I've cast hundreds of computer games and directed thousands of actors. Voice acting is much more demanding than voice overs. Happy to help anyone interested.
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I'd say every agency is different and it wouldn't hurt to call and even ask their receptionist what they prefer. The absolute best way for an introduction is by being introduced by someone you know who is already at that agency.
Most of the time when someone sends me one sentence or two and a link to their website, I find it's presumptuous and a bit curt. I think agents also won't really spend time going somewhere unless they are highly motivated. Lines like, "Hello. I'd like to be added to your talent pool. Here is a link to my site." --they hit me like spam. i think, "Ok. Little do you know what I think about demos." In fact, while demos are a good place to start and everyone needs them, here is my problem with them:
1. How long did it take that talent to get that demo polished, edited and done?
2. Can they stay in character, take direction, cold read well, be pleasant to work with? None of these things are self-evident in a demo.
3. Does this talent own a home studio? If so, I want to know about the equipment and recording quality, & if I'm an agent, I'd also want to know where you live, if you can do demos and send them by MP3 or what the logistics of hiring you entail.
4. So many demos, cassettes, and resumes end up in a box that's in the corner collecting dust. Unsolicited demos are sometimes never going to go anywhere but the trash. Many agents have you come in after business hours and read for an assistant who then gives the stuff to the agent. If the agent likes what they hear, they may call you. Otherwise, presume it was a good practice session.
Hope that helps.
Let me know.
If anyone goes to the mirror and makes faces and starts talking in that "face" they'll notice a complete change just because the French Horn turned into a piccolo, mouth-wise.
Ok, while you're at it, wait until dark, take out a wintergreen lifesaver, go into that dark bathroom and look into the mirror with lips slightly parted. Crunch down as hard as you can on that lifesaver so it breaks. Ever seen that blue flash before? Spark in the dark. :)
"ts a combination of voice control, gestures, facial contortions and tongue/lip placement, where you emanate your voice from like your lower belly versus choked up in your throat, and textures from raspy fine sandpaper to really loose gravel."
I guess it comes down to "being the character -- by changing physical things about yourself. Being the character as opposed to doing the character.
I have a bit of advice as far as commercial demos which anyone is free to disagree with. Always try to keep the length of demos under 2 minutes. Even 1.5 minutes is about as long as most listeners have patience for. When it comes to commercials, put on national sounding commercials, even if it's just a tag line like, "American Express, Don't leave home without it." Never put spots on your demo that talk about some local car dealership or eatery. You can leave out the city or street location if the business you're speaking about sounds national.
Some good ideas for national are Target, Gap, Sears, Am-Track etc.
Often you can do Chevy or Mercedes or Olive Garden or Taco Bell, but sometimes you may be giving away a chance to do a spot for a competitor like Ford, Carl's Jr. etc.
If your voice always sounds pretty similar on all your spots, make the demo as short as possible with quick hits with those national sounding names and production value always helps win over your target audience, whether it's an agent or casting person.
Best of luck to all.
I just read through all the comments. I know we touched base when you began the group, but I've been keeping busy (yea!) and haven't been able to follow as closely as I would have liked.
You have some gems here! I'm looking forward to hearing more continuing to stretch and grow. Thanks!
Forgive my brain drain but I'm unsure what you mean by praise and scolding lines. For the most part, games I've worked on that are not educational don't have such things unless you are 'congratulated' for completing a quest etc.
Taunts are completely different and you can be as taunty as you like of course as long as you stay in whatever character you're playing.
I heard your Bast demo on Voice123 and it's fine to leave as is. Your character demo is also decent, but remember one of the most common things people put on demos that is SELDOM asked for is a witch voice if you're a girl and the cowboy twang whether you're a guy or girl. Very common for people to do those voices, but as a casting director or agent, if you can come up with something not so overdone, it'd be to your benefit. Keep up the good work.
http://debycedarslmt.voice123.com
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