Now Hear This! - 2008, August

[Emorgan_Voiceovers]

Yeah it is insane, but what the hell. It's a quick :30.

Ibis wasn't me either. If they didn't pick one of ours or Joes, they are insane!!!! :)

[Jodi Krangle]

When I click on the lead in Voices.com, there's a highlighted bit in yellow that says that the client has selected their talent and paid by Surepay. Voices.com seems to add that little note after something has closed, which I greatly appreciate. It's just nice to know.

Sorry to hear they didn't like your inspirational read. I got a 2 the other day myself (a "Not Likely") for a station that was looking for an alternative voice for imaging ... A kind of rock/alternative station. Apparently, I was definitely NOT what they were looking for. I'm just grateful they didn't give me a 1.

As for the Nascar spot, what would that normally pay, Scott? I'm not a member of any unions and it's always good to hear about going rates of things ...

--Jodi

[Lee Gordon]

This is what I like: different people showcasing their takes on the same copy. It's amazing the variety of interpretations you get from different sets of eyes and ears. Here are my takes on the Nascar toy and the TOD-Cast.

[Robert Jadah]

You de bomb, Eric Morgan!
The NASCAR read was tone perfect, though I thought you may have lacked some exciteable inflection to take full advantage of those ideal pipes. "One pit-stop and you're all set...", for example, was kind'a monotonic, where "one pit stop" should maybe have carried some drama.

As to the Conversational Cal, methinks you may be stuck at interpreting conversational as explanatory. You sounded a bit as if you were talking to a touring group of dimwits from Armpit, South Dakota, or a Grade Two class.

It's a high, tough hurdle, and some pros even talk to a posted photo of their partner to get that easy, chatty tone. One big success who posts here actually creates elaborate scenarios (.."I'm at the train station. It's two o'clock. I bump into Elliott, whom I haven't seen since the high-school reunion...etc, etc...."

I suggest you find some amiable, convincing trick which lets you convey that psst, I've got something to tell you, and only you conversational style.

But you've got some major stuff going, Mr. Morgan.

Respectfully Yours,

[Diane Havens]

One big success who posts here actually creates elaborate scenarios (.."I'm at the train station. It's two o'clock. I bump into Elliott, whom I haven't seen since the high-school reunion...etc, etc...."

I suggest you find some amiable, convincing trick which lets you convey that psst, I've got something to tell you, and only you conversational style.

Aye, there's the rub! Yes, I agree. Successful JS was just saying this to someone on the Purity Board. I have taken many acting classes, and in all of them, we improv-ed the before and after of a scene. When I've been in stage plays, getting ready to come on stage, I'd always be the character doing whatever it was I'd decided she was doing before my entrance, engaging the stage crew sometimes in character chatter. It helps greatly.

The problem with being "IN" these reads that way is that the character most often is YOU, and the "dialogue" is unnatural, not like normal speaking with that "buddy" -- who really TALKS like this?? And if you did, you wouldn't have many buddies to talk to for too long.

So, that's the tough part -- and it is tough. Here's my attempt at what I believe they described as "NPR style, not commercial." I don't know if it's NPR style, but I'm pretty sure it's not commercial.

[Lee Gordon]

Diane -- I think you nailed that "NPR style." All it needed to complete the NPR-ness was ambient sound of a train station concourse in the background.

[Jodi Krangle]

Love the reads, guys. It's really wonderful to hear all these. Diane, I totally agree with Lee. That was a really great interpretation. I love the little hesitations in there. It makes it sound more "real", if that makes any sense.

[anumber1]

Here's my approach to Cal Train. Not particularly creative, but after all, it's just me.

[media]http://www.voices.com/uploads/audition_files/1217632189_TOD.mp3[/media]

[Jodi Krangle]

Mike, *love* your voice. Really. You have a wonderfully rich lower rumble that's a joy to listen to. In fact, I enjoyed listening to it so much that I barely paid attention to what you were actually *saying*.

[anumber1]

Thanks Jodi, but don't tell the online school I do vo's for.