That “Second Best” Voice-Over Audition: Still a Win

My Mom told me, “Always do your best.” (yours, too?) Sure, coming close to landing the gig is not the same as booking it.  The fact that I got two call-backs to play Rizzo in Grease on Broadway a couple of decades ago does not mean I can put that credit on my resume.  Still, it felt good – and gave me confidence for my next audition.

The truth is that a good audition is never a loss. While placing second doesn’t pay the mortgage or add to your resume, it’s still its own kind of good acting karma. Especially if you keep the success part in mind, and not what you didn’t get. And, yeah, keep in touch in a way that reflects that good experience.

And, in some cases, it pays off in a more concrete way when you least expect it.

Over a year ago, I was in the top two for a voice-over gig , but didn’t land it. The client said, “don’t worry, we loved your audition and will keep you in mind.” That’s always nice to hear – the professional equivalent of dating’s “I’ll call you.” But don’t wait by the phone – just enjoy the fact that you had a good time on the first date.

A month ago, I heard from this client out of the blue – he had another project for me. (yay – A second date!) Here is one video from a series of projects so far:

See, you never know! As Mom says, “Always do your best – and it won’t hurt you to be nice.” Thanks, Mom.

The Ta-Da! Voice: Not Always Conversational

“Read it just like you’re talking to someone in conversation”?
In voiceover, it’s a nice plan- but it doesn’t always work.
How many times, in your real life, do you go up to a pal and start an exchange by saying, oh, “Introducing…!”?

Yet, in some narrations, that’s exactly what we are doing – setting up what will soon come (visually or otherwise), and subtly commenting on/closing what has come before. In these cases, we may need to use our “introducing…!” delivery, our our “ta-da!” voice.

When I voice the tracks for live announce shows, for instance, this is a clear choice. The intention is to get attention, and set up what comes next. In movies promos, radio imaging, etc. – sure. same thing – though it still must be sincere within those choices.

In narration, it may be a bit more subtle than promo voice, but your voiceover is still the connective tissue between elements before and after your sentences.

Here’s an example of a narration as connective tissue between elements, courtesy of Action Media.

If possible, it does help to know what those segments are – sometimes the client will provide a description, at least, as part of the script. If not, use your imagination to fill in the gaps. Always, if you can, check out the finished product to see how it all married. This helps next time you do a similar project.

Sharing Voiceover Secrets: Why We Give Back

Wow! Just got named to voice123′s Survey of Top 5 Most Influential Voice-Over Writers in 2011 ! There are more than 5 of us on the list, in no particular order, so I guess there were lots of answers! At any rate, what an honor – especially since I just write about voice-over on the following schedule: “when I feel like it.”

If you follow the links to any of the amazing voice talents on the list, you’ll find a wealth of information, for free, in an abundance unlike any other profession I know of. One of my favorite things about this voiceover community is that we help each other, that we share our hard-earned knowledge. Why? Maybe we’re lonely in our home studios, and need to feel that connection. Maybe we become better voice talents by organizing and communicating what we know. Maybe we like seeing our name in print. Maybe we’re just really nice people, who get pleasure from helping others.

In any event, I know I am a much better voice talent and business owner because of every name on this list – and a better person for knowing them! Thanks guys.

You can find some of my VoiceoverXtra articles here:

VoiceoverXtra Articles by Randye

And if you have found my writing helpful, my thanks for saying so! – and, of course, for reading my words in the first place. That’s why we do it. Without a listener, why talk? (hmmm, in fact, a great thing to keep in mind as we voice copy, too…next article….)

Relaxing into Real Life Radio Fun

Voice Over Talents almost always have a background that includes music, improv, broadcast, and/or stage/TV/film acting.  In my case…well, I guess it’s all of the above! After 15 years in full-time radio, I left to focus on voiceovers (well, there were other reasons, but let’s just leave it at that for now) and when I look back – as with any relationship – I mostly remember the fun times.

Real Life Survival Guide Radio

Recently, I had the chance to visit with Bruce Barber, Duo Dickenson, and three other bright, talented funny guests (including Jaki Valensi-Lauper of Jaki’s Buzz)for my second appearance on the Real Life Survival Guide Radio show.  Bruce is a former “morning radio” guy who has recreated the fun of that atmosphere with this show that addresses, well, real life stuff with different guests each week. Plus, we get to meet in awesome restaurants and chat while solving life’s little problems – or at least laughing about them.

For this hour, I get to return to the relaxation of my own morning radio days  – without having to stop for music! So, you won’t hear my usual careful articulation, etc. You might even hear a hint of my New York roots here. This is improv radio – and boy I really miss that sometimes!

We had a blast. Hope you enjoy listening as we pick apart those little “holiday issues”  this time of year. Plus, we ate awesome pancakes!

Radio to VO: Not the Kiss of Death!

“Oh, no – never say you were in radio if you want to be hired as a voice talent!

Have you heard that? I know I did when I left full-time radio six years ago. Sure, I was a working voice talent before I became an on-air personality. OK, so I began my career as an actress and singer before ever stepping into a whisper room. Still – that was the advice when I left: Hide your years as a radio personality!

back in the days of carts!

Well, I officially disagree. Sorry, but I’ve never been one to follow advice without question (hence my departure from corporate radio, but that’s another story).

So – here are seven things I learned from my years in radio that actually have made me a better voice talent. So there.

Voiceover Clients: Is the Goal Quantity or Quality?

I’m about to teach Edge Studio‘s “What Now?” Webinar, designed for students who have just completed their voiceover demo and now want to know -well – “what now?”

after the job...

The first thing I remind them is that they’ve been working all along on the next step: deciding where, and how, to look for the right clients for your brand of voiceover. And that process should have begun long before you receive your completed demo.

Huh? Well, think about it. What goes on your first demo? Copy and reads that represent areas where you could see yourself being cast,within which you are  confident you can deliver what your demo promises.  So – if you have a corporate training cut on that demo, then corporate training is an area in which you and your coach have determined you can perform.  So – have you already been looking for potential clients?  When you’ve chosen your scripts, you’ve begun to define your niches.

But let’s look at the most important goal: not quantity of clients as much as quality. And by that I mean you want these first-time customers to become regular clients.  How do you do that? Remember that you cannot let you skills become rusty. Practice well, and often. Retain your passion for this business. Wow ‘em with your skill and professionalism. Give ‘em the old razzle-dazzle, but it had better be backed with talent and business savvy. Then – that customer may become a beautiful thing called a regular client. And when that happens, your demo won’t matter to that client, nor will an audition (most of the time). Once they know you, and love your work, they may send you work. Just like that.

To be honest,  while I do spend time of cultivating new potential clients (every business owner must), the bulk of my work comes from those delightful entities called “repeat clients.”  So I spend at least as much time – more, actually – making sure they are happy with our business relationship, with the service, courtesy, performance, and human touch that makes us happy together.

So – “what now?” always includes the responsibility to keep building and practicing the skills to do an awesome job.  Like the old Girl Scout song says (yes, I have the sash and some badges…) :

Make new friends, but keep the old.

One is silver and the other’s gold.

Thanks, repeat clients. Love working with you!

VoiceOver and Your Life: it all adds up

Yesterday was an all-voiceover day: projects to voice and edit, clients to

Improv Goup, a decade ago - great for VO!

answer, then a class to teach at Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Today, a catch-up day so far. E-mails from VO peeps included a link to Pummelvision, where they find your tagged photos and create a montage. Sure, I’ll bite. It’s free, and I’m curious.

STAR 99.9 past colleagues

The result reminded me that we are all more than just our work, despite the cocktail party question, “So what do you do?” Those of us who act for a living constantly feel this, as everything we do (for work or otherwise) goes into our personalities, and can be used to interpret copy through the filter that is, well, us.

Not to mention, VO people rock, play wel with others, and share! Gor instance, read this post from Doug Turkel, the UNnouncer, re great voiceover resources:

Here’s the result, by the way. This quick view reminds me of the people who honor me with their presence in my life and in my soul – through work, family, acquaintance and friendship. Thanks!  And, looking forward to Faffcon 3, very soon!

Social Media and the Voice Talent

OK, time to cave. Really! Just recorded a job for a client who might have forgotten about me if not for my newsletter updates. My audiobook producer found me on Twitter. I have clients overseas who learned about me on LinkedIn.

Tomorrow night I will teach a marketing tele-class for Edge Studio for beginners on VO and Social Media – and in the past few months have found there’s been so much more to learn! so have signed up for a series of Webinar recordings (well the last one is live today, but I’ll be on the air) from Trish Basanyi, Terry Daniel, Dave Courvoisier – all social media gurus – you can do it too right here http://conta.cc/NewVOsocMediaWebs !

Audiobook Narration: When the Voice Talent is also the Author

Weird. That’s all I can say.  Sure, we voice talents are getting increasingly used to wearing many hats: director, producer, editor, voiceover artist, and sometimes grammarian (if the script needs a little, um, help) – not to mention blogger, marketing guru, social media student.

Still, this is a new experience for me. I am narrating this book I love: Ben Behind His Voices: One Family’s Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia

audiobook CD version coming 9/15/11

to Hope.  The audio publisher  is Spoken Word Inc., an awesome young company who believes in the book as much as I do, and has hired me to narrate it.

What’s the weird thing? I am also the author of this book.  Yeah, It’s my own words I’m reading, drafted and rewritten a gazillion times. And now, as narrator, I’m having a tough time resisting the urge to rewrite as I read.

Of course, as audiobook narrators know, the words are sacrosanct. The author’s voice is the star, you just enhance it with your read. But turning off my “author brain” is taking some focus. And, at the same time, it’s a relief.  Yes, the book is now in print at last. I have held my own hardcover in my hot little hands. Now, to forget I am the author, step back from the writing desk, and treat this manuscript with the same freshness as I would when written by any other author. Who is not me.

Challenge! This is why we have such a passion for what we do as voice actors.  Will keep you posted.

Investigate Voice Over: the first step

Edge Studio Team

Tomorrow night I teach another session for Edge Studio called “Investigate Voice Over.” We call it the “IVO” – and it’s taught frequently in our New York main studio, our CT and DC studios, in Los Angeles, and also via teleclass.

If you’ve ever wondered about the true path to VoiceOver success, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Got the Voiceover dream? Get the truth! And have fun finding out if this business – and make no mistake, it most certainly is a business -is for you, and if you are ready for it.

Every dream can always live if you never pursue it, but if you want to change it from a nice dream to an attainable goal then you must take the first step to see what it takes. The first step is to find out the facts.