As humans, there are times when we are put in situations where determining whether or not something is going to be good can be quite challenging. That’s why we invented processes to help us make informed decisions.
For instance, marketers have their focus groups and market testing. For creative directors and producers who are on the hunt for good voice actors, there are auditions and demos. Now, it’s necessary for these processes to exist because that’s how we can truly determine the effectiveness and usefulness of the things we are testing.
However, there are other underlying signs that we might ignore; signs that may not show up on our standardized testing methods. As a creative director/producer, you are likely to come across these signs when auditioning a particular talent.
Looking out for these signs can go a long way in helping you identify the right talent a little sooner. Here are the signs to keep an eye, and an ear, out for.
Does the Talent Blend In?
There’s no debating the fact that the message and the voice behind it must feel like they are in perfect unison. This is when the maximum intended effect can be achieved.
Of course, you might have to deal with the pressure of standing out, which is fine. However, standing out doesn’t mean that your voice doesn’t have to blend in with the brand’s identity. When the brand/message and the voice match, you actually gain cohesion, which is good.
The voice must always support the message.
Is the Performance Stuck in Your Head?
If the performance is something you can’t forget, you can be fairly sure that the talent you’re looking at is the one. Good voice actors draw your attention to their voice in a positive way. They sound like they were made for the spot.
The fewer reasons you have to question the performance, the greater the chance of the talent being the one you’re looking for. A voice talent that provides you with the confidence you’re looking for is one that you can trust to deliver the intended impact.
The Gut Feeling
Finally, you have that gut feeling. You know deep down inside that this is the one. The right voice talent can give out a vibe that tells you you’ve found the one. Once you get that gut instinct, don’t ignore it. You have likely found the perfect voice for the job.
All you need to do from there is test the voice further to confirm your gut instincts.
ABOUT ROBERTA –
Roberta is a Professional AND award Winning International Voiceover Actor, as well as an accomplished on-camera actress and spokesperson. She lives in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and is the owner of Roberta Kennedy Voice Talent and RK Productions, Inc.
She voices for companies around the world using her state of the art, broadcast quality studio. She’s hired for commercials, web demos and explainer videos, product infomercials, documentaries, promo/imaging, political ads, e-learning videos, podcasts, guided real estate tours, telephony/IVR projects, high profile corporate presentations, video games and character animation.
Her voice is described as: playful, contemporary, compelling, commanding, inviting, sultry and smooth. A hip edge with sophistication, bold, warm, interesting and engaging are also commonly used adjectives to describe her voice.
Her home studio is equipped with ipDTL, ISDN and phone patch capability with lightning fast turnaround times! A voiceover talent with over 20 years of voiceover acting experience, she offers a full range of voiceover services at highly competitive rates & will work with your budget to help you promote your business to new levels of excellence!
To request a personal quote or audition and/or to review more of her credits & demos, feel free to visit her website: www.robertakennedy.com – or mail her at roberta@robertakennedy.com. You can even give her a call on (408) 313-7202.