Whats Wrong with my DEMO TAPE ?

Ted Jordan

Hello, my name is Ted Jordan and I am new on this site. I was wondering if someone could give their honest opinion on my demo tape and give me some feedback. I can't seem to win any auditions. Sad

Victor Harris · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 16:51 (GMT) Post subject:

Ted, First let me say, your Hulk Hogan character is freaking dead on!!!!! I actually thought you found a clip of him and added it to the track...lol.

Okay, no doubt your demo needs work. A little draggie at times. Your really want to put together a straight Commercial Demo and with your talent, go ahead and do a Character Demo. They are two different animals.

It sounds like you may be holding back on your voices power. Let it rip. Don't be afraid. Let us hear your natural strength. Spot number one needs a stronger read. Crank up the volume some more during your mixdown. Really practice your reads so they sound more natural before recording. Remember, your demo is your calling card. Wink

Ted Jordan · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 17:39 (GMT) Post subject: Ted's Demo

Just wanted to say thank you for your feedback. I will heed your advise

Anthony Williams · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 19:38 (GMT) Post subject: Ted

Ted,

You do have a real nice texture to your voice. Very Happy

To what Victor said earlier make sure you separate commercial demo and Character demo.

I think you need to make your demo a little bit more live , more upbeat. it seems to be a lot of the same levels in your demo. I suggest start out with more of a live piece and gradually cut in your slower pieces . This will probably get the client excited and want to hear more.

you have a nice voice. you do nice characters. So now its time to spice up that demo by making one that keeps movin!! Cool

Thanks

Tony

Matt Prather · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007, 19:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Ted, I'll second Victor's assessment: the Hulk Hogan thing is downright scary, it's so dead-on!

There are a couple of other spots where it does sound like you might be holding back, and as a result, it can sound as though the vocal placement is heading up into the hard palate and the nasal cavities instead of being a more natural and open placement. (Sort of a George Takei sound, that slightly stuffed-up nasal quality to it, y'know?)

A very practical suggestion that I use with some of the singing groups that I direct: make sure that you're not doing "Pez-head" in an effort to throttle back what is probably a very powerful voice. Pez-head happens when you start to tilt the head back and sort of lunge or reach with the chin --- either in an effort to hit pitches slightly higher than comfortable, or in an effort to achieve a softer and more forward placement. Pez-head will almost always result in that slightly strained and too-nasal quality. Practice placing the voice in various spots and actually feeling the buzz and vibration --- say, on the soft palate, in the masque, in the chest voice, and so on. When you feel the "ping" place, you'll know it --- it'll just feel right!

After that, try a few singer's exercises --- including just whimpering like a puppy --- to expand the range and let you be able to shift from head voice to chest voice effortlessly. Finally, continually practice a good controlled messa di voce, and you'll be unstoppable! Smile

Hope this wasn't too technical or oriented toward singing. The upshot is that I agree with Victor: you've got some great stuff going on, but it sounds "throttled back" in places, and there are ways around that.

Best,
Matt

Ted Jordan · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 03:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Just wanted to thank Matt Prather for that wealth of knowledge I am printing this one out and will begin working on it.

I also want to thank Anthony Williams, it seem like sound logical advice (the order of the demo as you suggested)......

Anthony...I suggest start out with more of a live piece and gradually cut in your slower pieces . This will probably get the client excited and want to hear more.

Ted-I will surly consider this one. Thanks Anthony