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Find Your Voice: 25 Voiceover Tips From Piehole
Find Your Voice: 25 Voiceover Tips From Piehole
intro........................................................3
EXTRAS:
- list of ad agencies.............................18
- list of sound studios..........................20
- list of agents.....................................21
WHAT NEXT?..........................................24
INTRO
Out of all the tough ways of making money these days - let’s face it,
studio, have a cappuccino, do the gig and bam, half an hour later,
you’re cooked. And for that “mammoth” effort you get a few hundred
Many actors achieve great success in this industry. Its fun, they
make great cash, and they keep getting work over and over again.
Then there are others who are struggling to even get one gig. After
This e-book will give you all the need-to-knows to become successful
At the end of the book is a section on how to cut a good demo as well
other important resources you might need in your quest for global
voiceover domination.
improving
your odds
You can promote yourself as much as you like - but at the end
with some very talented people out there. An “ok” demo is not
good enough.
very tight deadlines, and if you take too long getting back to
phone.
3. It takes time
you’re not just going to get booked on day 1. It’ll only be af-
ter you’ve done a few gigs (successfully) that people will start
expect when you do a gig - from the minute you walk in to the
calm the nerves when you’re doing your first gig. You can also
take a few scripts along to this coffee and ask them to crit you
doing a read.
guinea pig). This is imperative and the absolute least you can
7. Get a dictaphone
own head, but only once you hear it out loud can you really
practice.
know your
etiquette
The biggest way you are going to get money in this job is to get
repeat business. People tend to use those they like and trust
over and over again. And how do you get repeat business? Be
nice.
9. Drink up
10. Be patient
you’re not doing a good job. It’s just the nature of the beast.
11. It’s not your ad
specific idea about what they’re looking for. All you can do is
try to figure out what the fcek they mean when they say ‘warm
thing else vague. Try to be patient and not have too many
“creative differences”.
When you’re done your gig, say your goodbyes and thank you’s.
leaves such a good impression when they leave their cards be-
hind in studios.
14. Don’t go with a hangover
the gig is in the morning. Your voice will thank you for it.
don’t have a bash at their lines (actors can also be quite anal
Below is a list of clever marketing tips that can help you to get
more publicity for yourself. These will take a bit of effort, but
the rewards could be huge.
Even if you already have an agent, join up! The more people
ture at the bottom of EVERY email you ever send. You never
know who might end up clicking on it. And what the heck, it’s
free promotion.
Send a CD with your demo on it. The downside is that it’s quite
CDs that land on their desks. The upside is you might get a gig
or two out of it. Might. See the next point for a better way.
weeks time.
their portfolios; as such they wouldn’t have money to pay for it.
The biggest mistake VOs make when they go and record their
the scripts for them. So now they’re using valuable studio time
and you’ve got to make it count. The key is to have all your
material in advance - and practice your *ss off before you ever
1. Listen to the radio and take note of the ads that you like.
Keep a pen and paper handy, and copy the script. Then
practice the script over and over. Not just in your head - but
your best bet. Then you can also look for winner’s results
from.
scripts.
bit you like, copy down the script, and practice, practice, prac-
tice.
And that’s all there is to it. The sound engineer will help you
and guide you on the day, but you’ve got to bring something to
the party. Otherwise it’s just like flushing your money down the
bog.
demo on the cheap – find the right guys for the job. See
page 21 for some good sound studios that you can en-
their details, pick up the phone and start calling them. Speak
writer and radio producer in the agency. (Not all agencies have
information.
Something like:
record here, but the more ways you have of promoting yourself,
the better.
AD
AGENCIES
Dublin. Check out their websites and listen to their radio and TV
ads to hear what some of the other VO’s have been up to. You
can also use this list to start your database as mentioned in the
LONDON
Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO www.amvbbdo.co.uk
DDB www.bmpddb.com
Fallon www.fallon.com
JWT www.jwt.co.uk
MCBD www.mcbd.co.uk
VCCP www.vccp.com
Chemistry www.chemistry.ie
Bonfire www.bonfire.ie
DDFH&B www.ddfhb.ie
Language www.language.ie
McConnells www.mcconnells.ie
Ocean www.ocean.ie
Rothco www.rothco.ie
DUBLIN
Mutiny www.mutiny.ie
LONDON
750mph www.750mph.com
Scramble www.scramble.co.uk
Wave www.wavestudios.co.uk
AGENTS
Here is a list of some agents in who have websites you can check
out. It is worth enquiring whether you can get into their books.
Even if you are already on Piehole, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it,
eh, about 7 times: the more ways you have of promoting yourself,
the better.
DUBLIN
Actors & Movers www.actorsandmovers.com
TN Enterprises www.tnenterprises.com
Voicebank www.voicebank.ie
Endline www.endline.ie
CO-OPS:
Castaway www.irish-actors.com
Radiotalent.co.uk www.radiotalent.co.uk
Speak-easy www.speak-easy.co.uk
SueTerryVoices www.sueterryvoices.co.uk
CO-OPs:
Performance Actors Agency www.p-a-a.co.uk
So now you know what you need to know. You are officially
sipping pina coladas and laughing all the way to the piggy
bank.
Don’t just sit there. Take the first step and get yourself out
because if you’ve got the talent, the money will follow. All