Recently I was typing “VO” on one of my audio file labels and, for whatever reason, “Very Optimistic” popped into my head. I thought about it a minute and decided that was a good way to approach the new year ahead of me. Then I wondered what else “VO” could stand for. Vast Opportunities came to mind. The Internet and home studios have certainly opened up opportunities that we could not have imaged even just a decade ago.
So now I’ve decided to have some fun with this. How can I use the letters “VO” to motivate me in my career this year? How about Visualize Objectives? Take a look at all of my Viable Options. Determine to be a Vivacious Original! Then I was suddenly craving Valencia Oranges…
As much as I dislike January in the Mid-Atlantic (in case you haven’t heard, I hate cold!!), the first month of the year does bring a sense of hope with it somehow. A time to renew commitments and refresh our goals. I desire to go farther with my career in Voice Over than ever before, so to be a Victorious Orator, I must Viva Occasions! (Am I just grasping for them now)?
So what does “VO” mean to you this year? I’d love to add to the list. Please feel welcomed to leave your thoughts, ideas and comments here. Even if they don’t begin with V-O, any motivators as we regroup for 2012 would be appreciated by all to want to dream big this year!
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I enjoy “collecting” voiceover direction that is well…kind of ridiculous. Yes, I actually have a file on my computer labeled “Ridiculous Direction” where I save some of the best. I thought it would be fun to share a few now and then and maybe bring a smile, a chuckle, a laugh-out-loud to someone today. Or, it may just make you say “whaa…?”.
Disclaimer: If you are a producer or talent seeker and find your directions included here, please don’t take it personally and think that I am making fun of you. Think of it as a fun, light-hearted way of seeing the silliness of it all. You know, amusing, but with a serious undertone…actually it’s pretty darn funny but with a hint of somberness…try thinking Harrison Ford, but as a businesswoman with a slight Polynesian accent (which could be pretty hilarious, but we want to keep things calm and soothing, so don’t go overboard with it). I hope that helps!! : )
No spelling or grammar corrections have been made in these. They are direct quotes from jobs or job postings.
Telephone Messages – Female
“Female, professional, corporate…with a touch of naughty would be perfect. 99% of our clients are male civil engineers. They need something to make their lives a bit more interesting (not too interesting though)”
75 Second Computer Promo
“Voice will be narration for a short, punchy animated promo with attitude. What we are looking for is the feeling of a real voice behind the words, NOT a sales pitch.
Reading should be: Simple. Direct. Matter a fact.
But with room for for quirky charm or a bit of wry edge and attitude to leak in around the edges. (Wow, I really love that line!) Just turn off the sales and lets hear the voice behind it.”
Corporate Video – Female
When you record your demo, imagine yourself as a European who spent time educated in the US. That should get you the accent we are looking for.”
:30 TV commercial
“I need a VO for the spot below. I want it to be good. I have no direction other than that.”
Video Narration – Female (yes, this job was posted for a female voice)
“It cant be voice of god, not too much like a movie trailer, NOT like mason adams on smuckers. NOT it was a cold and stormy night type. It needs to be approachable friendly asurring, not hard edged. Looking for retired country judge character on his porch in a rocking chair, maybe smoking a pipe watching the sun rise as he waxes nastalgic about how new dawn has helped him live a fufilling life, deaply moved.”
Stay tuned…more to come! If you are a voice talent reading this I am sure (it’s pretty much a given) that you have your own collection, so please feel free to share here. We all need a little LOL each day!
2010 was a very successful year for my business, and I want to thank all of my new and returning clients for allowing me to be “their voice”! I am also grateful for those who have shown interest in my voice by bookmarking me as a “favorite” on Voices.com, placing me in the top 20 all-time favorite female voice talent on the world’s largest voice over marketplace!
Here is just a quick sampling of a few of the places my voice was used in 2010. To view or hear each sample click on the links (in red) below.
Informational / Instructional Video
DALSA Corporate Video
MyPrint eTools informational web video (Click on the 3 videos to “see why you should choose MyPrint”)
Planet GPA web promo (Click on “What Can We Do For You? – Planet GPA About Us”)
Miller Brown Family Companies (videos automatically begin on each page): Introduction What To Expect Why We Exist
Ocean Club Resorts (Click on “Resort Video”)
Zurvita – ZLinked promo video
Kohjin – Glutathione promo video
Smart Way America Realty promo video
Cathe Friedrich Workout Blender Tutorial (Click on “View the Tutorial”)
Excent – Special Educators informational videos (25 videos)
Radio/TV Advertising
Gleen Cloth TV Commercial
Gleen Cloth Radio
Cyber Clean TV & Web Ad
Gold 915 – Radio in Curacao – Prowin Motors – Seat – Hyatt Regency Medi – Hyatt Regency Shor – Bruna Bookstore – Goudsmid Jewelry – Vreugdenhil Supermarket
Phone Systems / IVR
EEMA Lighting Group (Welcome & On-Hold messages) – EEMA Main Welcome Message — EEMA On-Hold — Liton On-Hold Message South Carolina Bar (Full phone system) – Welcome and Main Menu Loring Ward (Full phone system) – Welcome and Main Menu Steel Aviation (Welcome & On-Hold messages) – Main Greeting — Company Info — On-Hold Excent (Welcome & On-Hold Messages) – Welcome — On-Hold Startec (IVR Prompts) – New Prompts
I am looking forward to the privilege of providing quality voice overs to represent many businesses, industries and individuals in 2011.
Thanks for listening!
Follow @DianeBeanVO
Come on down!!! You’re the next contestant on The Price Is Right!
Sometimes, setting VO rates can feel like you are playing a game. But that is the last thing I (or most voice talent) want to do. There are so many variables that go into each project, and therefore, into each price quote. I am often asked for my rate card. While I do have predetermined rates for all categories of voice over, I use them as a guideline, and not an amount carved in stone. Why? Well let’s take a look at the variables.
One thing that goes into consideration is the type or purpose of the recording. Is it a radio commercial? TV commercial? Corporate video? In-house training video? Telephone messages? You may wonder why this matters. Well, my voice can be used to simply welcome someone who calls a particular company, or it can be used to actually bring in money for the company through advertising. It can be used to train new employees, or it can be used to increase the company by recruiting new employees. Even the unions such as SAG and AFTRA recognize this is a valid starting point for determining rates.
Next, we need to look at the target market or audience. If that radio commercial is going to be heard on syndication nationwide, it obviously should cost more than a spot only being used at a couple of stations in a rural community. The unions have some base rates for radio and television spots and then add additional fees according to the cities where they will be broadcast. So, for me, the amount quoted for an advertising voiceover can vary greatly.
Even with non-advertising jobs, the target audience can still come into play. A training video being used by a large corporation to train employees at multiple locations will most likely pay more than a small business that is using the video in-house for a handful of employees. And if the video will be distributed, rented or sold to other businesses within an industry, or if it will be sold to the general public, then the rates just went up again. So, you see part of the determining factor has to do with whether the client will monetarily profit from the use of my voice or not.
Then, of course, we come to the length of the script. How much time will it take for me to record? And, if I am expected to record from my own studio and also edit, and/or mix the audio, and convert it to the required format, that not only takes more time, but also more expertise and equipment.
This is not an exhaustive list of variables for determining rates, since there are also items like the use of ISDN to record, or whether this is for a buy-out of usage or if residuals will be expected, or even if and how many sessions of revisions will be allowed without new charges. So, if you ask me for my rate card, and I ask you to provide me with some more information first, hopefully now you can understand why. It’s not because I’m trying to find ways to get more money out of you, it’s because I want to be fair to you, to me and to the voiceover industry.
For a general idea of common voice over rates, here are a few links (in red below) to some websites that offer guidelines for non-union fees for VO. You will notice a wide range of rates between each of these resources, so again, consider the variables. The more information I receive about a project, the more accurate (and fair and reasonable) my quote will be. Edge Studio Voice Over Industry Ratecard
Voices.com – Voice Over Rates
Voice123 – How Much Are Talents and Voice Producers Charging for Non-Union Voice Over Work Delivered Online?
And one site that provides a list of current union rates for SAG and AFTRA: Producers Handy Dandy Mid-Atlantic Voice Over Resource for Union Talent
Another valuable resource I use for determining length of audio: Edge Studio Words to Time Calculator
Please call or email me with the details of your project for a quote. Oh, and I’m always glad to provide you with a custom sample of your script at no charge!
email: diane@dianesvoice.com phone: 240-580-3355 web: DianesVoice.com
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am the Queen of product research and reviews. I often agonize for weeks (or longer) before making a purchase for fear of finding a better product or a better deal somewhere. I read every review I can possibly find before making that final decision. So, some may be interested to know about which tools I have chosen to use for my VO business.
For recording software, I’m a Pro Tools user. I realize there is some debate about whether or not Pro Tools is overkill for Voice Talents, and I agree that it probably is for some, but for me, I love all of the options it provides. It is definitely a powerful program and it has a somewhat steeper learning curve than other, simpler programs. But if you are interested enough, the learning becomes less frustrating and can instead be fun and challenging.
Many voice talents use Audacity, which is a really excellent recording program. It is always what I recommend to someone new to the business, or anyone who needs recording or audio editing software. Not only is it simple to use, but it really does all that most people need and it’s FREE! However, since I am often required to provide professionally recorded, edited, mixed and mastered files, I appreciate the additional power I have with Pro Tools. I’ve learned quite a few shortcuts now, so I’m getting much quicker with the whole process. I’ve even produced some instructional videos and recorded and added the VO to the video myself, which is actually pretty simple with Pro Tools. So…those are some reasons why ProTools is my recording software of choice. There are lots of good programs out there though, and most of them are pretty similar, so it really is a matter of personal preference and job requirements.
My favorite part of recording now is my Frontier Tranzport Remote Controller. If you record and don’t have one of these, I highly recommend you get yourself one! The Tranzport works with most DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), and makes recording sessions much quicker and simpler. I no longer waste time going between microphone and computer. Once my session is set up, I can control everything while at my microphone. I spend a lot less time editing now as well. Of course, this tool will be invaluable to me once I’m in my new sound booth, as I’ll control my computer through the glass door of the booth. Which leads me to my latest, greatest thing…
For my birthday, I got a fabulous new 28 inch monitor! This thing is huge! It was worth admitting I’m another year older for! : ) ProTools is beautiful on it, so it will be great to view from inside the sound booth in my new studio. It is also wonderful for my general computing, since I tend to have a lot of windows open at once (it’s called multi-tasking). Here is a picture of my new baby. I’m sure I’ll be able to give you a better perspective on it once it is in the new office.
