Never be afraid to turn down an audition or work that compromises who you are and what you believe. What you gain is the knowledge that you emerged with your dignity intact and were counted among those who possess both honor and conviction as a business professional and as an individual.
Some examples of red flags or traps may be scripts for products or services that you’ve never used, for products or services that you have tried and don’t want to recommend, for testimonials or political ads where you disagree with the parties, or anything else that you don’t endorse or support. These examples are where you can fall away from your moral convictions, just for the sake of making money.
Ask yourself different questions, such as
Does the copy promise the moon?
Is it targeted at a demographic or segment of the population that the advertiser may be trying to take advantage of rather than serve?
Does anything stand out in the script as potentially misleading or that otherwise makes you feel uncomfortable?
As a voice actor, you have many freedoms. True freedom means that you don’t need to compromise on your morals, beliefs, or otherwise to get a paycheck. That being said, freedom doesn’t come without sacrifice. If you stick to your game plan, it may mean standing alone, turning down work, losing friendships, and having others who disagree with you scrutinize you. If you’re working with an agent, we suggest you discuss your hesitations with her.
If you find yourself sitting on a fence about whether to audition or not for a project, reconsider what it would mean for you to take the job. Although voice acting often goes without public acknowledgment, if you record something you aren’t in agreement with, remember that you must live with that decision for years to come. Refer to the nearby sidebar for more on this philosophical discussion.
Investigating unfamiliar brands
Whether the voice-over is promoting a hotel, computer software, a loaf of bread, or an automobile, you need to know what the word on the street is about that company and product so to speak before auditioning.
In your research to determine whether the job is a right fit for you, you should research the company offering the job, especially when it’s an unknown company. Even though research can be time-consuming, you can find lots of information about a company through its website as it relates to the brand, mission, vision, and values. Type the company’s name in your favorite search engine to read about the company’s services and products.
When evaluating information from the company, keep a lookout for social media pages and customer support forums. Peer reviews, as well as customer reviews, play a large role in helping people decide nowadays whether or not they purchase a product or enlist a service to meet their needs. They can tell you a lot about a company. If you come across a job promoting a new product or service, see what others have said about their experiences to better gauge how the public is receiving the product.
In a recent Nielsen survey featuring degrees of consumer trust in a number of forms of advertising, about 90 percent of survey respondents trusted recommendations from people they know while 70 percent trusted consumer opinions posted online. That’s significant, isn’t it? A company’s website turned up third on the list at 70 percent, so if you have limited time to put your ear to the ground, at least consider visiting the company’s website.
Paying attention to the pay
Another important aspect to eye when you’re considering whether to audition for a job is the compensation. After all, voice acting is a business and career for you, and you want to be paid accordingly for your services. You can certainly use the client’s budget to help decide if it’s worth your time auditioning. In fact, you may find that being proud of your work and association with that client takes precedence over the compensation.
Sometimes, though, you may encounter gray areas where you’re not sure about auditioning when pay is a question. You may have to make some decisions, based on these circumstances:
The job doesn’t pay as much as you think it should yet you’re comfortable with everything else about the project. If so, you may choose to move forward with the audition. Make sure you factor in how long the audition and the job will take (if you get it) and what the possible long-term gains are if you choose to submit an audition. (For example, you may be able to network and meet other people who can lead to more work.)
The job pays a handsome sum, but the project doesn’t align with your views. If money was the only factor you considered (and not what you thought of the company or the message, like we discuss in the previous section, “Making sure the project is in line with your beliefs and convictions”), then you may decide to go ahead with it. However, your opinion of the client, product, or the script may make you uncomfortable, and no amount of money can ease your feelings.
To quote the lovable Walt Disney character, Jiminy Cricket, “Always let your conscience be your guide.” As Jiminy sings in this song, taking the straight and narrow path isn’t easy, but it does yield the best results.
Understanding the script
Fully understanding the contents of a script can help you decide whether you want to audition for a job. When you can appreciate and comprehend a script’s meaning, you have a better idea what the project is about. You can then determine whether that message matches your values (refer to the earlier section, “Making sure the project is in-line with beliefs and convictions.”).
Do a little research to help. Although you may think researching aspects of a story or script are beyond your responsibility, doing so can give you a better idea of the nuances and themes of the project. Research can serve as a tool for greater discernment in addition to simple fact gathering that buttresses a read.
Something else you’ll want to look for in a script to determine whether or not to audition is the character role. Knowing your skills and abilities is important. Some roles will appeal to you more than others. For instance, if you’re great with accents and character voices, be on the lookout for those sorts of requirements. If your voice and talent are better reflected in a corporate read requesting solid narration, be mindful of those opportunities and audition for them as they come your way. If you see something you want to try but haven’t quite honed, such as an accent, wait to audition for those sorts of jobs after you’ve mastered the related skill.
Chapter 11
Auditioning 101: Just the Basics
In This Chapter
Discovering auditioning
Knowing the differences between in-person and online auditions
Downloading, interpreting, and rehearsing scripts
Submitting a great audition
All aspiring voice actors need to cut their teeth on something . . . what better than a steady, daily diet of auditions? The need to read can’t be over-exaggerated. Many wonderful opportunities exist to audition in the world of voice-over just waiting to be had.
In this chapter, you look at how auditioning can be likened to the lifeblood of your voice acting career and the different kinds of auditions. Both online and in-person jobs are waiting to be filled with actors whose voices hit the mark and match a casting director’s vision.
You also gain an appreciation of what it means to interpret, mark up, and rehearse a script. A little preparation goes a long way when creating a read that not only sounds good, but also is memorable and stands out!
Identifying What You Need to Know from the Get-Go
When you’re a voice actor, auditioning is your work. Think about how you spend your day. As a voice actor, it’s the pursuit of work and auditioning — getting your name out there — that occupies most of your time. When you’re not auditioning, you’re either working on projects for established clients or you’re extending your brand through marketing and networking with others. Although auditioning may appear to be tiresome and may not financ
ially yield immediate fruit, many voice actors use these special opportunities to exercise their minds, test their creativity, and stretch the limitations of their voices while presenting their talents in front of clients directly, one audition at a time.
For some, auditioning is the day-in, day-out drudgery that they’d rather, but can’t, do without. But consider this: How can you reap if you don’t sow? Having many targeted, purposeful irons in the fire can only help increase your opportunities to succeed.
Part of auditioning is being purposeful and selective with the opportunities that you invest in. One shift in your perspective can make the difference between struggling and succeeding.
Having a constant stream of auditions flow your way is critical to the success of a working voice actor. Each audition has the potential to help you grow, become more experienced, develop new business relationships, and lead to a booking. All things considered, auditioning is what keeps voice actors going and through perseverance refines their skill and dedication to the craft.
Recognizing the Differences between In-Person and Online Auditions
In recent years, more and more clients are searching the Internet for voice-over professionals. New methods of conducting casting calls have emerged, simplifying the process of searching for, auditioning, and hiring a voice actor. As a result, auditioning has broken many barriers including time, geography, and agency representation.
The traditional method of auditioning meant that you had to physically show up at an agent’s office or studio location to give a read. Aside from having to show up, you drove around a lot and spent incalculable time, commuting from place to place simply to audition. Although actors did get some time to socialize with other voice actors and staff at the casting as well as opportunities to be directed on site, most of this activity could only happen in big centers like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Today, you can do voice acting from literally anywhere there’s a connection to the Internet, a computer, audio recording technology, and a voice actor for hire. For specifics on auditioning online, check out Chapter 12. If you’re interested in auditioning in person, flip to Chapter 13.
Downloading the Script
Some clients will deliver scripts in newer file formats or require their audio sent to them in various bitrates and file formats. To meet the needs of today’s client, you have to be quick on your technological toes and have the most recent versions of the most popular software packages used in the industry — or know a really good workaround.
Many software updates are free and those that aren’t are comparatively small investments that you can and should make if you want to service people who have already adopted newer technologies.
Do you really want to send the client a note saying “Hi Client, I can’t open your script as a .docx file (or Excel, PDF, or text file) and hope that you will send it to me in another format so I can send you my audition”? Not only is that a wasted opportunity (you can only reply once to a given audition), it’s an outright declaration that you can’t meet the client’s needs!
Doing Your Research: The Script and the Client
When you first receive a script, one of the most important things is to read the script in its entirety before committing to a read or submitting an audition. You may have a gut reaction as to how you ought to read it. Having an idea of where you want to take the script when auditioning is a great feeling, and when there’s direction to interpret and guide your read, all the better!
When you read through a script, you’re told information about who you are as a voice actor, what you’re communicating, the value proposition, and also a call for action. The script may even include details about the audience or help you to determine other important clues, such as how you should sound when delivering your lines.
In a good script, the author’s intent should be crystal clear. When auditioning, you may not always be given creative direction, but what you’ll nearly always have is the script to aid you in how you plan your read. When you audition, receiving some kind of artistic direction about what type of voice and delivery style the client wants, but what happens when that information isn’t as specific as it could be?
Although having that kind of information can be useful, it isn’t always provided, so you need to use the script as your primary guide and look for clues. When you gain more experience, you may find that just like established voice actors, you’ll be able to rely on your instincts, experience, and ability to self-direct, given the script provided and the demographic it’s reaching. Chapter 5 explains some specific ways you can interpret and mark a script so you can understand your character.
The following sections explain more about what you need to do when reading a script for an audition.
In addition to having a good backdrop for your script, knowing a thing or two about the client you’re auditioning for can also give you a unique perspective and understanding of the client’s expectations and how the read can reflect those expectations. Doing research in general helps you understand upfront who the client is and what other types of projects the client has done in the past.
To have a better feel for the company and the script, research the following pieces of information;
Text analysis: When you’re reading through the script, take note of the kind of language the company uses when communicating to its target audience. Words go a long way and are chosen very carefully. The words communicated in the script embody the essence of the brand and may even be speaking in the brand’s voice. If you look closely enough, you may be able to tell what the brand’s values are, its culture, and how it wants to be perceived by those hearing its message simply by reading the script.
Corporate culture: Take a look at the logo(s) of the client you’re auditioning for and any images that the client may feature on its website that are related to how it presents its brand. Logos can sometimes embody more than just graphical insight. They can also display a slogan that may be helpful to you. Visiting the client’s website can provide more information about the client than what the script may tell you.
Historical context: Consider reviewing previous ad campaigns around products in that line to see how the client has tried to reach its audiences in the past. Is the script in line with how the client campaigned before or is the client trying a different approach?
Rehearsing the Script
After you’ve done a very quick analysis of what you see in the script, you’re ready to start practicing. Yes, you should rehearse your script several times to make sure you’re comfortable with how it reads and the notes that you’ve made before you audition. Rehearsing a script means that you take the time to practice how you plan to deliver the voice-over when auditioning.
The best times to rehearse are when you’re most awake and have the most energy. Many voice actors also rehearse a script just prior to recording their voice. Make sure that you’re well-hydrated and your voice is warmed up. Be sure to observe any markings you have made on your script and keep rehearsal to a minimum before getting in front of the microphone. You don’t want to tire your voice before you’ve even begun the audition!
Before you audition, remind yourself about the following:
Who’s meant to hear this message?
What does it mean?
Why is it relevant to the people hearing the message?
Who would the person on the receiving end want to hear from?
How can I best communicate the message?
Keep in mind that clients don’t always know exactly what they’re looking for and are usually open to hearing all kinds of voices and interpretations. If the clients have a preference or know what kind of voice and attributes they want to cast for ahead of time, they will indicate that in the job description and details.
The following sections focus on some basic sc
ript analysis aspects that we suggest you study in the script before you audition to give you the edge over your competition.
Phrasing
Phrasing refers to how you choose to use your breath and shape how you communicate a sentence, question, and so on. Planning how you will phrase ahead of time allows you to be confident in where you intend to breathe, pause, or pace your read. The way you phrase in one area of a script may differ from how you choose to do so in another part of the script. Generally, a phrase contains an idea, a statement, or an expression. You need to budget your breathing to accommodate the phrase. Observing punctuation can also help you to determine how to best phrase a line you’re reading.
Shaping the arc of a phrase is important regardless of what you’re voicing. When planning how you’ll read a passage, take into special consideration the flow of a sentence, its peaks and valleys, and also the terrain. How do you want to paint the picture? Everything you put into a script marking-wise helps you make your vision a reality! Check out Chapter 3 for extended information on phrasing. You can read more about voice production, proper breathing, and support, too, in that chapter.
Timing
Have you ever heard that timing is everything? Voice-over is an art that requires the utmost attention to timing, whether it be sticking within the confines of a commercial, dubbing for animation and film, or simply pacing out a read so it sounds natural. Timing is also important when recording with other voice actors in a cartoon, commercial, video game, or film where your pacing needs to match the other actors’ speed.
Characterization
Getting into character is one of the most exciting and delightful aspects of the auditioning process. You get to step into the shoes of someone else, read a variety of copy, and play with your voice. Know your character and the audience that you’re speaking to, and be aware of how your voice is coming across.
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