Location
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota
I WORK IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY AS A(N)
Voice Actor
HERE'S A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND MY VOICE OVER EXPERIENCE
I was about 14 when I realized I wanted to get into the VO business. That seed was planted by the one and only..... Don Lafontaine....who just so happens to be my uncle!! It's thanks to his advice and guidance, and the inherited "pipes" of course, for getting my VO career going.
I have a degree in Radio Broadcasting but have primarily done just freelance voice work. I have done many commercials, bumpers, and liners for a couple different local radio programs/stations, including a few that currently air during the Minnesota Twins games. In 2007 I received an award for best voice over from the IMPAA (Iowa Motion Picture Assoc. Awards) for my work on an corporate video. I have narrated an audio book, and CD-Roms as well.
RECENTLY BOOKED PROJECTS
Radio commercial for the Minnesota Twins broadcast, an infomercial for Boji Film Productions
VOICE DESCRIPTION
Deep baritone similar to Don Lafontaine. Pleasing tone good for instructional/informative type reads. I'm capable of mellow and monitone, or rough and edgy, whatever you need.
DIALECTS, Character voices and vocal impressions
None
VOICES I AM ABLE TO PERFORM
Senior Male, Middle Age Male, Young Adult Male
AUDIO DELIVERY METHOD
FTP, MP3, WAV
EQUIPMENT
Full Broadcast studio with editing capabilities if needed.
Comments
I know you’ve been a member of Voiceover Universe for some time, but I wanted to introduce one of our groups to you.
I hope you'll check out and join a group called MARKETING FOR FUN AND PROFIT. It's a group dedicated to discussing ways we can market ourselves - what works; what doesn't. You’ll find some very interesting ideas and concepts there! And we would appreciate your input. Click here for the link: MARKETING FOR FUN AND PROFIT!
Thanks for your time! I trust our paths will cross soon!
Best to ya!
dan (daniel eduardo) hurst
www.DanHurst.com
Cheers,
Stephanie
Peace and Blessings
I just wanted to extend my thoughts and
prayers to you and your family during this
sad time. Your Uncle was one of my hero's
and he will be sorely missed.
God Bless
J
Wow you're "johnny on the spot" with your speedy replies!!! I can't thank you enough. I will take your advice and hopefully one day I'll be able to repay you, even if it's just a beer or a cup of coffee, if nothing else. I am going to look into acting/vo classes like you suggested. What was your opinion on the "Grillpack" spot by the way?
Be forewarned, I will be coming back frequently, to the VO well of knowledge, or as I like to call him......Bob.
Are you in California? If so next time I'm out visiting with my uncle we'll have to get together.
TC
Heath
Yes, I agree. The autism and unicell are probably your most "Heath" sounding spots. (and wouldn't it be nice if you get to that point in your career where folks say, "we're looking for that "Heath" sound??!") ;-)
The hardest part of this is finding one's own sound/style/brand. But we all have it in our day to day life. It just seems that, often when a mic is in front of our face, we put on a "voice-over" delivery that is announcery.
Now, you do have a great voice for that announcer type of read. And there is still a need for that in da biz! But what will open more doors is that conversational real delivery that is so "in" these days.
How do you find that? Acting class, VO workshops, etc.
It literally took me 4 solid years in VO classes before I "got it."
Week after week I'd go to the mic, I'd give a ready "announcery" read. I'd hear instructors try to direct me to be more real. But it just didn't translate from my ears to my mouth.
Four years later, at a Saturday morning workshop, I got it. Not sure why. But it all just clicked.
And as trends change, and with the various genres of VO, from promo, to imaging, to narration, I'm always reinventing, hoping to find ways Bob can stand out. It's really a challenge to take a pice of copy that is written VERY announcery and make it conversational.
As for demos, keep in mind that just because a spot is real, that doesn't mean it should be on your demo. Only brilliance goes on a demo. Often a working VO actor will book a spot, only to redo it for thier demo. It might be a good spot, but over produced, or the actor was pooly directed, etc. YOu just want to make sure you use a demo producer who knows marketing and current trends. The spots need to sound real. They should sound national.
You absolutley have the talent! One you fine tune, take things up a notch, and find your brand/zone, the sky's the limit!
;-)
I took a listen to your demo.
You absolutely have the pipes! But what's missing is Heath's brand. I understand you got the Uncle Don DNA. ;-) But I'd stay away from "in a world" on your demo. It's not only cliche, but it's become Don's branding. You need your own.
Keep in mind that buyers and agents don't need another voice. They have all the voices they will ever need.
What they don't have is you. Your heart, your brain, your sense of humor, your style, YOUR brand.
That's what's missing from your demo. I don't know who Heath is. I hear Heath trying to be other people, from Don to Rod Serling.
If you are going to make your mark you need to establish your own unique individual style at the mic.
Also, check out voicebank.net. Click "house reels" at the top of the home page. Surf around the agent's demos. This will help you get an idea of format and demo styles. You have gaps between spots on yours. You want tighter edits. And that Twilight Zone music that takes up so much time on your demo takes away from you. Most demos these days are one minute. Maybe a little more, but I don't recommend more than a minute. Yours is over 6. Way too long!
Let me know if this helps. And don't hesitate to pop me an email directly at porkysvoice@aol.com
;-)