LEADS AND READS - WEEK OF 2/18 TO 2/24

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

Has anyone else gotten an invite for a "Dial for Men" spec commercial? ("Dial", as in the deodorant - not "dialing for men.")

Here's the info in the lead:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a Spec Commercial for Dial for Men.
Seeking non-union talent looking to build their reels, which is also the purpose of the spec for the filmmakers.
This is a non-paying gig. If artist lives in NYC we can provide recording space in a studio.

Voice should be similar to "manly" voice used in real commercial on the Dial for Men website - http://www.dialformen.com/d4m/dfm.html (click on picture of TV in upper lefthand corner)

Deep, gruff, manly...funny!

Here is the link to the actual spec spot - http://www.paulsfrank.com/dial/dial_30.mov

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Has anyone here ever gotten an invite (Smartcast or otherwise) wherein they were looking for spec work for no pay? Is this common in legitimate situations? I ask because I'm ignorant about it and don't want to be (a) unreasonably suspicious, or (b) incredibly naive.

David

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

David O:

I haven't seen the Dial Soap for Men thing for a free spec or otherwise. You have nothing to lose by sending in an audition, far as I can tell.

Unfortunatley, I don't do 'deep, gruff, manly' very well, so I'd stay away from it anyway.

My specialty is voicing Psycotic Cats on Alaskan Cruises. Rolling Eyes

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

Okay, I'll play -
This is for "1956 Tornado Documentary"...

Erik Sheppard · **Voice Talent** Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1317

Nice work Karen. That lead just closed on me.

Victor Harris · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008, 23:37 (GMT) Post subject:

Well, I can't remember the last time I posted anything here. So, here goes! Did these the last couple days. Got 5 and 4 ratings. I don't get on V123 much anymore. I will be more often.

Oh yea, hello to everyone! Hope everyone has a good VO year! Wink

Victor Harris · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008, 23:43 (GMT) Post subject:

Karen, That was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you get it.
Wink

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

Thank you !

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

Both of you -
Smile

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

Karen:

I've got to echo the others here - great job! And the quality of your voice is amazing. I don't know what your audio chain possesses, but your voice comes across very rich & warm. Very nice!

There is one thing that I'm hearing that 'bugs' me, if you don't mind me going "geeky" on you for a moment: are you going in, post-production, and editing out room noise between sentences? I didn't hear it between every sentence - but because I really pay attention to that sort of thing, it was a very noticeable contrast - sort of like running into a brick wall! There are ways you can limit your room noise that will make your recordings much more 'even', without the abruptness of the editing (not to mention, it will make your life so much easier by not having to go back and do all that work!)

So as not to completely hijack the thread about a technical matter (when this is about the quality of the read, itself - which you DO have covered in every respect!) you can PM me and if I can be of any technical help, I'll be glad to do so. But once again, your overall sound and VO skills are great!

David

Thom Wilkins · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 587

I don't post much anymore - but here is my Tornado - Thom

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

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

Yeah, Thom, wow -- that read just blew me away!

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

Boy, am I glad I left V123. There's so much less competition in one-on-one phone calls than what I heard in those last few postings.

What shimmering illustrations of the talent that speaks here:

Karen L was factual, husky and classy all in one. Victor H showed incredible range in two fine reads of great polarity. Then Ol' Thom steps up and delivers an OrsonWells-ian depiction of gloom, doom, and news.

Wonderful work, all.

Vaunt On and On!

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

Oh Diane - you're so punny!
Great read, Thom! Nice production, too...

David - yes - I hear what you mean, now that I crank it up! Oh my! I'll PM you for some advice...Thanks!

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

Gee Robert - thanks...
Three adjectives - I'm positively glowing...or maybe that's the shimmer coming off the rest of the talent here - either way - I'm gonna bask, baby!