Category Archives: how to do voiceovers

Union or Non-Union, is that the voiceover question?

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Earlier this week I received an email from an active Non-Union voice talent. Let’s call this voiceover person, Terry, to cover all the gender bases. Terry felt that since they’ve been Non-Union, (not a member of SAG/AFTRA) that they could make more money by being a Union member exclusively. In Terry’s mind movie trailers, National Retailer TV and Radio accounts, the biggest of the big voiceover jobs are just sitting there ripe for the picking. Terry’s very experienced with 15 years of full-time freelance voiceovers behind the microphone. Like dreams of those dancing sugarplums Terry’s thinking that the bump “up” to Union status is the way to go to advance Terry’s career.

But is it true? Would Terry make more as a Union voiceover talent?

My opinion…it depends. Timing, meaning right place and right time are important, Terry’s vocal skill set, Terry’s physical location may also make a difference.

What about Financial Core? Doesn’t Fi-Core allow you to do BOTH Union and Non-Union work? Sometimes being Fi-Core can be a great benefit if you’re in the right location, conversely you can become a vo pariah if you live somewhere else.

These are questions I’d love to have discussed by those of you in the know about such things. I’m Fi-Core myself. I lost my agent in NYC because I was Fi-Core, yet for years outside of NYC, I was the voice of Circuit City (RIP), Nissan and Lenscrafters. Those gigs provided enough income to…well…to be life changing.

My bread and butter, the day in day out gigs are always non-union. Sometimes they pay very well, even above Union voice rates, most of the time not. I’ve always looked at this as a volume game and with volume one can become very financially successful.

What are your thoughts? Are you an experienced talent who has done both as Financial Core or previously one now the other? Are you a full-time Union voiceover talent? With the internet the tables have more than turned, they’ve been flipped over and it’s anyone’s game anymore.

We’d love to hear what you have to say on the issue.

Also, if you’re searching for professional union and non-union voiceover talent please visit us at SunSpots. Search here for voice talent.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Tom


Recording equipment category at GuitarCenter.com

Simpsons have new show intro

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Just saw the new opening for The Simpsons. Wonder what’s up with the addition of the 3-eyed crow?

Every time the Simpsons voice actors threaten to strike I always have my fingers crossed and tongue ready. It’d be the voiceover’s guy dream come true to get one of those roles. How about you voiceover pros? Do you do any of the Simpsons character’s voices? Throw in a demo with your response if you have one. We’d love to hear it!

SAG says "Check Your Backside" to it's union members

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Good morning!
I just saw this article in Variety online…

With the resumption of SAG’s contract talks in limbo, the guild’s toughening up its ban on members working for nonunion producers. The Screen Actors Guild recently notified its 120,000 members in a “Check Your Backside” message that, starting on Jan. 1, it will “vigorously” enforce the ban on nonunion work for new-media productions.

“Rule One states that ‘no member shall work for a producer who is not signatory to the appropriate SAG agreement,’” SAG said in the missive. “Rule One is printed on the back of every SAG membership card. SAG members may also work on new-media projects if they are covered under an AFTRA collective bargaining agreement.”

SAG’s master contract expired June 30 — the same day the majors made their final offer — and members currently work under the expired contract’s terms in features, primetime and new media. SAG’s negotiating committee met Wednesday with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez about its stalled contract negotiations, but no date’s been set for restarting talks between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

Earlier this year, SAG’s national board unanimously OKd the move to launch the Rule One campaign. “The goal is to make sure that members insist on basic protections when they work in new media,” national director of organizing Todd Amorde told Daily Variety.

Guild leaders have become increasingly concerned in recent years over actors circumventing discipline under Rule One. SAG announced last year that members filing for “financial core” status — under which a member resigns SAG membership and withholds dues spent by the guild on political activities but can still work on union jobs — generally won’t be allowed back into the guild.

Aside from expulsion, Rule One violators can be fined or suspended after a trial board hearing.

With SAG and the majors awaiting the next step in the mediation process, the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees and the AMPTP will return to the bargaining table today — seven months after they concluded three days of negotiations without reaching a deal. Both sides have set aside three days for the talks.

The current IATSE deal expires in August and covers about 25,000 West Coast workers in 18 locals. If the AMPTP can make a deal with IATSE, it will mark the sixth such pact signed by the majors this year, following deals with the DGA, WGA and casting directors plus two TV agreements with AFTRA.

Before turning to mediation, SAG unsuccessfully attempted to restart negotiations Sept. 30 by announcing a trio of “threshold” issues: new-media jurisdiction for all productions, rather than the $15,000-per-minute budget threshold the majors propose; securing residual fees for made-for-Internet productions when those productions are reused on new-media platforms; and continuing force majeure protections for actors, which the majors have sought to eliminate.

For its part, the AMPTP’s insisted it won’t change the final offer to SAG and stressed that its terms are similar to those in the WGA, DGA and AFTRA deals.

It’s going to be very interesting to see how the voiceover and acting unions survive the economic mess we’re currently in.

Speaking of professional voice talent, if you’re a voice talent with SunSpots Productions please make sure we have your latest voiceover demo in hand so we can keep your best in front of our clients. Please send it to:
Jen Stevens
SunSpots Productions
821 Marhall Farms Road
Ocoee, Florida
34761

Cheers-
Tom

How do you keep your nose happy?

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As a voice talent and severe allergy sufferer I was wondering how other voiceover talent survive the allergy season? It’s so tough for me that at one time I was getting 6 shots every 3 days. I felt like a human pincushion! It did help a bit I think. Had to give up my cats Porky and Melvin though. (They went to a loving home thankfully.) The question is, how do you do your job as a voice talent and deal with your allergies, if you have them of course. When I’m at our Asheville studios Janet keeps tossing Claritin at me. I eat ‘em like Tic Tacs! Allegra’s not bad, but the Claritin seems to do the job for me if I double the dose. I thought when I drove to Florida last week I’d avoid the pollen, but nope! The trees around Orlando are peaking. I just heard my voice on a spot for Courtesy Toyota and (lol) I could hear a little of the stuffy sound.�

How do you handle allergies and stuffy nose issues as a talent? (other than taking a voiceover vacation for 2 months in Spring) ;-)
We would all appreciate your tips in how you handle allergy season. 

Have you noticed the changes in voiceover industry?

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Just a quick note tonight. The SunSpots Productions booking staff and I were chatting on Friday about conversations they’ve had with voice talent over the past weeks. The changes in the economy and the overall changes in our industry are affecting all of us in way or another. A few talent are having tough times finding gigs and getting a little tired of doing multiple auditions for us and other studios.

In my 20-plus years experience of doing voiceovers I’ve noticed that almost 90% of jobs now require an audition. What’s strange to me is that the clients are asking for auditions even when they’re very familiar with the voice they’re having audition. I’ve heard the reason for it is that their end client needs to hear the read to make a better decision in choosing voice talent. I totally understand that. The hard part for us as professional voice talent is that sometimes we may feel like not doing the auditions. We think, “The client knows my voice and skills. I’ve been voicing for 10 or 20 years and I have to do an audition? Please…” Well, you know what? If you don’t do the auditions, you’re 100% guaranteed to not get the job. It’s like saying that you don’t want the money. 
When the “got to have auditions” phase began about 3-4 years ago I protested it and noticed something. I was losing work. So these days, send me auditions all the time and I’ll knock em out.
Now, it’s common knowledge, to most if not all of us, that we MUST do these auditions every hour if need be or be passed over because we chose not to. Remember there’s always some new guy or gal out there waiting for that big break and you saying no could be just that.
I’ve had dreadful, animated phone calls with talent saying how it isn’t fair, they’re well known voices, they’re longtime pros, they’re big names in the biz and the clients should know their skills by now.
It comes down to this, no audition done and no work gained. 
So go ahead, it’s just a few minutes of undirected fun. Do the auditions and keep swingin’ the bat! The more you swing, the greater the chance of getting home run. I’ve been blessed to have a couple of those; I did radio and tv spots for Circuit City for many years and voiced Nissan for a few years, both as a SAG/AFTRA member.
Happy Voicing!
Tom

How'd you become a Voice Talent?

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I was thinking this morning (sometimes a scary thought!) when I was walking outside enjoying Asheville’s really crisp, super cold, sunny day. I was thinking about what to chat about this week on here. Here’s what I came up with. It involves YOU, the successful, working voice talent. I was wondering if you’d like to give tips to those who are just starting out in voiceover careers. Here’s some ideas to get the conversation started: How did you get started doing voiceovers? What made you decide to go for it full-time? Is it hard to do? What’s your favorite type of read to do? What’s your most memorable session? How long have you been voicing? Did you start in radio or come from a theatrical background?

You get the idea. Let me know what you think about this. I’d like to get some dialog happening here. This blog just started and your participation will make it more than just one guy on a soapbox.
If you’re reading this and thinking about getting into voiceovers you should review our voiceover resources pages on SunSpots site. We’re the only place on the net to find everything you need to get books, cds and even equipment to start your voiceover career.
So let’s share our success stories with others here. Drop a line and I’ll post it up. If you’re currently a SunSpots voice talent I’ll put a link to your demo on your response posting.
Have a great Sunday. It’s cold as ice here today, but beautiful as always.
Peace-
Tom

Voice Talent Needed Ads

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Hope everyone had a great weekend!
I wanted to mention that I placed some voice talent wanted ads on Craigslist this weekend. Here’s links to the ads that are currently running.

Seeking Orlando area Voice talent
Seeking Asheville area Voice Talent.

There’s others on the net too.

Here’s some important information to keep in mind when sending in your materials:

Remember that SunSpots is seeking working, professional voice talent. Sometimes beginners do “get it”, but, it’s rare.
Do not send any of your presentation materials (photos, audio files, resumes, etc.) via email unless requested.

Please use the address listed for the studio you are physically closest to if you do not have IDSN:

SunSpots Florida (Orlando):
821 Marshall Farms Road
Ocoee, Florida, 34761
SunSpots North Carolina (Asheville)
32 Gravely Branch Road
Fletcher, North Carolina, 28732
When you do send your demo make sure it is professionally presented:
  • Professionally recorded CD

  • NO cassettes

  • NO dvd’s

  • NO videotapes

  • NO handwriting on labels

  • Typed labels

  • Complete contact information including ALL available phone numbers

  • Your address

  • Real name/Stage name

  • Resume-(professional resume of voice and acting work)

  • Headshot (headshots do not determine representation, but will be added to your demo site if accepted)

  • Do not call the studios unless requested. We will send you confirmation of reception of your demo at SunSpots.

  • Review the SunSpots web site for more information about getting started in voiceovers.

  • Listen to other professional voiceover talent on our site using our EZcast™ search engine to hear what produced demos sound like and the vocal qualities of the voice professionals SunSpots represents.

    • Good luck to everyone!

    Tom

    How to do a successful voiceover audition

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    This issue has been coming up lately so let’s talk a little about it. How do you make a good voiceover audition? We’re going to assume you’ve already got professional equipment. If you do need equipment please check out SunSpots Voiceover Resource page. With Amazon.com we’ve got books, computers and other gear for sale at discount prices.

    The most important thing to do when it comes to your audition is to follow the client’s directions for the read. Before you lay down anything, read the directions and practice your read a couple of times. Get a good feel for the audition, then lay down what you think best matches the instructions you’ve been sent.

    Remember, before you send the mp3 to us, slate your name and SunSpots Productions. Your read should follow this example: “Your Name, SunSpots Productions”. Please don’t add anything else to the voiceover audition. Don’t say “Your Name for SunSpots Productions” or “Hi, this is Jane Smith laying down a couple reads for you. You know I’ve done lots of spots over the years. And here’s my audition”. Do anything other than, “Your Name, SunSpots Productions”, and your audition may not be sent to our client and you’ll lose the job because they never hear you. You see, clients have told us they’re listening to many auditions when they’re casting a job and they need to only hear the name of the talent and SunSpots Productions after that.

    Another way to ensure your success, when you get an audition turn it around as soon as possible. SunSpots Talent Coordinator, Jennifer Stevens agrees, “They must turn it around in a timely manner. It shows they really care about this. It shows enthusiasm! That they’re professionals .” It seems that almost every voice job requires an audition. If you’ve been voicing for decades like I have or are new to the business this is just part of the business we’re in. Those who change with the times will survive and thrive. Jennifer continues, “The volume of auditions is beyond our control. Talent have to remember auditions aren’t a waste of time. They should treat each one like a potential paycheck.”

    So make sure your voice over booth and equipment are as high quality as you can afford, read and listen to the directions for the audition, format your audition file exactly as requested and keep sending ‘em in.

    Is it a lot of work?

    I’d like your comments on this. What do you think about all the auditioning going on these days?

    Peace-
    Tom

    Congratulations to Zak for 10 years and 7,000 sessions!

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    Zak Miller, our Studio Manager at SunSpots Orlando studios, just celebrated two milestones with us. He’s celebrating his 10th anniversary at SunSpots and he just completed his 7,000th session behind the console. WOW! We can hardly believe it’s been 10 years already. I remember sitting on the floor at SunSpots when we had just one studio going in Florida and dreaming about what things would be like a few years from then. We couldn’t believe then that we’d become a global leader in our industry. It’s been Zak’s hard work and extraordinary dedication that has helped us achieve that goal. I can’t thank him enough for being there during those late nights, weekend sessions and doing what he does every day to separate us from the herd. You can read more about Zak here. By the way, 7,000 sessions equates to 12 to 15,000 spots he’s recorded at SunSpots. We’re not kidding when we say we do “professional audio production”.

    And let’s not forget Zak is a professional voice talent too! Listen to Zak Miller’s voiceover talent demo.

    If you’d like to schedule Zak to do your audio production or to voice a spot or two for you please call us at 800-355-7768 or you can book your entire session the web way by using our voiceover session scheduling page.

    Congrats amigo! Also, thanks to Jay Patrick, SunSpots very first engineer, for hearing Zak’s production work on the radio in Orlando and saying…”Hey, this guy’s got it! He’s really good.” Yep, we think he is and so are you Jay! (Jay’s been with us since the very start when we were simply “The Cassidy Company” and we’ll talk more about him soon.)

    Peace-
    Tom

    New! Voiceover Talent Resource Page Added

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    In partnership with Amazon.com, SunSpots now has an incredible selection of books, videos, computers, software and more for the professional or soon to be professional voice talent. Want to get some books on voice training? How to do voiceovers? How to be a successful voice talent? We’ve now got all the answers on our site through Amazon’s discounted services. Here’s the link for it: http://www.sunspotsproductions.com/voiceover_resources.cfm

    Some of our favorites are Protools LE software with the MBOX, Sony MDR7650 headphones, ALL the Apple laptops (yep we sell those through the site too!) and lots of the voiceover books.

    The page is called “Books, DVDs, Computers, Software and Gear for the Voiceover Professional“. It almost flows off the tongue. Well…almost.

    Keep checking out the SunSpots Productions web site as we’re adding new content to it every week.

    Remember to keep us posted with your successes and we’ll post them on the web for you!

    Peace-
    Tom

    Getting started in Voice Overs

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    We’ve had ads running on Craigslist and other sites lately looking for experienced voice talent. We’ve gotten lots of voice talent demo cds in and more and more talent are joining our roster and letting us represent them. However, in addition to the pros sending in demos we’ve been swamped with requests about how to do voice overs, what it takes to create a good demo, what to put on it, etc..

    But first, let’s talk about demos. Not your content, but your presentation of your demo.

    Here’s what you want to do to make sure your demo gets the attention you want.

    1. Make it look professional.
    2. Include a cover letter introducing yourself and your work experience.
    3. Include EVERY way to get in touch with you. We need all your phone numbers, email address, ISDN connection phone numbers, IM chat name, etc.
    4. Use a printer for your labels, not a pen or pencil. Remember that first impression is everything.
    5. Send a CD and not a cassette.
    6. Use a padded envelope for your CD. CD cases crush easily in the mail and need protection.
    7. Test your demo before sending it out.

    That’s it for now. More to come.

    Peace.
    Tom