Hey Susan Berkley here, this is the Inside Voice Over video training blog. This week we’re going to talk about an important fact of voice over life, and that is auditions. So I’ve got seven best practices for you today for doing them well.
So the first thing is, is don’t agonize over them. I talk to people, they spend hours on an audition, that won’t at all, so just be good enough and get those suckers out the door fast because this is a numbers game.
Number two, your audio quality really matters. There’s no such thing as, “Well, it’s an audition so they’ll get the idea.” Uh-uh (negative). Your audition quality needs to be pristine, this has to sound like it could run on the air if it didn’t. Now they’re not going to steal it, but the audio quality really needs to be excellent.
Number three is to be bold. Be big. Don’t start small and say, “Oh, they’ll direct me up if they need to.” No. Give it your best shot. Give it lots of energy. They can always bring you down, but if you’re bland and you’re tired and you’re lifeless, they’re going to doubt that they can ever pump you up so start big.
Number four is your slate. Now the slate is the part of the audition where you say your name, and sometimes the name of the agency that’s sent you, that’s actually part of the audition. So say it with energy, say it in a unique manner, because it really, really helps.
Number five is, it’s a numbers game. So I wish there was some way you could game these auditions. You can’t. You just got to do a lot of them. Be in the game a lot, and you will really increase your chances of winning.
Number six is, make sure you have other sources of work. Auditions are not a business. In addition to auditioning, you should be developing your own clientele. The way that I teach you in, my mic to money training at my boot camps and in all of the marketing advice that I give you, so auditions need to be just a tiny part of how you find work. You’ve got to create your own clientele by going directly to prospects.
Number seven is don’t listen to yourself while you audition, take your headphones off or just wear one ear. You’re not reading to yourself, you’re reading to that unseen other on the other side of the microphone. I hope that’s helpful. I’m Susan Berkley, back next week with more Inside Voice Over.
