Voiceover Demo Reality: Your Most Critical Investment

Anne Ganguzza
2 days ago
4 min read

with Lau Lapides

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza and her superpower co-host, Lau Lapides, dive into the non-negotiable reality of voiceover demo production. The bosses address why many voice actors—especially those starting out—try to cut corners on their demos, despite the demo being the primary portfolio piece used to land agents and get work. This episode provides essential, current advice on what makes a demo effective, what red flags to avoid, and how to manage the realistic expectations of investing in a long-term voice acting career.

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Chapter Summaries

The Demo as Your College Degree

(03:20) Lau uses the analogy of a college degree to explain the value of a demo, even when it's not submitted for every job. While a client may not always hear it, the demo serves as a portfolio piece and a screening tool for agents, showing that the actor has completed their "due diligence" in training and takes their career seriously.

Non-Broadcast Value: The 24/7 Portfolio

(04:30) Anne counters the broadcast perspective by highlighting the continuous value of demos for both the broadcast and non-broadcast markets. Demos sit on a voice actor's website 24/7, serving as a passive demonstration of capability, allowing clients to sample the product and get a foot in the door even when the actor isn't available to audition.

Red Flags: DIY and Overproduced Sound

(07:09) The hosts identify major red flags in demos. DIY demos that lack professional production (music, sound effects) suggest a half-finished product and a hobbyist mindset. Conversely, demos that are overly produced or use excessive sound effects detract from the voice and make the actor seem like they are "showing off."

Targeting and Currency of the Demo

(08:06) Lau stresses the importance of targeting demos. The commercial demo is the bread and butter for agents, and many new actors fail to secure representation because they submit the wrong genre (e.g., e-learning or corporate). The demo must also be current and relevant, reflecting today's market trends instead of outdated sounds (like aggressive car sales or 1990s reads).

The Trend Away from Announcer Reads

(11:11) The hosts highlight a major voice acting trend: the move away from high-pitched, "selly" reads. Many recent auditions and corporate casting calls specifically seek a more natural, earthy delivery that reflects real people, making high-pitched, overly enthusiastic demos instantly outdated.

The Demo is a Promise You Must Keep

(12:57) The hosts revisit the mantra that "a demo is a promise." The bosses emphasize that a demo must reflect the actor's actual, repeatable performance skill, not just a producer's excellent direction. Agents often ask for raw reads to verify that the actor has the chops to deliver the promised performance authentically in their home studio.

Strategic Considerations for the Demo

(22:04) The discussion covers strategic choices for demo content:

Bilingual/Trilingual Demos: Including bilingual spots (even on corporate demos) is a significant asset in the global market.
Targeting Your Age/Style: Talent should only feature reads that genuinely match their age and style. Do not attempt "stretch" reads (like a 50-year-old trying to sound like a millennial) on a professional demo.
Avoiding Cheats: Demos should not rely solely on first-person dialogue spots, which can be a "cheat" to cover up a lack of third-person acting skills and relevant real-world spots of todays market.

Managing Unrealistic Career Expectations

(25:30) Anne and Lau address the cycle of frustration for new actors who underestimate the time, work, and investment required. The bosses remind listeners that successful careers are built by being resourceful, getting the education first, and managing the unrealistic expectation that a great demo means guaranteed, immediate work.

Top 10 Takeaways for Voice Actors:

Demo is Non-Negotiable: View your professional demo as your college degree or portfolio—a required investment to prove professionalism.
Target Your Genre: Always lead with a strong, current commercial demo when submitting to agents, as it remains the focus of broadcast work.
Invest Professionally: Avoid DIY demos. Invest in professional voiceover demo production to ensure legal use of music/SFX and current production quality.
Authenticity Over Announcer: Ensure your demo reflects the current market trend for natural, grounded, and non-pitched delivery.
Be Current: Avoid using scripts or styles that are obviously 5, 10, or 15 years old. Your demo must reflect current brand messaging.
Avoid Overproduction: The production should not detract from the voice. Short, well-engineered spots (under 60 seconds) are key.
Prove Your Chops: Be ready to submit raw reads to agents to prove your acting and recording quality is consistent with your demo's promise.
Don't Stretch Your Age: Only include reads on your demo that genuinely align with your professional type and age range.
Leverage Bilingual Skills: Use dialogue spots to showcase bilingual or accent capabilities directly on your professional demos.
Education Comes First: Training must precede demo production. The inability to recreate a directed read authentically will prevent long-term success.

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