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VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!
Established November 10, 2004
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11076
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: Blonde Bimbo Voices |
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There are those in TV and film who believe that if you hire an attractive blonde girl and a hunky guy to feature in a TV series or in a film success is guaranteed. We've all seen the gorgeous TV presenter and think PHWOAR and then then intial wow factor wears off and we start to look for something a little deeper, we need to be engaged by them.
"What ever happened to....." Remember that TV host or movie star? Here today, gone tomorrow. What happened? The novelty of their "beauty" wore off!
We often accuse some VOs of being too announcery but I think a great many are actually Bimbo voices. Sound really pretty until you begin to listen. What do you hear? The VOs love affair with their own voice and nothing else. You could remove one script half way through and replace it with another one and they'd still keep going. What they say means nothing, it's the growl, the laboured rumble, the purr, the treacle smile, the cuddly .......You get the picture.
Is this a new way of describing a VO? You have a Bimbo Voice, meaning it's very pretty but there's nothing else going on.
If firmly believe that if people LOVE every sound you make but are unable to remember a word you said you need to change the way you sound or pick another career. |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Banksey writes: "I firmly believe that if people LOVE every sound you make but are unable to remember a word you said you need to change the way you sound or pick another career." |
But Phillip, I don't know how to do anything else? I only know how to growl, labor a rumble, purr, treacle a smile, and I really enjoy being cuddly - now what?
There has been nothing else "going on" for a long, long, long time.
Toodles
F2 -
"The Bimbo Voice" (Somehow "bimbo" doesn't quite fit but I will try... NOT!)
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11076
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Now you owned up I was far too polite to actually name you!  |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for being so nice. 
F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11076
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I think it was the late Don La Fontaine who said "Love the words", that's what sets the VOs like Frank and others apart from the Bimbos. If the Bimbos ever "get" that they'll be on to something. |
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bobsouer
Frequent Flyer
Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 9883
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Philip and Frank,
This is exactly why people are always surprised when I tell them "it's not the sound of your voice that gets you hired."
"What?" they answer.
"It's not the sound of your voice, it's how well you tell the story."
Oh, and yes, Philip, I was there in Las Vegas in 2007 when Don LaFontaine made that statment. It's exactly what he said.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:26 am Post subject: |
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When Don said that at VOICE it is one of those statements that stops you in your tracks and sticks with you.
You're so right Philip (&Bob, & F2!)
So...I was never a blond, I'm hopefully not a Bimbo, and I love words.... do you think I have a chance! 
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11076
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:28 am Post subject: |
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PAH! None at all. Now back to Burger King and damn your impudence!
As Susan Berkley would say "Would you like fries with that?" |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Packing up my mic as we speak.....
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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Mike Harrison
M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:45 am Post subject: |
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"It's not the sound of your voice, it's how well you tell the story."
Now, if we could only get those clients and producers who hire based on price alone to recognize that. 
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7978
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:24 am Post subject: |
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I can't tell you how many aspiring voice talents I've turned away for demo consultation and production...those who were told they had a nice voice but haven't the foggiest idea what copy interpretation is. If they can't hear it and make a game attempt at it now, there aren't enough hours in a year to teach them and I don't have that kind of patience.
B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Mike Harrison
M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | those who were told they had a nice voice but haven't the foggiest idea what copy interpretation is |
Boy, I hear that. Sometimes, someone who's been told that really has no idea, but would genuinely like to learn. And that's GREAT. But in other cases, the individual has developed a sense of entitlement, and some of them have quite the attitude to go with it. And, further, I know for a fact that there are VO hopefuls who get a lot of smoke blown up their tushies by some alleged VO 'coaches' (with little to no real-world experience), whose only goal is to quickly sell demo packages by expending the least amount of effort. (Disclaimer: I certainly do not generalize to include all VO coaches in this category.)
While working freelance for someone who fits that description, I would completely produce (add appropriate music and SFX, etc.) to the dry voice tracks recorded under the supervision of one of the company's 'coaches.' Apart from things like glaring mispronunciations, emphasis placed on wrong words or syllables, disgusting sinus noise, etc., I was instructed to fix things like missing ends of words (that were never enunciated or were carelessly deleted when trimming the file down), copying and pasting complete words or parts thereof from one occurrence to another to repair slurred speech, adjust pacing to make it as appropriate as possible for the subject, and more. When a student was unable to read more than 15 or 20 seconds of copy without stumbling repeatedly in the same place, rather than address the real problem, this company would instead try (and miserably fail) to do punch-ins, which turned out as unnoticeable as patching a hole in a pane of glass, because neither the student nor the 'engineer' knew how to do a proper punch-in.
When questioned as to why being asked to make these corrections annoyed me, I explained (over and over) that telling people they are ready for a demo when they clearly are not fills them with false hope. It awards them with a diploma without having mastered the necessary skills. It sets them up for failure when they send a demo to an agent or prospective client and it immediately goes into the trash (which, of course, can happen regardless of training). And last, but most importantly (to me), it completely minimizes the years of blood, sweat and tears expended by those of us who've been able to achieve any degree of success. It's an insult. It essentially tells people that, with minimal effort, they can be on their way to a six-figure income by putting what amounts to a quarter in a gum machine. ("Pssst! Hey, Miss... wanna be a star?")
So, yes. Some 'get it,' some don't, and some and never will. And that's fine. But others have been told they get it by people who don't get it themselves... never will... and don't deserve to.
That's all for now. I'm due in surgery. And, after that, I have a speech to give at the U.N., and then change a light bulb at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Gee, Mike,
Now WHY would you be upset at being asked to falsify a record?
Because that's pretty much what it amounts to right? Falsifying a record (the demo) to make it appear as though someone (a new VO) can actually deliver what is on that demo.
As someone who spent many years behind the glass I would be REALLY upset if I called someone in based on their demo and they couldn't get through 2 sentences. It's a credit to your production skills that you can make them sound good, but a producer on the other end of that demo is going to be REALLY upset when the VO can't deliver.
I've been going back & forth via email with an aspiring VO in France who has also been told "all my friends say I have a sensual voice"...so it seems to be a global phenomenon! I have been explaining to her the reality of the situation, we'll see if she gets it!
No, it's not brain surgery, but it is a skill and I LOVE my job. If I can help someone who truly wants to do this work and is willing to put in the time to succeed, GREAT, just don't come to me saying essentially "I wanna make lots o' money talkin' into a mic - it's easy, right?"
Java Time!
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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