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By Guy Michaels
Your Voice Reel Questions, Answered!
I’ve totally lost count of the amount of times that people have asked me how long should my voice reel be? Over my many years of working in this industry and 20 in demo production, the answer has changed somewhat. Just remember this though, always put yourself in the shoes of the potential listener.
How Long Should Your Voice Reel Be?
Keep it Concise
Your aim should be a concise, 60-90 second demo reel that’s absolutely packed with your best work. Think of it as a highlight reel; you want to capture their attention and leave them wanting more, not bore them to tears. Think ‘sifts in energy’ from one pirce to the next. Honestly, nobody’s got time for a five-minute epic.
Oh and that doesn’t mean ‘mega-mixes’ or a random collection of your best work from totally unrelated voiceover genres. Mega-mixes are useless and anyone who tells you other wise is stuck in 1998. No, you MUST specialise in each of your demos. Again, as above, put yourself firmly in the shoes of the listener. No potential corporate client wants to hear your animation voices!
Make it easy for the type of client to find and listen to whatever is relevant for them. So in conclusion…the optimal voice reel length is short!
Quality Over Quantity
While individual tracks might be anywhere from 10 to 45 seconds each, a voicereel is a cut-down version compiling the best of the best into a sub 90-second track featuring small snippets of each individual track. The goal is to showcase your talent efficiently and effectively, so quality over quantity is always the way to go. I’d always recommend keeping everything else (the individual tracks) shorter than that. Potential voice over clients are rarely going to listen to more than that.
NOTE: the law of diminishing returns kicks in pretty quick with an audio-only demo.
Why Are Voice Reels So Important?
Your voice reel (also known as a voice-over demo, VO demo, or voice reel) is an essential tool – your calling card as a voice actor.
Your Audio Resume
It’s your audio resume, a showcase of your talent and versatility. Even with the rise of pay-to-play sites and the need for custom demos, a professional voice reel is still arguably the single most important tool for voice actors worldwide.
Making a Lasting Impression
It’s often the first impression a potential client or casting director has of you. A well-crafted reel grabs their attention, showcases a professional voice, and leaves a lasting impression. It clearly demonstrates your skills and vocal range, making it a valuable marketing asset and a key component of your voiceover portfolio.
What Types of Voice Reels Should You Have?
Variety is key! You should have a voice reel for each target market you’re aiming for. This shows off your versatility as a voice actor.
Tailor Your Demos
For instance, you might need a commercial demo, a corporate demo, a character demo for video game voice acting, or even animation, audiobook, or e-learning demos. Different script types are used to demonstrate various styles and tones, tailored to specific industries.
Boost Your Visibility
For example, commercial scripts promote products, narration scripts are for documentaries and audiobooks, and character scripts bring animated or fictional characters to life. Having multiple voicereels will help you appear in more searches and might even secure more paid gigs.
What Makes a Good Voice Reel Stand Out?
First off, bespoke, modern, and relevant scripts are crucial – not some tired old script everyone else has used. After our consultation, I customise all material especially for you. Truly unique scripts each and every time.
The Right Scripts and Production
You want scripts that showcase your range, versatility, and acting ability. Work with a voiceover demo producer to ensure your demo is professionally produced and edited. This demonstrates professionalism and commitment to your craft.
Voice First
Also, “voice first” is my mantra. Production elements like music and sound effects should only carefully support your voice, not drown out your performances. As Mark Estdale’s 2018 survey on gaming demos pointed out, “Sound effects and/or music are good, but can easily be overdone… The voice should never hide behind anything. Generally speaking, less is often more”.
How Often Should You Update Your Voice Reels?
From my experience, the shelf-life of a voiceover demo is probably about three years. Find out more in the VOICE-REEL.com FAQ
Your Voice Evolves
Your voice changes over time; it might deepen, become more resonant, or simply have a different energy. You’ve also likely improved as a voice actor and understand your casting better.
Stay Current and Competitive
The market itself is constantly changing and expanding, with new voiceover markets emerging that didn’t exist even a decade ago. So, even if you have fantastic recordings from paid work, keeping them on your website indefinitely might actually be harming you. Regularly overhauling your voicereels ensures they accurately reflect your current range and style, keeping you competitive.
In 2024 I culled the majority of my recordings as a voice actor and kept only what was relevant and the recordings that still sound like me.
