Friday, May 23, 2014

Doing Voice Over Commercials Professionally

By Marci Glover


There are many aspects to advertising which most people never take into consideration. The audience may be drawn in by the visuals and catchy tunes but one of the most memorable parts of any ad is the vocals. Doing work on voice over commercials is a great opportunity though it takes patience and persistence to become truly lucrative.

A common misconception is that if a person sounds great when speaking naturally that they will be perfect for this type of work. Along with that appealing sound, one must also have clear speech, diction and a fair degree of acting ability. The job requires taking a script and using a talent for timing and believability to create a sincere sounding narrative.

These skills are used quite often in works such as cartoons, video games, multimedia, audio books, documentaries and movies. They are also the key factor in many advertisements and announcements heard on the internet, radio and television. The average person is exposed to one of these spots nearly a hundred times a day just following their normal routine.

Advertising of this sort is generally placed into one of three primary categories. Local is the first tier and it mainly involves spots for businesses that serve a very confined area and announcements for hometown organizations. The next step up is regional, meaning those heard in a somewhat larger zone, and at the top is the national ads such as those for major consumer brands.

Granted, most of the national level jobs are given to celebrities simply because their voices are more easily recognizable. However, it is important to remember that the local and regional ads can be just as lucrative if one remains persistent. There are far more spots available than a handful of famous names can fill, so there are ample opportunities available in all three categories.

It is quite rare that an actor becomes successful simply due to their pleasant sounding speeches. To become a marketable product, one must take the time to build their talent and make themselves desirable to the production companies. This process begins by seeking out a vocal coach who is qualified to instruct in the best ways to improve techniques, hone skills and control breathing.

Step two is to create a professionally recorded quality demo tape to submit as part of one's resume'. It should be sent to as many production companies, talent brokers and advertising agencies as are in the desired work area. After mailing out the CD packages, it is important to follow up with phone calls, just as one would do with any other job application.

One way to build a successful career is to be patient, yet persistent. Naturally, the national level jobs are the most desired but it can take time to become seasoned enough to land one of those positions. Taking on a number of local and regional spots to gain experience, hone one's craft and create a work history that shows versatility can be a valuable advantage when deciding to join the more competitive market at the top tier.




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