Showing posts with label voice over talent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voice over talent. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Voice Over Production: How to Get High Quality Voice Over Productions for Your Media!
Voice Over Production: http://amazingvoicetalent.com - Visit my website to listen to more quality Voice Over Productions and get a *Free Quote* for your business needs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_4mqzhQDK4
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Identifying Voice Over Types
Voice-over talents quite often specialize in a certain style of voice-over, such as radio scripts, television ads as well as corporate and business voice-over scripts. As outlined by James R. Alburger, author of the book "The Art of Voice Acting: The Craft and Business of Performing for Voice Over", a lot of people mainly think about advertisements whenever they hear the phrase "voice over scripts." Today, voice over scripts are used for more than just television and radio advertisements. Voice overs have grown to be an indispensable part of giving presentations for media, the web, corporate promotional materials, and also to promote a number of events. There are basic types of voice over talents, and each role requires quite exact narration and on-air speaking skills.
In the radio industry, voice-over artists are used to make commercials, promo materials, in addition to radio DJ segments. For TV, voiceovers are being used for news segments, ads, promo videos and on-air segments to introduce news anchors along with other TV celebrities. The marketing promotions division of the TV channel generally handles the on-the-air campaigns of voice over tracks.
In the corporate community, voice overs are generally utilized to make training materials, internet presentations and promo videos. Voiceovers may also be used to produce marketing and advertising presentations, video demonstrations for trade shows, conventions, as well as for training purposes. Occasionally, a voice over artist can be used to produce a series of telemarketing information scripts or narrate the voice over prompts for inbound callers. Retailers generally produce voice-over scripts to be able to announce in-store offers.
In the motion picture sector, voice overs are utilized to be able to launch any segment, or to provide narration. Voice over talents used to do this type of job generally have some experience working with films as well as animation, and may even need to alter their voice in order to execute a particular role.
Various other in-demand areas for voice over artists includes the making of audio books, Internet streaming audio and web media presentations. These are all fast-growing areas of the world wide web that require a professional voice to support the actual programming, and voice over artists who will be hired for a majority of these jobs usually have professional voice over training.
In the radio industry, voice-over artists are used to make commercials, promo materials, in addition to radio DJ segments. For TV, voiceovers are being used for news segments, ads, promo videos and on-air segments to introduce news anchors along with other TV celebrities. The marketing promotions division of the TV channel generally handles the on-the-air campaigns of voice over tracks.
In the corporate community, voice overs are generally utilized to make training materials, internet presentations and promo videos. Voiceovers may also be used to produce marketing and advertising presentations, video demonstrations for trade shows, conventions, as well as for training purposes. Occasionally, a voice over artist can be used to produce a series of telemarketing information scripts or narrate the voice over prompts for inbound callers. Retailers generally produce voice-over scripts to be able to announce in-store offers.
In the motion picture sector, voice overs are utilized to be able to launch any segment, or to provide narration. Voice over talents used to do this type of job generally have some experience working with films as well as animation, and may even need to alter their voice in order to execute a particular role.
Various other in-demand areas for voice over artists includes the making of audio books, Internet streaming audio and web media presentations. These are all fast-growing areas of the world wide web that require a professional voice to support the actual programming, and voice over artists who will be hired for a majority of these jobs usually have professional voice over training.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Ways to Improve Your Voiceover Copy
The success of your podcast or radio and TV commercials will largely depend on your voiceover script. Composing an effective voiceover script that gets results is unlike writing print ads for publication or online advertisements.
Peter Drew, a veteran voiceover artist who is involved in Internet and radio productions, emphasizes the idea of 'writing for the ear, not the eye.' This idea requires one to write brief and straight to the point messages, the kind that we use in conversations. This style may seem very strange for anyone who has written ad copies but developing this style will allow one to create effective and convincing voiceovers.
Here are some simple ways to modify your marketing copy and recording strategies that will ensure the voiceover is narrated as smoothly as possible, and that it really does deliver a high-impact message to your target audience:
1. Make sure everything is in the active voice. Voiceovers need to take place in the present time, as if they were a real conversation. Make sure the whole script is written in the active voice so that the audience can identify with the messages easily.
2. Make use of windscreens. Words beginning in 'B', 'P' and 'T' produce a lot of wind or hissing sounds that affect sound quality. A talent may somehow compensate for this but this can lead to distortions in the pronunciation or meaning of sentences. A windscreen eliminates this problem and more by absorbing these unwanted noises. Your talent can focus on delivering a line properly without worrying about distortions.
3. Mark up the copy for inflection. Bolding certain words, highlighting parts of the copy or using something simple as underlines can really help your voiceover artist understand the gist of the message and deliver a quality piece. Read the copy out loud yourself to identify what parts of the sentence you want to emphasize, then mark up the copy so that the artist understands exactly what you need.
4. Write (or type) out any phone numbers. Remember that digits on paper are actually words when they are read out loud, so this may cause an imbalance in your copy. Read the entire piece with the numbers in full form so that you can adjust other parts for better flow if necessary.
5. Use your headline effectively. Listeners will hear your headline first so make sure this is interesting. A headline should be no more than ten words and declares a minimum of one significant point.
A script should always be compatible with the voiceover talent. A script writer should therefore always bear in mind the personality of the talent when composing the script. You can also adjust the script once you have chosen a voiceover talent. Fine-tune the script so that it matches the talent's positive and even negative features. In addition, provide ample time for your talent to practice. Follow all of these tips and you'll be producing effective scripts in no time.
Peter Drew, a veteran voiceover artist who is involved in Internet and radio productions, emphasizes the idea of 'writing for the ear, not the eye.' This idea requires one to write brief and straight to the point messages, the kind that we use in conversations. This style may seem very strange for anyone who has written ad copies but developing this style will allow one to create effective and convincing voiceovers.
Here are some simple ways to modify your marketing copy and recording strategies that will ensure the voiceover is narrated as smoothly as possible, and that it really does deliver a high-impact message to your target audience:
1. Make sure everything is in the active voice. Voiceovers need to take place in the present time, as if they were a real conversation. Make sure the whole script is written in the active voice so that the audience can identify with the messages easily.
2. Make use of windscreens. Words beginning in 'B', 'P' and 'T' produce a lot of wind or hissing sounds that affect sound quality. A talent may somehow compensate for this but this can lead to distortions in the pronunciation or meaning of sentences. A windscreen eliminates this problem and more by absorbing these unwanted noises. Your talent can focus on delivering a line properly without worrying about distortions.
3. Mark up the copy for inflection. Bolding certain words, highlighting parts of the copy or using something simple as underlines can really help your voiceover artist understand the gist of the message and deliver a quality piece. Read the copy out loud yourself to identify what parts of the sentence you want to emphasize, then mark up the copy so that the artist understands exactly what you need.
4. Write (or type) out any phone numbers. Remember that digits on paper are actually words when they are read out loud, so this may cause an imbalance in your copy. Read the entire piece with the numbers in full form so that you can adjust other parts for better flow if necessary.
5. Use your headline effectively. Listeners will hear your headline first so make sure this is interesting. A headline should be no more than ten words and declares a minimum of one significant point.
A script should always be compatible with the voiceover talent. A script writer should therefore always bear in mind the personality of the talent when composing the script. You can also adjust the script once you have chosen a voiceover talent. Fine-tune the script so that it matches the talent's positive and even negative features. In addition, provide ample time for your talent to practice. Follow all of these tips and you'll be producing effective scripts in no time.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Choosing Voice Over Scripts For Talent Interviews
If you're considering hiring voice over talent for an upcoming project, you'll need to schedule an interview, review demo tapes, and request a sample script reading from potential applicants. Voice over scripts make it easier to find just the right match for your business, and can make the interview process much more valuable. Think of the script as a sample of work your applicants can produce for you.
There isn't a hard and fast rule as to how long you should give your applicants to rehearse the sample script. In most cases, an hour or two should be sufficient. This is because this type of reading is most commonly conducted in a studio setting, in which the applicant is free to read off of the script. Once the actor or actress has had time to familiarize him or herself with the script and practice lines, he or she should be ready to perform a reading.
The general demographic group that you are targeting will be the chief determining factor in the style and tone of the sample script you ultimately choose. Deciding in advance as to what vocal styles will be appropriate for your target market is important for the efficiency of the hiring process, as you will otherwise find yourself performing excessive numbers of interviews with applicants who are not right for the job.
In order to decide what sample scripts you will use, you will need to think about several different factors; you will need to select scripts that will give you a good idea of the breadth and nature of your applicants' talents. To make sure that you choose voice talent that is a tonal and stylistic match with what your business is trying to accomplish, you will also want to consider what type of marketing you're trying to create. What are the general themes you're looking to tackle? Will the tone be authoritative, or do you want to make listeners laugh? These decisions will guide you in the selection of your sample scripts.
In order to find a suitable voice over sample script, possibly free of charge, all you need to do is consult on of the many script databases available on the Internet. With the resources at your disposal, it should be a cinch to find something that matches the tone and style you have chosen. Even if you've decided to write your own sample script, the scripts you can find online, free of charge, can provide invaluable help as reference materials, if you have a good idea of what you're looking to create.
Last of all, you are going to want to obtain a demo script of each applicant. These demos should allow yourself to compare and contrast the performances of the applicants side by side. To this end, you shouldn't just have your potential voice actors read one script; have them real several, with varying tone and subject matter, so that you can judge the versatility of your applicants, and the styles to which they are each uniquely suited. If you do not want to record these demos in your studio, you can request that applicants submit them with their initial applications.
There isn't a hard and fast rule as to how long you should give your applicants to rehearse the sample script. In most cases, an hour or two should be sufficient. This is because this type of reading is most commonly conducted in a studio setting, in which the applicant is free to read off of the script. Once the actor or actress has had time to familiarize him or herself with the script and practice lines, he or she should be ready to perform a reading.
The general demographic group that you are targeting will be the chief determining factor in the style and tone of the sample script you ultimately choose. Deciding in advance as to what vocal styles will be appropriate for your target market is important for the efficiency of the hiring process, as you will otherwise find yourself performing excessive numbers of interviews with applicants who are not right for the job.
In order to decide what sample scripts you will use, you will need to think about several different factors; you will need to select scripts that will give you a good idea of the breadth and nature of your applicants' talents. To make sure that you choose voice talent that is a tonal and stylistic match with what your business is trying to accomplish, you will also want to consider what type of marketing you're trying to create. What are the general themes you're looking to tackle? Will the tone be authoritative, or do you want to make listeners laugh? These decisions will guide you in the selection of your sample scripts.
In order to find a suitable voice over sample script, possibly free of charge, all you need to do is consult on of the many script databases available on the Internet. With the resources at your disposal, it should be a cinch to find something that matches the tone and style you have chosen. Even if you've decided to write your own sample script, the scripts you can find online, free of charge, can provide invaluable help as reference materials, if you have a good idea of what you're looking to create.
Last of all, you are going to want to obtain a demo script of each applicant. These demos should allow yourself to compare and contrast the performances of the applicants side by side. To this end, you shouldn't just have your potential voice actors read one script; have them real several, with varying tone and subject matter, so that you can judge the versatility of your applicants, and the styles to which they are each uniquely suited. If you do not want to record these demos in your studio, you can request that applicants submit them with their initial applications.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Why Hiring A Voice Over Artist Is Good For Your Business
No matter how badly you think you need to save money, it is never a good idea for a merchant to read his own commercial—unless, of course, he has a talent for it. The truth is, however, that most people don't. They may succeed in giving their commercial an air of originality, but that isn't a good thing if it results in people laughing at your commercial. And people are less likely to purchase your product or service if they don't respect you.
Many people mistakenly underestimate the importance of the voice over talent they use when approaching the public, because many people mistakenly believe that all they have to do to sell their product or service is to let people know that it's there. As long as they do something memorable, people will buy from them, right? Wrong. They may remember the guy with the funny voice or the guy who read in a monotone or tried to act out a little skit with his brother, but they'll buy from the guy who hired a professional to do his commercial.
And that is the heart of the matter. There is a purpose behind buying airtime and creating a commercial—you are trying to convince people to do something. You're trying to talk them out of their hard-earned cash, to come and give it to you in exchange for what you have to offer. You are trying, in other words, to impress them. If they sense that you didn't care enough about your marketing to do it correctly, then they will not be impressed. In fact, if you attempt to convince them using a very bad commercial, they may even feel as though you are insulting their intelligence, and that is definitely something you don't want.
When your commercial airs, it should sound professional. This makes you look professional. It may be the first contact a potential customer has with your business. In this way, your commercial is like your clothing. You wouldn't wear something sloppy and poorly assembled to go meet a client, so why would you present them with a sloppy and poorly assembled piece of advertising? Even though the voice telling the world about your service has nothing to do with how well you do what you do, in the same way the state of your clothing has nothing to do with how good you are at your job, you want to make the best impression possible with that voice, just as you would with your suit.
So what are the elements of a well-read commercial that a professional voice-over artist can give you? Professionalism is one very important thing that you will get. Your brother-in-law can't give you that in reading your commercial, because he doesn't know how. Just because he's been speaking all his life doesn't mean that he does it well. In fact, most people don't speak well. Speaking well is partly about pronouncing the words clearly so that people can understand, and partly about doing that so that it sounds natural.
Everyone in need of a commercial has to do it in the way they think is best, of course. For some it actually may not matter if they put out a professional-sounding commercials. Some customers may truly not care. However, someone who wants potential customers to associate his business with a voice that sounds professional, then it is vitally important that he hire a professional to do the talking.
Many people mistakenly underestimate the importance of the voice over talent they use when approaching the public, because many people mistakenly believe that all they have to do to sell their product or service is to let people know that it's there. As long as they do something memorable, people will buy from them, right? Wrong. They may remember the guy with the funny voice or the guy who read in a monotone or tried to act out a little skit with his brother, but they'll buy from the guy who hired a professional to do his commercial.
And that is the heart of the matter. There is a purpose behind buying airtime and creating a commercial—you are trying to convince people to do something. You're trying to talk them out of their hard-earned cash, to come and give it to you in exchange for what you have to offer. You are trying, in other words, to impress them. If they sense that you didn't care enough about your marketing to do it correctly, then they will not be impressed. In fact, if you attempt to convince them using a very bad commercial, they may even feel as though you are insulting their intelligence, and that is definitely something you don't want.
When your commercial airs, it should sound professional. This makes you look professional. It may be the first contact a potential customer has with your business. In this way, your commercial is like your clothing. You wouldn't wear something sloppy and poorly assembled to go meet a client, so why would you present them with a sloppy and poorly assembled piece of advertising? Even though the voice telling the world about your service has nothing to do with how well you do what you do, in the same way the state of your clothing has nothing to do with how good you are at your job, you want to make the best impression possible with that voice, just as you would with your suit.
So what are the elements of a well-read commercial that a professional voice-over artist can give you? Professionalism is one very important thing that you will get. Your brother-in-law can't give you that in reading your commercial, because he doesn't know how. Just because he's been speaking all his life doesn't mean that he does it well. In fact, most people don't speak well. Speaking well is partly about pronouncing the words clearly so that people can understand, and partly about doing that so that it sounds natural.
Everyone in need of a commercial has to do it in the way they think is best, of course. For some it actually may not matter if they put out a professional-sounding commercials. Some customers may truly not care. However, someone who wants potential customers to associate his business with a voice that sounds professional, then it is vitally important that he hire a professional to do the talking.
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