recap - catching an agents ear

  Catching An Agent’s Ear

In this candid interview, famed voiceover Agent Jeffrey Umberger answers your questions…

How does an actor who’s doesn’t already have a professional reel get your attention / consideration for voiceover work?

All voiceover talent should be practicing their craft everyday, and one way to let agents hear what you can do without having a demo is by volunteering to read for the Georgia Radio Reading Service.  (http://www.garrs.net/) This is a meaningful and gratifying way to volunteer as a reader to those who may be too visually impaired to do so themselves, as well as improve upon the art of reading for recording at the mic. Audio from these readings can be made available to the agent.  Another way to get the attention of an agent for VO representation without first having a demo might be to sign up for a voiceover class. Often times, the acting studio will schedule an agent to visit the class for the purpose of listening in and giving feedback to each class member.

What do you expect from a voice actor’s sample reel? For example:

What are you listening for?

The VO from a demo reel should immediately strike a chord in the imagination of an agent. I pay close attention to every detail of the talent's delivery and style and acting skill level. I listen for nuances that give the read variety, uniqueness of voice, and solid acting talent. The talent must sound authentic and approachable, be able to speak clearly and smoothly, and deliver the proper intent and message underneath the words they are saying. I am also listening to see if the voice sounds similar to someone I might already have on my roster, or if it sounds different enough to stand out, and be used as a great option to offer my clients.

How many samples do you need to hear to form a valid opinion of the actor’s ability?

I can tell within the first 5-10 words whether or not the talent has skill or natural ability and marketability. Those who have it, it's clearly evident because, as a listener, you are actually not hearing words being read, rather you are hearing ideas, messages, stories unfolding, proper styles of delivery specific to VO, etc. If the message that the client is trying to get across gets overshadowed by an over-eager voiceover artist who just wants to showboat his / her voice, then the talent is missing the meaning of voiceover. Yes, one should have a great voice, but that is only one element.  The most important element is getting the message of the advertisement across.

What’s a good length / how many different voice samples is customary for an actor to have on his / her reel?

Good VO demos have from 5-10 samples or snippets of different spots on one reel and can be up to 60 seconds in length, perhaps extending beyond that up to 90 seconds. Advertisers and clients don't have much more time to listen than that, and if they have well trained ears, they will also know in a short amount of time whether the talent has what it takes. On that note, often times the client will send a sample copy of their own script for the talent to record as an audition, and not listen to the demo at all. That is up to the client. Of course, each talent should study all the different areas of voiceover in depth, and then have a demo for each specialized category, such as narration, promo, commercial, character, etc. The client can then pick and choose which to listen to based on their needs.  

 

What are the three most critical types of training you would recommend an actor obtain in order to be successful as a voice actor?

 

(A) Acting classes in general will help any voice-over artist. The term “voiceover artist” is actually more accurately termed “voice actor.” A trained actor will find it much easier to grasp the message and meaning of a script, and therefore the overall delivery and variety one can bring to an audition or performance will naturally be amplified and much more bookable.

 

(B) Vocal technique is extremely important to study. Breathing properly, for example, is so important to performance. Learning how to take the proper breath to handle a long sentence or phrase without giving out. Also learning how to properly warm up the vocal chords before a session, as well as loosening the lips and jaw to assist in making a performance most effective.

 

(C) Learning each individual style of delivery that is most commonly called for in VOundefinedconversational, authoritative, urgent, high energy or characterundefinedis key. There is very specific verbiage given out in recording sessions to the talent by the director or producer, and unless you know precisely what each term means, you will be missing the mark and likely not be called back again by that client.

 

What the most important thing an actor can do to catch and keep your attention when auditioning?

With voice actors, it is the audio (not the headshot and resume) that an agent is looking to use in order to gauge a talent's potential. If a talent is submitting their mp3 demo via email, however, it is most important that they first check the procedure for submission per agent, as it varies from agency to agency. Then, when emailing, the message should be short and sweet. The more feather colors an actor tries to flaunt in a submission email, the more I want to run. It doesn't matter as much how delightfully entertaining the VO talent is, the bottom line is, and always will be first and foremost what is on the demo.

Other tips…

Be professional and keep the flashy introductions to a minimum. The demo itself serves as the resume for me (without a paper one). 

It is very nice to know what the VO credits of an actor are, so really just a simple list in the body of the email submission will suffice.

Photos of VO talent can sometimes sway the opinion of a potential client before they have had the opportunity to hear their voice. So, I would refrain from submitting a headshot when seeking an agent or client for voice work. Again, the number one goal is to get the client or agent to hear the talent's voice.

 

What are the top three resources you recommend for voice actors to showcase themselves and to gain exposure?

My top three recommendations are: a demo, of course, a Web site / social media page and a podcast of their own.

About Jeffrey Umberger:
Jeffrey is owner of Umberger Agency, one of the premiere voiceover talent agencies in the United States. His select VO actors roster includes talent like the announcer for Queen Latifah's VH1 series Single Ladies, Grammy winner Lee Greenwood and Emmy winner CNN Anchor Martin Savidge as well as the actors known for the voices of “Crackle” for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, “Fast Eddie” of the Keebler Elves, and “Pam” on the FX series Archer.

Umberger is also an accomplished on-camera actor. His most recent credits include appearances on Arsenio Hall's series The World’s Funniest Moments, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and the lead role in the short film Stand Up or Shut Up. Additionally, Umberger is a core cast member of Atlanta's premiere comedy troupe, Sketchworks Comedy Theater.