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!

Ba da Ba Ba Booked

November through the first part of January was pretty slow for auditions. I am super happy to report that there is now lots to blog about!

Friday I got a call that I was requested for an audish at 4:30. That sounded great, and it got even better when I got to my agency. "You're on hold for Monday, no pressure," my agent said as she handed me a script for the golden arches. THE golden arches. It was a dialogue for an Olympic seasonal item and I was a teenage figure skater. So fun!

All weekend I tried not to think or talk about it. Finally at noon yesterday they called to say I was booked. We recorded that afternoon and from what I know so far it's a national spot.

Before we recorded they said "Let's start at 15 and age it up if we need to." I said OK but I was really thinking...I am mostly going to talk like I always do, but keep it in my higher voice.

The actor playing my coach asked where they found us, and the coordinator said it was off of demos because it was a very tight time frame. If you're a long time reader, you know I've booked mostly off my demo which is from Bam Studios. Always good to hear that since I spent so much money on it!!

And just when I was getting a big ego about booking a national radio spot- later that night I was in a rehearsal for a musical where I play a 14 yr old, and the director said to me, "Can you use that high pitched annoying voice that you have?"

PSA

Today I had an audition for a PSA - one of those 'go get your GED' spots. Often Public Service Announcements come off as cheesy or condescending, but this one was good. Many voices speaking for different parts of a person's life, from hard luck to turnaround to the success of getting her GED. EHMS* for sure.



*Extreme Home Makeover Syndrome

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.

Dialogue Audish

Sometimes I get a call from my agent for a Dialogue Audish- which means that I will be reading with another person. Most of the time I just read my lines and pause when the other person would be speaking.

Today I had an audish that felt like deja-character-vu: I was the 18-20 yr old daughter going to college who is annoyed/embarrassed by Mom. The other character was the Mom. I wonder how many times I have read a line like this:

"Mom. Seriously. Stop."

I must be good at sounding like a bratty girl, because we only did one take.

Triple Audishle!

Today I had a triple audish and read for three spots! Here are the highlights:

"Not too big. Or too small."
"It doesn't taste interesting."
"So not only did I get something new and interesting, I still made it to my appointment."

Fun!

Glamourous Audish

Today I had an audish and it turned out to be in the category of 'feminine products.'

These testimonials sound like women telling their friends, acquaintances, & co-workers what they love about pads.

I knew I could nail this because I'm always telling my acquaintances how much I love maxi pads..... NOT! Who does that? Now for the unbelievable lines:

I didn't feel like I was wearing a pad
Super absorbent
The super hero of pads

I guess if I went around chatting up people about my pads, then maybe these are things I would say.

What would you do....

My most recent VO audish was for a cross promo between the McGolden Arches and a baseball team- buy a value meal, get a cute discount on tickets.

The copy was a fun list of things you would do for tickets.... or you could just go to McGolden Arches!

This was a fun audish, but it was also another Crazy Cabbie day.

When my cab driver dropped me off, he said, "What is in these two buildings? I come here many times dropping off pretty ladies."

"Well, that door is a hair salon according to the sign. And this door is for a talent agency and a modeling agency, so you are probably seeing models."

"Oh that must be it."

"Yea, I actually have a voice over audition, so..." I said as I waited for my change, trying to imply that I needed to leave and that I was also a pretty and talented lady.

"I mean, I get some pretty ladies in my cab but some of these women I am just like, oh my God, they are so gorgeous I have never see such beautiful women." He was not interested in my voiceover career.

"Yea, that's because they are models. Could I get a receipt?"

We repeated this same exchange a few times before he gave me my change and the receipt.

I am definitely going to deduct this cab ride as a business expense on my taxes.

Monday of Audishes

It was already going to be an exciting Monday: I was looking forward to a callback for a super fun musical improv group. THEN- a reminder popped up on my outlook for a VO audish. OMG! I totally forgot that on Friday I had scheduled an audish for Monday.

I van-cabbed it over to the agency and read two spots for your favorite Mexican beer. This time I did not have to say it in the slate, but I did have to be over 25 to audish. Same thing happened for another beer company so I started googling and found this Beer Institute Code of Advertising. Interesting!

When I stepped out of the booth, the other agent asked me to stay and read a dialogue with another girl who had just come in. Turns out, it was one of the girls I had worked with on a tampon VO tv demo a year ago. (after reading that in the preview I feel the need to add it was voice only over storyboard, not.... a demonstration of how to use tamps!) This one was for a cheap haircut place and it was actually funny, so that was super fun.

Another triple audishle! Hopefully, the odds are increasing that I will book some VO work.

On The Upswing

VO business is picking up! I got called in for a dialouge audish today, and when I got there I ended up reading for four roles in three different spots:

• 'Crew' and 'announcer' part for a McGolden Arches spot
• A teen at a local mall
• A twenty-something at a local mall

Guess which one was my fav? uhDUH- teen at the mall. for sers.

I checked my calendar, and it had been about 2.5 months without any VO audishes. And now I've been at my agency three times in the last two weeks, and two visits were for three spots! Turns out people still need to advertise, and radio is cheaper than tv.

So what does this mean for you? Get those demos and headshots in the mail! And then write me a guest blog. :)

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."

Searching for Smooth Legs

Yesterday my VO agent called and asked me to come in for an audish. This was great because they haven't called me in awhile. And then I got there and found out it was for three spots- super funsies!

The first two spots were for the same sassy shaving cream and each was a little different- the more sophisticated, relaxing spot was aimed at adults and the other spot was 'more energetic and youthful.'

The third spot was for a search engine. A lady who just finished a macrobiotic diet needed to find a restaurant.... hilars.

I took a lesson from a previous audish and made some stronger choices than I usually would. They took my first read on all three, so that was a good experiment.

Do you want to get an agent? Keep those guest blogs coming!

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!!

Crazy Diets, Crazy Cabs

New Year Resolutions: 2 Months Early. A double audish today and it turns out both were for diets. Wrigley is marketing gum as a way to get over cravings. Hmmm… should I eat this cookie, or chew fruity gum? The other spot was for a nutritional website.

The most interesting part of this audish was the ride there- my cab driver was absolutely ridiculous. First, he pulled over to mail something. What?!? You drive around all day… maybe you could do that when you don’t have a passenger. It looked like a parking ticket, and you have seven days to mail those. Second, he had no change… for a twenty. If I was throwing down hundos or even fifties it would be my fault. But I think cabs should have change for a twenty. He opened the door, stuck his head out, looked around the street, and sat there. I said, “What are you doing?” and he pointed to another cab. He only had three singles, and I was not about to pay 17$ for a 7$ ride that included a personal detour. So I had to wait for the other cab to arrive and give my cab driver change. I don’t want to be snobby but overall the whole thing was ridiculous.

Once I got into the booth they took my first read on both spots, so that was nice. :)

PS- happy election day!!

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.

Youth is wasted on the young

Last night after I left my office job I had quick audish since the agency is open until 5:30. I had gotten a call that I needed to read something that afternoon or this morning, and I was able to get in yesterday. It was a public service announcement and my part was that of a teen going to a party... you can guess the rest. It's always fun to read young parts :)

Then I got a call from a friend and ended up sitting in with a great show at iO that needed another player- Felt - an improvised puppet show. A. It's so much fun everytime I get to join them; B. It feels like voiceover since we are we working through puppets.

Awesome Wednesday!

Insurance?

Today I had an audish that used the video from a tv spot that currently airs. From what I can remember of the ad, I think the copy was different. I had to listen to it and then try to match it- that's a new one. It took me three takes. Yea, I'm there.