60secSPIN - whaddayareckon?

Glade Gordon · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008, 08:31 (GMT) Post subject: 60secSPIN - whaddayareckon?

Love to know what you think about my new general compilation demo.. Smile

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008, 16:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Love your name and your accent. While I realize the power announcer hard sell thing is probably your bread and butter, I think your demo could benefit from a greater injection of your personality -- not so much announcer persona. Got a glimpse of it at the end on that payoff line -- "pointless, really". Less hard sell may broaden your marketability even further. Include some conversational, wry, funny, smart real-guy reads. Maybe a tender dad kind of read, too. (note: tender does not mean schmaltzy)

Also, some of your reads sounded a little sing-song to me. The cadence was too expected. Guess that's typical of the genre you were reading, but it sounds almost like you're doing a charicature of an announcer at times. (the 70's music thing and a movie trailer sounding read you had in there) Let your personality come out more.

Glade Gordon · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008, 06:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Melba, thank you for your response. I do realize that my style is leaning towards the 'larger than life' and as ironic as it sounds, 'natural' guy-next-door reads are the most challenging for me. This is definitely something I want to develop over time as I know there is a huge market for these voices. I have been getting some bites and the scripts seem to be really suited to the the voice demonstrated on my demos so..piano, piano..

Thanks again.

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008, 03:29 (GMT) Post subject: hmmmm

Hi Glade,

Well for starters, everyone here thinks I'm a jerk, so take this all with a grain of salt. First off, I totally thought this was going to be a chick's demo from the name Glade. (See I used the word chick, just to prove I am a jerk) Not such a huge problem, but as with the folks around here both male and female named Jody and so on, it can be an issue down the line. I do think it's a cool name, but it caught me off guard. Of course, when I started in this business there wasn't any other voice talent that had initials - none, let alone any women with initials. Perhaps flipping it around to Gordon Glade. or just using the name Bubbha. Run it by a few people, it may not be any issue, but just something I'd mention, since I was confused.

As for the demo, I can only respond based upon the American market and say that it was a lot about you putting out a voice and far less about making the words come to life, having an emotional commitment to what you were saying or any level of personalization. The last bit on here could have been the best, but it was delivered like you were tossing out a bowling ball and it also got cut off at the end.

To some extent you got my attention and that was strictly due to the accent. I would suggest you could benefit tons by taking improvisational acting and even straight acting training.

Thinking about who you are, why you might come to say the words you are saying, who you are speaking to, what you hope to gain, where the action takes place and so forth will propel you from being a rather pleasant announcer to being able to deliver an impactful read.

And I would agree with Melba there was a bit of the expected as in Monty Pyton and the ubiquitus BBC1 announcer. But you sure can talk pertty. (spoken in best hillbilly)

Good Luck

Diane Havens · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 11:53 (GMT) Post subject:

You're not a jerk, J.S., you just play one on VG -- right?

Glade,

Being the guy-or gal-next-door is perhaps one of the most difficult voices to master, that is, unless you really ARE the guy next door. The thing is you have to be yourself, but sound like everybody else.

Piece of cake.

Glade Gordon · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 17:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for the replies, got a whole pile of demo CDs out in the mail so it's looking like it could be a little late for alterations but I really appreciate the comments. I'm aware now of what I need to develop and I guess you don't stop learning in this business (half the fun!). As cheesy as it may sound I think I am starting to "find my voice" and enjoying it immensely.

Cheers

Gary · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Deby Cedars · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008, 13:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Your voice is warm and serious like a candle. Here in America we have a company called Glade that makes candles and air freshening products. As soon as I saw your name that is what I thought of.

There is nothing "fresh" about your voice though. There is also nothing global about your voice. If your going to market yourself as global... I, as a casting director...... want to hear a 3rd accent. If you added a bright happy cheerful boy next door read for Aussie Shampoo. It could sound "fresh"......If you had one flirtatious boy next door sexy voice it could sound "fresh"

Another thing that bothered me is that when I went to see your voice123 profile, it took me to your personal website.....As some one who is now casting a role you might be right for. I like and expect to see the usual voice123 resume style. One click should be all that it takes for me to find your credits and experience. The work that I am casting right now also requires some one who is not a one or two trick pony. I'm looking for some one who can do character work. Wink

Now that I have given you some constructive ideas....I would appreciate you doing the same with my most recent song demo in the making. You find it in this same critique my demo forum on a different thread. Thanks.

Deby Cedars
debycedrs@yahoo.com

Glade Gordon · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008, 06:51 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks again for the responses. Glade Gordon is (drum roll) my real name and I thought it would make a pretty memorable VO name so I kept it. Although my accent might sound more Aussie than Mick Dundee to some, it's actually relatively neutral for a kangaroo like meeeself. Therefore, I realize now that "the global voice" thing may be misunderstood. I intend to promote myself more in the "euro english" category than having a myriad of flawless accents under my belt.

Deby, I'm sorry that you couldn't link back to my voices123 site as I seem to have misplaced it. The page I set up there was severely outdated and I can't seem to log back into to update it. I am a member of that other dreaded competitor however somehow, I don't think they are going let me link to that.

Anyway, I kind of needed to bite the bullet a bit (hence the 50 demo CDs in the post) and I realize and hope that I will never stop developing my voice over skills. I have finally hit a level of standard that I am happy enough with (trust me, I'm my worst critic) so I felt it was time to take the plunge.

I must admit I was super-content to receive your encouragement Gary, as I love your voice. You manage to encapsulate the audience with a minimum of effort and from what I heard on your demos, the message is always foremost.

Peace