How Many Reads Before Overkill?

[PierceVoice]

Friends,

I work with a radio cluster that farms out voice for commercials. They are really great and get me a check before I can even remember to write an invoice.

Given no direction and a simply written :30, I usually send 3 reads.

Like for a recent Harley Dealer ad I gave a big and bold, older rock & roller type, and my standard younger smoother read.

How do YOU define the line between dorkily anxious and professional service, and do you err on the side of over-kill?

Thanks,
PV

[jsgilbert]

I'd say that what you are doing is just fine. The day may come when they get back to you with very specific direction and ask for a retake, but if you can provide three interesting and all workable directions toward any recording, I'd say you're 2 - 3 reads ahead of the pack.

--j.s.

[Anthony Williams]

Enough Said JS!!

I do the same thing from time to time when there is not enough direction or I feel it can be done another way:afro:

[VO Skeptic]

Hey PV
Congrats on the gig. I agree with the others. It's tough to mind read on these sessions. So what you're doing seems very professional. Plus it keeps you out of vocal delivery rut and they may even want to use a bit of each if your voices are distinct enough!

[PierceVoice]

This is exaclty what I like to hear. There's a pull for me to hold back and just read the copy (and in some bigger cases, 'shut up and work' may apply), but it's so much fun to spice things up! That's why we're doing this, afterall... so we don't have to get REAL jobs!