VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

TheVoiceOfBob

and KNEW you could do a far better job? My question is, how do you approach this company about their presentation?

I was just listening to a web based flash demo about a product and I just couldn't get past how poorly the read was performed. Tons of breaths, stumbles, I even heard a long blast from a car horn outside where they recorded! This certainly appears to be a fair size company, so it's not like they are some Mom and Pop organization that couldn't afford a good read.

Would you call them? Email? What to say? "Your presentation is good, I like the product but the voice over sux!"
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Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

Lizden · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject:

I would just send them an email complimenting them on their prduct and telling them about your serviuces.
DON'T tell them their VO sux!...it's probably the owner's son/daugher/lover!!!!

Liz
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Chuck Davis · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject:

......or some poor guy from Craigs List.
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Moe Egan · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:

Tell 'em you can turn around a new flash narration in one hour, as many redos as needed until the end of time, for $25....that should get their attention Rolls Eyes

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Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject:

Chuck Davis · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject:

dOOd. Sorry!!
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Wicked huge.....in India.
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

I have often seen or heard a particularly bad performance where you wouldn't expect one and said to myself, "That's somebody's girlfriend", or child, or blackmailer.

Mentioning their bad performance is fraught with potential disaster. Pointing out your qualities is better salesmanship.

Plus, we were in a hurry and had to do it in one take, and the company CEO thought it was cool to hear his car driving by in the background.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

I thought as many of you did, I just didn't want to cloud up the replies with my initial opinions.

I figure it must be someone associated with the company or perhaps they did it quick just to "get it out there". My approach would be to contact the company and, as Bruce mentioned, only tell them what I can do for them, not how poorly it was done already. Don't even bring it up unless they do and even then try to be compassionate and understanding.
_________________
Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

Frank F · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:50 am Post subject:

I am often in the position of hearing some rather sad VO in Utah. I used to think that I could do a better job with the project than the VO I heard, and then I stopped thinking about and have begun saying to myself: "...I am so glad that another VO received some work".

I cannot do all the gigs in the state, I have to leave some for Greg Phelps and Diane Maggipinto you understand.

The point to this little post is: wish your fellow VO well and be happy for them, for that particular VO HAS the gig, you don't!

Toodles

F2
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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

vic44139 · Guest

Yes, I would be careful...the person you end up contacting may very well be the person who recorded it! Who knows? Sticking out Tongue

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:58 am Post subject:

In that case I just wouldn't get the job. Not contacting them assures me I wouldn't get the job.

Frank does have a good perspective on this. Perhaps I should just leave it alone.

It was a web presentation on a product that I have interest in for my daytime job but the read was so distracting I missed the message on the product. I may just be overly critical though.
_________________
Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob

Lizden · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:37 am Post subject:

I don't think you have anything to lose by contacting them...again, just telling them about your services....

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing! Wink

(OH...I DO agee with F2 that you can't land all the gigs, but if you aren't right for THAT VO, maybe you will be for another VO from another part of the company)

so.....what WAS the name of that company agaian?..... Bitchin

Liz
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Frank F · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

It never hurts to send a nice note or informational email to the company involved. Do not solicit work from them. Just let them know you are available and what you do. That is marketing 101.

If a VO artist approaches a company with the intent to point out their flaws, the company will become defensive.

If you simply offer your services or products; as you would to ANY prospective client or customer, you are marketing your service or product. No one can fault you for offering what you have.

Good luck on your choices.

Toodles

Frank F
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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

paddyo · CM Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 975 Location: New York City

I agree with Liz. You have nothing to lose contacting them as if you're contacting anyone else. Just Don't tell them your feelings about that presentation. Just market yourself like you would anywhere else.

Doc · Guest

Interesting that this subject should come up. I recently read in one of the community magazines from my area about a man who recently invented an ingenious product and the article said his TV ad campaign would be starting on cable in September.

Well - I knew I was too late to get in on the ground floor. So, I wrote him, congratulated him on his product and pointed him to my demos and suggested he keep me in mind for "future endeavors".

I should also mention that he lives about 3 miles from me.

He wrote back in kind thanking me for the kind words about his product and stated he would retain my information for the future and it was nice to know that there was a voice talent so close by.

Whether any of this comes to fruition remains to be seen. But, he now knows of my existence and my potential value and I'm sure he knows several people (including the agency he used to produce his first campaign).

It's all about marketing!