I’ve been watching TV commercials and telling myself how I could voice the adverts I see for national brands for ages and haven’t done anything really proactive about trying to get the work.
So when I saw Rachel was holding a commercial and promo workshop as part of The Voiceover Network training, I gave myself a talking to and signed up. I want to get commercial and promo work and I want to learn how I go about it.
Day 1 of VON Commercial and Promo weekend workshop at Spotlight, Leicester Square
The weekend was challenging, informative and brilliant – just what I’d hoped, although standing in front of my peers and ‘performing’ scripts is still really awkward for me. But I even surprised myself at what I was capable of. I also got to see other VOs performances which is so good to see and learn from.
I was pleasantly relieved that despite not being a trained actor I can still take direction and give different takes using some of the brilliant tips and tricks taught by Mary Lynn Wissner and Jeff Howell and felt encouraged that I’m not a complete fraud, which you can sometimes think when you do something you love.
On the Friday night, Rachel hosted a panel discussion with a number of commercial and promo producers and I made a contact with a producer who I’ve since been talking to about how best I can go about getting more commercial work.
There are mixed opinions within the voiceover world as to whether you need an agent or not. There is a wide range of work available that you can get from building relationships directly with production companies and producers and that is how I get the bulk of my work, I’m also on a few people’s books however, it seems that to be considered seriously for commercials – you do need an agent.
A proper agent – one that people have heard of.
So that’s what I’m trying to do.