Voiceover work

macaroni tony · #1 09-29-2010, 04:15 PM

Hello out there in TB Land!

I've contemplated this for quite a while, and mainly because of limited financial resources (read: broke) I've never pursued it full bore.

I've always done imitations of people, and disguised my voice. I've always been good at doing voice. I'm also naturally a very good reader and public speaker, which has only been augmented by my upbringing.

A couple of years ago, I met a guy named Josh Keaton - a fellow singer, and a lifelong voiceover actor. Picked his mind about it a little bit, and my interest was piqued even more. So far, I know I need to go to a school to learn what I need to do trade-wise, get some connections going, and get a demo done.

So how's about it? Anybody here ever do voiceover work? Or considered it? Any insight, thoughts, or concerns?

Mark Latimour · #2 09-29-2010, 04:17 PM

I do the VoiceOver work for the narrative in my head.

macaroni tony · #3 09-29-2010, 04:22 PM

Hey, so do I!

I knew we had something in common, you crazy cracker

JimB52 · #4 09-29-2010, 04:24 PM

I've known a few VO guys through work. Unless you have a very distinctive voice and persona, like the late Harry Kalas, you need to be technically excellent. Breath control, ability to take direction, hit certain timing marks, emote through voice alone. It's a great talent to have, but a lot harder than it looks. Getting a demo together and hopefully some representation is the first step. Good luck!

MatticusMania · #5 09-29-2010, 04:39 PM

Go look in the craigslist talent section, there's always someone looking for a voiceover actor...

macaroni tony · #6 09-29-2010, 04:44 PM

Thanks Matticus...

Jim, what kind of work do you do?

JimB52 · #7 09-29-2010, 05:19 PM

I'm a video editor and was a producer.

macaroni tony · #8 09-30-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimB52

I'm a video editor and was a producer.

Nice. I'm a douchie wood flooring salesman. I like to get other ideas for careers.

So two people? Anybody else got some insight for ol' MT?

Deluge Of Sound · #9 09-30-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimB52

I've known a few VO guys through work. Unless you have a very distinctive voice and persona, like the late Harry Kalas, you need to be technically excellent. Breath control, ability to take direction, hit certain timing marks, emote through voice alone. It's a great talent to have, but a lot harder than it looks. Getting a demo together and hopefully some representation is the first step. Good luck!

+1.

As someone who exists in/has friends in the creative entertainment industry (albeit in different sectors from this, I'm afraid), representation and a demonstration of your work (in my lexicon, a portfolio) are a must.

That said, you're already near the ground zero of the film/television world, so you've already got a leg up on the rest of the country in that regard.

Kwesi · #10 09-30-2010, 12:48 PM

Let me say that I know nothing about voiceover work besides the fact that I have thought about trying get into it a little for funnsies.

You could try offering animators free voiceover services to build a portfolio or at least something for potential employers to look at. Check out Newgrounds, awesome animation with god-awful voice acting abound. Look at someone like Ego Raptor. Sure his stuff is way over the top but you can tell he has the kind of control over his vocal expression to do some serious work and be good at it.

macaroni tony · #11 09-30-2010, 12:50 PM

^ I never, ever would have considered either of those things. Thanks

6jase5 · #12 09-30-2010, 03:07 PM

Hi, Debbie Downer here.

My old roommate works at Margarita Mix. There is good money to be made ($300-$1K for 15-hour long sessions), but very hard to break into the big boy union and get those spots. You need to be spot on amazing at speed reading with clear diction. Producers need to give you one direction and get what they want.

You need an amazing demo and real world portfolio even if it's all free work as mentioned above. You'll need excellent quality tapes and referrals. If you notice, some of the same group of 15 people do about 80-90% of the national radio spots and many more are vying for those choice jobs.

OR... become famous with a voice people recognize (like Jennifer Tilly) and then you can work whenever you want to.

macaroni tony · #13 09-30-2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6jase5

Hi, Debbie Downer here.

My old roommate works at Margarita Mix. There is good money to be made ($300-$1K for 15-hour long sessions), but very hard to break into the big boy union and get those spots. You need to be spot on amazing at speed reading with clear diction. Producers need to give you one direction and get what they want.

You need an amazing demo and real world portfolio even if it's all free work as mentioned above. You'll need excellent quality tapes and referrals. If you notice, some of the same group of 15 people do about 80-90% of the national radio spots and many more are vying for those choice jobs.

OR... become famous with a voice people recognize (like Jennifer Tilly) and then you can work whenever you want to.

Man, I thought you were really a chick named Debbie for a second. What a downer.

Thanks for the insight; I've taken stock in the fact that I do have a really unique voice, and always have been an excellent reader, at least among common folk. I plan on working extremely hard in these classes I plan to take, and hopefully I can develop a penchant for taking direction on the spot. Remains to be seen whether or not I have a shot at cutting it in a world among people who do this for a living.

Thanks for keeping it real with me; no downer here