http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK Discover the beauty of voice over acting: free voiceover tips on how to record your voice over demo, how to find voice over work and start your voice over career with voice over training. Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:07:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dave's one of those savvy internet voiceovers that's all over the blogging and twittering and pretty jacked up in general when it comes to working from home as a voiceover.  We asked him a few Q's, and he gave us a few A's... Tell us a bit about yourself How much time/space ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=987 Our little Piehole websites get thousands of hits each month, and is used by major ad agencies to source voice over talent.  Yet some VOs have less traffic on their profiles than others.   (Bear in mind, lots of traffic is not the be-all and end-all.  You need the right ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=970 Remember voiceovers - always ask where you got your gigs.  Piehole is not an "agent" - we don't take commission and we don't take your voice over bookings.  As such, all your voice over work will go directly through yourself or via your agent.  So next time you finish a ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=967 Just gotta mention this amazing ad by Chris Cunningham for Gucci. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=985 1. If you are inexperienced: If you're on your first or second demo still, a rule of thumb is to wait until you've done a few gigs, say 4 - 10. That extra experience will help, because with voiceovers, there is a very steep learning curve in the beginning. ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=959 Thank you Publicis, London. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=983 According to the Financial Times, major broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4 and Five are suffering a 14% decline in adverstising revenue this year according to GroupM, a media agency. Nonetheless, people are watching more TV. The average UK viewer watched 16.7 hours of commercial broadcast TV a ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=930 This week we're featuring two completely different ads from the beautifully creative people at DDB, London for Volkswagen: This one is for Golf called 'Like a Golf': And then there's this cinema mockumentary, titled 'Dudeism' referencing the Big Lebowsky. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=944 Television is the most memorable form of advertising according to a survey by Deloitte and YouGov. Some 64% of people said TV was the medium that had most impact. Newpapers were favoured by 30% of those polled followed by magazines, radio and outdoor. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=928 Here's a compilation of AVIVA's new campaign, created by AMV BBDO, London. Beautifully shot and technically demanding short film for Johnny Walker by BBH Well done guys! http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=935 Congrats to Kevin Stark and Nick Kidney from BBH London for their Ginsters Pies : Cannibals radio ad. Here's the latest from the 'Start Thinking Soldier' campaign from COI/Publicis UK. . http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=862 According to the Central Office of Information, ad spending by the government increased 43% to £450m, making it the UK's largest ad buyer (wow, we are a socialist state already). This was speant mainly from awareness campaigns on anti-obesity, change-4-life and Act on CO2. Spending on digital media ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=857 Looks like these two giants are battling it out to see who's king of the advertising world.  Yet again DDB and BBH feature this week with their brilliant ads.  DDB London made an ad for Volkswagen called: "Coconuts" featuring weird tribal people jumping between coconut trees without any problems. ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=889 Dallas McKennon, the American voice over artist died Tuesday morning at the age of 89.  McKennon was best known as the voice of Gumby.  He was also Archie in the Filmation animated TV series and Buzz Buzzard in the Woody Woodpecker cartoons. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=853 Here's an ad by DDB London for Volkswagen called "Positive thinking" telling us to look on the bright side. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=887 A Dublin ad agency just asked us to source a male Jamaican voice actor for a TV ad.  Anyone out there?  Please ask your VO friends.  Nice gig. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=850 Woahoa!  Three out of the top 6 ads from around the world are from the UK this week! DDB, London brings us Budweiser : Lyrics. You must've seen this one by BBH London for Audi on your tellies. Its called Stop\Start. Here's a nice one by RKCR/Y&R, London for Virgin Mobile titiled Fantastic journey: And just because ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=885 Dear voiceover, try not to do the job with a hangover.   Don't get boozed up the night before a gig.  Or at least not if the gig is in the morning.  Your voice will thank you for it.   To sign up click here Piehole FAQ To read our testimonials http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=807 This week there weren't any winners from the UK, but thought we'd make you smile with this one by BADJAR Ogilvy, Melbourne. It's for the Melbourne Film festival and it's titled Astronauts: http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=883 Drop your business card.   Give it to the copywriter or agency producer, and simply say "thanks for the gig, here's my card if you need anything".   At Piehole we offer to design cards for free for our voiceovers, as it leaves such a good impression when they leave their cards ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=805 Cheers Big Ears!   Make your escape! When you've done your gig, say your goodbyes and thank you's. No need to stick around as a voiceover.   To sign up click here Piehole FAQ To read our testimonials http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=803 Absolutely LOVE this ad for LVCVA  by R&R partners, Las Vegas.  It's about Chin Chilli Day.  Haven't heard about it?  You're not the only one... Back to the UK and this week it's for Anti Piracy by Creative Partnership, London. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=880 It's not your ad...   Again, copywriters can be quite anal.  They probably have a specific idea about what they're looking for.  All you can do, as a voiceover, is try to figure out what on earth they mean when they say ‘warm yet corporate' or ‘more energy  - but slow it ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=801 Two completely different ads this week: Rowntree's Randoms by JWT London: and Wii - Overlord : The Overlord Show by AKQA, London. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=876 Breathe in.   Remember, copywriters can be quite anal, so you will be asked to do something over and over and over again.  It doesn't mean you're not doing a good job.  It's just the nature of the beast.  So be patient little voiceover (it is a virtue, you know) and breathe ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=799 Epic ad for Strongbow by St. Lukes London: http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=874 Drink up.   As a voiceover you need to look after your voice.  Have a glass of water with you when you're in the booth to keep your voice clear.  Don't order a coffee at the studio, it mucks up your voice.   To sign up click here Piehole FAQ To read our testimonials http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=796 Seems like there's an animal theme this week. Cute and cuddly sponsorship ads for HSBC by JWT, London. Not sure we quite understand this one for Ladbrokes : Hide & Seek by M&C Saatchi, London... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=872   Here's P and J from Piehole at the Net Visionary awards! Apparently it was a blast.   Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We didn't actually win, by the way. Just stole a real winner's trophy for the pic. Thanks anyway. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=840 Arrive 10 minutes early.   You want to make a good impression as a voiceover. Especially since there's a room full of clients / sound engineers / producers / copywriters / account directors waiting just for you. No pressure!   To sign up click here Piehole FAQ To read our testimonials http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=794 Haunting ad for a Channel 4 documentary about children in the care system by 4creative, London. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=870 Get your grubby little voiceover hands on a dictaphone.   Sometimes it's amazing how great something sounds in your own head, but only once you hear it out loud can you really figure out which bits need improving.  You might even have one already - check your mobile phone -some have built-in ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=792 Another happy-clappy-feel-good ad for Coca-Cola (called gremlins- although they're much cuter than the original fuzzballs) thought up by the crowd at Mother London. Again from the creative geniuses at Mother, again for a soft drink (Oasis), but this time featuring the scary Rubberduckzilla. This advertisement for Virgin Trains is called Booty Train ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=868 Listen to the radio.   Spend at least half an hour a day listening to existing radio ads, and giving them a bash yourself (out loud, and preferably to a willing ear).  This is imperative and the absolute least you can do to get a bit of practice as a voiceover.    To sign up ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=790 It seems the bad grizzly weather is not staying outside where it belongs, but somehow managed to creep onto our screens too. Leagas Delaney created this ad for Timberland called Delirium: This one for ITV (The Brighter Side) by BBH London: http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=866 Pick someone's brain.   If you are inexperienced, go for coffee with a more experienced voiceover and pick their brain.  Ask them everything about what to expect when you do a gig - from the minute you walk in to the minute you leave.   Sometimes just knowing what to expect will ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=788 When/Why/How did you get into VO work? I was working in radio as a presenter until the BBC came knocking and asked if I fancied becoming a Presentation Announcer/Director at BBC Scotland in Glasgow; just over a year introducing Eastenders, I defected to ITV to become one of the first ITV1 ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=820 From Wieden & Kennedy, London for Honda; titled: "Doers" http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=830 Get some training.   If you are inexperienced, try to go on a training course.  It’s a small investment in comparison to the amount of money you can make doing voiceovers.    To sign up click here Piehole FAQ To read our testimonials http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=785 The winning spot this week is a PSA against human trafficking called: "Closer" from director Jorn Threlfall.   Here's a funny one from Nick Gill & the rest of the BBH London team.  It's for the drink J20 and it's about mixing things up.  Enjoy!  http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=824 It takes time.   It can take a while to break into the voiceover industry.  If you're new, you're not just going to get booked on day one.  It'll only be after you've done a couple of gigs (successfully) that people will start booking you again and again.  So don't go beating yourself ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=783 Happy World Voice Day everybody!!     Today is the one day of the year dedicated to celebrating the human voice and how essential it is at work, in social and in family life.  And who would know this better than our lovely voiceovers?  Party on guys!!   kisskiss the piehoologans http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=142 A controversial spot from Grey London for Women's Aid featuring Keira Knightly: http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=827 Call back immediately! If you get a message that someone is trying to book you for a gig, don't wait a single minute.  Ad agencies are usually up against very tight deadlines, and if you take too long getting back to them, they'll simply book a voiceover who is answering their ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=781 It's a pretty grim selection this week: This anti-bullying print ad from M&C Saatchi, London highlighting the damage words do.   Poster from CHI & Partners to make smokers think about the future consequences of their actions. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=774 We've all noticed the recent recession-induced focus in advertising towards "traditional values", "simplicity" and general conservativeness. How boring!  Well, these guys aren't having any of that - their pitch is is the old adage: "When times are good, advertise.  When times are tough, advertise more.". http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=769 Collapsing advertising spend has claimed a new sort of scalp - two popular websites (SpiralFrog and Ruckus) offering free music have been forced to close down in recent weeks . http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=767 Any female voiceovers interested in doing a free gig for a sixth form school project?  It'll only be two sentences for a pretend film trailer.   Go on... Spread a little love! Email c@piehole.co.uk for more info. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=741 Nice one Pete Bradley (BBH London) for creating this intriguing spot for Johnnie Walker. http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=737 Since starting Piehole we've noticed a lot of differences in the VO industry between Ireland and the UK. Yes, the UK is a MASSIVE industry compared to Ireland, and there is a lot more voiceover work in the UK. But, it's very competitive. You have to work your shiny hiney ... http://www.piehole.co.uk/voiceover-blog-UK/?p=755