ISDN Questions?

SunSpots Engineer, Zak Miller and I were talking yesterday about voiceover talent having issues with their studios and ISDN connections. Since Zak is our resident ISDN expert we thought it'd be good if you wanted to post questions here and he could answer them for you. He's helped many talent set up their home studios and voice booths and has had years of experience with the ISDN boxes. SunSpots was working with ISDN back when the similar technology was called "switch 56".

He can also help you with your Source Connect issues, though we're still waiting for those sessions to be as flawless as those using ISDN to connect.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Tom

Happy 6th Anniversary to SunSpots Audio Engineer, Tera Parks

Next time you’re in a recording session with Tera make sure you wish her Happy Anniversary. She’s celebrating 6 years at SunSpots Orlando recording studios this month.

How many sessions has she recorded over the past 6 years at SunSpots? “I just looked on our database and I’m almost at 5,000 sessions. That’s got to be thousands of spots!”, Tera says. Radio and TV commercials, long form industrials, web 2.0 audio and every application you think of where a voiceover is needed has been recorded from Tera's studio near Orlando.

Tera, who graduated with an A.S. in Audio from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida came to SunSpots looking for a foot in the recording studio door. “What I liked about Tera when she first came to us was that she was really eager to learn about the business. I loved her positive, even-keeled attitude”, says Thomas Rohe, founder and co-owner of SunSpots Productions, “She started off answering phones, then doing voiceover talent booking/scheduling and eventually running the day-which involves making sure voice talent have scripts, clients are dialed and every session starts on time. When she had the opportunity, she was sitting in with Zak Miller learning the “SunSpots Way” of audio engineering and commercial production. She picked up everything quickly. Now she’s running sessions with talent and clients across the globe.”

SunSpots Florida studio Manager, Zak Miller, says, "Tera has turned into one of the best engineers I know. She has a great attention to detail, and a sense of humor that keeps you on your toes."

When she started six years ago, being a woman in the audio engineering/producing field was uncommon and still is today. “I do find that other women notice it (being a female engineer). Like, sometimes, the female voice talent and female creative directors will mention it in sessions, especially if it’s all women together. One of our voiceover talent, Nancy McLemore, recently wrote me saying how ‘proud of me she is because I’m the only female engineer she knows.’ I never really felt like I was an exception, but I have felt like I had to prove myself with others in the business. So, I made sure no one could criticize my skills by working extra hard to be the best I can.”

Tera says her most memorable moment in session was, “Once when we connected with a voice talent via ISDN. We were in the middle of recording when all of a sudden, I heard this big, crashing sound, the talent yelled out and he told me his homemade studio had collapsed on him! He was ok and a little shaken up. It was funny at the time though.”

Her hobbies include photographing her cats, Fraglie and Eugene "The Vampire Slayer", hanging out with her circle of close friends and family and being a rock guitar god on "Rock Band". Marty MacNeill, SunSpots daily coordinator, describes Tera's wit,"It's as fast as her Rock Band guitar trigger finger!" 

If you wish to send her an anniversary present please make sure it's in the form of some sort of candy. She's a freak for the candy cigarrettes, hot tamales and zebra cakes. We guess that's slightly better than a diet of doughnuts and french fries. Just slightly.

View Tera's personal web site at: www.teraparks.com

Schedule our kitty loving, rock band guitar paying, candy eating, exceptional engineer Tera, for your next session by booking your voiceover session through SunSpots Web Site or by calling Janet at 1-800-884-7632.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Here's something I need some new or want to be talent to remember. Please do not call us checking on your demo status, why you're not working as much, who got what job, what Tera did on the weekend (Not much, I asked already), advice on making a demo, what should get recorded on a demo, etc. Almost all this information is located online on SunSpots Web Site.

If you've sent a demo to us you will hear from us in an email.

Otherwise please email your questions if the information provided for "voice talent submissions" doesn't answer your questions.

So once more, for those in the cheap seats, sorry no phone calls. 

Thanks! Gracias! Danke! Arrigato goziamus!

Tom

 

Have you noticed the changes in voiceover industry?

Just a quick note tonight. The SunSpots Productions booking staff and I were chatting on Friday about conversations they've had with voice talent over the past weeks. The changes in the economy and the overall changes in our industry are affecting all of us in way or another. A few talent are having tough times finding gigs and getting a little tired of doing multiple auditions for us and other studios.

In my 20-plus years experience of doing voiceovers I've noticed that almost 90% of jobs now require an audition. What's strange to me is that the clients are asking for auditions even when they're very familiar with the voice they're having audition. I've heard the reason for it is that their end client needs to hear the read to make a better decision in choosing voice talent. I totally understand that. The hard part for us as professional voice talent is that sometimes we may feel like not doing the auditions. We think, "The client knows my voice and skills. I've been voicing for 10 or 20 years and I have to do an audition? Please..." Well, you know what? If you don't do the auditions, you're 100% guaranteed to not get the job. It's like saying that you don't want the money. 

When the "got to have auditions" phase began about 3-4 years ago I protested it and noticed something. I was losing work. So these days, send me auditions all the time and I'll knock em out.

Now, it's common knowledge, to most if not all of us, that we MUST do these auditions every hour if need be or be passed over because we chose not to. Remember there's always some new guy or gal out there waiting for that big break and you saying no could be just that.

I've had dreadful, animated phone calls with talent saying how it isn't fair, they're well known voices, they're longtime pros, they're big names in the biz and the clients should know their skills by now.

It comes down to this, no audition done and no work gained. 

So go ahead, it's just a few minutes of undirected fun. Do the auditions and keep swingin' the bat! The more you swing, the greater the chance of getting home run. I've ben blessed to have a couple of those; I did radio and tv spots for Circuit City for many years and voiced Nissan for a few years both as a SAG/AFTRA member.

Happy Voicing!

Tom

How'd you become a Voice Talent?

I was thinking this morning (sometimes a scary thought!) when I was walking outside enjoying Asheville's really crisp, super cold, sunny day. I was thinking about what to chat about this week on here. Here's what I came up with. It involves YOU, the successful, working voice talent. I was wondering if you'd like to give tips to those who are just starting out in voiceover careers. Here's some ideas to get the conversation started: How did you get started doing voiceovers? What made you decide to go for it full-time? Is it hard to do? What's your favorite type of read to do? What's your most memorable session? How long have you been voicing? Did you start in radio or come from a theatrical background?

You get the idea. Let me know what you think about this. I'd like to get some dialog happening here. This blog just started and your participation will make it more than just one guy on a soapbox.

If you're reading this and thinking about getting into voiceovers you should review our voiceover resources pages on SunSpots site. We're the only place on the net to find everything you need to get books, cds and even equipment to start your voiceover career.

So let's share our success stories with others here. Drop a line and I'll post it up. If you're currently a SunSpots voice talent I'll put a link to your demo on your response posting.

Have a great Sunday. It's cold as ice here today, but beautiful as always.

Peace-

Tom

Voice Talent Needed Ads

Hope everyone had a great weekend!
I wanted to mention that I placed some voice talent wanted ads on Craigslist this weekend. Here's links to the ads that are currently running.

Seeking Orlando area Voice talent
Seeking Asheville area Voice Talent.

There's others on the net too.

Here's some important information to keep in mind when sending in your materials:

Remember that SunSpots is seeking working, professional voice talent. Sometimes beginners do "get it", but, it's rare.
Do not send any of your presentation materials (photos, audio files, resumes, etc.) via email unless requested.

Please use the address listed for the studio you are physically closest to if you do not have IDSN:

SunSpots Florida (Orlando):
821 Marshall Farms Road

Ocoee, Florida, 34761

SunSpots North Carolina (Asheville)
32 Gravely Branch Road

Fletcher, North Carolina, 28732

When you do send your demo make sure it is professionally presented:

Professionally recorded CD

NO cassettes

NO dvd's

NO videotapes

NO handwriting on labels

Typed labels

Complete contact information including ALL available phone numbers

Your address

Real name/Stage name

Resume-(professional resume of voice and acting work)

Headshot (headshots do not determine representation, but will be added to your demo site if accepted)

Do not call the studios unless requested. We will send you confirmation of reception of your demo at SunSpots.

Review the SunSpots web site for more information about getting started in voiceovers.

Listen to other professional voiceover talent on our site using our EZcast™ search engine to hear what produced demos sound like and the vocal qualities of the voice professionals SunSpots represents.

Good luck to everyone!

Tom

How to do a successful voiceover audition

This issue has been coming up lately so let's talk a little about it. How do you make a good voiceover audition? We're going to assume you've already got professional equipment. If you do need equipment please check out SunSpots Voiceover Resource page. With Amazon.com we've got books, computers and other gear for sale at discount prices.

The most important thing to do when it comes to your audition is to follow the client's directions for the read. Before you lay down anything, read the directions and practice your read a couple of times. Get a good feel for the audition, then lay down what you think best matches the instructions you've been sent.

Remember, before you send the mp3 to us, slate your name and SunSpots Productions. Your read should follow this example: "Your Name, SunSpots Productions". Please don't add anything else to the voiceover audition. Don't say "Your Name for SunSpots Productions" or "Hi, this is Jane Smith laying down a couple reads for you. You know I've done lots of spots over the years. And here's my audition". Do anything other than, "Your Name, SunSpots Productions", and your audition may not be sent to our client and you'll lose the job because they never hear you. You see, clients have told us they're listening to many auditions when they're casting a job and they need to only hear the name of the talent and SunSpots Productions after that.

Another way to ensure your success, when you get an audition turn it around as soon as possible. SunSpots Talent Coordinator, Jennifer Stevens agrees, "They must turn it around in a timely manner. It shows they really care about this. It shows enthusiasm! That they're professionals ." It seems that almost every voice job requires an audition. If you've been voicing for decades like I have or are new to the business this is just part of the business we're in. Those who change with the times will survive and thrive. Jennifer continues, "The volume of auditions is beyond our control. Talent have to remember auditions aren't a waste of time. They should treat each one like a potential paycheck."

So make sure your voice over booth and equipment are as high quality as you can afford, read and listen to the directions for the audition, format your audition file exactly as requested and keep sending 'em in.

Is it a lot of work?

I'd like your comments on this. What do you think about all the auditioning going on these days?

Peace-
Tom

And the Winner's were...

Jon Stewart was great fun don't you think? I called it for "No Country for Old Men" fo Best Picture, but thought Juno would win more. Surprised Ellen Page didn't get the win tonight, but what competition! You know the thing I liked the most about the show tonight? It wasn't hokey like they used to be. Same with the Grammy's. The performances were good and less hoke was had too. Speaking of Hoke...He's got to drive Miss Daisy and I off to the big house. It's late. Good Night and Good Luck!
Tom

The Oscars

Who do you think it's going to be tonight? I've tried to see as many of the nominees as possible, but missed a few like Atonement. By the time we were ready to see it it was down to one theatre across town. If it does well tonight it may be re-released. Here's a link to the nominees.
I've seen: There will be Blood, No Country for Old Men (I'm thinking Best Picture for this), Charlie Wilson's War, Into the Wild, Juno (Ellen Page WILL win!), American Gangster (amazing story), Ratatouille (surprisingly good film about a rat in a restaurant), Surf's Up (surprisingly un-annoying penguins), Across the Universe (BEATLES!!!!!), Sicko, the Bourne Ultimatum, Pirates of the Caribbean (nominated for makeup and I'd nominate for exceedingly too darn long), 3:10 to Yuma, Transformers (for Sound Mixing...another film that could have used the knife) and did I mention Across the Universe, which I saw twice. You can't beat dancin' Beatles! I'm thinking Juno is going to win a handful tonight. It was witty, original, fresh, fun and reminds you to rent "Hard Candy" which is far from fun, but brilliantly acted by Ellen Page.

Congratulations to Zak for 10 years and 7,000 sessions!

Zak Miller, our Studio Manager at SunSpots Orlando studios, just celebrated two milestones with us. He's celebrating his 10th anniversary at SunSpots and he just completed his 7,000th session behind the console. WOW! We can hardly believe it's been 10 years already. I remember sitting on the floor at SunSpots when we had just one studio going in Florida and dreaming about what things would be like a few years from then. We couldn't believe then that we'd become a global leader in our industry. It's been Zak's hard work and extraordinary dedication that has helped us achieve that goal. I can't thank him enough for being there during those late nights, weekend sessions and doing what he does every day to separate us from the herd. You can read more about Zak here. By the way, 7,000 sessions equates to 12 to 15,000 spots he's recorded at SunSpots. We're not kidding when we say we do "professional audio production".

And let's not forget Zak is a professional voice talent too! Listen to Zak Miller's voiceover talent demo.

If you'd like to schedule Zak to do your audio production or to voice a spot or two for you please call us at 800-355-7768 or you can book your entire session the web way by using our voiceover session scheduling page.

Congrats amigo! Also, thanks to Jay Patrick, SunSpots very first engineer, for hearing Zak's production work on the radio in Orlando and saying..."Hey, this guy's got it! He's really good." Yep, we think he is and so are you Jay! (Jay's been with us since the very start when we were simply "The Cassidy Company" and we'll talk more about him soon.)

Peace-
Tom

New! Voiceover Talent Resource Page Added

In partnership with Amazon.com, SunSpots now has an incredible selection of books, videos, computers, software and more for the professional or soon to be professional voice talent. Want to get some books on voice training? How to do voiceovers? How to be a successful voice talent? We've now got all the answers on our site through Amazon's discounted services. Here's the link for it: http://www.sunspotsproductions.com/voiceover_resources.cfm

Some of our favorites are Protools LE software with the MBOX, Sony MDR7650 headphones, ALL the Apple laptops (yep we sell those through the site too!) and lots of the voiceover books.

The page is called "Books, DVDs, Computers, Software and Gear for the Voiceover Professional". It almost flows off the tongue. Well...almost.

Keep checking out the SunSpots Productions web site as we're adding new content to it every week.

Remember to keep us posted with your successes and we'll post them on the web for you!

Peace-
Tom

Great new video page added

We just added some fun new videos to the SunSpots web site. You'll see videos of famous voice talent and others. Plus we've begun to add videos with SunSpots voiceover talent voicing the spots. Click here to see our voiceover talent video resource page. If you have a video you've voiced or think we should post please send it to: video@mysunspots.com.

Getting started in Voice Overs

We've had ads running on Craigslist and other sites lately looking for experienced voice talent. We've gotten lots of voice talent demo cds in and more and more talent are joining our roster and letting us represent them. However, in addition to the pros sending in demos we've been swamped with requests about how to do voice overs, what it takes to create a good demo, what to put on it, etc..

But first, let's talk about demos. Not your content, but your presentation of your demo.

Here's what you want to do to make sure your demo gets the attention you want.

1. Make it look professional.
   
2. Include a cover letter introducing yourself and your work experience.
   
3. Include EVERY way to get in touch with you. We need all your phone numbers, email address, ISDN connection phone numbers, IM chat name, etc.
   
4. Use a printer for your labels, not a pen or pencil. Remember that first impression is everything.
5. Send a CD and not a cassette.
   
6. Use a padded envelope for your CD. CD cases crush easily in the mail and need protection.
7. Test your demo before sending it out.
   

That's it for now. More to come.

Peace.
Tom

Exciting, New "Welcome to the Blog" Welcome Message.

Happy New Year!

So it's time for SunSpots to join the world of bloggers. Sure wish there was a different word for it. Blogging sounds like a Scottish mud fight.

Our plan for this blog is to keep you informed about our heroic, multi-talented SunSpots staff, our recording sessions, helpful tips for voice over talent and ad agency news and of course rants and raves.

If you have any suggestions as to what heaping piles of wisdom we should insert here please let me know at: Tom[at symbol]MySunSpots.com

If you've not been the main page of our web site please visit this link: http://www.SunSpotsProductions.com . You can listen to demos, book talent online and request our voice talent and audio production demo cd too.

I'll be placing some info for new voice talent on soon. Seems to be a very popular subject. Every day we get requests from people wanting to be voice over talent and asking for advice on creating a voice demo, how to market themselves and especially how to create an affordable home studio or voice booth. We'll have our resident ISDN expert and SunSpots Producer/Engineer Zak advise on that issue.

We'll also be creating podcasts of our voice talent instruction with interviews and advice in the coming weeks. My belief in advising talent is, as the late James Brown said, "Just keep it real baby". So I'll be talking about staying away from topics that seem to mostly apply to those voicing in New York and LA. Let's talk about what it's like to work every day around the country doing good ole medical, narrations/industrials and such. It's a small crowd that voices national animation, national SAG and AFTRA gigs and movie trailers. What I want to discuss is the business of voice work. The day to day business of voice work, not something that may occur rarely. Let's talk about being voice artists and running your voiceover career as a business at the same time.

Nice to meet you.

We'll talk again soon.

Tom