I’m always getting terrific questions from Santa Clarita Magazine readers about the voice-acting business. Here’s one regarding voice-over demos, which I’ll answer (because there’s a lot to this question) over the next few months:
Q: I’ve voiced a number of commercials, and think I’m ready to make a demo. But do I really need to? Any suggestions as to how to go about it? – Roberta K. of Santa Clarita.
A: Roberta, whether you’re a working professional or just starting out, every voice actor needs a good demo to get work. The purpose of a demo is to show talent buyers what you can do, not necessarily what you have done. Your producer should be someone who has been producing voiceover demos for years and knows what producers and talent buyers are looking for. Your voiceover demo needs to demonstrate your versatility and variety as a performer. A dry sampling of your voice simply won’t do it. Your demo needs to represent, as realistically as possible, what you sound like in a real production. Your demo will be heard either before or after demos from voice artists who have possibly been doing this a lot longer than you, and your demo needs to be as good or better than theirs.
Ask a lot of questions to the person or company you are considering to handle production of your demo. Ask to listen to samples of voice demos they’ve produced for other actors. See if there are any testimonials posted on their website. Compare prices among demo producers in your area, and get a breakdown of what is included. If a demo producer promises exposure to agents or talent buyers, or makes any guarantees of work after your demo is completed, be wary. As a voice actor, you are ultimately going to be responsible for your own marketing and promotion. Although some producers may offer demo showcases, sometimes they come with a price tag attached. Any concrete promises made should be viewed as a “red flag.”
I hope this information helps. I’ll have more to add regarding your question next month. Good luck!
For more information, Marc Cashman can be contacted at cashcomm@earthlink.net or through his website, www.cashmancommercials.com .