Melanie Haynes Southern & Texas Voice Over Demo

An agency just requested a "Southern" demo, so I just put together some spots I've done with a Southern or Texas dialect. One or two of them are on my generic Character Demo, too. Always fun digging through old spots looking for the right thing to use on a demo. It used to be that everyone recommended only making your demo with actual work that you've done, but that doesn't seem to be the trend anymore. Of course, you have much more control when building a demo from scratch.....sometimes, there just isn't time for that, though. It does help to keep a library of your voice over work for times like these - neatly organized in folders on your computer or server. It's not always easy to get copies of the finished spots, but it's sure worth a try!

Melanie Haynes Medical Commercial Voice Over Demo

I've done quite a few medical commercials in addition to other commercial voice overs. I just created and uploaded a new Medical Commercial demo to You Tube:

What does it mean to be a Successful Voice Over Talent?

Bill DeWees shares another of his voice over videos on being successful as a voice over talent. Good points and interesting info. I enjoy watching Bill's videos and find that he's no nonsense when it comes to running your voice over business.

I'm Not a Voice Over Talent Agent!

Almost daily, I receive calls and emails from prospective voice over performers looking for an agent. I'm not a voice over talent agent. I talk about agents in the "How To" pages on my web site and in my blog posts, so I think my voice over talent web site may be picked up by the search engines because of that.

If you are truly interested in pursuing voice over as a career, I'd suggest you read my "How To" pages on my web site and also my blog posts. I hope those pages and my posts will be of some help to you – at least point you in the right direction. I have received many appreciative emails and calls from prospective talent thanking me for the quality and depth of information I have provided free of charge on my web site and blog. I’m happy to help with some basic advice. I do appreciate receiving emails from prospective talent as opposed to phone calls. I spend much of my day recording in my audio booth, and I cannot often take time out of a busy day to go through a step by step process of how to get started in this business. That’s one of the reasons I have provided the information which is accessible at any time on my web site and in my blog posts.

To begin your journey, you need to understand that it's not just about having a great or unusual voice that counts, but what you do with that voice and how you market yourself!

Those of us who work as voice over artists study and work hard continually honing our craft and marketing ourselves just to work and survive in this business. However, there are many talented people who do that and still do not make a living at voice over. Also, realistically, getting started by taking classes, making demos, marketing, building a web site, creating your own voice over studio, etc., requires an outlay of approximately $4,000 - $5,000. All things to be considered......

It is best to work with a voice over coach (in person or via phone!) in order to make sure you are ready to create a demo and start distributing it. The last thing you want to do is create a demo before you are ready. It will not serve you well in trying to get an agent or trying to get work. There are many good voice over coaches out there who are willing to work via telephone if you do not live in their area. Several coaches that I have personal experience with are: Nancy Wolfson, James Alburger & Penny Abshire , Marc Cashman , and Rodney Saulsberry If you contact them, please tell them I referred you. I don’t make any commission for referrals, but I just like them to know that I’m thinking of them!

Do your homework, find a good coach, and dig in! All the best to you in your pursuit of a career in voice over!