suggestions?

Marilyn Taylor · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 400

I can't believe I'm asking for critic but here goes...this is my 1st attempt at a demo...does anyone have any ideas on how to make it better? careful...I'm sensitive... Confused

but ernest, thanks, Marilyn Taylor

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Here is my critique. I think you have a very nice voice. Easy to listen do with good range. I would maybe add a higher energy piece to the beginning of the demo and try to smooth out the transitions between pieces. Some of them are a little choppy.

Take what I say with a grain of salt. I am a learning amatuer. But I think I have a good ear.

George L. Karnes II
g2 sound productions
gkarnes@tds.net

Marilyn Taylor · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 400

Thanks George, I appreciate the time you took to listen. I will definatley smooth out the transitions but I always thought you whould put your strenths forward, mine is not the high energy, but the smooth, soft sell. What do you think? Thanks again, Marilyn

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007, 23:18 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Marilyn, here are my impressions:

- I absolutely don't like the 'mmmmm' to open your demo. Not sure why, it just seems really, really weak to me.
- The demo is a good length and the clips you have on it are about the right length.
- But to be honest with you, I'm underwhelmed...

The quality of the demo seems a bit muted, muddy to me. You don't show any range at all. Every one of your reads sounds exactly like the one before and after it. You have a pleasant enough voice, but so do a million other people out there. What you lack, that you'll HAVE to attain in order to make it in v/o, is breathing LIFE into your reads. (How many times have I written that on these forums? Think I'll need to start copying and pasting it). Don't get me wrong... you have some sort of 'emphasis' going in within each read, but I never once believed it. It sounds manufactured, as if you're emphasizing certain words or sentences merely to do so, but not because there's any real REASON to. I know, that sounds extremely abstract. I began to feel an up-and-down rhythm to your reads that almost became metronome-like.

Start here: Go listen to demos by Amy Snivley, Julie Williams, Phyllis K. Day, Connie Terwilliger, just to name a few of the top female talents here. Listen to the variety, the emphasis on certain points of the copy that are done for a reason, poignant pauses, the earnestness of the reads, the connection they make with the listener.

All very fine points, very difficult to learn and master. But that's what you're going to have to do to make it. As it is your reads are just that... a read.

I offer this as an honest assessment meant to help you and hope you'll take it in the vein in which it's intended.

All the best.

Marilyn Taylor · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 400

Scott, I can't tell you how much your honest assessment means. It's hard to get that from people who know (and Love) you. I will do as you suggested and 'listen' to those accomplished talents...maybe I'll get 'it' by spending more time listening. Thanks again, Marilyn Taylor