Ask Bob: Advice For The Voice Lorne!

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Comment by Bob Bergen on July 30, 2010 at 3:19pm

Hi Cia!

I myself don't do any warmups. But that's just me. Everyone needs to do what works for them. For me, just reading the copy is warm up enough.

Now, back to your question. Depending on how effected my voice was with the cold, I might pass on the audition. Remember, if you book it you need to reproduce that same sound. If you are over the cold this might not be possible. Plus, the more you work a viral throat the longer it will take to get well.

I think it depends on the audition. For a local radio spot or game I'd pass if I were sick. Just not worth the money to cause more damage to my throat or extend the rasp. For a national TV spot or series I'd ask my agent if I can postpone until I felt/sounded better. If the deadline comes before I'm well then I might give it a shot. But I'd let my agent know my dilemma.

;-)

Comment by Cia on July 22, 2010 at 8:32pm

Hey Bob, as a general rule, I do vocal warmups before every audition and job. Right now, due to a throat cold, my voice is dry and raspy. I've been drinking tons of water and sucking on pastilles which helps a little. I had an audition today and I wasn't sure if I should do my warmups or if I should save my voice for the audition. Obviously it wasn't a strenuous audition and I would have passed if it was. What are your thoughts?

Comment by Darla Middlebrook on July 5, 2010 at 11:04am

Thanks, Bob. You're a peach!

Comment by Bob Bergen on July 5, 2010 at 10:34am

Here ya go, Darla:
http://patfraley.com/Contact/Contact.html

;-)

Comment by Darla Middlebrook on July 4, 2010 at 6:59pm

Thanks anyway for replying, Bob. I will have to find a group on VU that will let me contact Pat.

Comment by Bob Bergen on July 4, 2010 at 6:14pm

Hi Darla!

This is a job for Pat Fraley! He's one of the best when it comes to audio books. I myself don't do em. Wish I could be of more assistance!

;-)

Comment by Bob Bergen on July 4, 2010 at 6:13pm

Hi Cindy!

Boy, I don't think I'm the best one to help ya here. It sounds like you are working non union, and being that I'm a union actor I have both SAG and AFTRA to go after unfair producers who don't pay. It rarely if ever happens. Now, I know the unions do have a list of unfair producers, so if this company you are referring to is indeed union I'd contact the unions to see if they've been investigated for not paying.

Comment by Bob Bergen on July 4, 2010 at 6:10pm

Hey Scott!

It is indeed a bad idea to have your picture anywhere near your VO marketing. They will judge your voice by your looks. Now, I know there are many of us (myself included) who have our pictures within our websites. Well, I'm into this for almost 30 years. Veterans don't have as much to lose by including their pictures. But for those who are relatively new, it is definitely not a good thing.

Now, I know many are not just voice actors but also do on camera, or theater, or improv, where they would want their headshot as part of their marketing or website. But your VO page should have nothing to do with your oncamera page. For instance, if you have a site that has multiple pages for various aspects of your career, you'd label and market them as if each page were it's own entity. So, mine might be www.bobbergen.com/voiceover for VO, and www.bobbergen.com/theatrical for on camera. And I'd only market the VO page to the VO industry. If someone wants to spend time surfing my site or google to find what I look like there's nothing I can do about that. But if they have that kind of time on their hands, chances are they aren't all that busy in the hiring department. But web surfing is always a way for people to find out all kinds of things about anyone. Bottom line, keep your face off your VO marketing!

;-)

Comment by Darla Middlebrook on June 27, 2010 at 9:04pm

Trying to hone my audio book narrative skills. This afternoon, I've been working on several dialogues (man + woman). It just dawned on me that all of the sections that I have chosen have a narrator who at the end of the of the book turns out to be another character. So, I guess I am really working on 3-way conversations. Right? That's just a thought. You must bear with me...I am new at this.

Comment by Cindy Swanson on June 25, 2010 at 7:51pm

I can't for the life of me remember which forum I read this on, but I remember reading about a website that lists companies who are a poor risk to record for--i.e, never pay you, etc. Can anyone help me with that?

I have done e-learning courses for an Indian company for several years, and although they stress me out sometimes, they always pay me. Now I've been contacted by another Indian company called Cognizant Solutions, and I don't want to commit to anything without first checking them out.

If someone could point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it!

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