Did you know Brian Hart produces demos for other voice talent?

It’s something I really enjoy doing and I am pretty good at it if I may say so myself.  If you would like to discuss producing your next demo please contact me.

Samples of Demos produced by Brian Hart

Russ McLamb Rock Imaging

Russ McLamb Country Imaging

Caryn Clark Radio Imaging

I produce all my own demos so you may listen to them also.  Read more after the jump if you are interested in learning about the demo production process.

Evaluation:

Now this subject is a bit tricky and I’m going to try to write it without being rude or arrogant.  I’ve recently implemented an evaluation process before I produce any demos and I may ask you to send me a copy of your current demos or samples of your work before I agree to produce anything.

Why?  Well, here’s the deal:  I love producing great demos. On the other hand it really drains my enthusiasm and saps my creative energy if I feel you aren’t ready for me to produce a demo for you yet.  I hate the idea of wasting your time and mine by creating a demo that isn’t going to bring you work.  My wife says I should just shut up and take the money but I can’t do that.  Producing a good demo is a very time intensive process and it’s expensive.  I need the satisfaction – and since you’re paying for my expertise you deserve the peace of mind – that comes with knowing it’s the best work it can be from your delivery and my production.

How much does it cost?

Well that depends.  Do you already have pieces you wish me to put together and re-master as a coherent demo or are you asking me to provide sample copy for you to voice?  Do you want me to direct a session or two via phone patch (I like to do this with newer talent)?  Do you want your demo to have a huge production value or should it be more minimalist?  There are a lot of variables that I customize for each individual’s style and type of demo so discussing your needs with me while asking me for a quote is best.

Right now my base rate for a commercial demo is $500.00 if you provide the workparts.  Imaging demos start at $750.00 each.  Expect to pay a bit more if I provide the copy or if you want a sound that is very labor intensive.  I have literally thousands of royalty free music beds and sound effects I include in my rates but if there’s a particular bed you want to purchase from a music source that might cost a little extra.  If you want me to produce more than one demo I have discounted rates available depending on how many and what type of demos you need.

I’ll ask for a deposit up front, with the remaining balance due upon completion of your demos (when you are satisfied with them of course!)

How many demos do I need?

Good question.  For starting talent I generally recommend one commercial demo along with one or two other styles such as narration, audiobook, IVR/telephony etc depending on your interests and where you think you might find work.  If you are interested in radio imaging you should count on at least three different specialized imaging demos.  Imaging and promo work are very tough nuts to crack so I highly recommend you explore the field and realistically analyze your commitment and chances for success fully before committing to making demos.

What files do I get?

When you are satisfied with your demos I will provide you with the produced version in your choice of .wav, .mp3, or .aiff files as well as providing you with a copy of the session files you may use for future revisions.  I also archive all my projects locally so if you wish for me to revise your demo in the future (add a new commercial for example) it’s easy for me to do so at a very reasonable rate.

Do you have more questions or would you like to discuss your demo with Brian Hart?  Contact Brian Hart for further information.

I haven’t posted much about the design and construction of my studio, mostly because I don’t want to give you the impression I’m unable to work for you.  I am available and ready for your project.  With that in mind here’s an update:

The new voiceover booth is coming along nicely thanks to the generosity of some fantastic people that know much more about acoustic design than I do.  The isolation walls and ceiling are done.  Over 300 square feet of acoustic insulation is on it’s way.  The new door should be delivered on Monday or Tuesday of next week.  It’s a heavy beastie but it has to be to provide the kind of isolation I want (and feel that you as my client deserve).

The Hart Voice Overs Booth

Today I got the flooring installed. Boy it looks pretty. And it won’t mess with the high frequencies in the voice range the way carpet does.

The new floor in Hart Voice Overs Vocal Booth

I’ll have the door system installed next week. The acoustic insulation should arrive in about another week. As soon as it gets here I’ll be able to treat the walls and hang a “cloud” on the ceiling. Then the new booth will be ready to go!

I’m very excited about the upgrade to this booth and I hope you, as a client or potential client, are excited about the great enhancements it will provide for your projects with Hart Voice Overs as well.

Tom Dheere has written a great post on the RogNog blog about voice actors and tax time.  He starts off:

I’m going to see my accountant this afternoon to get my taxes done. So, for those of you who’ve never filed your taxes as a performance artist, let’s cover the basics… (click the sentence for the rest of Tom’s post)

Check it out.

This weekend I was painting my voiceover booth when I realized how much painting and voiceover acting have in common.  Now I bet you’re saying to yourself, “Brian you’ve sniffed too many paint fumes.”  You’re probably right but humor me and keep reading.  I think you will agree with me in the end.

I spent a part of my life as a professional painter almost by accident.  I worked with a construction company for a while and ended up being quite good at painting so eventually the boss made me the “go to” painter.  I mention this so you know that I actually do have a legitimate perspective in comparing voice over to painting.

Painting takes a certain level of skill.  Sure lots of people do it but only a certain number are good enough to make it a full time profession.  One of the guys I worked with was an excellent framer and he’s the man for tile work.  But he’s awful at painting,  absolutely terrible.  So he didn’t paint often.  VO is the same way.  As a client you want to make sure your VO (or your painter for that matter) has the talent, skill and experience needed to get your job done right.  As a painter I was lucky to have a mentor who taught me the “old” ways of painting, critiqued my work and helped me improve.  I was very fortunate to work for him.  A professional voice over will also work to improve their talent and skill through additional training methods.  I’m also very lucky to have a few mentors willing to work with me and help me improve for my clients.

A quality painter uses the proper tools for each job.  As a painter I love to use a quality Purdy Nylox brush.  It has a great action, paint flows smoothly off the bristles, and it’s a breeze to clean up.  But it’s not the right tool for all jobs.  Sometimes I need a foam brush or one specifically for oil paints.  A professional voice actor will also select the proper tools for each job.  In his or her case the tools include their voice – how they modify things like tone and delivery speed – along with the proper selection of mic, preamp etc.  As an example I generally use a Sennheiser MKH 416 for imaging and promo work but I might select something like an ElectroVoice RE20 for a radio or tv commercial if I am trying to convey a particularly warm sound.

In achieving a great paint job, a professional knows that prep is very important.  When painting a wall it needs to be smooth and clean, drop cloths need to be laid down and primer might need to be applied.  Prep is key to a quality voiceover as well.  A pro voice actor discusses your script with you before the session and rehearses the read before they ever hit the record button.

A good professional painter can cover minor flaws when painting- making the overall room look great.  A professional voice artist can work through minor flaws in your script as well providing you with a delivery that enhances your overall project.

Painter's Comb

And if you wanted to learn something about painting- umm okay…  Here’s a PROTIP:  Get  a painter’s comb.  This is by far my most helpful tool when painting. It makes cleaning brushes a snap and it costs about $4.00. Make sure and get the kind that has both the comb and the bristles.

Well?  I may be high on paint fumes but I bet you’ll agree that painting and voiceover have more in common than you  first thought when you read the title.

I understand the thought of hiring a voice actor can be overwhelming to many so I have written an article called “How To Hire a Voice Over” as a service to my clients and prospective clients.

I have done my best to explain the process as concisely as possible but the article does have a good amount of meat in it.

If you find the online version hard to read you may download the PDF version instead:

How to Hire a Voice Over by Brian Hart

Please  leave a comment if you find “How to Hire a Voice Over” helpful,  if you find that I need to clarify or correct any information, or  if you have your own thoughts on the process you would like to add.

The article begins after the jump:

How to Hire a Voice Over

By Brian Hart 02/18/2010

Finding the right voiceover can be a daunting task.  You may feel that it would better to enlist professional help and hire a marketing firm or talent agency when searching for voice talent.  There are also times when you may want to manage a talent search on your own.  In either case, by following these simple steps as you begin your search for that perfect VO will make the process much more efficient, increase the effectiveness of your project and contribute to its overall success.

Assess Your Needs

It is important to assess your needs at the beginning of your project.  The first step is to define exactly why you need a voice over.  Perhaps you are integrating an automated interactive voice response system, also known as IVR, into your company’s automated phone system. As part of your marketing strategy you might be crafting a radio or television commercial. You might be searching for a voice over for a business presentation, a video introduction to your website, or a narration for an audio book.   Depending on your project it is possible you can do the voice over in house and may not need to hire a professional VO talent.   If that is your decision the process ends here.

But you may decide that a professional voice actor would better serve your project.  “The key to obtaining a successful voice over, regardless of application, is hiring the right voice over professional to record your message… in other words, finding the person whose voice and interpretation of your script best aligns with your brand,” says Stephanie Ciccarelli, Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Voices.com.   “Remember, the talent chosen for this project will represent you and your company and may serve as the first impression prospective customers receive of who you are and what you stand for.” A professional voice talent can bring credibility to your project and engage your audience.  Ciccarelli continues, “Their voice and artistic interpretation will also need to resonate with how current customers presently perceive your brand.  The human voice is one of the most persuasive tools known to mankind for expressing messages because the voice, when used properly and effectively, can evoke emotional responses in a deeper, more personal and primal way than any other form of communication. “

Choosing the proper voice for your message is critical but how do you determine what type of voice best represents you?

photo credit: Calil Souza

Dan O’Day emailed to let me know he is hosting a live teleseminar on how to develop a website for voice actors on February 24th at 9pm Eastern time.  It really caught my attention since I am currently creating Hart Voice Overs.  According to Dan the teleseminar will be 100 % Non-Technical and discuss why “your website isn’t working for you and how and why you need to fix it immediately.”  I subscribe to some of Dan’s newsletters and check his site often.  He is always full of great information.

Registration is $79 and a download of the teleseminar will be available to those who register.

For more information go to Web Sites For Voice Actors