by Robert Dwyer

Created on: May 22, 2007

You want to be voice-over talent? Well, here's some advice from a guy who hires VO people and what makes them valuable to a 19th market TV station.

I've worked in TV for 15 years starting as a shooter (camera guy). Then I became an editor and finally worked my way up to producing commercials, promotional spots and even corporate marketing pieces. Now I'm a promotion manager for a 19th market television station in Orlando Florida. Producing news, syndicated spots and commercials for local ad clients, and over the years I've heard them all. The great, the good and who ever told this guy he could do voice-over work, and there are a few things that make the good ones hang around. The first is a solid voice, second flexibility, and lastly consistency; allowing regular guys and gals to make money cutting VOs for TV.

OK... What do I mean by a solid voice. There are many factors that make this up and one of them is not knocking people dead with perfect pitch, tone, or any of that crap. Your voice needs to be strong, cutting through the clutter of music, sound effects, and the roar of a crowd in the background. The two contract guys we use, EQ up their voices to give us a little more low end. Practice daily to give that extra grunt or gravel that keeps the money coming in, and allows them to cut VOs from their homes in their underwear. Their voices are strong from daily exercises of reading copy. No cracks, or squeaks, no peaks that sound funny, or nasally days that blow a good spot. They listen to other VO people. They listen to national commercial spots. They take the time to learn what word to hit hard. What it means to add or subtract emotion. They are solid! Solid from the start of the read to the end with no softening up or losing focus. They pay attention to their voices, the copy and then they learn to demonstrate how to be flexible with a paying client.

Flexibility, a very important ability, to getting paid on a regular bases. VO people must learn to be customer service people. TV stations are 24 hours a day businesses and they want someone who will jump when called, or won't give them attitude when a revision needs to be made. Your voice might turn water into liquid gold, but don't tend to your TV clients needs and you'll need that gold to pay the bills. When your TV client calls to setup a session, call back promptly! When your TV client hands you a short novel to read worth of copy. Say, "Wow" and happily cut all the scripts. When a producer from the station

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