Is my "professional" demo a stinker?

Mark Hall · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

I've been suplimenting my theater work with the occasional VO gig for years now. Almost two years ago I decided I wanted to focus more on the VO area, so I attended several seminars given by local professionals (people who've been making a living doing vo work in a major market).

I paid one of these professionals to help me create a top notch demo. Since doing that, however, I've still gotten the occasional job by reputation, but my demo hasn't brought me anything.

Is my "professional" demo a stinker? Too slow, too busy, too low key? Can it be fixed or should I junk it and start over?

Please, tell me what you think. I really want to make this work.

Chip Hinshaw · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 65

I'd suggest going to the talent roster on the websites of some of the top agencies to hear the demos there and then compare them to what you have.

I hope I don't sound like a jerk, but your demo could use some polish. There are too many spots, I feel, that are similarly paced, the same energy level, and really the same voice. A demo should showcase the versatility of your voice, and I don't think your current reel quite does that.

Paxton Greene · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 91

Hey Mark!

I'm going to give it to you straight since you asked. I'm talking to you from the producer point of view right now, and not the VO. Shorten this demo. Shouldn't be more than :60. Any good audio engineer should steer you that way. Also, some of the spots on this demo (Starbucks, Lotus) I could tell they were not the actual spots. The music used was grabbed off of a music database website that your engineer just plugged in. Am I wrong? The first spot on this demo really needs to grab the client. I'd suggest using something higher energy that really will take hold of my attention span.
Now, from the VO point of view. You've got a good voice, but use what you have. The British accent wasn't very authentic. I'd suggest putting some upbeat pieces on your demo, some more serious reads, and lastly maybe an informational piece.
I hope you don't think I'm being a jerk, but I wanted to be honest. Demos are pricey. You shouldn't pay X amount of dollars for something that is half donkey. Best to you Mark.

Paxton Greene

Michael Minetree

Mark Hall · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

I don't know what all the implications are for coming out and naming my "Master Producer", but I will say she is in the Dallas market and conducts seminars at El Centro college.

LTBB

Mark

Michael Minetree · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006, 21:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Does her name begin with a B?
You are welcome to email me your answer..

There's no reason to call Matlock on this one.. I now know the answer..
I am sorry that this type of thing happens to a lot of people all the time.. I dont know how people continue to exist sometimes..

There are several articles and podcasts on my site dealing with this very issue.

Michael Minetree
MineWurx Studio
www.minewurx.com

Mark Hall · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

This is good stuff and I'm taking it all in. Tell me what you think.

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

Mark:
Since we're being brutally honest here, I would also send the villagers to pay a torch-lit visit to your sound person. Methinks there was even some clipping at a coupl'a spots.
More specifically, there are way too many snippets here, and you open with the dullest of the bunch. To my ears, you also seem to swallow some words with that theatric, Vincent Price sound of yours.
The Lotus and Moses spots are truly YOU, and you should gravitate towards that sort of cartoony, role-playing spot. Leave the straight old reads to straight old pipes and Go For the Gusto.
In fact, give animation a big push would be my overall suggestion.
You got that great playfulness,
Robert

Michael Minetree · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006, 15:50 (GMT) Post subject:

I just sent you a rather lengthy e-mail.. Hopefully you get it.. I am glad that you can see some of the differences in how I do things compared to others.. Thank you..

Michael Minetree
MineWurx Studio
www.minewurx.com

Julie Williams · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 168

Hi Mark,

Wow. What did you pay for the demo? Not your fault, but there's nothing on that demo that would compel me to hire you.

Please don't be discouraged by that. It's not to say that you have no potential. I actually hired someone to do a demo for me when I was in the biz for 15 years (I don't mind telling you... it was Michael David McGuire) and I had to totally redo it...after $750!

But, here's some good news for you... Bob Magruder is in Dallas, and he can help you get a great demo together. He also gives workshops --in fact, he and I have given them together! HE teaches some of the keyu points that I also teach... ie. how to COLOR your words... and other forms of emphasis. I think you'll find him under Magruder Media in the yellow pages, or contact the Campbell Agency. His office is right upstairs from theirs on Lemmon in Dallas.

As for your delivery, I felt it sounded fake, I didn't feel it sounded sincere at all... and I was thinking about how you werew a theater person as I listened to it... all I could think was... You know how on stage you have to "make it big?" Well, in VO... make it small!

Good Luck, Mark. You CAN do this. You just need some professionals in your corner.

Best of Luck and God Bless!
Julie Williams
www.voice-overs.com

PS. "B" really is a nice person who means well. But be sure to check and see if the people that you hire make more teaching/producing demos than in VO... If so... they will give you a great technical peace of useless audio. You need someone (like Magruder) who knows VO AND what a great professional demo should sound like. I do workshops in San Antonio... but only every 18 months or so (I'm on west coast) If you want to be on my email list for next time...just email julie@voice-overs.com. But I have no workshops scheduled at this time... and none in forseeable future. So contact BobM!