LEADS AND READS - WEEK OF 2/11 TO 2/17

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Hey, how about this -- a new thread called GUESS THE RATING!? It could be like our own game show. You post an audition and don't tell your rating , along with the directions -- and then we all try and guess what you got -- complete with the reasons why -- something the seekers don't give us. Educational AND fun, too! (Prizes optional)

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

That would be fun -- as long as we all didn't constantly give each other 5s just to be nice. Cool

September Day Leach · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1526

I know I dont post in this thread often but this is the first thing I've recorded since the trip to the bad place with needles and Jell-O and wanted an opinion. I know I've got a little mouth noise towards the end and it's because I'm still so dehydrated, but otherwise, is it hip and informative?

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

I didn't hear any mouth noise. I say that's a 5.

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

Ember - so glad you are feeling better.

This particular lead said...

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

Ah, you cannot have a full calendar without September.
So good to hear your graceful tones again, Ms. Leach.

I loved the 'from room...to room...to room" ending. That was winning. The rest sounded a trifle sleepy, as if you had just spent an overlong stay at a hospital or something.
I agree with Connie that it might have needed a more confident, energetic interpretation.

You...a five.
The read...a bit less.

Voice Back On!

Travis . · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 55

It's important to remember that a potential client's reaction to your audition often has nothing to do with you.

I've been turned down becuase my voice reminded the casting director of her ex-husband, because I sounded too "nice", because I sounded too much like the talent on one of the client's other spots, and because I sounded like "that guy we used before who was too much trouble!" - And these are from just a few instances where I actually got some feedback.

Anyway, here are some of today's auditions.

September Day Leach · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1526

Thanks Lee, Connie, and Robert! It was just nice to have the mic back again, you know? I can totally hear what you're talking about. The anemia is showing through a good bit. I will really try to get revved up for tomorrow's leads! Thanks for the insight and the "welcome backs". Missed you all Smile

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

Welcome back September...so good to hear your voice again Very Happy

David Bosco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 281

Travis:

I took the cruise to Alaska too, from a different perspective though. Your read was relaxed and made for the recliner, and done very well. I tried for a more awestruck presentation. The instructions pretty much said the VO would be set to music and video, but they weren't specific on what kind of music or the pace of the video. Was it intended to inspire? Relax? Excite? Who knows?

In your audition, you decided to do what I was thinking of doing regarding the three tribes.

" The Inside Passage Alaska is home to Tlingit (pronounced "klingit"), Haida (pronounced Hi` dah). and Tsimshian (pronounced Shim’ shan), Indians whose history is reflected in towering totem poles."

You put the comma and pause after 'Indians' instead of after 'Shim' shan' as the copy was written. I read mine just as it was written and punctuated but it still seems to work, although I think your read is more natural.

"There are five hundred and eighty six thousand miles here, and almost that many possibilities."

586,000 miles? Don't they mean square miles? I read it like you did.

Travis . · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 55

Hi David,

Interesting analysis of the copy. You seem to have a good grasp of copy points and line interpretation. I, on the other hand, don't have a clue.

David Bosco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 281

Travis:

Why the self put-down? It's unwarranted. I never meant to question your abilities, in fact I liked your delivery and phrasing very much. It's entirely possible that the seeker misplaced the comma and they really intended it to be phrased just as you did. No big deal.

Personally, if I was watching a video about Alaska's Inside Passage, I would prefer to hear your style of delivery. I submitted the way I did only becuase I though it would be appealing to the seeker. But, I've been wrong before, 133 times in the last 5 months to be honest.

The seeker still hasn't opened any of the custom auditions for this gig yet, so it's anybody's game.

Good luck! Very Happy

Travis . · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 55

David:

It's not a self put-down. (And I don't see where you could have questioned my abilities.) I used to think I knew how to do voiceover - even considered teaching it for a while.

Today, however, the more VO work I do, the more I realize I don't know what I'm doing. It doesn't bother me though, because I've also found that nobody else in this biz seems to know what they're doing, either. - and I'm making a living and having a good time.

In the past, I heard quite a few well-known people in showbiz express the same thing. -I used to think they were kidding, but now I know they were deadly-serious.

As far as I can tell, William Goldman's famous quote about Showbiz: "Nobody Knows Anything!" is still true and applies to VO as well.

David Bosco · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 281

Travis:

It sounds like you have a healthy attitude not only about VO, but life in general. I had not heard that quote before, but I'm going to keep it in mind. Thanks!

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008, 21:41 (GMT) Post subject:

I had some fun with this one. For "Trivia for Discounts," a TOS lead...