Production houses and how they make you sound

Dave Cash

I know of a voice talent in my local city that does VO work alot and all over the country. They are a pretty large talent and have done spots on a national scale.

As a production person at a local radio station, I often dub in some of this talent's spots but the other day I put one in that was absolutely awful!

I know this person did not do this as they just do straight reads with no edits or effects (both were on this finished spot). It was sent to us (station) dry, so with no music under the talent, it sounded even worse (levels off and choppy edits).

As a voice talent, your name and image is on the line. When people hear commercials they don't think in terms of production houses producing the spot as much as the talent that is reading the spot.

I know the client gets what they want because it is their money. But, how would you feel if you thought you were an exceptional voice talent that did a good read but the production house made you sound like crap by hacking your read?

Erik Sheppard

Ed White · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008, 18:13 (GMT) Post subject: quality

I was just over at V.com checking what had come in today, and I saw a lead (quite a simple read) and to my amazement the last line in the seeker's instructions were:

" Please make sure your samples are audible."

I guess this is a hypothetical question, but how many members submit inaudible auditions? I've never seen those instructions before. I also just read many praises to the talents that have submitted auditions in "THE BUZZ" column. I can't see why someone needs to make a comment like that unless he's been getting a lot of crap in his mailbox, if he's been so dissapointed, why is he back?

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008, 20:32 (GMT) Post subject: Re: quality