).png)
Written by Clay Robeson
Participating in our vibrant VoiceOne Discord community, I've seen a lot of discussion, especially with new Voice Over artists, around auditions. One of the big questions generally revolves around how many takes to submit, and the answers usually come from those on the casting side. Overwhelmingly, they seem to agree that no matter how many takes you submit, they will likely only listen to the first one or MAYBE two. Anything more than that will sit, forever unheard, in digital oblivion.
This creates a lot of anxiety over auditions around whether or not we got it "right" in our two takes.
But here's the thing: Right is subjective.
What is right for you, may not be right for me, and vice versa. When it comes down to it, what is "right" for an audition is all about how you best embody the specs. So record as many takes as you want. Edit them all. Then LISTEN to them, and decide which one (or two, if they ask for it) best encapsulates the specs AND YOU. Because in the end, it's not about getting the specs spot on, it's about what YOU bring to the role defined by those guidelines.
"But how do I get to a point where I can record and follow the specs, while not obsessing over them?"
Like any other activity, you have to be comfortable with the rules. And that doesn't just mean reading and understanding them, but being able to operate within them without thinking about them. This is one of the things we (sometimes unknowingly) work on a LOT in improv classes: Learning the rules, then learning how to FORGET the rules and just exist in a world where the rules are no big deal. They just are.
As an exercise, try this:
Review your audition specs. Highlight anything you consider to be super important to the role. Convert those highlights to a series of one or two word bullet points that you can write out and hang in your recording space.
Next, make yourself a "Filter deck" of index cards with character traits on them such as emotions, needs, or quirks. Those of you who have been to drop in improv are probably well versed with the filter deck I bring to class. You don't need to go overboard like I did and make a full deck of 52 cards, but try to make at least 10 or 15.
Now, draw one from your stack at random, and deliver the script through that filter, keeping within the boundaries set by the bullet points to the best of your ability. Have FUN with it. This will never be an audition candidate, so push the boundaries. Experiment. Explore. You may even have to throw a bullet or two out the window for a specific filter. So be it. Keep that one at the top of your mind for the next take.
Now, do it again with a different card. Then do it again. And again. Keep it up until you feel comfortable NOT looking at your list of bullet points for reference.
Now, walk away for a few minutes, get a drink of water, go outside for some fresh air, then come back, read over the full spec one last time, and then record a few takes with no filter card. Edit them. Listen to them a few times. And finally, pick the one that you think best embodies the guidelines and showcases YOU and what you bring to the role.
"But... WHY?"
By focusing on your "Filter deck" while doing reads, rather than obsessing over the specs, you're allowing yourself to experiment and explore. By having fun with it, you're defusing some of the tension around "doing it right" and instead, just doing it. Keeping the specs as secondary to the selected card keeps them in your head without allowing you to fixate on them. In essence, you’re committing those specs to some sort of weird, hybrid brain/muscle memory. It makes the spec second nature, an underlying foundation to your performance rather than the focus of it. That way, YOU become the focus of the audition with the specs as a framework, around which you build your performance. And best of all, taking the time to have FUN beforehand, may allow you to discover some things you wouldn't have otherwise thought of in regards to the script and its message.
Breaking it Down with Jim Edgar
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 28-November 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 21-27) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 30-October 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 3-8) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 26-September 1) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 19-25) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 29-August 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 28-June 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 29-May 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
Check out this article from People Magazine to see if you can guess the actors behind iconic '90s and '00s cartoon characters!
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 25-31) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 26-March 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 19-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 29- February 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 2-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
We wish you happiness, success, and good company this Thanksgiving
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 30-November 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 25-October 2) and what's coming your way next week.
Celebrating Hispanic Voice Actors for Hispanic Heritage Month
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 5-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 28-September 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 21-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 31-August 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
What does the SAG-AFTRA strike mean for Voice Actors? NAVA shares a helpful resource.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian, and Voiceover
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 26-July 2) and what's coming your way next week.
With 148 Character VO Emmy Award nominees, who stands out and why?
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 19-25) and what's coming your way next week.
Video game voice actors discuss Artificial Intelligence and its impact on Voiceover
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
The story behind why Kayleigh McKee decided to become a voice actor.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
How do voice actors protect themselves with the rise of AI?
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 30-June 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A deep dive with ZeniMax Online Studio’s VO Lead, Becky Ichnoski about how all of Tamriel’s characters get their voices!
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A hilarious social media handle has dedicated itself to narrating animals' inner monologues.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
Celebrating AAPI Voice Actors for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
If ad agencies are thinking about poetry, as voice actors we must also keep this top of mind.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
Pros and cons of celebrity voice acting
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
In honor of National Poetry Month, Sally shares her love of poetry.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
