Just looking for some feedback

Jeff Mulvihill · **Voice Talent** Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Hello all, I am new to this forum and Voice123. A short demo is attached to this post and I would love any comments and feedback that you may have. I supplied the voice-over and co-wrote produced and recorded the music. I have mainly gotten work independantly, and am trying to learn how to build something more through this great network. All comments appreciated, and man, so many of you guys really sound great!
www.voice123.com/jeffmulvihill

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008, 20:14 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey, there. I see we're in the same market. First off, you'll get more feedback if you post your demo in the "Critique My Demo" section of the forum board.

My take on what you have posted here is that the music production has some umph, but the VO doesn't. Partly because you've mixed your voice too far back. Can't you hear that? You can barely be heard. What I do hear (by straining very hard.. Laughing

) is a young, thin-sounding, even-toned voice that may have marketable value. Hard to say what your range is, since both reads (what I can hear of them) sound the same.

Also, in VO, 2 clips isn't quite enough to qualify for a demo. Go to voicebank.net and listen to young male demos there of different categories -- commercial, narrative, voicemail (if they have such there -- not sure..hmm) but that will give you an idea of what demos sound like to begin with. Listen with a critical ear...be honest with yourself -- think you can compete? Hardest form of acting to break into. If so, proceed with caution and don't get sucked in by the "you too can make millions in VO -- just give me your credit card number and firstborn". oy. PM if you want any other cold water thrown on you. Laughing

Kidding!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008, 20:24 (GMT) Post subject:

Jeff.... welcome...

You'll probably get a LOT more feedback on your demo if you post it over in the "Critique My Demo" forum, but since I'm here, I'll respond.

This isn't BAD, but it's not going to win you any jobs. Here are the things that are going against you in this:

- It takes WAAAAAAAAAAY too long to actually hear your voice at the beginning of the demo. Most clients will give you around 7 seconds to knock them dead and if that's all they're giving you, they'll never even GET to your voice on this.
- Once you get there, the music is WAY too loud! I'm a bit surprised you didn't notice that yourself. You can barely hear your voice as it fights with the background music.
- There's really nothing that stands out about your delivery. You have a nice voice. So do - literally - millions of other folks out there. And your delivery is a standard, radio-type delivery, which is not terribly in vogue anymore. Any client who wants that type of delivery can go to any local radio station and get it for free with their paid ad campaign.

Listen to a lot of the killer demos you'll hear on this site from the heavy hitting pros. Read the sticky at the top of this forum that I wrote, if you haven't already. Ask yourself what would make a client want to hire you over the thousands of other great voices you'll be competing against. Figure out what you do best and fine-tune it and make it unique. Figure out where you're weak and take steps to get better... it may be classes, training, endless repetitive practice...

And finally, when you're truly ready - AND ONLY THEN - consult a first-rate production house to produce a professional demo for you. Very, very, VERY few folks are qualified to do their own.

All the best, Jeff!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008, 20:25 (GMT) Post subject:

I see Melba and I repeated a lot of what each other said. I was writing mine while she was writing hers, so since we each say much of the same thing without having read the other person's comments first... you can feel comfortable that we may be somewhat on target here.