We are asked to do many things as #voiceartists and creating a #soundscape as it were. I include three examples!
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Category: What Does a Voice Actor Do?
Phone Messaging & IVR
For a while now, I’ve been calling various production businesses to discover if they might be taking demos for new artists. I was amazed at how many (apparently) operating businesses had
- REALLY bad phone message (no clarity, confusing, and worse)
- NO message- just the standard, “Please leave a message…” that came as a default.
- There is no voice mail set up for this line. (REALLY?!? You’re a business!!)
It might be time to hire a professional #voiceartist to record the message on your system. Customize for specials or directing customers! And if you’re in a different country or need a female talent, let me know! I know people!! .
Let’s talk! What can I record for you?
We read scripts and know stuff and; A Bias Towards Trust
You’ve seen the memes where its “(fill in favorite activity here) and I know stuff/things”.
We’ve now defined #VoiceActing. “We read scripts and we know things” if only for very short periods of time. We’re arguably the greatest resource of unconnected facts and trivia around.
Life Skills! heh.
Yesterday I moderated a chat between two educators, one here in the US and the other in India. The doctoral level educator from India said something that I thought was profound. Speaking of “fixing” education, he said,
“We need to establish a ‘Bias Towards Trust'”.
Wow. I’m gonna chew on that. It’s what’s wrong with the US right now in my opinion. Be part of the movement. .
What can I record for you?
Movie Trailers & Video Game Trailers!
What’s a Voice Artist do?
The infamous “In a Land”, “In a World”… made famous by Don LaFontaine, we’re often called on with a deep booming voice to introduce or voice that commercial. Just as often, its for fun, like that wedding toast mentioned last week!
Recording Commercials
I just KNOW you’re surprised!! (not)
A HUGE amount of voice over work that comes our way is recording commercials!
I chat a bit about the process (abbreviated, of course) and play a sample of a commercial I conceived, wrote, produced for demonstration purposes.
Meditations, Affirmations & Hypnosis
As voice actors, we get different types of scripts.
I enjoy this slot as it truly seems to be “self help” in many ways!
I talk quickly about doing Meditations, Hypnosis & Affirmations, then there’s a 5 minute sample for you to enjoy!
Setting the mood
One of the things that VO do is set the mood. This can change from sentence to sentence! I received a script to record yesterday for a hearing aid company.
The script said, “You know my sad story…” My point is that doesn’t sound natural. I suppose if I’m really trying to pull the pity chain I’d say that, but I’d more likely say with sadness in my voice, “You know my story…” and emote that so it sounds sad too! Then the next sentence I was saying how happy I was now that I could hear well, even in the crowded bar.
I’ll be happy to set YOUR mood! Let’s chat!
Proof reading, Editing, & Correcting
Spoiler: We don’t write the same way we speak.
There it is. I write a lot of commercial and marketing copy and I catch myself.
Take: “I am going to go the store” can be read (and likely will be)
“I’m gonna go twoda store”
The first sentence, if read the way its written can sound mechanical, or robotic.
We can help “humanize” your script. With my sales and marketing background, I can also look at your script from the sales side. I just did a script this morning and the company name was only mentioned once at the beginning and never gave the web address. HUH?!
Happy to help with your scripts!!
Host/Emcee? Moderator? Presenter?
I do more and more virtual meeting management, I’m seeing confusion on what I do, or more accurately what people want. So…
Moderator: I might be “on screen” long enough to be introduced, but I’m really more like a stage manager in a play. I manage the event
Host/Emcee: I’m on screen and while helping to manage the event, I’m on screen sometimes managing and introducing guests, but I’m not the presenter.
Presenter: I’m the content provider. I may act as your company representative, or just the hired gun brought in to close the deal, but I’m doing the presentation. Of course there are combinations of these too?
May I help you in your virtual presentations and webinars? Contact me here!
What Does a Voice Artist Do? Wedding Toasts!
Installing carpet & moving furniture!! NOT!
Got rolling early today with a friend stopping by after his midnight shift to carry two rolls of carpet upstairs, helped me install one room, then we carried the furniture up that I also got yesterday. Whew!! And that was ALL done by 8:30!
Oh yeah, #voiceover! Why NOT have a voiceactor voice your wedding toast!? I had an order come in to record a fun toast. As the script was written in a humorous way, I gave them a second cut with a little “Grant Humor” tossed in. They loved it.
Did some revision work on the “off-world miner prisoner” character voice I’ve been working on for a video and finally work on how to use a soil testing device for a company. Never a dull day!
What can I voice for you?