Monday, October 31, 2011

How To Prepare A Voice Over Demo

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julie_Ambrite]Julie Ambrite
Are you considering a career in voice overs? One of the most important steps you can take, is to prepare a demo that showcases your voice talent.
The ideal way to create your demo is to enlist the help of a voice coach and a top studio or company that specializes in creating demos for voice artists. If you don't have access to any of these resources, you can still do the demo yourself. Why not do some research, and see what makes the top voice over artists so successful? I suggest visiting some voice talent websites, and listening to their demos.
Whenever you are ready to record your demo, select a script for each category of voice overs business. Sample categories may include: audiobook narration, commercials, on hold messages, cartoon/character voices, e learning and any other business category that interests you. Find a script that interests you, and record it over and over until it sounds right.
Showcase Your Range
The number one goal of the demo is to show exactly what you can do. So, you want it to showcase your range.
Here are some things you can do:
� Expose people to your signature cartoon voices.
� Read a radio spot so that people can hear how you'll sound in commercials.
� Grab a book and read a paragraph or two.
� Read through a short script similar to those you'd find in corporate training materials.
In other words, you want to do a little bit of everything, making sure to really highlight the things you are good at. For example, if you love reading books out loud, you may want to consider adding that clip towards the beginning.
On the other hand, if you don't have any unique voices, you can leave it out. It all depends on where your skills are. There is a market for nearly every kind of voice. All you have to do is figure out where you want to focus. You want your demo to sound as professional as possible, and it is very difficult to get the kinds of results that you'll need to win jobs at your home studio unless you are an expert at production. Even though it can be expensive, it is a worthwhile investment. Once your demos are ready, you can showcase them on your own website, or can post them on various voice talent websites.
Now that you have the demo, your next step is to use this demo to help you land your first job and pretty much every other job after that. Once you are more established, you may get a lot of repeat clients who won't need to see your demo again.
Who to Submit the Demos To
Your first step is to figure out who you will submit the demos to. There are some ideas:
� Local agents to see if they will represent you.
� As a response to a gig listing that you find online or in the local area.
� Creative directors at major companies and at radio stations
These are just some ideas. Remember that since you are new to the game you shouldn't rule anything out until you've at least landed your first job. It also helps to be aggressive in your approach and send out demos on a daily basis until you get the work you want.
Julie Ambrite
Professional Female Voice Talent http://www.naturalvoiceovers.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Prepare-A-Voice-Over-Demo&id=6614951] How To Prepare A Voice Over Demo

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Open Casting Calls - Realize Your Dreams of Becoming a Celebrity

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mohammed_Abdul_Nadeem]Mohammed Abdul Nadeem
Everybody in this world is blessed with some or the other unique skills and talents. Once you have discovered your talents and successfully revealed them to the world, you can easily achieve fame and fortune that you crave for.
People with specialized talents such as singing, acting, dancing and others are looking for opportunities to perform and show their true natural endowments. However, it is not an easy task to find a perfect platform to expose your unique talents, and this where open casting calls come for your rescue.
What are casting auditions?
They are events conducted by the talent hunters, where anyone and everyone are welcomed to display their unique skills. It is a beautiful concept and it gives several young and old an opportunity to give their best shot.
If you want to get noticed for what you have in you, then open casting calls are the best choices. In order to get recognized, you could attend as many casting auditions as you can. These calls are generally free and thus, you do not have to pay anything to perform or get noticed.
You'll have a lot of question in your mind like how do these auditions benefit you, how can you get a chance to attend one, where can you find more information on the recent opening calls and many more. All your questions will be answered in minutes, once you surf the internet. Most of talent hunters place an advertisement on the net to reach a wide segment of candidates.
You could also check your local newspapers more information. However, the most effective way of finding out about any auditions is by networking. It is better to meet more people, ask them about what is happening, and offer your services to help them than relying on advertisements.
If you are looking for opportunity of your lifetime in fields like modeling, acting or singing, then here is how you need to go about:
Acting open casting calls:
One of the ideal ways to get into acting business is by appearing in commercials.  You'll slowly and steadily make your way to better acting roles. There are several directors and producers who are looking for new faces for their commercials. You could attend as many commercial auditions as you can, whether it is for 60 seconds or 2 minutes. All you need to do is give your best shot and make it a stepping stone for your acting career.
Modeling casting auditions:
If you are good looking and modeling is what you would like to do, then ensure that you have a good portfolio. You could approach a professional photographer and organize for a shoot. This competitive field needs your sheer hard work, and the efforts that you put in can be portrayed successfully by attending casting calls.
Singing free auditions:
Have you been often appreciated for your beautiful voice and how well you sing? If yes, then it's the time for you to attend singing auditions. These calls will help you express your talents in a much better way and give you a head start as a successful singer. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a casting call in your city and make your life as a singer that you always wanted to be.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Open-Casting-Calls---Realize-Your-Dreams-of-Becoming-a-Celebrity&id=6637905] Open Casting Calls - Realize Your Dreams of Becoming a Celebrity

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Review - Follies Broadway Revival

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amy_L_Butenhof]Amy L Butenhof
It's no surprise that a production like 'Follies' isn't commonly chosen to grace the stages of community theaters. First of all, there are the extravagant sets and costumes, extremely demanding for the average stage company. But more importantly, Follies is no Sound of Music, or even Les Mis�rables (my favorite show of all time), where experiences and emotions beyond the understanding of a high school actor can still be effectively forged. Follies revolves around memories and feelings of the utmost delicacy and tenderness. The actor can't ride on the wave of zippy melodies, or leave the tricky compositions behind in favor of exhibiting raw emotion. The show demands a meticulous tight-rope walk between music and sentiment, and a true understanding of the content.
I was lucky enough to see Follies at the Marquis Theater this Friday starring Bernadette Peters, reprising her role as Sally Durant Plummer, a forty-year-old former chorus girl reuniting with her fellow Follies dancers in a last salute to their old theater, which is about to be razed. Following on her heels is her concerned husband Buddy, played by Danny Burstein (who was, as a side note, absolutely fabulous as Billis in the recent South Pacific revival). The couple is quickly joined by Phyllis (Jan Maxwell), Sally's former roommate, and her husband Ben (Ron Raines). All seems well as the four break into a nostalgic tune ('The Girls Upstairs'), recalling the frenzy of the stage and the exuberance of young love. The pretense of a light-hearted reunion is quickly stripped away, however, as tensions between both couples and former lovers Sally and Ben become increasingly evident.
The first half is decidedly sleepy; the chorus girls arrive, reminisce, and perform their old favorite showstoppers, one of which includes the musical standard 'Broadway Baby', sung with spunk by Jayne Houdyshell as thrice-widowed former showgirl Hattie Walker. They literally co-mingle with the ghosts of their younger selves, who run and skip through memories of a theater in its prime, as well as a more solemn brand of ghosts who slink passively through the shadows, decked out in exorbitant Ziegfeld-attire. While these specters of youth serve mainly to enact flashbacks, and seem less present in the theater and more the visions of a parallel time line, it is the more generic 'ensemble' ghosts who create a truly unsettling, paranormal atmosphere. They gaze upon the aging chorus girls with blank expressions, wandering aimlessly along the abandoned catwalks and through the darkened corners, always with the utmost poise and grace, watching the story unfold with troubling detachment.
But despite the big number and the eerie presence of the youthful phantoms, the story and the songs seem to drag. We see Buddy loves Sally, Sally loves Ben, while Ben and Phyllis are lost in confusion regarding their convoluted feelings. The audience watches the drama unfold, but there isn't much incentive to particularly care about their relationship woes, especially as the other womens' reflections upon their past selves seem infinitely more interesting.
It's in the second act, however, that things finally seem to come together. First, Jan Maxwell wows with a powerful, near-perfect rendition of 'Could I Leave You?', revealing an overwhelming strength beneath the hurt and the anger regarding Ben's neglect. Each of the four reflect bitterly on the foolishness of their younger selves, finally confronting their youthful apparitions. It is here that the colorless reality of the fading theater is suddenly replaced by the fantastical world of 'Loveland', decked out with pink feathers and peppy dancers, where the four characters seem to regress as they reach their breaking points.
Follies comes off as a pleasant sleepwalk throughout the show. It touches on heartbreak and lost youth, but the feelings don't seem to genuinely be there. It is only when the characters, broken, retreat into their minds that the show finally comes alive. Burstein is hilarious and heart-breaking singing 'The Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues', touching on sentiments so personal and most likely familiar that it's a little disconcerting. Bernadette Peters, true to form, finally takes command of the stage and blows the audience away with 'Losing My Mind', explaining Sally's all-consuming longing for her idealized vision of Ben. Maxwell leads the ensemble in a glitzy dance number, reflecting on the short-comings of both her present personality and that of her vivacious younger self. Lastly, Ben sings of his belief in living life without consequence; only to end in the realization of his need for Phyllis and an emotional breakdown. This would be my one complaint with the Loveland sequence; every actor plays their part to perfection, except Raines, who can portray Ben's sly charm but can't quite deliver the emotional punch necessary to land this final sequence.
Follies is very difficult to review; it feels cheap to even try and comment on material that so obviously surpasses my level of understanding. I haven't even reached the age of Sally and Phyllis' ghosts, much less am I capable of comprehending their older incarnation's wistful recollections of youth, their bitterness over choices made so long ago, and their longing to relive a happier time. I am aware, however, that I've witnessed something more profound than the average musical; and whether my opinions on the productions short-comings are valid or merely attributable to my youth, I will let you decide.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Review---Follies-Broadway-Revival&id=6628238] Review - Follies Broadway Revival

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Does Your Child Want To Be An Actor?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Williams-Reed]Christine Williams-Reed
If your child wants to become an actor and you are thinking of helping your child get into the entertainment industry the first thing you need to consider is, does your child want to become an actor for the right reasons? It should NEVER be about money or fame.
If your child is pursuing acting for fame or money their interest will to be short lived. They will find out how much time and work it takes and will quickly lose interest. On the other hand, if it is something they truly love they will stick with it no matter how much time it takes and it will never feel like work to them.
If your child is going to succeed you need to understand that this is a business and needs to be treated as a business. And you will need to be committed to making their business successful. Committed to dealing with the traffic jams, last minute auditions etc.. It takes much more work, patience and due diligence than most people realize. You will also need to be willing to invest money on acting classes and eventually headshots. This can get very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars out of pocket before your child is even ready to look for auditions or an agent.
Once your child is well trained and ready to start working you need to keep in mind that if you are interested in your child doing commercial work you will need to live in the market they want to work in. The reason for this is most commercial audition notifications go out within a twenty four hour timeframe. You would be notified on Monday for a Tuesday audition or Thursday for a Friday audition and so on. It would not make sense to fly from, say, Kentucky to LA or NY every time your child had a commercial audition, the cost alone would be astronomical.
With film and television there is normally a few days notice for auditions, there will even be times that your agent can arrange to put your child's audition on tape and send it to the casting director so you won't have to fly out for the initial audition. If you don't live in a major market like LA or NY it is difficult, but not impossible, to get an agent for television and film in those markets. When looking for an agent in another state they will need to know you are able and willing to fly out for an audition or callback on short notice before they will even consider working with you.
To find a reputable talent agent go to SAG.org and enter find an agent in the search. There you will find all SAG franchised agencies listed by state.
As a former talent agent Christine Williams-Reed has an extensive understanding and knowledge of the entertainment industry and knows exactly what industry professionals are looking for. Christine started in the entertainment industry helping her own daughter grow from beginner to working actor, learning the in's and out's of Hollywood each step of the way. She understands the challenges and uncertainty parents and actors face and offers her unique prospective as both a parent and a professional.
Christine now owns Peak Talent School of Acting based in Denver, CO check our her website http://www.peaktalentschoolofacting.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-Your-Child-Want-To-Be-An-Actor?&id=6632601] Does Your Child Want To Be An Actor?

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Get Informed

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Williams-Reed]Christine Williams-Reed
I am a former talent agent and the mother of a working actor. I started in the entertainment industry over 10 years ago. I am writing this article because I have heard so many stories from so many people that had been scammed because they were not informed.
Did you know it takes less than 30 seconds for a scam artist to see you have no idea what you are doing making you a prime target? It also takes less than 30 seconds for them to see you are informed and can not be targeted. So, let's get you informed.
The first and foremost rule to remember is if it sounds too good to be true IT ABSOLUTELY IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!! If you hear a radio ad promising you or your child will meet a huge casting director by attending their event most likely it is a trick to get you into their establishment so they can get you to spend your money. If you see an ad or someone invites you or your child in for a "screen test" it is definitely a scam, don't even waste your time. It will just end up costing you a bunch of money. If you or your child has never done any work in the entertainment industry and you are approached by someone asking if you or your child is interested in "being on TV" I can assure you, all they want is your money, don't even give them the time of day. Anyone telling you they guarantee they will get you or your child work is definitely, without a doubt 100% a scammer! There are NEVER any guarantees in the entertainment industry!
If you are approached in public or over the internet ALWAYS beware! Get a business card or company name and DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Make sure you are dealing with a legitimate, reputable company. Go to sag. org to check on a talent agencies or BBB. org to research a company. You should also do a Google search.
Legitimate Talent Agents don't generally prowl local malls looking for new talent. They just don't have time. And in all the years I have been working in the entertainment industry I have never heard of a legitimate casting or production company doing it either. They want well trained experienced actors, why would they waste time they don't have hoping you or your child can pull off what they need for their project? They wouldn't, it just does not happen. The mere thought is absolutely ridiculous.
If you are approached in public, it will ultimately turn out to be a sales rep for a company that just wants to sell you something. Remember, do your homework, it is always better to be skeptical than to be taken.
I hope this helps... good luck!
As a former talent agent Christine Williams-Reed has an extensive understanding and knowledge of the entertainment industry and knows exactly what industry professionals are looking for. Christine started in the entertainment industry helping her own daughter grow from beginner to working actor, learning the in's and out's of Hollywood each step of the way. She understands the challenges and uncertainty parents and actors face and offers her unique prospective as both a parent and a professional.
Christine now owns Peak Talent School of Acting based in Denver, CO check our her website http://www.peaktalentschoolofacting.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Informed&id=6632061] Get Informed

Friday, October 21, 2011

Rumba: The Dance of Romance

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nancy_S._Henrichsen]Nancy S. Henrichsen
The Rumba is a very popular Latin dance enjoyed in social dancing and performed professionally in ballroom dancing competitions all over the world. The word rumba derives its meaning from the term rumbear, which means partying, dancing, and having a good time; and, if you've ever danced a rumba, you would probably agree that it's a good time for you and your partner. Many rumba dancers might be surprised to hear that there are two kinds of rumba. The kind that is performed in professional ballroom dancing, wearing elaborate rumba costumes, is the form most people are familiar with.
However, rumba can also refer to a group of dances with an Afro-Cuban heritage which are very different in style.
Ballroom rumba is the slowest of the Latin ballroom dances. But this does not mean it is boring, by any means. The rumba is one of the most romantic and sensual of the ballroom dances, including slow, distinct body movements, particularly in the hips.
Shopping for Latin dance costumes for sale is an important part of any Latin ballroom dancer's preparation for their big event. You may have all the right moves, but without the right clothes, you will fall short of making a good impression on the judges.
You will seldom find dresses specifically termed rumba costumes, but you will find an abundance of ballroom Latin dresses for sale that should fit your needs perfectly, as many of the Latin dance and dress styles have similar characteristics.
Latin dance costumes for sale carry distinct characteristics that set them apart from other ballroom dancewear. You will see a lot more sequins, beading, shimmering fabric, and bold colors.
The cut and style of ballroom Latin dresses for sale is also uniquely fitting to the style of Latin dancing. Latin costumes tend to show more skin, which adds to the sensual appeal of the dances while still remaining elegant and tasteful.
Since the rumba is slower, it is not as vital that your costume fit as snugly to avoid slipping, but you will still want something that allows you both freedom and comfort.
Most importantly, the rumba is both passionate and romantic in form, and costumes chosen to wear while dancing it should show those same traits.
So whether you rumba for fun, for friendship, for romance, or for competition (which could include all of these), don't forget to have a good time. [http://www.TangoRougeBallroomDancewear.com]TangoRougeBallroomDancewear.com offers the finest ballroom dresses/costumes & dance shoes in the industry. Nancy is a 5 year pro-am ballroom competitor in both American & International Ballroom. She provides quality ballroom dance apparel and accessories, and offers beautiful custom Latin dresses and more at discount prices.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Rumba:-The-Dance-of-Romance&id=6634315] Rumba: The Dance of Romance