Yet Another Newbie!

Lynda Seminara · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Hi -- I'm new and would love any feedback at all (bad included!) on my demo.

My voice123 web page is http://voice123.com/lyndaseminara.

Commercial demo is attached. Additional demos (Spanish, Medical, etc) can be found on the website.

Thanks a bunch!

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008, 01:57 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi, Lynda. You'll get a few more responses if you post in "Critique My Demo", but I'll give you my $.02. You have a fresh, even-keeled young voice. I really liked your AAA Insurance read (but hated that you faded it out and in a strange place, at that) and your Nesquick. That wry, flat read seems to be your sweet spot. And the Clover Milk I liked -- sounded pretty real. I wanted to like your expressive, animated reads (ie, the Soup and the Chicken spots) but I just didn't. You either don't sound like you're letting go enough so the reads didn't pop as much as I think the script allowed -- or maybe it was just too community theater -- I'm not really sure why I disliked them. Just an interpretive preference, I guess. I don't like your medical narrative -- the even voice sounds bored and like you're just trying to get through the terminology. And I don't buy you doing pharmaceutical disclaimers at all. Your voice just sounds too young, yet. All this is my opinion, so take and chuck it out the window if you want. What isn't just my opinion is that this isn't strictly a commercial reel. You have things on it that are bilingual, voicemail and narrative. Those aren't commercial. And the style on all demos is not to fade clips anymore. Do hard cuts after a phrase, sentence or thought is resolved in the copy. It makes a much cleaner presentation. Nice to e-meet you!

Lynda Seminara · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Dear Melba,

Thanks for your very thorough review and critique. I greatly appreciate your advice and suggestions. Send me the bill!

My demo producer is an old pro but may not be up on all the current trends. I too had heard that fade outs are no longer in! I've asked him to scratch the medical narrative. There's plenty of that in my medical demo. I feel that the Spanish clip is "commercial" enough to stay -- and it demonstrates some versatility.

Thanks again -- very much!