Relax and buy this insurance!

Today's VO audish was for a masseuse character described as "female, 25-35 sounding, lighter, cheerier." The dialouge was just one line, the rest of the spot was for a 35-45 yr old female voice. Because it was just one line, they had me read it three different ways.

"I'll be walking on your back now"

"I'll be walking on your back now"

"I'll be walking on your back now"

Voice Acting!

Another Dialogue Audish

Another Dialogue Audish today, and it turns out I was reading with a guy that I worked with about a year ago on my first real vo job, a radio demo. In that spot he was my 20/21 yr old boyfriend and I was 19 and I didn't know how to fix my car. This time around, we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii and in our late '20s. Oh, how time flies!

Character Descriptions:
Woman: More of an actress. Can go from flirtatious in the beginning to disgruntled. Not gruff but assertive.
Man: Masculine and firm but not a baritone. Young husband.
AVO/legal: Male, masculine, deeper voice than male actor but not booming.

If you haven't guessed already, by the end of this :60 spot the wife is annoyed and threatens divorce. I love these character descriptions because they capture the essence of vague yet specific reasons why any one actor is chosen over another.

Computer Characters

Today I had a VO audish for a popular antivirus software. The copy was very announcery and informational, but the character description was:

"a grown up Juno, edgy, quirky, spunky attitude, hipster vibe. Not sweet."

A fun challenge AND I got to say the line "this limited time TV offer."

Thirty-Seven Minutes in Heaven

If I were a dude I would go to this audish just to see who else would show up:

Seeking 1 man (considers himself sexy) to play late 30's -40's

There are plenty of guys in that age group who can still bring the sexy. I'm just saying there might be a few interesting candidates.

Beauty Secrets

Today I had an audish for a hair product company- oh la la. I also found out that even though the song sounds like "ress" it's actually pronounced "tray-sem-may." Felt weird to say, but that's how it was spelled out in the copy.

The spot was an inner monologue about how another lady got such great hair. The character description was "likable for her vulnerable, slightly insecure personality."

"What's her secret?"
"Her hair looks so good!"

I've seen this theme a few times before. If someone else looks great or is thinner they must have some secret, special product. However, after reading countless magazines I feel comfortable saying that the secret is probably more sleeping time and healthy eating.

Also, my cab driver was very chatty and a former professional soccer player. Fun!

Tweentastic Telecommunication

Today I had a super fun audish, two different spots for landline telephone service. The character for both was a tween girl age 12-15 who was a drama queen. On one had, it is kind of annoying that the most prevalent image of teenage girls in the media is that of a ditzy, dramatic self centered girl. On the other hand that is one of my favorite character types to play.

In addition to a fun character I also got to use a bad accent as the tween saying the following line:

"I'm Betsy Ross and I invented the flag."

Hilars!!

Animal Crossing: Voiceover Folk

Had an audish today for a video game commercial. The voice of everyone’s favorite new game system is “friendly, inviting, and conversational.” Just one line, three reads in a row on one slate.

Rated SMF for So Much Fun!

Schmendy's Part 2

Morning audish: First off, it was at a production studio instead of my agent's office. And it seems that the studio is a converted apartment. I was a little confused walking into a building that said 'residences' but it turns out it was the right building. It was actually a long audition, they had me read several times, asking for different things. Apparently this 11 year old gal is a sassy old soul who has it together and wants to advise you in the ways of the burger. I wasn't sure I was giving them what they were asking for. But when I was done, they said I had done an excellent job. It was a good experience and an interesting audish!

Schmendy's

Fun and full weekend ahead: I have shows tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. Improv audition on Sunday and a VO audish on Monday for the 11 year old voice of our favorite red headed burger slinger! Maybe I will get free baked potatoes if I book it.

Double Duty

This Audisher was on double duty yesterday.

First up, a sketch show that required prepared songs. Plural- as in an uptempo and a ballad. When I got the email last week, I contacted my former teacher at Old Town. She fit me in for a private lesson which was super sassy and productive.

And finally yesterday arrived- the first time I had to sing a prepared song for an audish. I was looking forward to singing in my cab on the way there, because I have secret fantasies of being a Broadway musical star and this was as close as I will probably get to that.

I knew this was a sassy cab when I saw bright red seats. And I did have an awesome cab driver who didn't mind my practice singing, and in fact was very encouraging and claimed to enjoy my songs. He actually had some great advice when I told him I was audishing- "try hard and keep persisting" - a man after my own optimism.

Second up, a vo audish. For the role of an 'ethnically non-descript' friend who was 'nice, upbeat, funny, natural.'

Fun lunch time, but I seriously spent $20 on cabs. Yikes!

Charachtish descripsh

I had an audish for lunch today...

"urban-anglo (white)...early 20's...voice is cute but not childish or valleygirlish...a lot of energy...likes to have fun and staying connected to everyone is really important to her"

Urban-anglo is a new one....

This has been a fun week: two audishes, two ridiculous character descriptions.

"Female, young (mid to late 20s), perky, maybe a kind of spacey personality. She's a superhero, but a little prone to mild depression"

"A 25-year-old set designer who exudes nothing but class when she's not too busy having fun. She loves to flaunt her gift of gab with head shaking stories."

One is for a state lottery. The other is for an awesome new drink described as "alcohol+caffeine+down for whatever." Hilars!

I want to stay skinny but I'm sooo hungry

2 VO readings today, 2 different spots and advertisers, both valley girl style. Products:
1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
2. Stromboli from a pizza chain

One description: Not too bright, but knows what's hot.
Yes, she totally knows stromboli is so hot right now.
mmm, yummy......

The Most Fun Audish So Far

Last week was a great Tuesday. First I got a call to set up an audish Wednesday. Then I got a call saying they just got something in that they needed to turn around by noon Wednesday, and could I come in the afternoon instead? So I jumped in a cab at 5 and had 2 superfun audishes. This one was the best so far. I saw the character description that I have been preparing for my whole life.

• Casting for Cheerleader/Squad: girls, caucasian, (who sound) age 14-16. Must be accent free, would be ideal to have talent deliver the script in cheerleader fashion, including claps. Girl should have high energy, but not over too the top.

I just want to highlight a few of my favorite things in this copy: 'deliver the script in cheerleader fashion' and 'not too over the top,' so..... just a little over the top.

Game, set, match, *MAJOR NATIONAL RETAILER WITH A SOFTER SIDE*

What are you looking for?

Character descriptions on VO copy:

Women:

• Very playful almost exaggerated accent of choice (actually from my first real vo audish!)
• Natural not voice-overish. They should be real energetic.
• Woman 1- Meek but with a crazy side, Woman 2- very meek. Reference; The "Delicious Dish" radio talk show host from Saturday Night Live.
• A pleasant young woman with a charm and rasp to her voice. She should sound like sweet office receptionist.
• Friendly & vibrant
• With building excitement
• Realistic but interesting voices to help our animation have character
• Not overwrought or super-emotional, but very heartfelt and personal

Men:

• He's a guy that hasn't had too much luck with the ladies, has finally found his angle. No slick answer types, more Turtle-esque from Entourage
• A young country club gentleman with an air of aristocracy and a snooty wit. Should sound like an 80's brat pack type or late 90's teen snob. No British accents please.

I just hate those late 90's teen snobs.