Demos

S L · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

Thank you

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008, 01:42 (GMT) Post subject:

Just a quick listen to each here's some stuff you might want to look at:

Commercial:
-- slate not necessary (but if you have an agent who insists, keep it, of course)
-- take out Lotto disclaimer; it adds nothing
-- take out Lenscrafters opening phrase and pick it up at "our unconditional guarantee"
-- take out the Charlotte's Web spot
Overall it's a little long; you can tighten it and shorten it'll be more listenable. Just for giggles, see if you can make it a minute. That makes a neat little package and leaves'em wanting more.

You have a good tone and warm, accessible voice with some nice range. But do I hear smacking? Some mouth noise? Make sure you're hydrated. Try Entertainer's Secret.

The character reel is pretty good. I'd take out that "don't fuss" at the end. It doesn't seem to convey a picture of a character (to me, at least) and kind of ends it with a thud.

All of this is just my opinion...no gospel here.

Jenna Sharpe · **Voice Talent** Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

Hi Samara

Here is my feedback on your demos Smile

Character:

Didn't get much out of the Oracle clip may be too much flanger for a demo. Well I liked it until the 'what is it you seek from the Oracle part.

The Gloria clip. If you want to keep the line, really think about what kind of character would say it. I'd play up the accent and really milk the 'GLLLLLOOOORIIIIAAAAAAA' ... think of yourself as Gloria, you are with your friends and it is your mum or granny calling you in for dinner. what kind of voice would really really embarass you in front of your mates! That's what you need to make the clip stand out.

Really liked the 'Mrs Peterson', 'run a mile', 'destroy the computer files' and the 'last chance' clips

I agree with Melba, lose the Don't Fuss. No idea what this is in there for.

You could even make this longer buy including more emotional range such as angry, sad, serious, hysterical, sarcastic, shallow... anything just to break it up a bit really and show off your range.

Commercial:

I thought they were good but there were maybe a few too many character voices in the commercial demo (Fast food and ATM). Although I liked them I can't really visualize which companies would need these voices to advertise their product. I could be wrong about this though.

Although Melba says remove it, I quite liked the Charlotte's Webb spott as it showed a more softer, smoother voice and the read was good. I'd take out the hiphop one if any as it is too monotone.

The Pantene Pro V one is again maybe a little low and monotone and sounds like you are a tad disinterested in the product. But the lines and the background music were good so it would be easy to redo it. I think it stuck out because the rest of your reads had more energy.

Overall I like the fact that your voice isn't too hyperactive and 'salesy' (new word?) and it sounds very down to earth and trustworthy. I don't think I prefer one of your demos over the other which is maybe a good thing because it shows you have the potential to do both markets.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008, 12:21 (GMT) Post subject:

Samara -- regarding some of the above info from Jenna:

The Pantene read (or something like it) should be there. It may seem too monotone to a British ear, but it's a marketable sound (and sought after) in the US. The Charlotte's Web spot -- not so much. Sounds too precious. If you want to do that feel, a serious medical is the better choice without so much drama. And character voices are used in commercial reads a great deal in the US. That's what many of my jobs are.

It's an art, but it's also a business.

David Bosco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 281

Samara,

Really liked the Character Demo and as short and sweet as it was, it did leave me wanting more. Only a couple of small changes to suggest. Jenna's thought of revoicing the GLLLOOORRRIIIAA is good. But it comes too soon after 'Mrs. Peterson' and the voices sound too similar. Yes, get rid of 'don't fuss' I think you might be able to pull one in from the commercial demo. A snippet of 'Nearly Bankrupt' or 'Fast Food' (or both) would do well in the Character Demo. On the re-do, add something wild, silly, angry after 'nearly bankrupt'

I'd run them like this:

Mrs. Peterson
Oracle
Nearly Bankrupt
(wild, silly, or angry or all three together!)
Run a Mile
Gloria (retake)
Press1, Press2
Last Chance

On the Commercial Demo, there's a lot there that sounded similar to me. Pantene and Lenscrafters: keep one or the other, not both. The XM kind of drags, that can go. I thought Charlotte's Webb was alright, maybe not Momsy enough. ATM is a no go

Here's how I'd run them:

Sprint PCS
Lottery
Pantene
Fast Food
Best Buy
Bank
Charolette's Web

Samara, your voice is very pleasant and even tempered when it needs to be and expressive when the character calls for it. I'd really like to hear you blow the lid off the studio with something wild/silly/angry in the Character Demo. Let it all hang out and get back to us with a revamp soon.

David