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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: Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:29 am Post subject: Time to Do a Promo Demo... But Whaaa?!?! |
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I've been wanting to do a Promo demo for a while. Attended some time ago a one-day class given by a Promo coach who said (pretty much verbatim) it's virtually impossible to be an effective Promo voice if we don't watch and love the shows we're promoting.
My feeling was, "EXCUSE ME?!?!?!"
Does this mean all the commercials we've been hearing through the years are voiced only by those people who buy and love the products or services they're selling? I think not.
What's your take on this caoch's stance? _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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mcm Smart Kitteh

Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 2600 Location: w. MA, USA
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: |
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I think they're right in a sense - whether you actually watch and love that show though doesn't matter as much as if you've convinced yourself you do. Loving the promo genre is a big help, but getting to the place where you believe you love it is what acting is about. |
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Philip Banks Je Ne Sais Quoi

Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11076 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:25 am Post subject: |
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A number of people who presume to be coaches believe that anything is true if they say it. More often than not they are merely talking complete and utter bollocks!
Our job or more to the point MY JOB is to sound like I give a flying toss "in the moment". When the job is done my opinion is allowed to rise to the top once more.
As a promo voice I am brilliant! Such is my greatness that I refer to the like of Joe Cipriano and Beau Weaver as local voices; well I would wouldn't I? They're only heard in one country whereas I'm heard on all 9 continents(estimate). Needless to say I am not a coach so just because I have written this paragraph doesn't make it true.  |
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Moe Egan 4 Large

Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4339 Location: Live Free or Die
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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Oooo! (sfx: harp gliss) _________________ Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
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jsgilbert Backstage Pass

Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 468 Location: left coast of u.s.
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Hmmmmm, I've actually been the voice for NASA for some space shuttle on board instructions. Philip's only heard on 9 continents. I'm heard on other planets. It's possible that my voice has kept the earth safe from alien invasions.
I'm not a coach either and as a voice talent, my priority is making sure the client's pay and their checks don't bounce, which for me is being in the moment.
As for the rest of it, skip the classes and just start sleeping with some Network big shot. That shold get you a chance to at least promo reruns of Mash, or in the U.K., Steptoe and Son. _________________ j.s. gilbert
js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com
"today is the first day of the rest of the week" |
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imaginator The Thirteenth Floor

Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 1348 Location: raleigh, nc
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:56 am Post subject: |
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wasn't it olivier who had the advice for hoffman: "try ACTING, dear boy." _________________ rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog |
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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: Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:57 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the feedback thus far.
Using Philip's example, I'm pretty sure that if we asked Joe Cipriano and/or Beau Weaver whether they watched AND loved the shows they promote, they might indeed enjoy one or more of them. But I'm guessing these two guys have better things to do with their time than become couch potatoes at 8 PM local time every weeknight.
The ability to take someone else's words and make them their own is what separates voice talent from people who simply speak. I don't need no stinkin' coach to tell me that.  _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Eddie Eagle M&M
Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:11 am Post subject: |
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The late great DLF said he loved all movies and entertainment and that was a major point that made his reads so dynamic and believable.
If you don't love what you do, there will be the scent of blood....and you know what that means.
As for me, I am the greatest in my mind......which spans the universeS...and that is more than 9 continents.  |
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Moe Egan 4 Large

Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 4339 Location: Live Free or Die
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:30 am Post subject: |
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imaginator wrote: | wasn't it olivier who had the advice for hoffman: "try ACTING, dear boy." |
You are correct Rowell, it's from when they were in Running Man together The entire quote is actually "Try acting, dear boy, it's much easier."
It's the first thing I thought of too when I heard this advice. _________________ Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
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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: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:41 am Post subject: |
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I completely agree with 'loving' a genre one chooses to work in. Otherwise, what's the point (unless it's only for the money)? So I believe DLF was generalizing by saying he loved all movies and entertainment. That is, unless he was invited to preview each film before recording the promo VO. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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jsgilbert Backstage Pass

Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 468 Location: left coast of u.s.
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:54 am Post subject: |
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Formost voice talent, actually working on microphone may represent the smallest portion of that which one does as a voice talent.
Social networking, marketing, practicing, reinventing oneself, keeping relevant, developing and strengthening relationships, billing, cleaning, running one's business, etc. all tend to be significant aspects of a talent's day (or week).
Embracing a genre isn't nearly as important as embracing the lifestyle - for good and for bad.
A producer once told me that when auditioning talent, he could always tell the actors that were looking at him as if he were a bag of groceries, and that generally didn't work well.
Considering every audition you get as a personal interview with the President of the company you WANT to work for, is the best advice I can give anyone. Yes, there are hundreds of potentially mitigating circumstances, but those need to be left outside.
The big trick is to manage to get rid of the existential hum and focus on the moment.
I have heard more than a few actors lately say that it's just promo or announce, which isn't about acting. To that I say it has always been and will always be about acting. The rest is just chance. _________________ j.s. gilbert
js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com
"today is the first day of the rest of the week" |
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Philip Banks Je Ne Sais Quoi

Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11076 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Some VOs pull a Don La Fontaine quote like Billy the Kid pulled his six shooter. Not suggesting for one moment that is what Eddie did as he makes a valid point. Of course the love of something does not suggest any entitlement to ability as any of my former and now seriously medicated flying instructors will tell you.
A very good friend of mine, Elisa Canas, once remarked on her encounter with one of the so-called great VO coaches thus "Well, she said all the right things but then she would wouldn't she as I was paying her" - wisdom beyond her years!
Just because we like something we hear doesn't make it true.
Just because someone with a reputation says something doesn't make it true.
Just because someone we like says something doesn't make it true.
Demo schmemo - If your voice is right for TV promos you'll get the gig with a phone call. |
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Deirdre Czarina Emeritus

Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 13023 Location: Camp Cooper
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:13 am Post subject: |
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What this person wants from you is the kind of read that makes us believe you love this show— so that we can't wait to watch it with you. _________________ DBCooperVO.com
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mcm Smart Kitteh

Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 2600 Location: w. MA, USA
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:17 am Post subject: |
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The news that my car repairs come to $915, followed immediately by receipt of an audition script from an agent, made me really love the product in that script. |
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DougVox The Gates of Troy

Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 1706 Location: Miami
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
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jsgilbert wrote: | The big trick is to manage to get rid of the existential hum and focus on the moment. |
There's a plugin for that...I believe it's called "A passion for what you do." _________________ Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com |
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