Now Hear This! - 2008, Jan 16-31

[JoeActor]

Boy Joe,
Talk about identity theft. Whoa
Well done
-roger

I'm just borrowing it (not sure I'd want it permanently!)
Joe

[JoeActor]

Ok, I couldn't resist this one - supposed to be a cross between a ringmaster and a magician intro:
http://www.voices.com/uploads/auditi...e_J_Thomas.mp3

Over on Voices.com if you've got a mind for mahem,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio

[Diane Havens]

Now why is there never anything wacky like this for the women? At least I'm not seeing them. I might be more motivated then to post here.
Great fun, Joe! I could picture the outfit he'd be wearing on this one too -- that ringmaster-magician hybrid. Good vocal blend for that combo. Real presto-chango-in the center ring.

[JoeActor]

Now why is there never anything wacky like this for the women? At least I'm not seeing them. I might be more motivated then to post here.
Great fun, Joe! I could picture the outfit he'd be wearing on this one too -- that ringmaster-magician hybrid. Good vocal blend for that combo. Real presto-chango-in the center ring.

Thanks Diane - I "borrowed" the character from a cartoon I like.

I'm sure there must be some "wacky" reads out there for women. Then again, the guys don't get the "sultry" ones much.

I also like hearing the variations on straight reads. Always fascinating how many ways one sentence can be read.

What's that in the road, a head?
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio

[Diane Havens]

Sultry, you say?

This is a long term work in progress in which I have the honor and the privilege of working with the incredibly gifted Mr. Robert Jadah.

Okay, class, get out your notebooks -- we're studying the medieval masterpiece, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This is the bedroom scene --where noble Sir Gawain and the Lady of the castle (ah, now I've got your attention...)

[JoeActor]

Hey! NC-17!

I like it - it's a mix of prim and sultry.

A bawdy classic indeed...
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio

p.s. Tell Mr. J he's missed over here - stop on by!

[Diane Havens]

... hey this is only the short clip that was rated PG!

Yeah, I was going for hot yet haughty on this one. It is really is a fun piece to do -- for educational purposes only.

(I'll pass word along to Sir G.)

[Robert Jadah]

You're missed too, Joe J....that other place lost a lot of energy when you skedaddled.
And how about that dramatically soaring Ms. Havens? She can emote, I tell you.
(Like a true prima donna, however, note how whe she posted a small clip that had me sputtering and her in full flowing elegance.....leaving the rest of the six-minute bit - in which I was admittedly splendid - on her cutting room floor. Sigh. I'm used to it.)

And this is a nice place, Joe. I like it. But it feels a bit like Disneyworld at 3:00 am.
What it needs is a bit of controversy and clatter.
I'll start by articulating (and illustrating) one truth a day about site seekers.

TRUTH ONE:
Ninety-six percent of seekers think they're impresarios. They actually have no idea what they want. Their directions should ALWAYS read: We have no idea. We'll probably know it when we hear it.

EVIDENCE:
For a computer game, they here asked for a 'maniacal miltary commander, preferably (sic) with an edge to his voice. Alternates between madness and lucidity. Almost over the top, please.'

I thought I delivered.

[JoeActor]

Robert!

Good to hear ya - love the rattle in your voice on the MadCommander bit.
Kill! Kill! Kill!

Truth? I can't handle the truth!
(maybe I can)

Truth One - yep. Can't tell you how many times I've auditioned and tried to get close to what they were asking, only to hear the finished spot and it's completely different. Sometimes I just trust my gut and read it how I think it should sound...

Good to have you over here Moose-Man!
Spice up the site already, will ya!?!?

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio

[Robert Jadah]

Well, that didn't ruffle any feathers or otherwise raise a squawk.
Let's try:

TRUTH TWO:

Seven out of ten seekers don't even hire from the site at which they posted.

EVIDENCE:

I just heard from a solid talent that he's gone zero for 365 custom auditions at Voices.com. Personally, I was one for twelve months.
Tote up your numbers, fellow VO's, and I would suggest that - between any ten of us - the ratio would be, at best, six of 2,000.

Now consider that voice sites are very eager to trumpet their dream-making abilities, yet neither V123 nor voices has ever, ever, ever volunteered their percentage of bookings versus postings.

If that number were decent and in any way hopeful, you just know they would.

Cynically Yours,