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Come into the exciting world of voice-overs! Travel! Big Money! Sexy People! Right.
The most money I ever earned doing voice work was saying "Ahhh" at the end of a Miller Genuine Draft spot. It was national network, and ran all summer; total gross income: $10,000. To the uninitiated, ten-thousand dollars for one exclamation of beer induced euphoria is a ridiculous amount of money; but what about the 30-40 auditions I went on and DIDN'T get before the Miller job? What about the cabs, subways, buses, and hours spent waiting at the advertising agencies? The point is, getting one out of every fifty jobs is a great percentage, so getting the occasional big payday is only fair compensation for the time spent pursuing those jobs.
If I were to add up all of my audition time, expenses, and late payments from agencies, the $10,000 would probably amount to a $15 per hour pay rate for a profession with absolutely no security, predictable schedule, or benefits (which depend on union earnings), and one that is also highly competitive. It is a shrinking job market here in New York City, with more and more work going to non-union shops in right-to-work states, and the high-paying plums going to established screen actors who have recently tapped into the voice-over field like never before. (Note to Michael Douglas: I'll never get cast in Fatal Basic Attractive Instincts - why don't you leave us the car spots? You too, Hackman). Very few people would take a job with those specifications if it were at a store or business office; yet, everyday, more and more people decide to embark upon a career in voice work.
HOW TO PREPARE
Peter Beilin, a commercial agent who sends me out from time to time, refers to auditions as "lottery tickets," and I couldn't agree with him more. Stage actors usually get a script before-hand, so that they may analyze and rehearse for an audition. Film actors get typed by looks immediately - nothing more to prepare than a headshot (and resume, ed.). But casting directors at commercial voice auditions ask an actor to read, analyze, prepare a character, AND perform in fifteen minutes, or however long the actor waits for his or her turn. Tough stuff, but I find my initial response to the copy is usually the most honest and, therefore, best interpretation, for ME. I've seen humor in copy that others read like Chekhov. I've been warm and friendly when in other actors are pinning the meters in the red. In short , I ask myself:
1. What facet of this product am I selling?
Is it easier to use than its competitors? More advanced? Cheaper? Higher quality?
2. Who am I selling to?
Men? Women? Married? Loners? Car nuts? Morons?
3. What can I bring to it that no one else can?
We can all say "rich, chocolatey goodness" in a velvet tone, but can I add something sexy, or funny, or dangerous to my delivery that might catch the client's ear even if it's only one selection on a tape of fifty people saying "rich, chocolatey goodness."
There are some casting people who can truly help; some who say, "They're looking for attitude, but not stupidity," and who understand what the client really wants. But, unfortunately, more often than not, the suggestions are the standard: "Make it quicker, but don't rush it "; "Lots of exuberance but whisper..."; and my favorite direction someone gave me: "Make it more orangey." (I asked that person for some orange juice - I explained that it made me "feel" more "orangey." She brought it.)
In the end, let me add that every single audition I thought - no, make that I knew I did great on, I NEVER GOT A CALLBACK. When I've stumbled through the copy, run out of breath in mid-sentence, and pronounced the names wrong - those are the spots I generally book. So who knows? I try to make the audition process fun. I enjoy the people I meet at auditions (it becomes a fellowship after a while, and conversations that started at Three Of Us Studios on Tuesday can continue at Saatchi & Saatchi next Wednesday), and I NEVER, EVER, worry about whether I got the gig - life is too short. As Beilin says, "Buy enough lottery tickets, you'll eventually win."
