Quote:
Originally Posted by DBHavens
I have an interesting internal mechanism that helps me decide if I should voice a project -- if I can read it without a) laughing hysterically or b) throwing up.
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Awesome, Diane. :) Yeah ... I have to say, and I'm fairly new at this, that as long as I can actually get *through* the read and not do either of the two above, I'm usually ok with voicing it. But then, as others have pointed out, no one would recognize my voice on the air at this point. Yes, to a certain extent, I like to be able to stand by what I voice. And there are some things I just couldn't stomach voicing.
But here's another example: When I was putting my demos together with SuchAVoice.com (I don't have the final results of that on my site yet, so the demo there right now isn't the one I did with them), a lot of political copy was sent my way to consider doing for the demo. I turned it all down - not because it was offensive in any way - but because, being a Canadian, I just didn't feel that a political campaign in the States would actually *want* me to voice anything for them.
I kind of thought it would a little pointless to include it. And discussing VERY obvious political or religious beliefs in copy makes me slightly uncomfortable. (I do say VERY. Because if it's mild or subtle, I wouldn't have a problem with it.)
In a sense, yes - doing this is voice *acting* and no, I don't need to be personally affiliated or believe in something entirely to do it (it's my job to make something sound enticing and/or interesting, even if I've never done it, used it, experienced it, whatever, before)... but I like to be proud of the work I do. So my litmus test? If I was ok with putting up the spot as a demo on my website, I'd be ok to voice it.
I guess that puts me in the "definitely maybe" category.
Oh - there is something I DO draw the line at though. I DON'T do auditions/jobs for telemarketing firms. (I'm SO with you there, Julie!) Those pre-recorded messages telling you that you qualify for great savings with your credit cards? Or telling you that you've won a cruise if you'll just come to this day-long seminar ... Nope. I see a lot of them pop up on Voices.com and I have to say that those are the type of ads that kind of make me a little ill. I hate GETTING those phone calls. The last thing I'd want to do is be associated with them.
That's a personal matter for me though. I truly HATE spam/telemarketing. Bleh. If I *wanted* your product, I'd seek it out myself thanks. Due to having about 10 different emails on my songwriting website since 1995, I get an OUTRAGEOUS amount of spam in a day (and I have a Spamcop Webmail account to help me deal with it all). I'm certainly not going to contribute to that mess in a vocal way.
Interesting question, Julie! Thanks for asking this. Other folks' perspectives on this has been really fascinating to read.