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By Guy Michaels
Let’s cover exactly why your ‘reel voice’, the voices on your Commercial or Corporate demos, should primarily be your ‘real voice’.
In the competitive voice-over industry, your voice reel is your calling card. It’s often the first impression you make on potential clients and casting directors, so it’s essential to put your best voice forward. But with so many different styles and genres to choose from, it can be tempting to try to be all things to all people by showcasing a variety of accents and character voices. However, when it comes to commercial and corporate reels, it’s essential to focus on what makes you truly stand out: your real voice as your reel voice.
Reel voice: The Power of Your Professional Voice
Your voice is as unique as your fingerprint. It’s a combination of your physical vocal qualities, your personality, and your life experiences. No one else in the world has the same voice as you, and that’s what makes you special.
When you use your real voice on your reel, you’re letting your true self shine through. You’re connecting with listeners on a deeper level and making a lasting impression. This is especially important for commercial and corporate reels, where clients are looking for a voice that will connect with their target audience and sell their product or service.
Character demos are, of course, different in that they are perfect showcase for your acting skills and accents. This is where your reel voice can be anything and not just your real voice! Find out more about creating a character reel for Gaming
Voice Over: Why Your ‘Reel Voice’ Matters for Commercial and Corporate Demos
Casting directors and potential clients want to hear your true voice, not just a collection of silly voices, character voices, or accents. Your real voice is what will connect with listeners on an emotional level and make you stand out from the competition.
While character voices and accents can be impressive, they don’t necessarily reflect your true vocal abilities. Casting directors want to hear your natural voice, with all its nuances and personality. They want to hear the voice that will connect with their target audience and sell their product or service.
Voice Actor: Creating Professional Voice Reels for Various Genres
Character voices and accents have their place, but they don’t belong on a commercial or corporate reel. If you want to showcase your versatility as a voice actor, create separate demos for different genres, such as animation, gaming, and character work. This will allow you to target your demos to specific clients and projects.
For example, if you’re interested in doing voice work for audiobooks, you can create an audiobook demo reel that features your best narration skills. This will show potential clients that you have the skills and experience to bring their stories to life.
Demo Reel: The Importance of Script Selection and Professional Production
When creating your demo reels, it’s important to choose scripts that showcase your strengths and highlight your unique selling points. Work with a professional voice reel producer to ensure that your demos are polished and showcase your strengths. Professionally produced voice reels can make all the difference in landing those dream voice-over jobs.
VoiceOver Demo: Showcase your ‘reel voice’ on a perfect showreel
If you’re ready to take your voice-over career to the next level, it’s time to start showcasing your real voice on your reel. By being yourself and letting your personality shine through, you’ll be well on your way to landing those dream voice-over gigs.
Remember, your voice is unique and that’s what you need to show off. So, embrace your true voice and let the world hear what you’ve got!
Voice Reel Checklist: Prioritising Your Real Voice
When creating a voice reel, especially for commercial and corporate demos, it’s crucial to showcase your real voice. This checklist will help you prioritise your natural voice and create a reel that truly represents you:
1. Embrace Your Real Voice:
- Understand that your real voice is unique and valuable.
- Resist the temptation to use accents other than your own or ‘silly voices’.
- Let your personality shine through in your delivery.
2. Choose Scripts Wisely:
- Select scripts that reflect your natural speaking style and personality.
- Avoid scripts that require you to put on a character voice or accent.
- Choose a variety of scripts that showcase your vocal range and versatility.
3. Focus on Clear and Engaging Delivery:
- Ensure your voice is easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to.
- Use vocal inflections and emotions to keep your reel interesting.
- Avoid over-acting or trying to sound like someone you’re not.
4. Professional Production:
- Work with a reputable voice reel producer to ensure high-quality production.
- Ensure your reel is free of any distracting background noise.
- Choose appropriate music and sound effects that enhance your voice, not overshadow it.
5. Target Your Demos:
- Create separate demos for different genres, such as commercial, corporate, animation, and gaming.
- This allows you to showcase your versatility while keeping your demos targeted and relevant to potential clients.
6. Remember Your Goals:
- Your voice reel is a marketing tool to showcase your unique vocal abilities.
- Prioritise your real voice on commercial and corporate demos to connect with potential clients on an authentic level.
- Keep character voices and accents for demos specifically targeted towards those genres.
By following this checklist, you can create a voice reel that truly represents you and your unique vocal talents, ultimately leading to more voice-over opportunities and a successful career in the voice-over industry.
Guy Michaels is the class-leading demo producer worldwide due to his unique and personalized approach to voice-over demo production. Unlike the conveyor-belt experience offered by many other demo producers, Guy takes the time to get to know each voice actor and their individual needs. He provides expert direction and coaching, helping voice actors to deliver their best performances. His deep understanding of the industry, combined with his meticulous approach to audio production, ensures that each demo is polished, impactful, and truly representative of the voice actor’s talent. With a focus on quality over quantity, Guy’s commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as the go-to demo producer for voice actors around the globe.
