2 studio hours,cold read,no training;has Britain got talent?

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I'm thinking of laying out some serious dosh for a better demo. This one is my only experience in a studio. It took two hours including reading (as it was being written) the script for the first time. Since then I have taken a voice over class and an acting class. I welcome some insight as to how much more training I should invest in before paying for a higher quality demo.
Thank you
Paul
P.S I will always be learning!

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008, 05:04 (GMT) Post subject:

How much? In my opinion, lots.

Here's my take on it:

Clip one -- actually kind of zany and interesting, good energy, fun character.

Clip two -- You sound like you don't care and you seem to pronounce Jaguar two different ways -- I would pick one and stick with it, at least within the same spot.

Clip three -- community theatre. You have those there? I spent a week one night at Noises Off. Anyway, community theatre should be left in the community and not brought into the studio.

Clip four -- again, you sound like you just couldn't possibly care less; like you're a 9-year-old boy whose mother dragged you to the mic under great duress to recite at some family reunion.

So to sum up: if you want to do straight VO, you've got a lot of work to do, and I'm not sure I hear the seed of narrative in you at all. But if you want to focus on character voice, you might book something someday. Start with what you're good at and don't try to be all things. Some people can "do it all", more or less, some are simply character, others are simply straight. Get thee to a quality acting or improv class. Start there. Develop characters without worrying about dialects, first. Have fun.

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Thank you Melba for your directness; it's precisely what I was hoping for. The demo was my first attempt and you have helped to confirm my suspicions. Since then I have committed to training with a respectable vocal couch, taking an acting class and I am currently part of an acting workshop at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Also I am a volunteer reader for for Recording Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) which I hope will help to find the narrative in me. I will strive to find more training and wait for an experienced professional to tell me when I am ready to try making my demo again.
Respectfully,
Paul

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008, 14:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Further develop your ear while you develop your voice; and don't let anybody ever blow sunshine up your skirt just because you're British in the southern US or to get $$ out of you for those "make millions doing VO" workshops. But if you develop a very critical ear, it'll go along way toward helping you determine yourself when it won't be fruitless to spend money on a demo.

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I have already felt more than one of those gusts but I'm well grounded. It's too late to say "don't quit your day job," because if I hadn't then I wouldn't be fully committed. However, I have set reasonable goals and I am determined to achieve them.
The more I learn about this business then the more I am awed by a person's ability to be successful in it.
Thank you again for the advice; it has not fallen on deaf ears.

Jodi Krangle · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 65

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I'd add a 'sense' of community helps too; amazing how there's all these 'folks' willing to correspond and share insight (you included, of course). I've never felt like there was an on-line group to which I belonged.
Cheers!

Jodi Krangle · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 65

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I just visited your website and I am truly impressed. Gosh it seems I have a long, long road to travel but throw a dog a bone and he'll love it. That's the way this feels, like I've found a long lost bone and I'm not going to give it up again!

Jodi Krangle · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 65

Thanks for having a look, Paul. Website promotion is something I've been doing for the last 12 years (getting out of it to get into *this*. Very Happy

) so that, I do know something about. Wink

It's the VO stuff I need to work on. (And it's a constant process!)

I'm more of a singer than an actor - though as Lee pointed out (and as I mention on the front page of my website), the two are related. Vocal *tones* aren't a problem for me. It's connecting with the material that can sometimes be a challenge - and I need acting classes for that. Luckily, I have no shortage of imagination. That should at least help a little. Wink

Are you planning on putting a website together? (Or do you have one already?)

Paul Reynolds · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

I thought your VO samples were terrific (dare I say 'inspiring) but I have only my opinion (which I rate highly!) to back that up. I think the descriptions of your voice are accurate, there's a lot of warmth there.

I have a friend working on a basic web site but it's going to be...basic. He's just starting to make them and so we have agreed to trade site for VO (when he needs one) so I have to at the least supply him with one of equal quality.

I totally agree about the necessary "connection" with the material, I concentrate so hard on getting my voice 'right' I become abstracted from what I am saying.
Fortunately I have joined an acting class at Actors Theatre of Louisville and it is drawing me into a world I barely knew existed within the words.

By the way, I'm scared of musicals!

Jodi Krangle · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 65