A network of video production professionals and enthusiasts.
WHY HIRE A VOICE OVER PRO?
One of the questions people always ask me is: "Why should I hire a professional voice-over talent? Anyone who can read with a pleasant voice could talk into a microphone. It's no big deal. I might as well ask my neighbor to narrate my next corporate video."
EASY MONEY?
Great voice-over talents make what they do sound so natural and easy, no
wonder why so many people believe anyone could pull that off. In reality, voice-over artists are no different from other performers or athletes.
When people hear a great pianist play, or watch a well-know sports star at the top of her game, they usually don’t think of all the years these pros had to put in, in order to get where they are now. As they say: it usually takes many years to become an overnight success!
MORE THAN A VOICE
Thinking that having a good voice is all it takes to be a voice-over pro, is like saying that, in order to be a successful actor, all you need is great looks. Having a good set of vocal cords definitely helps, but it’s a small piece of a big puzzle. Knowing how to use that voice is a different matter!
Just because you happen to have a nice singing voice, doesn't mean that you could start making a living as a singer today. It takes lots of training, hard work and dedication to make it to Carnegie Hall! It’s no different for the “invisibles” of the industry: the voice-over actors.
Remember that you often get what you pay for. Don't expect a gourmet meal from a cheap fast-food "restaurant". That's why it always pays to hire a pro!
MY CAREERI have been a professional voice-over for 25 years, and I work with clients from all over the world. My career started in The Netherlands where I worked as an anchor for Dutch National and International Radio. I spent time at the BBC in London and in New York, working for public radio.
From my Pennsylvania recording studio I work for clients like the United Nations, Discovery Channel, Novartis, The Wharton School and Johnson & Johnson. I also work with local video production companies on audio tours, websites, corporate videos and e-Learning programs.
My DOUBLE DUTCH voice-over Blog is growing by 1,000 readers each month, and you'll find even more information on the website of my company NETHERVOICE.
If you'd like to hear what I could bring to your next project, drop me a line:
paul at nethervoice.com
Tags: European, Nethervoice, Paul, Strikwerda, actor, talent, voice-over, voiceover
Views: 12
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Earl Chessher on -
Well, I guess the powers that be are allowing you your 15 minutes of fame with this blatant advertising.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on -
Well, that's a warm welcome, Earl... I didn't know that I had crossed a line. I understand this to be a network of professionals from all sides of the production spectrum. Rather than giving you the obligatory intro of:
"Hi. I'm Paul from Pennsylvania. I have two cats, two gerbils and a hamster. Check out my page if you feel like it," I decided to tell the readers a bit about my career, my clients and my craft.
The reason I joined this site is threefold:
1. To add my expertise and personal perspective to discussions about the industry
2. To learn from experts in the field
3. To connect and cooperate with video production professionals
Whether you like it or not, social media and marketing are intertwined. That's why there are ads on this site. And as is the case with many of these discussion platforms, it's always a mix of connection and promotion. If we were visiting this corner of the web just to be social, we might as well join a local crochet club.
I'm curious to learn what other members have to say about the balance between promotion and networking. Perhaps the invisible "powers that be" could weigh in on that!
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Permalink Reply by Earl Chessher on
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Warm welcome! Might have been a bit more cuddly had your newsprint-style advertisement been a bit less audacious and more "howdie-doodie" than preachy. Maybe even if it had started with "My Career", using a bit more easy-on-the-eyes typestyle.
Powers-that-be? Am I way off here on how Paul's first introduction hit me? Please, do chime in Joel, Jay?
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Permalink Reply by David Steeves on -
its true when I ask a client if he wants to use my voice over guy they pause, they do not see the value in the service. it is a value added service to use a marketing term. I have a great voice over guy and he adds real value to my productions and is worth every cent. Hes is trained but new and never gets the price he deserves (yet)
SO now I do not ask but rather add the cost into the total package, when they hear and see the final result they often say, wow the voice over is great.
On low budget videos I have used my wife when I have to and thats ok but nothing beats a great voice
just my two cents
Dave
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Permalink Reply by Shaw Productions Inc. on -
What I am looking for is where I can email what I want said and then it is emailed back in a wav file at a reasonable price. Some of my work I would like to utilize voice over talent.
Joan Shaw Productions Inc.
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Permalink Reply by Bill McCallum on
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I have to agree somewhat with Earl on this one, your posting came across as an advert not an introduction...
it would probably come across better if you had started with an intro, then asked a question about the use of voice-over talent...
but that's just my opinoin...
The good news is you managed to get a thread going with a few responses, which is not happening very often on hte forum...
any way...welcome
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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on
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I'm glad this topic is generating a few responses. Although, as a voice-over professional, I have a vested interest in this issue, I think it's better to create a separate thread that's not linked to my introduction so we can have a broader discussion.
A quick response to Joan: most voice-overs I know would be happy to send you a free demo of your script, as well as a quote. I work with clients from all over the world, and that's usually how we do things.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Michael on -
You guys can hop over to the VO group and start a discussion there if you want. ;-D
http://www.dvprofessionals.com/group/voiceovertalent
Paul Strikwerda said:I think it's better to create a separate thread that's not linked to my introduction so we can have a broader discussion.
.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on
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I just moved it over to the Post Production area, because I'd love to get some input from people across the board.
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