviously a voice pro, Sabrina, and I'd first suggest you have your V123 site page reflect that. Phrases like "supplementing my income with voiceover from home", and "I can only supply raw files for now" and "I seem to be best at IVR" do not reflect well on the business side. Granted, the home page is not that important, but you'd hate to have a real client come along and decide you were a dabbler.

You should also take notice of the problems that old radio folk have at breaking into free-lance VO. The stuff that your best demos reflect is the stuff that radio stations give away for free.
Generally speaking, seekers will not be posting $500 jobbies for "announcer types" at voice sites.
Far from it; more like $125 for "non-announcer types".

So you need to move away from that Golly-Gee, Smiley-Me radio-y. Your UN clip, for example, is the perfect example: a heartfelt bit of copy that yearns for expression on which, on your read, I expected a traffic update and time check.
You don't want to be stuck in lifeless IVR. You've got too much to offer.
In this world, you'll need some coaching (isn't Ms. Munro in your area?) or dozens and dozens and dozens of critiqued auds to move from being a voice...to being a voice actor.

It's a whole other kettle of fish. Or stew of caribou, as we say on the frozen tundra.
Eh?

Voice On!

Sabrina Storey · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008, 08:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Robert! I have taken your advice and re-written my resume on Voice 123 to reflect that I am, indeed, a professional and not just a dabbler. I realize my commercial demo is very much old-school radio sounding. I hardly ever apply for commercials as this is not really my strength nor my cup of tea. Funny enough, I actually really like the straight-stuff, what most people consider the boring IVR (even message on hold) work! Unfortunately, I haven't got copies of many of the projects I have worked on lately, but would love your feedback on the few I have posted...instructional video, promo pieve for YMCA. Be brutally honest! Thanks, eh!

Sabrina:)