what do you think?

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

Opinions?

Big Llou Johnson · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006, 13:16 (GMT) Post subject: I enjoyed your demo.. but

if I had to critique it..

A. The first track was fine..it got me to listen to the rest of it.. which is the purpose of the demo.

B. Add more "variety" .. different deliveries.. emotions..etc.

C. Make sure that each cut sounds different from the one preceeding and following...

Overall...you have a very good demo.. I'd concentrate on sending it to everybody and anybody who'll listen..

Break a Legg
Big LLOU

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

Okay, thanks Big Llou. Anyone else?

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

Is this thing on? keine ahnung

Chip Hinshaw · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 65

You might want to work on pacing a bit - maybe shorter clips of each.

As Big Llou said, more variety -- too many of them are the same voice for my taste.

You've got a good voice, I just think you might benefit from some professional direction.

Good start, though! Smile

Scott Nilsen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 231

anyone else?

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006, 02:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Scott... okay, ya got me to listen...

I listened thru twice and made some notes for ya. Let me start by saying I think you have a lot of potential... I honestly do. I think the best place you can start is by recognizing your strengths and focusing on those. More about that in a minute. Let's dissect the demo:

- Overall, it sounds good... for the most part professional sounding. But I could detect a hint of what I thought were 'manufactured spots' in there that I didn't totally believe had actually been done for a client. That's fine. Most demos, especially of newcomers, will have that, but they have to be really, really good.
- The demo is a bit too long. I had trouble staying with it to the end. I didn't time it, but if it's longer than 1:00 - 1:15, it's too long.
- Tighten it up a LOT... there's too much dead space between most of the cuts, ESPECIALLY before and after the Brinks spot. Make the cuts overlap each other, with the next cut pushing the previous one out of the way. Non-stop forward momentum. I found a lot of hesitant pauses in yours (not literally, figuratively), kind of like it was trying to figure out where to go next.
- Opening cut is GREAT. I loved it. Plays to your strength and is a clever damn script. Unfortunately everything else pales somewhat by comparison.
- Your character voices are strong... not overdone. Another of your strengths.
- Lose the following:
- The Wall street Journal spot - It's just dead and you're trying to make your voice do something it doesn't do well... the DEEP 'voice of God' thing. I could tell you were below your register and heard some 'wavering' in your voice. Ditto with the Amtrak spot.
- Lose the NHRA spot. It's just hokey and it's not your strength.
- Definitely lose the phony news promo towards the end. Very weak.
The tahiti spot is on the fence. The way you forced out the word "Tahiti" trying to give it emphasis brought the rest of the spot down.

The Universal studios spot worked well for me.

So here's where I personally see your strengths: Upbeat, energetic, but NOT hard-sell or 'announcer-ish'. Be my buddy while encouraging me to buy something. The character voices are good, but you may find a limited market for them. Not your fault, it just seems to be that way.

Don't worry about trying for the deep, emotive reads. I don't think you're there yet. I think you COULD be, but you'll probably need training, and even then, it won't be a DEEP read cuz your voice simply isn't in that register. But better still, you could get it to being a REAL, EMOTIVE read. I just think you need training on how to really feel a script and bring it to life.

So there you have it. Sorry you asked now? LOL

You'll do well. But practice, learn, edit your demo, recognize your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.

All the best!