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How long is too long?

 
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Mike Harrison
M&M


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
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Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore

PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:34 pm    Post subject: How long is too long? Reply with quote

I'm assembling a narration demo consisting of clips from actual client videos. Represented are several read styles for videos of a variety of subjects in the corporate, industrial and documentary categories.

How long is too long?

EDIT: Frankly, I've never understood why there even are recommended limits to demo and website text length: no one is compelled to read, listen or watch any more than they choose to. See: Serving Size.

Thanks.
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi


Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11046
Location: Portgordon, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Honest answer? It really doesn't matter as the majority will make up their mind in the first few seconds. offer a custom demo to those who think you're in the ball park but they want you to sound a little more Jennifer Aniston.
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Bruce
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7921
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If it’s HUGE clients might begin to wonder what your “deal” is.

Advice from a high school English teacher sticks with me to this day....

“How long should our essays be?”

“Like a young lady’s skirt. Short enough to make it interesting, long enough to cover the subject.”

Same idea with demos. Imagine you’re a buyer and listen. When would you say it’s too much?

Character demos should be about a minute right? Dan Castelanetta’s (The Simpsons) was three and a half minutes long! And every second was filled with interesting, different characters. He pulled that off.

B
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Jack Daniel
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Joined: 23 Jun 2016
Posts: 574
Location: SoCal

PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Demos mean less than we think unless we are new or looking for an agent, in which case they are very important. Or if an agent wants to use it to market you for something specific and has some idea that the buyer will bother to listen to at least some of it.

Spend more time presenting your actual finished work. That, in my experience, is what buyers care about. A demo exists outside the pressures and time constraints of actual work, and thus convey more an idea of what you might sound like in optimal circumstances with sympathetic, interested producer(s).

But that's not what you asked. I'd say Philip is spot on.
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todd ellis
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Joined: 02 Jan 2007
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Location: little egypt

PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i hire folks for eLearning gigs all the time --- if i'm not hooked in the first 10 seconds, i'm moving on. now, eLearning is one thing, commercials another, animation something else & so on ... but i'm talking about what i do.

so, let me clarify - those first 10 seconds may not be bad - they might even be great - but just not what i'm looking for at that particular moment.

if i hear what i want to hear in the first 10 seconds, i might listen 10 more ... but that's about it for me.

just my opinion, your milage may vary, terms & conditions apply.
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ConnieTerwilliger
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Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 3381
Location: San Diego - serving the world

PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you use a service like VoiceZam, and use great descriptors for each clip, you can have as many as you need to show your variety in pace, attitude, subject, energy, style of script, etc.

For me, that is the main reason I keep using it.

If it is linear, then unless it really drags the producer through it by the ears, it shouldn't be "too" long. That length is debatable and Todd is correct. When I am casting, I listen to the first few seconds the first time through to sort through the voices that just don't "work" for that script.

But, for sure you should have a place to show longer individual clips - a YouTube Channel or a page on your website.
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MBVOXX
Been Here Awhile


Joined: 03 Jun 2008
Posts: 227
Location: USA

PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 9:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

anything over 60 sec is too long.
but decisions are made in the first 15 -20 sec
if it's there it's there....if it's not then on to the next demo
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi


Joined: 20 Jun 2005
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Location: Portgordon, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Philip Banks wrote:
Honest answer? .... offer a custom demo to those who think you're in the ball park but they want you to sound a little more Jennifer Aniston.


This here, right here, VOICEOVER GOLD! GOLD! Get a tattoo! AWESOME!
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