VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

bisonvoice · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: What should I do?

Hi all,
I seem very snakebit as of late. I had to bow out of a broadcasting course after 2 days because there was absolutely no way my student loan was going to be released to me. And now today, I was rejected by a local VO outfit. This was the reply:
Hi Tom,

Thank you for the email and telephone msg!
I have listened to the demo you sent and checked out your other demos on your site and unfortunately we will not be adding your voice to our site at this time. I would say the biggest concern I have with your voice is your diction - consistently it sounds like you are dropping parts of words and consonants and words are often slurred together. Our work is generally more commercial related than conversational and this type of read just wouldn't work.

Now, I absolutely LOVE using my voice, but maybe all I'll ever be is just a PA guy. Sorry folks, but I'm just damn discouraged.

Tom

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject:

Dear, Dear Tom,

You need need need some vocal coaching if you want to pursue this as a career. You have some bad habits that need to be broken and you need to get a grip on your vocal mechanics.
At the moment you sound very untrained.
It's not an impossible task, but it's no small matter either— you must be willing to take it on the chin and keep practicing the hard stuff.

All the best,
Deirdre
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

Your post title is "What should I do?".

The only answer I can think of is another question: "What do you want to do?" What kind of VO work are you trying to get into?

I certainly don't want to discourage you, but I also don't want to prop you up falsely. I listened to your demos on your site and to be honest, I heard the same things the VO outfit heard. Your Saturday sounds like "Sa'urday" for example. When you play it back, do YOU hear the problems?

Keep in mind that rejection is a big part of this business. I've been rejected more times than I've been accepted and you can't take it personally. This rejection letter is different and the feedback they gave you is a gift. They told you specifically WHY your voice wasn't right for them. Take it to heart without taking it personally.

So now you can take that advice and seek the training you need to overcome the obstacle. Don't give up. But realize there's more work ahead of you.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

asnively · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject:

The poor sound quality may have contributed here, but I tried listening to a couple of your audio files and I honestly couldn't understand most of what you were saying!

So yes, some training is in order, perhaps even a couple of speech therapy sessions to help you retrain your articulation tools. It's a nice website, but it's all a bit cart-before-horse I'm afraid. If this is your dream, you should absolutely put in the work to acquire the skills, find your personal VO potential, and work toward reaching it! Good luck!
_________________
Mercedes Benz 500K

bisonvoice · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject:

Jeff,
I am very interested in doing commercials & narration. Currently I am doing public address work & have "knocked 'em dead" wherever I've worked. Been complimented on my professionalism over & over. But I'm wanting to do much much more than PA stuff.

Tom

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject:

So then you know what you need to do. Get some training for those areas you want to be successful in. I didn't listen to all your demos, but they seem to be all PA sports type stuff. Do you have examples of the types of work you want to do?
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

bisonvoice · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

I do, however they are on that ancient media, the cassette.

Mike · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject:

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject:

Those fossils are amazing.
Hve you ever seen the bones for an Ampex Rex?
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

Mike · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:

glittlefield · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

As I once read somewhere: When life gives you dilemmas, make dilemmanade.

I must whole-heartedly agree with everyone who has and will advise to explore your range and find out what you enjoy doing the most and then get training. I've just started, but every time I read a book, take a class or workshop or even listen to a podcast, I pick up some little nugget of info that's worth keeping and shining up for later.

The agent/outfit/place gave you some direction that will help you achieve a more marketable sound. Here's where you make the dilemmanade.

Fine, so the diction needs work. I've found that Jim Alburger's trick on holding a pencil just behind your front teeth and over-annunicating copy does wonders. That's something that can be done on the way to work. Just read billboards, bumperstickers, etc.

Frankly, I'm embarassed that I sent a reel of my radio spots to DB Talent years ago when I lived in Austin. Their office is in an old house on a large, wooded lot in the middle of a neighborhood that was just a few blocks from my house (at the time). I figured, heck, they're neighbors, they'll find something for me to do....

Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

They represent Harlan Hogan, for Pete's sake. They have enough on their plate.

But I sure as heck got a great rejection letter from them.

If you really want to do this, experiment and find your niche'. Try a little bit of everything! Then practice like crazy and save everything.

That's about as far as I've gotten. More next year. Wink

If I hadn't noticed a drastic change in my own performance over the last year, I sure as anything wouldn't have chimed in.
_________________
Greg Littlefield
VO-BB Member #59

bisonvoice · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:28 am Post subject:

Funny thing was, when I did those VO spots, I got nothing but positive feedback, never had one negative response. Did those spots stink?

Am just curious.

Tom

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

Positive feedback from whom? Experts in the field of Voice-over work? People who are in a position to get you the work you seek?

Whether or not they "Stink" is not the right question. Will those demos get you commercial or narration work? Unfortunately, no.

Given your reactions to the previous posts, I'm wondering if you're taking to heart the suggestions of more training and education. I hope you are.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

Tom--
Are you referring to actual spots, or to the Bison Previews and such at your site? Unless I'm missing something, I see only your PA/color work.
I agree with the comments above, and hope you do, too. When someone such as yourself has spent years doing the type of work you've done, like PA duties, it's easy to fall into routine and a.) not hear what others hear and b.) not stretch enough to have variety in delivery, volume, locution, etc.
Practice, listen, change, stretch, train, practice, read, listen critically (to yourself and everyone else, in VO or otherwise), practice, train ... you get the picture.
It's always a journey; in my opinion, one is never there. So staying actively engaged in growing, learning, training, practicing, exploring, expanding is key.
You get the (second) picture.
_________________
sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com