What to Look for in a Demo as a Voiceover Agent

by Victoria DeAnda on January 20, 2017

If you’re just getting into the industry as a voiceover agent, you probably want to know what you should pay attention to in demos. These demos are your sneak peek into the skills and experience of a voiceover talent. Not catching the important parts of a demo can mean missing out on a really good voiceover artist. This could end up costing you and your agency money.

The following are what to look for in demos to find the best voiceover artist for a project.

#1: Style

Pay attention to the voiceover’s style. If you’re seeking a voiceover talent with the ability to do narration, then pay attention to the demos with those specific samples. For voiceovers that have included many different styles, be sure to keep track of how many of the samples are narrative. Usually, it is better if a talent has more than one sample of a narrative so you can hear differences in types of narratives.

#2: Tone

Audiences demand specific tones from voiceovers. Some prefer a soft, delicate voice, while others want a more excited one. It’s important that a voiceover can change tone depending on what is needed for the project.

It can help to write down the tones you hear while listening to the demos. This way you’ll know which voiceovers have the tones you need when a particular client requests them.

#3: Quality of Demo

A voiceover should provide you with a high-quality demo. This is the first piece of work you’ll experience from the voiceover artist, so it should be great. If the demo isn’t clear and well thought out, it’s likely the voiceover artist may not deliver that type of work.

#4: Hesitations

Normal pauses in speech are natural, but when the pauses become frequent or longer than usual, it could signify fear, lack of confidence or insufficient experience. You want a voiceover artist who has a good sense of control over his/her voice, and the confidence to be able to execute. Keep this in mind as you review demos.

Take Notes and Decide

As you’re listening to the demos, be sure to take notes. The more detailed you are, the easier it’ll be later to choose the voiceover artist you need to fulfill a client’s request. These notes can be used later, as you need more voiceover talent. It’ll save a lot of time too because you won’t have to keep reviewing demos you’ve already looked at.

Take some time as you review your first demos. Soon, you’ll start to understand what you need to pay attention to, and what isn’t as important.

 

Ways to Succeed in Audiobook Voice-Over Narration

by Victoria DeAnda on June 27, 2014

The popularity and accessibility of audio books have grown exponentially in recent years, and this is easy to see why. More people are listening to audio books rather than taking the time to read them page after page, and, as a result, audio book production companies are constantly in need of audio recording talents and storytellers.

Planning to work as a voice actor for audio books? Here are some ways to get started and succeed in this niche:

Start the Right Way 

In the same way that good writing often starts with extensive reading, the best way to start in audio book narration is to listen to actual audio books. This will acquaint you with the vocal quality and pacing requirements of actual narration work. In addition, you will need to record yourself reading an actual book to see if you are able to deliver consistent tone and quality throughout the entire reading. For practice recordings, you may want to check if there are any free tools available online. However, if you will be working on your demo, it’s important that you perform your storytelling in a professional studio. 

Work on your Voice-Over Demo 

Although you can always record your demo on your own, working with someone who’s skilled in audio book production will increase your chances of producing a great demo. In addition, you will need to show other skills besides good narration when recording audio books. As a voice artist, you also have to demonstrate that you can record for an extended amount of time and have the ability to record various styles and genres.

Quality and Consistency from Cover to Cover 

Of course, it will be impossible for you to record an entire book during a single session. Usually, a 2-hour audio book takes an hour to record, or a 200-page book may take as long as 6 hours. Despite this, you have to be able to ensure style consistency throughout the entire recording. Again, whether you’re narrating or storytelling, you have to accomplish believable, interesting recording consistently.

Is Audiobook Narration for You? 

In terms of choosing a voice-over career niche, doing recordings for audio books may be the right path for you. However, you have to recognize that your voice may not be the best match for all types of reads, from children’s books and medical self-help books to romance novels. If you’re still trying to obtain as much experience as you can, a good tip is to hone you audio narration skills in one area and to expand from there. Since an audio book has to be narrated with the necessary nuance, inflection, and style consistently, it may be more helpful for you to train within a specific niche, one at a time.

However, if you’re looking for a Spanish voice-over talent for your audio book narration project, this is the place for you. My demos will demonstrate the kind of vocal quality and creativity I have acquired from my experience as a Spanish-language narrator, announcer, and storyteller. Send me a message today so we can get started!