Hi Newbies - Some Advice On Auditions and Getting Started

Anthony Reece

Hi New Talent!

First let me welcome you all to the voice 123 forum and voice over industry. Here at voice 123 you are in good company. Actually in the company of about 3500 voice talents and voice actors from a glance at the dB total on the main page.

I write this post after 4-years with v123 as a talent and casting client too along with 20 plus years in the business as both a voice talent AND voice director / producer. Many beginners I teach and talent I've either trained and/or cast, ask me from time to time, how we pick our finnal voice from many auditions. So I'll share the basis of the audition process from a "client / producer" perspective. However Ill focus merely on the decision making process and not the administrative.

So take this free suggestions from a producer who selects talent during auditions everyday and keep it in mind during your next audition at v123, or anywhere. Just remember to have fun and don't take yourself too seriously, or you'll miss the party along the way.

1) Only Submit the Proper Audition Content!
There is nothing worse as a producer and/or client of v123 than a talent who submits their 'generic demo' for a casting where custom samples are required. This is disrespectful and demonstrates to us producers the talent thinks either they're too important for my little request, OR could care less about the value of the producers time. I can tell you this. Some producers keep those talents in mind the next time around and will skip their names. OUTCOME: Bad for your industry reputation and image with producers.

2) Be Fast!
There is no way a casting director, or producer will listen to 250 plus samples sent in from both v123 and other resources. Leave your email program open and recheck it every 2-mins all day. Castings come in by the minute and most respond within an hour. You do NOT want to be number 249 out of 250 replies as word is the list builds top to bottom at least this is my exp too. OUTCOME: Be honest to the copy, respectful to the client with a proper sample and BE FAST!

3) Don't MLM Yourself!
Hi...I'm Big Bad Bob and my voice is the best in the world. Yes I had an agent but he moved to LA and well I don't have time to call him. Het did I tell you that I can sound like a Martian?........bla bla bla....Slate your audition with a hello and where to reach me...then offer your sampel and/or a demo. Leave the bio stuff to the web site and/or your agent.
OUTCOME: Less is MORE! Just audition with the MLM pitch.

4) To Watermark, or NOT to Watermark?
This shouldn't even "be the question" so to say. See to me and most other professional producers this is RED flag that you are a talent who is both distrusting and/or thinks your short voice sample is the secret to world peace. There are other ways to safeguard your gold winning sample. Like maybe change the name of the business, fade out the file, or better yet just don't audition. You can not start a healthy relationship without trust and if you're already questioning their honesty...next! Also just in case you dont know it. Many producers like to download the final samples (top 10) and place them in the mix, to hear it within the visual and/or animation too. I for one will delete ANY audition that has not followed my script and/or adds those anoying beeps, or clicks to watermark. Not to mention as a talent, it REALLY takes away the focus on your voice quality and/or inflection ability and WILL make or break you from getting the gig if and when placed next to another talent who sent a clean track.
OUTCOME: You Lose!

5 Use Multiple Demos!
There is nothing beneficial to building a new voice demo showcasing various styles of content. It is ok to have a combo demo for general marketing, BUT if you're a real diverse talent, it is wise to create a demo for voice over, telephone, industrial and characters. Then promote all as indvidual demos on your v123 page, cd and/or web site. If a producer is looking for a character actor, he / she could careless about your radio voice, or telephone samples. Keep each demo to about 3:00 if possible and only share clips about 8 - 10 seconds in length in genral. You want the demo to move fast, wow the client over with your range, yet also give just enough to show you can stay in character and/or in "voice" for a full read.
OUTCOME: Don't put all your voices in one basket!

6) Stay the Course!
Take anything and everthing you can get. Freebies, low-do and paid gigs. Use your first year or so to pay your dues, build your reel with the best content you can land, or do for free. Also there is much to be said about hiring a producer to build your demo. Also take a few vo clinics and buy a few self-help vo books here or at amazon.com Like myself, there are even some talent and casting directors whom have been there done that and offer personal mentoring. However just keep in mind, this is not rocketscience either as with any creative talent having the goods, building your demo, continued learning and practice, practice and more practice is key. The it is time to market yourself like a business everyday. Then revisit your demos every few months to update the content with better work. Don't expect to land many of your 50 to 100 gigs but don't give up either. Stay the course as we say, but first right now be totally honest with yourself and admit if you have the goods, or not. You'll know after about one year if your talents are developing and you're landing gigs.
THE OUTCOME:
You can't compete and grow, if you don't play and play with the right demos, tools and about 1,251 auditons per year Laughing

These are just my own opinions wearing my "casting / producers hat" and as a talent. You're welcome to apply these, or flush this post.

Eitherway good luck to you all.
Anthony Reece
http://www.anthonyreece.com/reece/new_vo101.html

Ed Gambill · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 09:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Anthony

I have a thought on trust. When I was activity submitting auditions on V123, I truncated all demos, just because it was faster. Trust is a two way street, when the seeking party needs to hide from talent it does noting to ender trust. With V123 the professional level of the seeker seem to be very amateurish, like some guy wanting a cheep spot for his car wash or telephone system. These are not professional and just as apt to take the audition a run. I and you have seen full length scripts offered up for auditions.

The bulk of you advise is good but its fair to be safe when you don't know who is on the other end. A good friend of mine had a company in Canada use his audition on air, it just happened that another friend in Canada heard the spot and tipped him off. Yea trust is a two way street don’t you think. I say never do the whole script always truncate.

Deby Cedars · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 17:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Ed,
In the music industry people steal music all the time off the internet. If an artist wanted a full song to send to a record label would you advise them to only record the chorus, because if they sent the whole song it might be stolen from them? Theft is a nasty part of both industries. I feel it's better to get the job and then if it is stolen you can call your union or lawyer.

Deby total breit

Ed Gambill · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 18:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Do as you wish. I would use a secure FTP server only if i could not send the file via overnigth curior.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 23:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Three minutes is too long for any demo, especially a category demo. Always, always, always...leave'em wanting more.

A minute is perfect in the world of email and web mp3s since it makes a tidy, quick download of only 1 meg or so.

Besides, you have to catch the ear in the first 8 to 10 seconds or you're deleted anyway.

Anthony Reece · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007, 00:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey guys and gals,

Yea Collin I totally agree brother. You newbie readers, of which were the actual target of this "tips" post (not really meant for voice 123 auditions alone) should NEVER supply a complete audition without considering the watermark idea, OR at the very least, mix the sample with music, etc BUT change the web address, company name, phone number, etc or even fade out the tail of the dialog.

On that note I always save spec mixes as a session in my editing bay just in case the client responds with a yes. Can't tell youi how often this has saved me from recutting and rebuilding mixes from specs.

I've used all options and seem to not see any difference in the response. however, I can say when I produce a spot in full, I seem to get more business and interest, BUT only if the lead does not state DRY voice samples only. (only when I think I have a real good shot at the gig)

Also you are right too Melba, you newbies should NOT supply a full length custom demo, but DO have a both a short generic 60 to 90-sec demo to blow them away with your variety, yet also keep a full length 2 to 3 minute demo on-hand to share as requested, longer samples to showcase you can carry the copy and also stay in character for 7 - 10 seconds per sample.

.....and that's all I's gots ta say about dat...
Anthony

David Oxford

Anthony Reece · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007, 17:08 (GMT) Post subject: more on watemarks...

Hi and thanks for the compliment. Well all vo talent have a different opinion on "watermarking" BUT as a casting director / producer I can see it from both sides of the fence. So as I tell my vo students, it can save you from being ripped off, YET can actually hurt your success too. Thus it is a catch-22.

1) many times clients want to hear the voice sample OVER the music, jingle, video, and/or animated content which it is being mixed within. so in those cases, if the track is WET, meaning mixed over music, or such and the talent did NOT select appropriate music, efx, etc..then it will may not "sound as though" it feels right with the content to the client. truth is, you can place a track over 3 different music beds and the music will make the read sound a little different on each. hope this makes sense...

2) now as a vo talent I can totally relate to "watermarking" spec tracks to prevent people from using it since this is a global market and anyone who is unethical can use it and we'd likely never know. yes, there are wolves in them thar hills...but herein is why it is much wiser to merely fade out the tail of the track, read ONLY a 10-15 secs of the sample, OR change the company name slightly and/or the number.

When you think about it, NO ONE in their right mind is going to create a product with the voice fading out and/or cutting off in the middle of a track, nor use it with the wrong number and/or company name. tha magic here is to pick the RIGHT spot in the sample to fade out. however giving a dry sample DOES allow the seeker the ability to hear your track over their own music / mix.

so as a humble mortal - this is how I see it.
Anthony

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007, 18:18 (GMT) Post subject:

I always say "our company" and 1-800-555-1212. I put music there if it feels right. It's hard for me not to put together a full production since I spent so many years doing that. In this Internet generation I am finding some clients who want the whole thing done for them. I had a good gig recently where I had to find another voice and produce the whole thing myself. It paid very well though and was fun.

Some clients are coming out that haven't done this before and need a total solution.

Sometimes just for the heck of it, I'll give them the whole script read correctly and consider it a "free sample." It's usually some small client and non-broadcast so I figure "what the heck."

Desmond Brown · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007, 23:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Antony for the advice its well recieved check out my demo and please give me any feedback
Cheers