preparing a voice-over demo tape...
okay, so we’ve established that your headshot is your calling card…it gives people an idea of what you really look like…but in voice-overs, your headshot is non-essential…in this case, you need a demo tape or recording which actors use to showcase their voices…but don’t be too quick to do this for your child actor…we’ve learned all too well, through experience, that they need to be able to demonstrate their vocal range and present all of their capabilities…
when my daughter first got involved in acting in nyc, she was told my agents and casting people that she had an accent and needed to develop amercian standard speaking…after all, your voice is part of the actor’s instrument, and needs to be fine tuned…
she took speech and diction classes and now you wouldn’t know that she comes from ny…(except when she gets very excited and then you hear it slip in now and then!)…if we had done a voice-over tape early in her career, it would have been a mistake…point i’m trying to make is that you need to put your best foot forward…do not produce a tape that you are not proud of and accurately depicts the abilities of you or your child actor…
here are some tips to help with recording your child’s demo tape (if you have to do this one your own)…
1. make sure that each voice that is done, is done well and can be done consistently…last thing you want is to be called in to audition with a specific voice that they heard on the demo tape and it can’t be duplicated…
2. if you have a voice that is your best, put it first…you want to grab the attention of those listening…
3. put different styles on your tape – narratives, cartoons, commercials…then pick little sound bites of of your best parts and edit them together…
your demo tape must be professional quality…if your child actor does not have an agent that has capabilities to create a voice-over demo, then you’ll have to have it done professionally to be able to compete…don’t try to do this yourself, unless you have the sound equipment that is needed…
tomorrow i’ll continue on this topic…how to get an agent…auditioning for voice-over work, etc…so check in tomorrow for part 2…
have a wonderfully, blessed day…
hugs and out~
posted by Bella Bridal at 8:57 AM
2 Comments:
This is a great post. I'm looking into making a demo tape (although i'm far from a child actor at 18). the only question i still have and can't find an answer too is where to find material? should i just use bits and bobs of things i can copy, or write some of my own (provided obviously that it's any good). I haven't done any VO work in a LONG time so it's not like i have anything up to date that is "current work". What should i do!?
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