10 Essential Preparatory Steps: Best 10 Tips For Voice Buyers
Before inviting voice-over talent to audition for your media project, especially inexperienced producers, here are the essential preparatory steps to take to ensure a smooth and successful process.
1. Define the Project Requirements
Script Finalization: Ensure your script is complete and final. Any changes post-audition can create confusion and additional work and cost to you.
Character Breakdown: Detail the characters or roles, including their personalities, accents, ages, and any specific vocal traits required.
Project Scope: Clarify the total word count, and estimated recording time (total run time).
2. Producer & Client: Set a Budget
This is one of the most essential tips for voice buyers and their clients
If you're not working with an agent, understand industry pricing. Most experienced and professional voice talent will follow a non-union voice talent rate guide such as GVAA .
The producer and their client should understand the industry standard rates for voice-over work in the genre and usage they're proposing before they set their budget.
This includes session fees, usage fees, and any additional costs like editing or retakes.
Payment Terms: Decide on your payment terms, including deposit, payment upon completion, and methods of payment.
3. Technical Requirements
Audio Specifications: Determine the audio quality standards you require, such as bit rate, sample rate, and file format.
Recording Environment: Ensure you can assess the quality of the talent’s recording environment if they're recording remotely.
4. Audition Script Preparation
Excerpt Selection: Choose script excerpts that showcase the range and style needed for your project.
Clarity and Direction: Provide clear instructions on how you want the script to be read, including pace, tone, and any specific emotions.
5. Create a Casting Call or contact an agent specializing in representing voice talent
Project Overview: Give a brief description of the project, including its purpose and target audience.
Role Descriptions: List the roles you’re casting for with detailed descriptions.
If you have a music bed you're considering, include a few seconds of it to give a better sense of the read's 'tone' and/ or 'pace'.
Submission Guidelines: Specify how you want auditions submitted (e.g., file format, deadline, naming conventions).
6. Review Submission Platforms
Casting Websites: Research and choose reputable casting platforms or agencies that match your project's needs.
Direct Outreach: Consider reaching out directly to voice-over talents whose work you admire or who fit your project’s criteria.
7. Prepare for Evaluation
Criteria Development: Establish criteria for evaluating auditions, such as vocal quality, adherence to direction, and versatility.
Team Involvement: Decide who on your team will be involved in the audition review process.
8. Communication
Professionalism: Draft a professional and clear communication template for inviting talent and providing them with all necessary details.
9. Legal Considerations
Contracts: Have a basic contract ready that outlines terms of work, payment, and usage rights.
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement): If your project is confidential, prepare an NDA for talent to sign before auditioning.
10. Logistics and Scheduling
Timelines: Set realistic deadlines for audition submissions, review periods, and final casting decisions.
Recording Schedule: Have a tentative recording schedule prepared, including potential dates and times for sessions.
By thoroughly preparing in these areas, you can create a smooth audition process that attracts top voice-over talent and sets your project up for success.
Following these Essential Preparatory Steps: Best Tips For Voice Buyers will help you efficiently find the right voice at the right price for your media project.
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