Voice over studio recommendations

Van Ebert · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 3

I live in Iowa and am looking for any recommendations for a studio to use to produce my first professional demo. The most prevalent studio in Iowa that I've found in my online searches is Metro Studios in Cedar Rapids. However they're a studio that promotes themselves as a music recording/radio and television commercial/corporate presentation/voice over studio. I'd much rather use an exclusive spoken word studio but I can't find that here in Iowa. Metro Studios may be just fine. I don't know. If anyone has any Iowa studio recommendations please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008, 04:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Van, I can't offer any help in terms of where you should go to have a demo made, but I'm going to give you the most valuable information you'll get on this board and tell you WHEN to have your demo made:

Not yet.

I'm being honest and sincere. I listened to the one demo on your page and read that you are 'self trained' in the art of voice over.

If you haven't read the sticky at the top of this forum labeled "Random Thoughts for Newcomers", you must.

You're not ready for a demo. And that's okay. What you need before you get the prize, is to put in the legwork. You need training and practice. If you choose to go ahead and get a demo done now, fine, it's your dollar. But you won't have a demo that will get you any jobs, I don't think (unless the one on your V123 page is quite old and you've gotten some training and taken classes in the interim).

Be patient. Do the prep work. Get the training. Get feedback. Practice. Get more training and more practice. Then get the demo when you're ready. This really IS a real business - a TOUGH business - where only the strongest survive and you need ALL the tools to go into battle.

I wish you all the best!

Bob Bergen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 224

Deby Cedars · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1482

Van I'm not joking....but have you ever thought of modeling? Find a modeling agency. I was way more impressed with your biceps than your voice. If you do well at a local agency they should have some ideas of where locally to take some on camera acting classes.....

That's how I started even though I'm 5'2. I can't do it anymore ( my butt got too big) I bet you could look really GQ in the right clothing. Let's face it sweetheart you just DON'T have a face for radio. strichauge

Nor the training at this point.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008, 01:23 (GMT) Post subject:

Y'know, I'd have to agree with Deby. I've done some on-camera stuff in the past, but quit after wearing out from the constant driving to auditions. But Van, you DO look like you might do well in print or in front of the camera. You might want to give that a shot.

Van Ebert · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 3

I appreciate your advice Bob, Deby and Scott. Obviously I'm getting advice from some accomplished voice talents from what I've seen on your websites. I read the sticky in the Newbies section and took it to heart. I know nothing is given away in this business so I'm prepared to do what I need to take it. Training, practicing, training and more training is exactly what I will do. I have no illusions that the demo I have on my V123 site is suitable in any way. I slapped it up on my site real quick but I've deleted it because it doesn't reflect how I want people to hear me. I've toyed with the idea of modeling before but ultimately I know I don't have the passion for it like I do for voice over. As a result I'm sure I probably would get tired of driving around to auditions pretty quick. Again thanks to all of you.