VAM 099 | Q & A Session 19 – What You Should Put on a Voice Acting Resume & How to Find the Best Demo Producer
Welcome to episode 99 of the Voice Acting Mastery podcast with yours truly, Crispin Freeman!
As always, you can listen to the podcast using the player above, or download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of this blog post. The podcast is also available via the iTunes Store online. Just follow this link to view the podcast in iTunes:
http://www.voiceactingmastery.com/podcast
In this episode, I continue answering questions from my podcast audience! For those who may not be as familiar with the podcast, in past episodes, I’ve given out a phone number where you can call in and leave me a question about voice acting as a voicemail. From time to time, I’ll pick the most relevant questions I receive and answer them here on the podcast.
For this round of Q & A, I answer questions from Bryson from Houston, TX and Whitney from Gunnison, CO.
Bryson wants to know what he should put on a voice acting resume. Should it be the same as the one he uses for theater, or should it be formatted differently? He’d also like to know how much information he should put on his business card. I explain to him the differences between theatrical resumes and voice acting resumes and explain how to market yourself effectively to casting directors and producers in the world of voice over.
Whitney wants to know how to find the best producer to help her create her demo. She’s done a lot of research on her own, but wants to make sure she’s making the right decision. After all, it can take a lot of time, effort and money to make a professionally competitive demo. I first explain to her how to make sure she knows how to identify good demos from bad ones. Then I share some tips with her about how to get the best recommendations for demo producers.
I hope you find the answers to their questions useful in your own voice acting endeavors!
If any of my listeners would like to call in with your own thoughts, thank you’s or questions, the number is:
323-696-2655.
Please don’t forget to include your first name and what city in the world you’re calling from. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Thanks for listening!
Download Voice Acting Mastery Episode #99 Here (MP3)
Fascinating. I’ve been wanting to get started making a demo, but I’m too afraid how expensive it would be. I’m still stuck on my financial block, I’m afraid. I graduated from college six months ago and just finished getting a day job and moving into a new place. All that has kept me too busy and stressed for voice acting. Now that I’m settled in, I’d like to get back at it.
Thanks to Bryson and Whitney for their questions. I really learned a lot this episode. And thank you for your time and wisdom.
It is very important to make sure that you feel financially stable before attempting a voice acting career. Please do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable financially. The voice acting world isn’t going anywhere.
I actually just had my animation demo redone and the difference between the first one and this second one is astounding. For the first one, my skill as an actor wasn’t as far along, I was insanely nervous, not very confident in myself, and it felt like a mess. The latest one? We recorded in the studio for about three hours and we were having an absolute blast the entire time. We had a script all worked out before we got in there, but we weren’t afraid to play and try a different direction too! Some improv in there, It was awesome!
I’m convinced a large part of that improvement was from what Crispin was saying: owning your performances and bringing YOUR OWN creativity and personality to the demo is absolutely key. Be confident, bring your A game, and play. This will translate into huge amounts of enthusiasm on your part and It’ll give the producer top quality ore to furnish into a gem.
Thanks again Crispin for such an awesome episode! Keep it up!
Thank you Kai! I’m so glad that you had such a great time making your latest demo reel! That’s always heartening to hear!
Thanks also for your great comments on bringing your own artistry to the party, so to speak. It’s clear that you’re learning that lesson quite well!
Congrats!
These were some great questions: while I’m not at this stage in my voice acting, this will definitely be helpful down the road. I’ve seen quite a few websites and listened to demos that have given me a goal to strive towards.
Excellent. Listening to the demos of established professionals can truly be eye-opening!
Every time I think demo, a bottomless pit panic surges up from somewhere. Go to some strange place, do something mysterious with some person I don’t know at all and… nope must not psych out.
I think it will take sometime before I can get comfortable with people or “what to do” before I can demo. I may make my own demo at first, then ask someone whose a little more talented to help in “voice acting alliance”… and then after I feel a bit better, more experienced I may go full pro.
I’ll start by taking a few of your classes. Payed for the last spot, I hope, in your online class. I want to take an L.A. class soon, but I figured this would save some gas and well give me a chance to feel a little more comfortable with you.
I’m still a little bit concerned though, I payed. All I got was an e-mail about the purchase, but it still shows 1 spot is open. Perhaps the website performed a April fools on me (worse), or it’s performing an April fools on everyone else.
Hi there Charles. There is no need to create a demo until you truly feel ready to make one. Otherwise, you’ll be dissatisfied with your demo.
You are confirmed for a spot in my online class in May. However, if I can give you some marketing advice, “UnavailableArtist” makes it sound like you don’t actually want to work. Industry people will find that name and e-mail a little off putting. If you haven’t yet listened to my episodes on branding yourself (Eps 75 & 76) I highly suggest you check them out.
I look forward to working with you in May.
Good. I wasnt how much of site automated.
I did by the way, it was very insightful on how you though things.
The external marketing made complete sense.
By the way that name stuck. If I were a bit more serious… I would definitely change it. That was my personal e-mail, my more profesional sounding e-mails… are expired (I went to college).
I’m basically just starting. Once I get some actual stuff done (could be free) stuff done… I will definitely think on this.
With whom did the name stick? Industry professionals who have the opportunity to hire you for jobs? Or friends of yours who like to give you a self-deprecating name?
You’re welcome to use whatever e-mail you like for your own personal use, but it would behoove you to present yourself to professionals (like myself) in the most professional manner possible. Just because a name “stuck” doesn’t mean that it’s serving you. It’s best to create a gmail account that represents you more favorably.
If you’re just starting, then it’s a great time to get off on the right foot. You may be a beginner, but I’m still going to treat you with as much respect as any professional. I’m also going to share with you the same information I would share with any professional. It’s never too early to start thinking like a professional. You won’t book professional quality work until you start thinking like a professional. Start today.
It has stuck with myself. That is, it’s an old e-mail with many links to forums and purchases I’ve made over the years. Also a constant reminder that I should work on my various crafts.
I first would like feel like a passable professional before I even worry about presenting myself as a professional, particularly a “brand”. So far I haven’t had or made any opportunities to work with many people your caliber.
I expected to learn from you not to be hired on the spot. Otherwise I would approach you far differently, sir.
I guess what I’m trying to say is why not act professional from the beginning? If a professional (such as myself) gives you free advice about how to market yourself better, why not just thank them for that advice rather than trying to come up with excuses for perpetuating marketing that won’t help you in the future?
If you were communicating with a professional baseball player and wanting to train with him and your e-mail was cannot_hit_a_ball@gmail.com, don’t you think it might make them question how seriously you regard baseball?
Of course you’re not trying to get hired. You signed up for a class, not an audition at Disney, but why not be as professional as possible in the way you present yourself? It can only help you whether or not you decide to pursue voice acting professionally, whereas doing the opposite can only harm you.
You can’t “feel like a passable professional” first, and then present yourself professionally. You’ve got it the wrong way around. You must decide to present yourself as a professional first in order to help you feel more professional. If you wait until you feel “worthy” before you act professionally it will never happen because professionals are not interested in working with people who don’t think of themselves in a professional manner. Assume your worthiness first and present yourself as such.
I appreciate your concern and advice, Thank you! I think you’ll find that we agree. Unavailableartist may be a personal e-mail for long time. But, it wont be a business e-mail I advertise freely for all to contact me in any professional career, it never was.
I did not intend for you to interpret my excuses as a way of ignoring your advice. On the contrary. I see your point. I was simply explaining why I answered with the following e-mail. Which would lead to a crazy story. The fact is I don’t intend to be working as The Unavailableartist was my point, it’s not an e-mail I came up for any career. Particularly with voice over.
The last paragraph is interesting. But, I’m sensing frustration, which I do not want to magnify. I think I wrote something I didn’t exactly mean the way you interpreted.
In truth, if it truly bothers you. The next e-mail, if I take another class, will be different. I didn’t mean to appear bothersome or a waste of your time. Sorry and many more apologies.
That’s all right. I look forward to working with you in class.
Super valuable info in this one! Love it!
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed it!
Dear Mr freeman I am happy to say I am a voice actor
Glad to hear it!
Thank you so much for answering my question 😀 I found all of the information in this episode to be super relevant and helpful.
You’re very welcome! So glad I could help!
Thank you for sharing Bryson and Whitney ^_^ And Thank you, Crispin for sharing your great wisdom for this episode 🙂 I have a question, I know Cotton (100% Cotton) is the most important thing to wear during the recording session- If I’m wearing other fabrics like Acrylic, Wool, Rayon, 95% cotton/5% Estatane, or 95% Cotton/50% Modal; do these fabrics will make weird noises on the microphone just like it happen to the spandex, nylon, and polyester as well or not really? Thank you for your time and your amazing work, Crispin. Take Care
I’m glad you liked the episode.
Cotton is almost always safe to wear in the booth because it rarely makes noise. The other fabrics, I have no idea. You’d have to try recording something while wearing them to see if the microphone picks up any stray noises.
Mr freeman I have a question what made you choose voice acting over your jobs in New York. I ask because I’m having a hard time choosing welding over voice acting. I would love to do voice acting but I am not sure which to choose
I tried to explain why I fell in love with acting in episode 4 of the podcast where I talked about my first experiences acting when I was young in the opera.
I decided to pursue voice acting because it is a passion of mine.
As far as choosing a career, I always encourage people to follow what they are most passionate about.
thank you for your help I have another question when you moved to LA did you have any jobs while voice acting I mean ( washing tables) things like that. Have people ever told you that you should give up on voice acting
I was fortunate enough when I moved to LA that I did not have to work a second job to support myself while I pursued my voice acting career. However, I know many people who have done so.
I’ve had people in my past tell me that pursuing voice acting would be difficult and that I should consider pursuing another line of work, but no one told me straight out to my face that I should give up on voice acting.
thank you for your help
Mr freeman I have an idea you could make a site were we could up a clip of us voice acting and you give us advice. Also what if we don’t have the clash to pay for your classes could you give us a one time trial and if we like it then then we can pay for full time.
So my free podcast and my free responses to your questions on this site are not enough for you? You would also like me to coach you personally for free and allow you to take my classes for free?
I’m sorry but that’s not economically feasible for me. Your request also seems incredibly ungrateful considering the vast amount of effort I have already expended to create this site, record and produce the podcast and give you my valuable time and expertise for free. If you do not understand the incredible value of all of that, then I encourage you to try and get free voice acting coaching and classes from other professionals. You will quickly discover that the reason we are called professionals is because we are good enough to get paid for what we do.
If you currently do not have the money to take my classes, then I suggest you wait until you do.
I am so sorry for disrecting you I did not mean to sound ungrateful I am in special ed classes in school so it takes me a while to unstand that I mess up again I am so sorry I hope you are not mad
Thank you for your apology. I just needed you to understand the implications of your words. I am not mad with you.
I’m sorry that you seem to be having some struggles in school. I wish the best for you in your studies and I hope you are able to find ways to pursue voice acting if that’s where your passion truly lies.