High Dive Scary

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008, 20:51 (GMT) Post subject: High Dive Scary

I can't learn unless you fine folks are brutally honest. I've been reading up on handling constructive criticism so let me have it!

This is a V123 script I auditioned for so that's why it probably sounds familiar. One thing I think I have the most trouble with is turning boring into exciting. Something which I believe is painfully obvious in this demo.

Lucas Nugent · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008, 21:17 (GMT) Post subject:

The first thing I noticed was the quality of your recording. It sounds like it's coming through a tin can! Do you have any better resources for recording?

As for the delivery, as Philip Banks says, you're "voice overing" right now. You have to get down into the character. WHY are you going to tell me what you are? Voice it as if you actually care about the message (that's not supposed to sound as negative as it does lol). Pretend your mother needs some financial tips and tell her. That type of thing!

Of course I'm not a paying member and didn't see the instructions, but that's the basic stuff I picked up on.

Erik Sheppard · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008, 21:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Yikes, there is no way you can be competitive with that recording quality. Time to upgrade or do some tweaking if you are serious about landing some auditions from home and keeping your clients.

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008, 22:16 (GMT) Post subject:

Yea Baby, that's what I'm talking about. I knew I could count on ya to put it out there and slather it with substance. No comments (thus far) about changing professions so that's a plus so as the old bumper sticker says Keep on truckin'....

1. Tell it don't sell it. Get into character then record, I got that, I think. I'm taking acting classes so that should help.

2. My audio is the pits. I use Cubase and a Marshall MXL 990 mic. I do weather for about 40 radio stations daily and use the template I set up for forecast for my auditions. Its a raw, no frills, no fxs, compression, flanger, chorus setup. The radio stations haven't complained once but apparently there is a distinct difference between radio weather and VO that I was unaware of.

So, let's assume I know nothing about fixing tin cans. Where can I go besides this board to find out how to set up a DAW to record VO? Are there specific things I need like compression, flangers, chorus etc, etc?

Am I going to need to take a mail order sound engineering correspondence course?

Thanks a $1,000,000.00 and keep'em comin'

Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008, 02:02 (GMT) Post subject:

Carl: the first thing that is going to help you do well in this business is your attitude. You have one of the most positive, receptive attitudes I've seen appear here.

I won't bother reiterating about the tin-can sound. You know it's there now, now you gotta fix it.

The read isn't particularly BAD, but what it IS is a decent READ. You're reading lines and while you're not reading them badly, you're just reading them. I'm really hesitant to do this, but I'll go ahead and do it, and if I get too much flack from folks I'll delete it; but I'm going to attach the demo I sent in for the same lead. Besides the difference in audio quality, see if you can hear a tad more conversationality in my delivery. Note emphasis given on words that almost cry out for emphasis: "so high", "pounding", "begging", yadda yadda.

Like I said, your read isn't BAD, but there's simply nothing there that makes it stand out from the other 171 auditions this lead received. And to be honest, I don't know that mine stood out that much more. I got 3 stars, but the avg was 2.7 so I was a tad above mid-pack.

When I get a script like this, I actually try to envision the guy I'm talking to. Some guy who is just trying to make ends meet, he's not a bad person, but he's frustrated at not being able to dig out of the debt hole he's in. Once I actually see a FACE attached to the target, it's a lot easier to imagine talking to this guy. Truth be told, I'd ordinarily probably be even MORE conversational than this, but for whatever reason I guess I felt a bit more emphasis was needed.

Take those acting classes, take some VOICE acting lessons, practice, listen to the best of the best, keep up that GREAT attitude, and of course upgrade your audio chain, and you'll probably do well.

Best wishes.

P.S.: You said you do weather for about 40 stations? Interesting! My wife is a 3D animator for the Weather Channel here in Atlanta. You can see a bit of her work on the 'Local on the 8's' but ONLY on the Hi-Def version.

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008, 02:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Wow Scott, that was great info and exactly the kind of feed back I'm looking for.

I'm an improv comedian at heart so reading some of these demos can be painfully boring. I now know from your comments that I just need to dig down a lot deeper to find a character to read (talk) to instead of trying to be a character. I've been studying the demos on website owned by the major players with clients like ABC, FOX and Delta Airlines. I found myself focusing on their voice sounded rather then how they delivered. So now I'll just start over armed with a new prespective.

Attitude is all I have since I haven't made a dime yet. But I'm a glass is always half full guy I just know there's a major contract out there I just haven't gotten it yet.

Thanks again.

PS I'm sort of a weather freak and boy would I love to visit the Weather Channel Studios. I'll check out your wifes art asap.

Frank Cabanski · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 18:20 (GMT) Post subject:

I heard it.

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 20:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Yea, you've gotten way more into the read than I did. I'm almost afraid to make it that intense, but I'll work a few from that angle and see if I get any more bites.

I often find myself thinking I know how a read should go but when I've cut and listen to it I either sound over or under my goal.

It's a work in progress. I've tweaked my EQ and it's a bit bassier now. I've attached a weather forecast I did this morning. It has the same EQ settings as my VO template. If the EQ is closer, too high or too low I'd appreciate it someone would let me know.

I'm trying to get an non-paid part time inter position at a local radio station so I can do the Vulcan Mind Meld on their engineers. I'd take classes at the local tech school but they want way too much money and I'll end up learning stuff I don't need.

Thanks guys.