A New Commercial Demo

Emorgan_Voiceovers · 05-01-2009, 02:11 PM

Ok, First off thank you all for all of your feedback on my previous demo mixes. I am hoping this will be my last mix, but I am not counting on it. One more time, I would like your feedback if you would be so kind.

Paul Plack · 05-01-2009, 02:28 PM

Eric, I think these sound OK, but most of the spots you've chosen miss your "money voice," IMHO. The AmFam and BBVA spots, to me, sound like your most competitive sound.

I applaud your decision to pull the spot about angus beef. The character accent was OK, but the energy was so low it didn't match. I was reminded of Eor in Winnie the Pooh. The Duralast battery spot has the same problem, to a lesser extent.

Sometimes having a great voice stunts development in other areas. There are times I hear you leaning on the quality of your pipes at the expense of the read, and staying at the low end of your range at the expense of energy. I think your demo needs more samples of upbeat Eric, and fewer of the low, growly spots.

I'm certainly not qualified to coach anyone on acting technique, and usually stay out of these critiques as a result, but if I were on the other side of the glass there would be times I'd feel I was doing you a favor if I ran in the booth and pulled your headphones off!

I hope this doesn't come across as too blunt. You really do have a great voice!

feverpa · 05-01-2009, 02:45 PM

Eric,

I chimed in on the "wakeup call" thread you started, but had yet to listen to your samples here.

I will echo some of what I've read here. I know your voice - I used to hear it pretty much every day - and I think the samples you use in some of these mixes (the lowest ones, like Angus Beef, etc) just sound forced. All the comments you are getting about your voice being "artificially low" and similar comments - even though they aren't "correct" you have to remember perception is reality.

If a person has a voice SO LOW that people think it's being forced... then that isn't their "money voice." I think that might be the case with you. I think sometimes you try to pick copy and samples that really emphasize what doesn't need emphasizing - it will be really clear what kind of pipes you have on your demo no matter what - so the clips that show your range are much more important.

JoeActor · 05-01-2009, 03:46 PM

Eric,

I've gotta agree with Paul and Kevin. I'm still hearing an "artificially low" quality in a lot of your reads.

Since this is something I've been through, and I'm kind of a "learn by exampe" guy, I've recorded a short bit of copy, repeated in four ranges:

1) forced high
2) normal high
3) normal low
4) forced low

These are for my voice, of course... but everyone has their sweet spot. Mine's actually in the middle of these takes, between take 2 and 3. Yours may be lower, or higher - not really sure. But I do think you could benefit greatly from exploring the range above your comfort zone.

Maybe you'll find a new comfort zone ;-)

Hope this helps,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com

Scott Pollak · 05-02-2009, 08:37 AM

Guess it's time for me to finally jump on this bandwagon. Boy, Eric, you may end up wishing you'd never posted here! But hey, this is how we learn, grow and improve, right?

I won't add any more to the whole discussion about the pitch issue, what I want to address is the presentation.

I still hear too much 'stilted' read on most of your spots. It's rare that I believe you're actually talking to me, or telling me, or feeling it. It usually just sounds 'read'.

We've thrown this out a bazillion times on this forum but answer me this: Do you have any acting training at all? Have you ever taken any acting classes or improv classes?

I believe in my heart that if you had a decent amount of acting training and coaching, your voice would naturally eep up a little as you began to emote more with the copy. I want to hear the words flow smoothly off your lips as you tell me a story instead of hearing each word step down one at a time as you read the printed word.

No question you have an utterly amazing timbre and pitch and tone. It's lovely. But I'm not at the point yet when I hear your reads that I BELIEVE that YOU believe what you're telling me. It needs to be more real than what I'm hearing.

Jon Morss · 05-02-2009, 02:14 PM

Eric - I'm by far not an expert on demos, but I sort of like this last one. It shows good range and a variety of moods. I personally would nix the character spot, but that is just me. Also, I think a high energy spot somewhere in the middle and maybe a fun dialog spot would be a nice touch. I think you are headed in the right direction.

Rob Ellis · 05-22-2009, 09:25 AM

Wow, this is such a great thread because I too am an old radio guy whose voice tends to hang out in the lower realms at the cost of expressiveness.

I constantly have to remind myself not to get bogged down in the nether regions!

I have found though, that by going higher my voice will naturally dip into the lower range occasionally for much better effect.

I think years of radio got me addicted to my own resonance.

Also, not using headphones can be helpful in addressing this tendency.

Scott Pollak · 05-22-2009, 11:22 AM

Rob, there is SO MUCH TRUTH in your last two sentences.

#1: How often have we heard that a voice talent was a bit too much 'in love' with the sound of their own voice?
The sound or tonal quality is truly such a small part of it. The ability to express and convey emtions and feelings with our voices goes lightyears beyond just how the voice 'sounds'. An example: a noted voice that's being used a LOT in commercials nowdays is Jeff Bridges. His voice quality is okay. Nothing special. He most certainly doesn't have a Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones sound. But what he CAN do so well is talk to you like a trusted friend.

#2: Ditch the headphones. 'Nuff said. I never use 'em, and when I have to use them in a studio to hear feedback from the tech guy, it just weirds me out. I wear them only on one ear in a pro studio so that I can still hear myself the way I like to hear myself. It's like buckling up in a car... once you've ditched the cans, you may never be able to go back to using them again.

Lee Gordon · 05-22-2009, 03:42 PM

If I want to really cringe, I'll go back and listen to an aircheck of myself from my college radio days, trying to make my voice sound deeper than it really was or ever would be.
You gotta learn to do what you can with the tools you've been given.

Paul Plack · 05-22-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Gordon

If I want to really cringe, I'll go back and listen to an aircheck of myself from my college radio days, trying to make my voice sound deeper than it really was or ever would be.
You gotta learn to do what you can with the tools you've been given.

Well, yeah, but back then, you also had to do what it took to get hired. Your audition tape (or, for us, Lee, audition wax cylinder) had to impress the Program Director, who was sometimes sitting behind a desk because he was a better manager than air talent, and the General Manager, who came up through sales and wanted someone who'd sound great selling cars in a loud voice.

Oh...and if the station was a really small operation, the owner's wife had to like your voice.

05-02-2009, 08:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
Scott Pollak Warm, Real, Natural Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,888	Guess it's time for me to finally jump on this bandwagon. Boy, Eric, you may end up wishing you'd never posted here! But hey, this is how we learn, grow and improve, right? I won't add any more to the whole discussion about the pitch issue, what I want to address is the presentation. I still hear too much 'stilted' read on most of your spots. It's rare that I believe you're actually talking to me, or telling me, or feeling it. It usually just sounds 'read'. We've thrown this out a bazillion times on this forum but answer me this: Do you have any acting training at all? Have you ever taken any acting classes or improv classes? I believe in my heart that if you had a decent amount of acting training and coaching, your voice would naturally eep up a little as you began to emote more with the copy. I want to hear the words flow smoothly off your lips as you tell me a story instead of hearing each word step down one at a time as you read the printed word. No question you have an utterly amazing timbre and pitch and tone. It's lovely. But I'm not at the point yet when I hear your reads that I BELIEVE that YOU believe what you're telling me. It needs to be more real than what I'm hearing. __________________ Scott R. Pollak Warm, Real, Natural... The Voice of NPR Atlanta www.voicebyscott.com

05-02-2009, 02:14 PM	#16 (permalink)
Jon Morss Jon Morss Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Antelope, CA Posts: 643	Eric - I'm by far not an expert on demos, but I sort of like this last one. It shows good range and a variety of moods. I personally would nix the character spot, but that is just me. Also, I think a high energy spot somewhere in the middle and maybe a fun dialog spot would be a nice touch. I think you are headed in the right direction. __________________ Jon Morss "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." -- Zig Ziglar

05-22-2009, 11:22 AM	#18 (permalink)
Scott Pollak Warm, Real, Natural Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,888	Rob, there is SO MUCH TRUTH in your last two sentences. #1: How often have we heard that a voice talent was a bit too much 'in love' with the sound of their own voice? The sound or tonal quality is truly such a small part of it. The ability to express and convey emtions and feelings with our voices goes lightyears beyond just how the voice 'sounds'. An example: a noted voice that's being used a LOT in commercials nowdays is Jeff Bridges. His voice quality is okay. Nothing special. He most certainly doesn't have a Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones sound. But what he CAN do so well is talk to you like a trusted friend. #2: Ditch the headphones. 'Nuff said. I never use 'em, and when I have to use them in a studio to hear feedback from the tech guy, it just weirds me out. I wear them only on one ear in a pro studio so that I can still hear myself the way I like to hear myself. It's like buckling up in a car... once you've ditched the cans, you may never be able to go back to using them again. __________________ Scott R. Pollak Warm, Real, Natural... The Voice of NPR Atlanta www.voicebyscott.com

05-22-2009, 03:42 PM	#19 (permalink)
Lee Gordon Voice Over Professional Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: West Hartford, CT, USA Posts: 939	If I want to really cringe, I'll go back and listen to an aircheck of myself from my college radio days, trying to make my voice sound deeper than it really was or ever would be. You gotta learn to do what you can with the tools you've been given. __________________ For more voice over demos, my life story, client list, and other relevant information, please visit my website at www.leegordonproductions.com

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05-01-2009, 02:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Paul Plack User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Murray, Utah, USA Posts: 493	Eric, I think these sound OK, but most of the spots you've chosen miss your "money voice," IMHO. The AmFam and BBVA spots, to me, sound like your most competitive sound. I applaud your decision to pull the spot about angus beef. The character accent was OK, but the energy was so low it didn't match. I was reminded of Eor in Winnie the Pooh. The Duralast battery spot has the same problem, to a lesser extent. Sometimes having a great voice stunts development in other areas. There are times I hear you leaning on the quality of your pipes at the expense of the read, and staying at the low end of your range at the expense of energy. I think your demo needs more samples of upbeat Eric, and fewer of the low, growly spots. I'm certainly not qualified to coach anyone on acting technique, and usually stay out of these critiques as a result, but if I were on the other side of the glass there would be times I'd feel I was doing you a favor if I ran in the booth and pulled your headphones off! I hope this doesn't come across as too blunt. You really do have a great voice!

05-01-2009, 02:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
feverpa Kevin in Indianapolis Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 97	Eric, I chimed in on the "wakeup call" thread you started, but had yet to listen to your samples here. I will echo some of what I've read here. I know your voice - I used to hear it pretty much every day - and I think the samples you use in some of these mixes (the lowest ones, like Angus Beef, etc) just sound forced. All the comments you are getting about your voice being "artificially low" and similar comments - even though they aren't "correct" you have to remember perception is reality. If a person has a voice SO LOW that people think it's being forced... then that isn't their "money voice." I think that might be the case with you. I think sometimes you try to pick copy and samples that really emphasize what doesn't need emphasizing - it will be really clear what kind of pipes you have on your demo no matter what - so the clips that show your range are much more important.

05-22-2009, 09:25 AM	#17 (permalink)
Rob Ellis Rob Ellis Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 64	Wow, this is such a great thread because I too am an old radio guy whose voice tends to hang out in the lower realms at the cost of expressiveness. I constantly have to remind myself not to get bogged down in the nether regions! I have found though, that by going higher my voice will naturally dip into the lower range occasionally for much better effect. I think years of radio got me addicted to my own resonance. Also, not using headphones can be helpful in addressing this tendency.