[Voice Over] Your Voice-over Demo. Are You Ready?

Voice-Over Special Edition #6

~ Your Voice-over Demo. Are You Ready? ~

In This Issue

Feature Article - Your Voice-over Demo. Are You Ready?

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Greetings!

Maxine and Patrick Fraley at black tie event

Max and Pat Fraley at Voice International black tie event. Patrick of course being the most incredible voice-over talent AND voice-over coach on the planet!

I want to send out a warm welcome to all my new subscribers! I'm just thrilled that there are so many fellow voice actors here - newcomers to the business as well as veteran voice-over artists. Welcome! We're so lucky to do what we do (or what you're about to do, if you're a beginner!) and I'm so pleased to connect with you here.

No matter where you are in your voice-over career, I think you'll find that one of the most exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding things you will be called upon to do is to create your voice-over demo(s). Or to update an existing demo. It never gets old! It's exciting and fun and really makes you take a good look at where you are in your career.

When new subscribers opt in for my newsletter, there is an (optional) box you can fill in where I encourage you to ask a question about voice-overs. I've received many different questions, but a recurring question I regularly receive surrounds the theme of voice-over demos, and particularly from those of you very new to the business who are thinking of making your first demo.

I thought for this week's Voice-over Special Edition it would be helpful to address a number of the popular questions I receive about demos, and to write them in a "Q & A" format.

As always I encourage your questions, suggestions, and comments and feel free to contact me by simply clicking "reply" to this newsletter.

Wishing you blessings and success!

Maxine

P.S. A little about me: Although I'm a voice-over artist and on-camera spokesperson by trade, during my 25-plus years in the business I've also become a very savvy solopreneur. I know what it takes to start and grow a business, maintain an imaginative and creative mind-set, create lasting client relationships and, most importantly, thoroughly enjoy the whole process.

If you'd like to learn about how I got started in voice-over and read my extended bio, please visit the "Meet Maxine" page on my website by clicking HERE.

Feature Article

Your Voice-over Demo. Are You Ready?
by Maxine Dunn

I'd like to congratulate you! If you're about to embark upon the project of creating a voice-over demo, bravo! It means you're serious about this and are taking the next, very important step.

You'll find that one of the most exciting and transformative events in your voice-over career will be when you create your first demo. And I can also say from the viewpoint of someone who has made many demos over the years, even if you're creating your seventh demo, it's ALWAYS exciting, challenging, and fun!

I've received a number of recurring voice-over questions on this topic so I thought it would be helpful to share them here. If you're a voice actor just starting out on your career and haven't created a voice-over demo yet, this article will answer some of your questions.

What exactly is a "voice-over demo?"

A voice-over demo is a compilation of snippets of audio recordings of your voice. It's your resume/portfolio - only in audio form. By "snippets" I mean you will only be using a small segment of a "spot" or recorded piece. For example, you would only use perhaps :07 seconds of a :30 second commercial, not the whole thing.

Your voice-over demo's purpose is to allow clients and/or agents to assess whether they'd like you to audition for a project or whether they'd like to book you for a project. Your voice-over demo will demonstrate your voice and your voice acting abilities.

There are as many types of voice-over demos as there are "genres" of voice-overs, or voice-over niches.

Here are some examples of voice-over and demo niches:

Commercials for radio and television
Documentary narration
Animation and cartoons
Audiobooks
Radio imaging
eLearning
Corporate narration

I recommend starting with one or two demos. Typically a commercial demo and a narration demo are a good way to begin. Although you want each demo to be "niched," that is, appeal to a specific genre of voice-over, you should showcase a range of ability WITHIN that niche.

When should I make my first voice-over demo?

It's very important not to make your voice-over demo until you're ready. And by "ready" I mean not only having significant voice-over training under your belt, but that you're able to create believable recordings and are well aware of microphone technique and recording studio etiquette. Make sure your demo is the best it can possibly be and make certain you can easily duplicate anything that's on your demo, in a recording studio.

With the digital audio editing that's available now, it's possible to create a demo that makes you sound much more skilled than you are. The danger of creating a demo that exhibits an "enhanced" skill level (the audio engineer can remove mouth noise, loud breaths, mistakes, etc.) is that if you get booked for a job off that demo, you won't be able to reproduce that level of ability. Don't misrepresent your abilities with a highly processed and digitally enhanced demo. Again, make sure you can re-create any abilities showcased on your demo, in the recording studio.

How long should a demo be and how many spots or audio snippets should be on it?

The current trend in demos is: Short! Some years ago a voice-over demo could be two or more minutes long and be considered acceptable. As of this writing (June 2011) :60 - :90 seconds is the desirable length.

Anywhere from five to ten short snippets or "spots" on a demo is best, with varying lengths from :04 to :12 seconds long. For audiobook and narration demos the spots can be longer - up to :25 seconds long. You'll want your demo to move along quickly with no silence, "fade outs," or "fade ins" in between the spots. You should have each spot butted right up to the spot in front of it, and the spot after it. Using "cross-fades" in between spots is a popular technique that works well. A cross-fade means that just as one spot is finishing, the next spot overlaps and starts at the same time so there's no awkward silence in between the spots.

The clients and talent buyers who are listening to your demo are typically very busy and in a hurry, so make sure your voice-over demo moves along quickly.

How do I decide what kinds of spots to put on my demo?

Your voice-over coach will be able to guide you in choosing which spots to put on your demos. However before you decide to create your first voice-over demo, I recommend listening regularly to television, radio, corporate narrations, audiobooks and animation, etc. to discover what kinds of products or services use YOUR kind of voice. Do some homework on your own. Matching your sound with the right voice-over niche (coupled with your acting ability) will greatly enhance your voice-over success. For example if you are a woman and have a squeaky, quirky sound, your voice might be well-suited for animation, whereas if you are a man with a deep, gravelly voice, you may be more well-suited for movie trailers. I also recommend using spots on your demos that represent products or services that you LIKE. Don't put something on your demo that you do not like.

How can I create a demo of commercials and narrations, etc., when I haven't done any voice-over jobs yet?

When you're just starting out in voice-overs and haven't done any jobs yet, you won't have any "real" work to create a demo with. (Unless perhaps you've been working as a radio announcer and may have some useable work.)

So, what to do? You "create" commercials and narrations or character/animation pieces from scratch and make them sound exactly like a fully produced, finished piece. What you'll need to do is create a demo comprised of "fake" spots that sound absolutely professional and real: as if they're commercials and narrations or character voices that you voiced for actual jobs.

Don't worry, your voice-over coach and the recording studio where you record your first demo will help you every step of the way, so don't feel overwhelmed by this idea.

When you're working with a coach (you better be!) whether you're learning in-person or learning via teleclasses, your coach will help you select scripts for your voice-over demo that will be appropriate for you. Your coach will also help you with direction in the studio (either in person or via telephone) on the spots you agree upon for your demo.

Where do I record my voice-over demo?

I highly recommend recording your demo in a professional recording studio. I don't recommend recording your demo yourself unless you are an experienced sound engineer and voice actor. I suggest calling the professional recording studios in your area to find out which ones are well-versed in recording voice-over demos.

How much will it cost to record a voice-over demo?

As with starting any new business, your voice-over business will require some investment and an important part of that investment will be your voice-over demo. Many coaching programs now include the cost of recording and producing a voice-over demo with their voice-over training. However if you're recording your demo à la carte (on your own, at a professional studio) you can expect to pay between $400 - $1000 for a finished demo. This is a ballpark figure and depending upon which recording studio you choose, the price can be considerably higher. Many recording studios offer package pricing for voice-over demos or offer lower studio fees "after hours," for example between 6 - 10 pm.

When hiring a recording studio to record your demo, make sure you get crystal clear pricing (in writing) on what the session will include and if there are any add-on fees for adding music or sound effects, or correcting or changing things on your demo if you're not happy with it. Also, the more prepared you are for your demo recording session - well-hydrated, well-rested, and well-coached with scripts well-rehearsed - the more smoothly your demo recording session will go.

Once my demo is finished, how do I send it to potential clients?

Here are several ways to convey your voice-over demos to clients:

Store your demos on the hard drive of your computer as MP3 files that you can send to prospective clients (ask first!) as an attachment to an email.

Have your demos available on your website to listen to instantly as streaming audio.

Have your demos available on your website to download as an MP3.

Put your demo(s) on a CD so you can mail them to clients and give them out in person.

Recording your first voice-over demo will be one of the most challenging projects in your early voice-over career, but also one of the most fun! You're on your way. So learn as much as you can about the process, be informed, and remember to enjoy every step of this amazing journey you're on.

* * * * *

About Maxine

Maxine Dunn is a top voice-over artist and on-camera spokesperson who maintains an extensive clientele, locally, nationally, and internationally.

She is the author of the forthcoming eBook, "The Voice Actor's Tool Box - Beginner's Edition: Get started in your voice-over career with these step-by-step, low-cost strategies."

Includes tons of great step-by-step, how-to strategies for:

getting started from scratch
finding a great coach or training program
creating your first demo
setting your fees
marketing & building great client relationships
maintaining a success mindset, (and much more!)

Her eBook also includes bonus templates and helpful checklists for goal-setting, scripts for calling new clients and asking for referrals, sample voice-over invoices, and more, as well as Maxine's indispensable Resource Rolodex to supply you with lots of valuable resources to get you on your way.

Maxine is also a featured contributor to the 4th Edition release of James Alburger's phenomenal book, "The Art of Voice Acting."

While Maxine is best known for her voice-over and spokesperson expertise, she is also an avid writer who enjoys bringing stimulating and motivating material to her readers.

Subscribe to her free weekly e-zine "The Creative Business Advisor" for savvy voice actors and entrepreneurs by clicking the sign-up box below or opt-in AT HER WEBSITE. (Opt-in box is in the upper right of each page.)

A subscription to Maxine's e-zine also includes her outstanding free audio mini-course, "7 Surprisingly Simple Strategies to Get You on the Road to Success, Right Now!" A 7-day series of mini (3-5 minute) audio lessons narrated by Maxine, showcasing her personal step-by-step strategies for business success.

The greatest compliment you could give me if you like my e-zine is to pass on this issue to your friends and associates! Just keep the entire issue intact and unaltered please. Better yet use the link at the very bottom of the newsletter to send it on. Thanks! Maxine

ISSN # 2150-8453

VO Special Edition #6 June 27, 2011

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