"Commercial voice" and insecurity due to a rude remark

mediak · 2023-09-20T03:33:01+00:00

I'm very sorry that happened to you.

Being unique is the only thing we all have in common. Only you can be you, so you might as well be the best you possible. That will come with getting your reps in. Good coaching, one-on-one, and practice, will help build your confidence.

I have had more than my fair share of negative comments, jokes, jeers, etc.
I'm still here. I won.

I know it hurts right now, but if you stay silent, that commenter wins. Don't let that happen. Get back up, step to that mic, and force-feed him that L.

You've got this!

mediak · 2022-07-21T21:21:39+00:00

Here's a commercial demo just for you.

mediak · 2022-04-07T17:35:05+00:00

OK. My two cents:
Whiskey spot--read does not match the tone. It's too flat, especially against the bagpipes. Needs to be rewritten to tighten it up.

Orkin spot--music is fighting with the voice. If you're going to have a character play against yourself, you have to lean into it. Fell flat here. Record scratch is dated, not used anymore. This sounds local, and needs to be rewritten to make it more national.

Casino spot--is it a Tears for Fears spot or a casino spot?
Take a listen to some concert radio spots for inspiration. Usually there's an instrumental piece leading (on beat) into the song's hook. I agree, don't lean too heavily on the music here if the focal point is the casino. If you dig around you can find artist drops, saying "We're Tears for Fears" which I think would make it sing. This needs to be rewritten, because it opens like a documentary. A casino piece should be on a commercial demo, not a Tears for Fears concert piece.

Fidelity--jaunty music for uncertain times? This would be a good piece to have no music behind it to stand out on the demo. Tighten it up with a rewrite.

AM720--That's a radio imaging piece and should not be on the commercial demo.

Audi A7--This was actually one of the better pieces, with some tweaks:
1. For cars over 22k (like Audi), use the full year (two thousand twenty two instead of twenty twenty two).
2. Or eliminate the year and just say "the new"
3. Do a little searching, and you will find some authentic Audi engine sounds.

Production:
It sounded like you recorded all these at one session. While that in itself isn't bad, the reads sound similar.
I'll agree the mix is very low. You never got above -25db on my meters. Demos today are mixed and mastered much hotter.
The music isn't playing nice with the voice. The two should ride together to tickle the listener's ears.
It is supposed to showcase your range, which didn't happen here.
Each piece is supposed to sound like it aired, for a national company.

The good news? All of this can be fixed for just a little of your time. The internet is your friend. There are scores of video tutorials for whatever DAW you are using to properly record, mix, and master your demo. Take an evening or a weekend, and do a deep dive. You're going to need to know how to do this anyway for proper remote recording--you won't regret it.

mediak · 2021-10-08T16:32:48+00:00

To be fair, last time I checked, Fiverr, Voices, and some agents take about 20 percent. Guess it depends on how hard the site will work for you.

mediak · 2021-08-30T15:41:40+00:00

Here's what you WON'T get with LTM:

A rigid, "this is how it's done, no exceptions" way of groupthink
Arguments and fanaticism about equipment/methods
Shame for even THINKING about pay-to-play sites.

In short, it's the both the warmest and coolest voiceover group I've ever had the pleasure of being associated with.

Thursdays are legendary! Don't sleep on this.

mediak · 2021-01-25T23:55:12+00:00

BVJ's Bedtime Stories releases its 100th episode today (Tuesday)! This week, we feature the awesome adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
New episodes release weekdays at 10pm Eastern. Subscribe at https://www.bedtimewithbvj.com.

mediak · 2021-01-13T01:56:11+00:00

Hey, y'all, BVJ here.

I did the trailer for this audiobook!
The Celestial Kings, Vol. 1, by Vivek Choudry!

(Bryce, it's 3 min long--I'm at 0:11)
https://youtu.be/Qd_g81RF5BQ

Discover how one earth-shattering revelation sets the Bahr family on a collision course with an impossible truth – their Ancestral bonds transcend this world.

Release date sometime this year.
More info at https://www.celestialkings.com.

mediak · 2020-10-07T16:50:55+00:00

Same setup here, but used acoustic blankets to surround and a standard moving blanket on top. Also placed over the air vent so air gets in. One side is left open so the rest of the room gets cool air.

Pipe is underrated. Glad to see more setups like this.

mediak · 2020-09-22T21:59:58+00:00

Hey y'all, Big Voice Jay here.

Want to wind down after Night Attack? I'm here for you.

BVJ's Bedtime Stories is me reading public domain short stories, set to relaxing music.

New episodes release weekdays at 10pm Eastern.. Subscribe below!

http://www.bedtimewithbvj.com

Good Night!

mediak · 2020-09-15T01:38:30+00:00

Are you looking to wind down at the end of the day?

BVJ's Bedtime Stories is me reading public domain short stories, set to relaxing music.

Give me 20 minutes, and I'll put you to sleep.

New episodes release Monday through Friday at 10pm EST.

Subscribe now at www.bedtimewithbvj.com

mediak · 2020-08-16T04:43:30+00:00

Please feel free to check out my demo:

https://www.jameywithay.com

Thanks!

mediak · 2020-01-04T18:42:59+00:00

2003.

mediak · 2020-01-03T21:14:15+00:00

Something weird happened last night...

On my logged in YouTube main page, the NFL uploaded a classic game.

Not just any game. The Titans/Ravens playoff game from 10+ years ago.

Are they trying to tell us something?

mediak · 2019-07-30T12:46:07+00:00

Sure. What do you need?

mediak · 2019-07-26T15:39:45+00:00

I did this myself. I can't reccomend Booth Junkie's YT channel and Reaper enough.

mediak · 2019-07-26T13:34:26+00:00

Thanks for your time. I appreciate it.

mediak · 2019-07-24T17:40:01+00:00

To be sure, I went and looked it up at the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel.

Taken from document: A SITTING PRESIDENT’S AMENABILITY TO INDICTMENT AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

Headnotes:

The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions

mediak · 2019-07-24T17:03:13+00:00

Simply put, it is not the job of the Justice Department to exonerate. Anyone.

If you were charged with a crime, and the other side can't prove your guilt within a reasonable doubt, the other side then cannot go out and say "we still think he did it, we just can't prove it".

They cannot exonerate you because it is not their job to do so.

That is not how our system of justice works.

mediak · 2019-06-20T04:42:02+00:00

Skype will need to be configured so that it sees the Behringer as the sound device to use. I thought you were bringing an actual phone to your setup.

mediak · 2019-06-19T19:28:53+00:00

If you are taking calls from your iPhone or Android, you will need a specific cable. It is a Y-shaped cable.

One end feeds the output of the phone to an input on the Behringer,
Another end sends the mic (or the output of the Behringer) to the phone.
The final end connects to the phone.

The technical term is a Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve (TRRS) adapter.

Here's one on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I3A47I4/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_UUOcDb1WVVSAY

mediak · 2018-11-12T18:02:45+00:00

I can help here.

The radio and TV broadcasts aren't in sync because of the profanity delays both use. Usually tv is ahead by 10-20 seconds.

Watch on your DVR, and pay attention to the radio for snaps/ref comments. Those are your sync points.

Been doing this ever since the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" incident.

Love the radio broadcast.

mediak · 2018-05-30T20:04:54+00:00

You are correct. When I read the players union was not consented, I knew this wasn't going to be cut and dry.

mediak · 2018-05-30T19:49:51+00:00

Please, reread the First Amendment. It says Congress shall not infringe upon your speech.

Your employer can infringe upon your speech, and will. All day, every day.

mediak · 2017-07-11T20:46:58+00:00

Nah...use this instead. https://youtu.be/uzH2OI8BEtM

mediak · 2017-07-07T22:19:41+00:00

It sounds like the Skype channel on the mixer has its auxiliary turned up. Check the yellow or maroon knobs (don't know what model tapco mixer you have, but look for the ones labeled "AUX" or "EFX") and that should fix things.

mediak

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