Santa Clarita Magazine readers continue to send in pertinent questions about the voice-acting business. This is the second part of my answer regarding voice-over demos:
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., Santa Clarita, CA
A: There are many things to consider and remember before plunging into the project that will be your audio calling card, help you find an agent, introduce you to casting directors and producers, and help get you work – providing you have achieved proficiency in voice acting. Here are a few more to ensure a successful outcome:
Find an affordable digital studio (with a good SFX and music library) with an engineer and/or director/producer who has a good reputation for creating and directing voice-over talent and demos.
Make sure that your demo shows off your signature voice or your money voice, so listeners can get a reference as to what you really sound like. Your demo should showcase various shades of you, not different character voices. Save those for your animation demo.
Make sure to record enough material to cover 60 seconds in length. Pick material that shows your range, is nationally-branded, and is somewhat current and commercial, i.e., categories that are on the air all the time, like department stores, automotive, banking, etc. Make sure you have commercial elements on your commercial demo—not promos, trailers, narrations or anything else that could be construed as anything other than a commercial. Use between 5-15 second segments, no longer. And make sure you mention the name of the product or service in the V-O “elements.”
I hope this information helps. I’ll have more tips next month. Good luck!
Marc Cashman creates and produces copy and music advertising for radio and television. Winner of over 150 advertising awards, he also instructs voice acting of all levels through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques in Los Angeles, California. He can be contacted at cashcomm@earthlink.net or his website, www.cashmancommercials.com.