Making your voiceover demos & clips – Lesson Synopsis:
This lesson looks at how to find a producer to create voiceover demos for you, and how to make your own simple demo clips. It is not an in-depth tutorial on audio production. It starts with how to locate and screen potential producers, and goes over a few things to listen for when reviewing the work of potential demo producers. Then the lesson gives advice on making your own voiceover sample clips, for viewers who are comfortable recording and editing a voiceover track. It finishes with the next assignment, which is designed to take your voiceover practice to the next level by focusing on your audience when you read a script.
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Text, voice performance, video edit and the JMVO logo copyright John Matthew, all rights reserved; unauthorized use is prohibited. Other graphic elements, certain sound effects, music copyright Canva and/or their associated artists, and are used under license in this video.
Lesson Focus: This is Lesson 6, Part 1. In this part, we’ll take an overview look at the current VO demo landscape, which has gotten very complicated over the last 10 or 15 years. Part 2 will discuss the specifics of how to actually make your demos.
Traditionally most voice actors had a couple to a handful of demos reels each representing a fairly broad category – like commercials, characters, narration, audiobooks and so on. These reels were – and still are – a collection of short excerpts from longer pieces, edited together to show range within that category, and were usually from about a minute to 2 or 3 minutes long. Some talent had more specific demos for sub-categories, and some used a single commercial as a demo.
Today things have gotten really specific. If you check out the casting sites like Voice123 or Voices, you’ll see actors with many compilation demos, as well as individual clips posted. These compilations can be very specific, like insurance commercials, mobile tech explainer videos, warm & friendly reads etc.
On the casting sites, demos and clips are tagged with various descriptors like conversational, authentic, authoritative and so on, to optimize them for site search, and to make it easier for the buyers to find what they’re looking for quickly.
There is a wide range across the talent pool of number of reels and clips posted, and it is unclear to me if there is one strategy that is the most effective.
But to start off, go with whatever you’re good at right now, and just put the good reads – meaning professional level – on your demos. A mix of compilations and individual clips will probably be the best approach for most performers.
In Lesson 6 part 2, we’ll discuss the mechanics of getting your demos and clips made. Your assignment for now is to go online and start listening to talent demos. The easiest way is to go to Voice123.com and Voices.com (or the preeminent casting sites in your region) and look around. Keep in mind you will benefit more from observing what successful pros are doing, so be selective while observing.
Support the Lessons: By using my Amazon portal I may earn a small commission on purchases – at no additional cost to you.
Text, voice performance, video edit and the JMVO logo copyright John Matthew, all rights reserved; unauthorized use is prohibited. Other graphic elements, certain sound effects, music copyright Canva and/or their associated artists, and are used under license in this video.
Union jobs: In the US, SAG-AFTRA (https://www.sagaftra.org/)sets rates for most union voiceover work. Information presented here is primarily based on SAG-AFTRA. Some other countries have their own talent unions.
The union sets minimum rates. You may be able to negotiate a higher rate with the client. Rates depend on media type and usage.
Session fees are paid for the actual recording. Royalty payments (“residuals”) may be paid depending on usage. Rates range from several hundred to many thousands of dollars, depending on the specifics of the job. Certain low-budget SAG contracts allow talent and client to negotiate fees.
You may also earn health, pension and other benefits depending on your earnings or hours worked.
Non-union work: No minimums; whatever the client is willing to pay. Most jobs do not pay residuals. Range is from nothing to many thousands, depending on job specifics.
Job sites like Fiverr are typically the lower end of the pay range, in terms of average fees per job, followed by casting sites like Voice123 and Voices, then talent agencies (generally speaking).
Premium talent and celebrities are often paid well above industry standards and union minimums.
What should you charge? Many novice talent do low budget work to get experience then move up to higher paid work. Some talent do low pay jobs in exchange for higher volume. If you join a union you’ll have to abide by their rules. If you work through an agent, they will usually handle the money issues. Charge what you feel you’re worth once you get established.
ASSIGNMENT: add a smile to your reads.
One of the basic and most useful tools for the VO actor.
Smile adds warmth, makes you more likeable, more approachable, more expressive, more energetic.
If you can’t generate a real gut smile yet, force a smile and think of something that makes you happy or laugh. Keep trying, you’ll get there.
The goal is to be able to turn your smile on and off and dial it up and down at will.
It’s not a substitute for a really connected, nuanced performance, and you won’t always use it, but it goes a long way in a lot of situations.
Text, voice performance, video edit and the JMVO logo copyright John Matthew, all rights reserved; unauthorized use is prohibited. Other graphic elements, certain sound effects, music copyright Canva and/or their associated artists, and are used under license in this video.
