When You Need to Create a New Voiceover Reel

 

 

When You Need to Create a New Voiceover Reel

Rudy Gaskins and Joan Baker recording a promo demo at Gramercy Studio in New York City.

BY JOAN BAKER RUDY GASKINS | 


Let’s assume you’re starting with a voiceover demo reel you know to be an outstanding sample. You know because you’ve received direct feedback from professionals who hire and/or broker the hiring process: talent agents, casting directors, talent managers, and producers. So, assuming you have a great demo reel, how do you know when it’s time for a new one? Here are a few instances when you’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt.

1. Time has passed.
A demo that was “great” in 2015 may be useless in 2020. If your demo is more than three years old, you want to consider swapping out some of the old material for new material that’s on-trend and relevant to today’s marketplace. Don’t take the term “today’s marketplace” lightly either. If you’re not a professional marketer, you may not grasp how this translates into new demo material or how best to produce it. Get help from a professional.

2. You received direct feedback.
Your agent or manager wants you to get a new demo. They are your frontline sales team. They must have confidence in your demo before they can put forth a strong presentation on your behalf. Their reason could be as simple as rearranging the order of the material on your demo. It’s not necessarily because it was poorly arranged, but because they need the demo to work as a selling tool for their selling style. On the other hand, the agent may want a completely fresh new demo that’s more representative of your abilities and the marketplace. If you want your agent fired up, give them the fuel they need.

Joan works with actors to tap into their unique point of view on the script. Photo: Johnny Kavadeas

3. You’re not happy with it.
In many cases, you instinctively know that your demo is lacking. You can feel it. It makes you cringe a little. You’re constantly asking people for their opinion of the reel rather than confidently putting it forward for jobs. Feeling less than confident about your demo is a good reason to produce a new one. There’s no point asking around trying to gain support to feel better. That won’t change anything. If you don’t feel good about it, the game is over.

4. You’ve grown.
If you’ve been training hard, working, and evolving in the craft, chances are you’re a more accomplished performer than when you last made your demo reel. This is reason enough to create a new reel or revise an old one to ensure that potential buyers get the full spectrum of what you bring to the table. It will wake up your agent too!


5. You’re making branding changes.

Believe it or not, your agent can’t keep up with the depth of you. After all, you’re not the only one in the stable. Naturally, they get to know the essence of where you fit into the VO universe and, more importantly, which auditions you actually book. But, you’re improving, trying new things. A new demo reel can help reposition you on your agent’s radar. Consider creating a demo in another genre, waking your agent up to the evolving you. Of course, it should be a genre that your agency handles. Don’t spring your new reel on the agent as a done deal. Leave room for your agent to offer feedback that you’re absolutely willing to incorporate before you call it a final version.

“There is no substitute for a director’s vision, and the expertise of trained professionals collaborating to create the best possible demo reel.” Rudy Gaskins with engineer Tim Keenan- of Creative Media Recording Photo: Johnny Kavadeas

6. Red flags come up.
It’s not easy to get honest feedback on your demo reel. Friends and family don’t no what to listen for. They just love the fact that “You sound just like a really TV commercial!” Fellow voice actors are often too polite, or coming from a place that’s no more informed than you are.  Here are some key red flags to listen for. “The reel is OK.” Okay is not good enough.  “There’s not enough variety. The music sounds canned. Your voice is buried in the music and effects. The music is inappropriate. The transitions between spots don’t work, or they’re distracting. The spots blend together like one long read with little variation.” These are red flags that should be reviewed and revised in a new reel.

7. You made it yourself.
If you wrote, directed, performed, recorded, and mixed your own demo reel, then you need a new reel. PERIOD. If you made it yourself, it’s not up to the professional standards expected by industry professionals. Talent agents and casting directors will resent the fact that such a demo reel  somehow made to their desk, and they will not soon forget that you’re an amateur. First impressions make all the difference. Don’t get caught trying to cut corners. It’s waste of other people’s time and not easily forgiven.


JOAN BAKER

Joan Baker is the co-founders of  the annual That’s Voiceover!™ Career Expo, and co-creator of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences and the Voice Arts® Awards.

SEE FULL BIO AND ARTICLES HERE! 

 

RUDY GASKINS

Rudy Gaskins is the co-founders of That’s Voiceover!™ Career Expo, and co-creators of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences and the Voice Art® Awards.

SEE FULL BIO AND ARTICLES HERE! 

 


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