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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: Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:34 pm Post subject: How long is too long? |
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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. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Philip Banks Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11048 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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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 Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7924 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ 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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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 576 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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todd ellis A Zillion
Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 10491 Location: little egypt
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:09 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ "i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?
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ConnieTerwilliger Triple G
Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 3381 Location: San Diego - serving the world
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Playing for a living...
www.voiceover-talent.com
YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/connieterwilliger |
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MBVOXX Been Here Awhile
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 232 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 9:09 am Post subject: |
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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 Posts: 11048 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:50 am Post subject: |
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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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