Separate Spanish Demo or combine English/Spanish Demo in one?

captain54 · 07-02-2009, 11:55 PM

I've been asked this question more than a few times now, so I thought I would bring it to the place where you will always find the most informed answers.

If one is a VO talent that speaks both fluent Spanish and English is it:

a) better to produce a one minute Spanish speaking commercial demo and a one minute English speaking commercial demo, both totally separate?

b)better to produce one separate English speaking commercial demo, and one demo with English and Spanish sort of combined, with spots mixed?

c)better to produce a one minute commercial demo, mixed 50/50, English and Spanish?

I should add, the talent is targeting mainly an English speaking market.

Mike Sommer · 07-03-2009, 02:53 AM

Edit***

I was wrong
Defer to Bob below.

Bob Bergen · 07-03-2009, 10:09 AM

I would never market your Spanish VO along with your English. You will be typed. Without listening, buyers will think you are Spanish trying to break into the English market. They will assume an accent on the English track without ever listening.

I say keep em separate! BUT-market the badoobies out of it!!!! There's a ton of work in the Spanish market!!!!!!

;-)

captain54 · 07-03-2009, 10:48 AM

much appreciated....very helpful info..

Safe to say then, in order to keep TOTALLY separate, have two completely separate CD's??

However, I guess there's no other way to keep separate if you are posting on a personal web page, or say, the pay for play sites, other than just labeling one mp3 "English" and one mp3 "Spanish",,, eh???

Mike Sommer · 07-03-2009, 12:36 PM

Interesting Bob I had never heard that before. But I guess it make sense understanding at how unimaginative some people can be.

But yeah Spanish market is HUGE! I wish I could habla fluently.

jandrade · 07-03-2009, 01:14 PM

To echo what Bob says, never combine your Spanish and English demos. As a bilingual talent myself, I always separate the two. Mike has it right, on a demo CD have your English and Spanish voice samples grouped separately, and on different tracks. In my opinion, by combining both it may convey a lack of experience.

jandrade · 07-03-2009, 01:22 PM

Right, on the "pay for play" sites, just label the demo with the appropriate language. As far as the CD goes, I don't think you need two of them. Save some money, just have one and make sure it is clear that there are two sets of tracks, one group in English and the other group in Spanish.

Bob Bergen · 07-03-2009, 01:55 PM

Have a separate page on your website devoted to your Spanish VO and market that particular page to the Spanish buyers. Don't list that page on the menu of your English VO home page. People who know how to surf a site will, of course, be able to find it if they snoop. But time is money, and most buyers don't spend their day surfing actor's sites. They just look at the page that is sent to them. I'd also have separate business cards devoted to your Spanish VO.

;-)

07-02-2009, 11:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
captain54 Chicago Voiceover Talent Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 188	Separate Spanish Demo or combine English/Spanish Demo in one? I've been asked this question more than a few times now, so I thought I would bring it to the place where you will always find the most informed answers. If one is a VO talent that speaks both fluent Spanish and English is it: a) better to produce a one minute Spanish speaking commercial demo and a one minute English speaking commercial demo, both totally separate? b)better to produce one separate English speaking commercial demo, and one demo with English and Spanish sort of combined, with spots mixed? c)better to produce a one minute commercial demo, mixed 50/50, English and Spanish? I should add, the talent is targeting mainly an English speaking market.

07-03-2009, 02:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	Edit*** I was wrong Defer to Bob below. Last edited by Mike Sommer; 07-03-2009 at 02:38 PM. Reason: I was given wrong info from a now unreliable source.

07-03-2009, 01:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
jandrade Bilingual Voice Overs Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 129	To echo what Bob says, never combine your Spanish and English demos. As a bilingual talent myself, I always separate the two. Mike has it right, on a demo CD have your English and Spanish voice samples grouped separately, and on different tracks. In my opinion, by combining both it may convey a lack of experience. __________________ Bilingual Voice Over Artist www.jandradevox.com

07-03-2009, 01:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
jandrade Bilingual Voice Overs Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 129	Right, on the "pay for play" sites, just label the demo with the appropriate language. As far as the CD goes, I don't think you need two of them. Save some money, just have one and make sure it is clear that there are two sets of tracks, one group in English and the other group in Spanish. __________________ Bilingual Voice Over Artist www.jandradevox.com

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07-03-2009, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bob Bergen User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 252	I would never market your Spanish VO along with your English. You will be typed. Without listening, buyers will think you are Spanish trying to break into the English market. They will assume an accent on the English track without ever listening. I say keep em separate! BUT-market the badoobies out of it!!!! There's a ton of work in the Spanish market!!!!!! ;-)

07-03-2009, 10:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
captain54 Chicago Voiceover Talent Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 188	much appreciated....very helpful info.. Safe to say then, in order to keep TOTALLY separate, have two completely separate CD's?? However, I guess there's no other way to keep separate if you are posting on a personal web page, or say, the pay for play sites, other than just labeling one mp3 "English" and one mp3 "Spanish",,, eh???

07-03-2009, 12:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	Interesting Bob I had never heard that before. But I guess it make sense understanding at how unimaginative some people can be. But yeah Spanish market is HUGE! I wish I could habla fluently.

07-03-2009, 01:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bob Bergen User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 252	Have a separate page on your website devoted to your Spanish VO and market that particular page to the Spanish buyers. Don't list that page on the menu of your English VO home page. People who know how to surf a site will, of course, be able to find it if they snoop. But time is money, and most buyers don't spend their day surfing actor's sites. They just look at the page that is sent to them. I'd also have separate business cards devoted to your Spanish VO. ;-)