Leap of Faith - 2015

A new year about to begin, and with it, greater success!!

I look back, and almost another 12 months have passed. Many of you follow along on social media, therefore I suppose I don't always feel as though I need to "blog". However, I still feel that it's important to keep some sort of log. A constant reminder and time stamp. So here we are again. 

2015 will be my 4th year of pursuing a career in Voice Over. I will begin THIS entry by saying...

 I QUIT MY DAY JOB! 

Today is the last day of 2014, and the FIRST day being a full time Voice Actor! It is also in some way, a leap of faith. Do I know if I will be a continued success, no. Do I FEEL like I will. Yes. It's a gut feeling, it's almost as if someone has been whispering in my ear this whole year coaxing me to make the jump, to leave behind guaranteed money and safety. As I write that, a smile has crossed my face. It wasn't just someone whispering, it was a year of different people in many different areas of success TELLING me that I'll make it. And you know what. I believe them. 

SUCCESS?! 

Now that word has some weight. Have I done anything HUGE? Have I booked anything monumental? Anything ensuring consistent great money? No, not yet. But what I have done this past year, is book consistently. Some small paying gigs, some very nice paying gigs, a few times a month, and for a few months, a few times a week. My VO income began to surpass my waiting tables income, so much so that I began taking more time off waiting tables. I began signing up for more workshops and classes, and at the end of the year I began seeking out VO coaches. The more I learned, the more I booked. Come December I knew, this is my time, because I needed more time to really get going. I needed to spend MORE time pursuing the craft, learning, networking, and being available for last minute bookings. So yes, this IS a step towards a bigger success. 

PUTTING MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS

I may have mentioned in a prior blog a conversation that I had with Chris Sista. He basically told me, I'm a photographer, a professional photographer, I have the best equipment because I want to be the best. Spend the money on what you are, your business. I don't charge people money and come over with a point and click, so why do you still have a usb mic. That was about 2 years ago, I've been upgrading ever since. I upgraded this year as well. I have a new Pre-Amp and a new Microphone. I will still use my Neumann TLM - 103 daily, but I now have a Sennheiser MKH416 and a John Hardy M-1 Pre. My sound quality has indeed improved! I've been actively seeking out workshops and coaching, continually learning new techniques and methods to attack copy. And the big one, I finally took advice from VO Actor friends that have the success I am looking for. I put money into a professional Voice Over Demo. After MUCH deliberation, weeks of research and questions. I chose Chuck Duran for this task. The consultation with Chuck was the deal sealer, he really got me. Got what I was going for, got my "Brand" my "Signature" and we put it into each peace. In 2011 my first blog post was talking about the demo's I had just made on my own. Since then, I updated and upgraded those demo's twice. And they got me work, they even got me agents. I was continually feeling good about them, and people were saying they sounded good. However, they still didn't compete with some of the demo's I would hear in the agencies I wanted to be in. The Top. The ones that get all the big ticket gigs. I want to voice for Nat Geo, Discovery Channel, I want to voice for Honda, Dunkin Donuts, Target, Microsoft! 

This my friends. Is investing in your business. Voice Acting is my business. If I'm not booking something, I am taking classes to figure out why, and ready to book it the next time it comes around. If I send out an email for a chance to read for something huge, it better have the best sounding demo attached to it. So here it is. My new Demo for 2015

I am very happy with it. It has already opened a few doors and I have only sent it a few places. I've been waiting for the new year, with the new website to really start reaching out with it all. One of the best replies I received from a huge agency was, "This has your signature all over it"  <--That is exactly what I wanted to hear!

IT CAN BE DONE

Don't get discouraged out there. This is my 8th year in LA. This will be my 4th year pursuing Voice Over ONLY. The decision to FOCUS on Voice Over three years ago was a tough one. But it was probably the best decision I made, and it's the only advice I give out constantly to beginners. Focus Focus Focus, make your goals achievable. Have a lofty goal, one that's way out there, but then fill the path to it, with small achievable goals. Every goal achieved lights a bigger fire under that ass of success.

THE NEW YEAR

Join me. Here is my new Facebook VO page : https://www.facebook.com/JayPrestonVO I will be posting jobs, events, exciting news there instead of my personal page. People have told me that's an important thing to have, so why not have one. The new website will go live tomorrow, I'm very happy with the new design and layout. It's just as VO focused as I am now. My VO goals for the new year.

Continued Success ~ Gain More Knowledge ~ Learn what it takes to book a Promo ~ Book more Video Games ~ Book another National ~ Work Daily ~ Make Another Demo

The Happiest of New Years to you all.

May it be a healthy, surprising and prosperous 2015

Jay Preston 2014 Commercial and Explainer VO Mash UP from Jay Preston on Vimeo.

Networking in the VO world

Where do the months go?

I always think to myself, So much has been happening, I need to blog it. But I never get around to it, next thing you know it's over a year later! Hundreds of women have given birth since my last blog! (Including my SISTER!)

Rather than a complete catch you up, I will talk about something that I've been doing the last 10+ months that seems to be working. The next few blogs will hopefully catch you up a great deal and some will focus on ways to achieve success, on a moderate level. (For I have not yet achieved FULL Quit-my-job success...yet)

With that said, I will state, for the record, that without my Job waiting tables at the Tam O'Shanter for the last 5 years, I would not be where I am today. The one person responsible for giving me a head start on this journey and introducing me to some fantastic VO peeps, I met while working the lounge at the Tam on a Friday night. We became friends, and he's been helping me meet people, he's given me great advice along the way, he's pushed me to make smarter decisions all while being a genuine nice guy. It's a rare find out here in LA, a RARE find. And one day I hope to help him out in anyway that I can, not to "re-pay" him, But rather, to thank him.

 LESSON TO LEARN: Do not take your mundane day to day bill paying jobs lightly, you never know what it could lead to. You'd rather be out on a Friday or Saturday night, "networking", why not do it where-ever you happen to be.

On NETWORKING. 

BULL SHIT NETWORKING
I am not a general networker. I don't like talking to people I don't know, about nonsense or jibber jabber just to see if they can help me in any way while knowing full well, they are wondering if I can help them in any way. It's a disgusting necessity of the business as far as I'm concerned.  Being someone who spends much of his life really watching people and how the act and interact, I have developed a gift that is able to read through bull shit and lies, and when someone is talking to me just filling the air with b.s. because they realize I'm not who they hoped I'd be, it eats me up inside. I hate being around it.

FRIEND NETWORKING
The type of networking I do enjoy and am very good at, is when a friend introduces me to someone they know whom they think I should know. It levels the playing fields. It's more comfortable. It also doesn't happen as often as I'd like.

CUT-THE-BS-NETWORKING w/ A FRIEND
There is a third type  of networking that I find works well for people like me. But you need a good friend who is skilled at the first type of Bull Shit Networking. Luckily I have a few who are very good at it. One friend in particular has begun HIS voice over journey and I've been helping him out weekly to get started.  This networking genie can go into a room, talk to almost everyone, weed out the scrappers and find the people you REALLY want to be talking too. Then when his drink runs out, you bring him another, and you are seamlessly introduced to some good people. Then the two of us can keep a conversation going for as long as it takes, and chances are whoever we meet we like, and they like us, a friendship BEGINS. And THAT is what you are looking for. Or, should I say, THAT is what you SHOULD be looking for. A friendship. Not someone that can do something for you.

IT'S not "Who you know", but "Who likes you"

Many people have the wrong concept about networking I think. From my experience it seems like a lot of people talk until they find out what you do, then, if it's something they think could benefit them they say "I should get your card" Or "Here, take my card, we should talk more". I'm guessing, but maybe 10% of those contacts come through. You should never force your card to people or force it from them. The exchanging of information should come organically. For instance;

One says something to the affect of; Damn, where has the time gone? We've all enjoyed each others company so much, but we really should "explore" the rest of this gathering. We should all stay in touch and grab a drink sometime etc. And someone else says Absolutely, Do you have a card? Oh thanks! Here's mine.

This all translates to, "You are someone I would like to work with" "I don't mind being around you" "You are a pretty cool person, we can get along" and other variations of, lets be friends.

When that is the kind of networking you accomplish, you are really making headway.

KEEPING CONNECTED

Always keep in mind that the person you just connected with is probably in high demand. 1,000's of other people are wanting to befriend him/her. So how do you stay in the front of their mind. A short email once a week, maybe once every two weeks. Find out if they are doing anything around town workshops wise or class wise, and go. See if any of your other friends have made a similar connection and go with them to an event. If a few weeks go by and you haven't had an email reply or haven't seen that person. Don't bug them as much, but don't give up either. Every now and then, shoot them another e-mail. Share with them something you've been doing that you are proud of. You never know when you'll catch them at the right time. But don't give up.

Keeping connected can be a hard thing to do. But when it pans out and you gain a friend in the business that you want to be a part of. Nothing feels greater. And one more thing, when you gain that friend, DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM THEM, other than a friendship. If you are hoping and expecting them to hook you up with a job, then you are wasting your time. If you are truly new friends, you will be on there mind and jobs will happen organically through your new connection. Heck, you may even be able to get THEM a job through some more of your networking.

YEAH YEAH YEAH...bullshit.

You may think that I'm just spouting hopeful blah blah blah.. But It's happened to me already on both fronts, and it looks as though it may continue happening throughout the next few months. I've made some great friends over the last 3 years, some of them it took the whole 3 years to make, but I consider some of these VO people (who's names I will keep out of my blogs if I can, and may have already appeared IN my blogs in the past.) to be friends.

and Finally;

EXPAND THAT NETWORK

Don't limit yourself to the neighborhoods around you. There are VO actors in all states, and as you are auditioning for things, you will come across them again and again. Listen to their reels, reach out to them, many of them will reach back out to you. I came across a particular voice actor in New York that I continually noticed was booking job after job. Even jobs I was auditioning for. Rather than thinking, who is this ENEMY!!?? I looked up his website, listened to his work, then .. (small world) when I got my first VO agent a year ago, I realized.. this guy has the same agent! So I contacted him, and we've been friends ever since, he shares much needed knowledge with me, and I've helped him book a job a few months ago. Across the country networking. Keep your mind open.

Bring me that horizon

Wow, thanks for sticking around. Now I get to share with you the latest two things I've worked on. The first and most recent is an ad for Angry Alarms. I worked with this client on The Ories game for iPhone and iPad and they hired me back to write and record over 150 lines of dialogue in my Scottish accent! It has been such a blast to work on and am very much looking forward to the final product. I happened to have a kilt and a pretty funny idea for an ad, and they hired me to do that too! Here it is below.

Another job I am very proud of is this video below for the Honest Tea company.

Thanks for joining me again friends. Stay tuned. Next blog soon! 

"It's been a while" ~ he voiced with confidence.

I apologize for the great gap in between posts. I have been very busy. In the beginning of my last blog I mentioned that I had been auditioning like crazy after joining Voices.com. That was no lie and I continue to do so, I am averaging about 12 auditions a day, some days 20, some days 10 but that site never rests and the jobs keep showing up. It took me about 100 or so auditions before I booked my first Voices.com job, and the believe it or not, it was a VIDEO GAME. Nothing HUGE that shows up on the Xbox or your PS3, but instead a "Find the Missing Objects" type game for your tablets and laptops. The game is called Snark Busters: High Society and I am lucky enough to have voiced ALL the male voices in that game. It's actually pretty fun, and currently only about 3 buckaroo's. Go download and play today. Let me know what you think. :-)
Snark Busters : High Society

 

That was the begining, and since then, I've booked 6 other jobs ranging from voicemail recordings, instructional video's, and my first radio spots for Vermont Federal airing later this summer! I am continuing to take workshops as often as I can afford them at Talkshop and anywhere else I can find. They are proving to be very helpful and I continue to learn. I attended Rob Paulsen's first live podcast at the Jon Lovitz theater in Universal City, that was incredibly inspiring and fun. My second time meeting Rob, and 1st time meeting Maurice LaMarche. The guy on your right is my good friend Morgan, a sound engineer at Technicolor, (one of his many jobs) A great guy.

My home studio seems to be working just fine. A good friend of mine and producer of many things (including Crittick) Brendan Bradley suggested I find a way to prop up the box and stand while auditioning rather than sit, since then, I've been booking jobs. :-)

Still actively seeking an agent, if I can book on my own, I am guaranteed to book with an agent, and those jobs will pay much better. It's just the fine art of GETTING ONE!! Arghhh.

Until then, I will continue to do what I do; Use my talents daily to hopefully achieve a working career as a voice over artist. By the way. What do you think of my new HTML website!? JayPreston.com

Be Wonderful & Stay Fancy

~Jay

Stopping to Sip the Coffee

It sure has been a very eventful and life impacting time since my last post. I began weekly workshops at Talkshop in Sherman Oaks, went to a few VO seminars, just recently joined Voices.com and have been auditioning like crazy. My next blog will focus more on all that. But today, I want to share a story. You may find this inspirational, you may find it entertaining, or may just find it a good read. However you find it, I hope you enjoy.

Every morning I make myself a pot of coffee. I've been doing that since the first day I tasted it. And I've always enjoyed coffee mugs, who doesn't? About 10 years ago, I went to Vermont and we stayed at this beautiful little bed and breakfast called the Londonderry Inn. (If you ever get a chance to visit, please do, and if you do because of this blog, mention it. Also tell them how much you wish they still had these adorable mugs.) I remember having breakfast at that Inn the day before we left and was drinking coffee out of the most perfect mug I've ever held.

My first instinct, was to steal it. I was a different kind of kid back then. However I looked around, and noticed they were selling them. Now for me, back then, that usually wouldn't have made a difference. But I felt that this mug deserved to be purchased. It was too unique and special. So I got up at the end of the meal and decided to buy one. Brought it back to Boston and began drinking from that mug pretty much every day. It was my favorite mug. I brought it to college in New York, brought it back, I toured the country for 3 months out of the year for two years, and every time in between I would drink from that mug. In 2005 I moved to California and took this mug with me and used it almost every morning. What makes it so special? Is that what you were wondering? It's not too big and it's not too small, the round belly on it fits more coffee than you think, and actually keeps the coffee hotter, longer. Most mugs this shape are far too big, but this is normal coffee mug size in my opinion. Fits in your hands perfectly, and is microwave and oven safe! You know, for when you want that 'oven warmed' coffee. If anyone was around when I was having my morning coffee they would always comment on what a great mug. I always agreed, and never thought much on it. Until October. My girlfriend, also a coffee drinker, but more of a mug lover (meaning she collects coffee mugs) Wanted to get one, and I thought, well of course, and actually I should have TWO!! So I went online and searched for the Londonderry Inn, found their website and e-mailed them asking if they had anymore of those mugs. They said they no longer carry them, and haven't for some time. But they did sound a bit surprised I still had one. I then asked if they were the ones that made it, or if someone else did. They told me it was Deneen Pottery that created those mugs. I looked them up online found their website, which is fantastic and sent out an e-mail asking where I could get another mug similar to the one I love. I did this right before work and had to head out of the house, but I figured I'd go on Facebook and see if they had a page, that way I would remember to check back when I got home. They sure did have a page, and I "liked" it.  Then I went off to work. While at work, I got a facebook message from one of the Admin's of Deneen Pottery, Heath, saying that I was their 500th fan and they wanted to send me something special.  That pretty much blew my mind, because what are the flipping odds??

What are the odds, that I buy a mug about 10 years prior, before Facebook existed (or definitely before I was on it) in a lodge in Vermont, carry that mug with me for 10 years (and don't BREAK IT) like it SO much that I actively SEEK out another one, "like" a Facebook page, and boom, I'm the 500th fan and am getting "sent" something special. I'm no spiritual guru, but that's pretty fate-like...


So I'm at work, telling everyone the story, how crazy it is. Then I stop and think about it. I work at the Tam O'Shanter Inn. The first Lawry's restaurant and one of the oldest family owned and operated restaurants in LA. One of Walt Disney's favorite restaurants. Pretty much a landmark. And it looks like this.

In addition to that, it is celebrating it's 90th year anniversary this year. The Tam, needs a coffee mug like this. In fact (and most important) I want a coffee mug with the Tam O'Shanter Inn on it. I decide in that moment, that I'm going to make it happen. They would sell, people would love them, and they just...plain...FIT. So I message Heath back and forth about how one would go about ordering, designing etc. And on Oct 24th I schedule a meeting with the head of Marketing for Lawry's, On November 3rd I have said meeting. I bring the material, and of course. My Mug. They love the idea and begin to jump through the necessary hoops and pass it under the necessary eyes. I began seeing design idea's and asked for updates for the next 30 days. These mugs are each handmade and take a while to design, so I was getting a bit nervous, especially if we wanted them by the end of January. On Dec 13th I was told that the Tam ordered 300 mugs!!! Absolutely incredible.  Not only that, but they loved the idea so much, that they are ordering a 4 mug collector set to be dispersed throughout the year. One style mug with it's own unique artwork for each quarter this year in celebration of the 90th anniversary! Exactly one month later, I don't know how Deneen Pottery did it, but on Friday January 13th, the mugs showed up at the Tam O'Shanter. And here it is.

I know, you are wondering, about the trolls. I'm a collector of all sorts of things. And for some reason that was the best looking picture out of all the ones I took.. sooo... yeah. But how fantastic does that look? Now that's what the Tam looked like in 1922 when it opened, and as the mug collection for the Tam progresses I'm assuming we will 
get one that has the current look of the Tam on it and hopefully a special anniversary one. The next one will be a St. Patty's day Tankard.

I couldn't be more excited and pleased that this little idea I had worked out so well. It sure is a good feeling when you set your mind on something and make it happen. Even if it is as small as a coffee mug. Which pulls it right back around to Voice Over, I set my mind on it, and I'm making it happen. If I can do a coffee mug, I can do me. So here's to you, here's to us and here's to making the best out of the life we have. Make each and every day count! CHEERS!

From this in 2002

To this in 2012

 Deneen Pottery is a family business that was started in 1972 by Peter and Mary Deneen. Made today in St. Paul, MN (in the same place and by the same great people.)
Much like the history of the Tam O'Shanter.

Oh yeah, and be sure to check out Crittick.com
And my latest project! Advertisement reviews with the Mac

Two Reels finished for now!

Well,

I spent the first two weeks of August working on my commercial reel, and I also had to put together a quick Animation reel as well for an audition and possible agent meeting. Through my class over at Voicecaster I met some excellent talent, and one girl got me in contact with Katie Von Till, a hardworking voice over artist and the new voice of Disney's Snow White!! :-) She gave me some great advice and then I set up a one on one coaching session with her, and we went over my commercial reel, and she was nice enough to go over my animation characters as well. With her ongoing help and support I was able to put two reels together that sound pretty darn good, I gotta say. They may not be complete professional quality, but they are pretty darn close, and get the point across. Here they are. Please have a listen

Animation Reel

Commercial Reel

Now, I still want to add some stuff to the animation of course and record them and mix them professionally, but for now, I need to focus on making more connections with casting directors and booking work on my own. With booked gigs and more connections under my belt, the agents will hire me. Without that stuff, it's literally just waiting for lady luck to knock on your door.  I also have updated my website a bit to cater more to a voice over agent or casting director logging on. I took off my picture on the front page and made the first thing you come to my reels. That way, they aren't focused on what I look like when they hear the voices, and can rather, in their mind make out whatever they hear. Another useful note from Katie. www.JayPreston.com

As for my last class, I honestly don't think I learned much. But I did get some good practice in the booth, and the connection to Katie I think was the reason I took it. So I must save up for a class now over at Talkshop. If there are three big casting companies for voice-over, Talkshop is one of them, and it's the only one i haven't taken a class in yet. So, that will be in September when I can save enough money again. I swear, if I could go back, I would have skipped out on college, which has only given me horrible debt and bad credit, and convinced my parents to send me out here with even a quarter of the money spent for college. Alas...but then I wouldn't have gotten to experience this wonderful struggle that is talked about so often in "making it".

There is gold at the end of my tunnel. For now, I must enjoy my surroundings and sing the tunnel song. I hope you all like my reels, feel free to subscribe to my blog, and suggest it to anyone else starting this path. :-)

Be Wonderful!

Bring on August & Creating your Demo

Hello again!! And welcome back to a glimpse of my life. I sometimes forget I started this blog, but it is something I enjoy doing, and hopefully it can be a help to someone out there, or at least a bit of entertainment.

Since May, I have done extensive work on my Commercial Voice Over Reel, gone out on 3 Voice Over auditions, and sent 6 auditions from my home studio. All the feedback I have received has been positive but each time they went with another voice. A few times they wanted a deeper voice, and one time, they wanted a "name". Which to me, always stinks a little. I can't become a "name" until I've booked some reputable gigs, and it's hard to book those gigs unless your a "name", oh, and have an AGENT! The ol' Hollywood Catch 42. (And I've upped the usual "Catch 22", because Hollywood has soo many more ridiculous catches!)

As far as the VO demo reel goes. It sure is a lot of work. And I have to say, as usual, everyone has their own opinions on what you SHOULD and SHOULDN'T do. I've learned to listen to people out here, and get multiple opinions before just jumping on the first thing someone says, even if they are reputable. My advice is to listen to many people and take from them the underlying consensus that is common throughout all advice. If something sticks out to more than one person, or the same advice pops up more than once, Then that is the advice you need. Now understand, that doesn't mean throw out any other valuable advice, it just means be careful and choose wisely. The next part of this blog is a good example.

The Commercial Demo

I was told by a few people that the demo should be no more than 2 minutes and it should be done professionally for it is your calling card. I looked around and the cheapest demo production in California is anywhere from $1,300 to $2,000 and can even be more expensive.  That was very disheartening. Taking the VO classes was already hard enough being from $4 to $500 a pop. Not having an agent, not booking extra work, and only waiting tables along with all the bills, There is no way to afford it for someone like me. So, like the home studio, I had to find another way.

I listened to countless demo reels online from various agency websites, (the agencies I wanted to be represented by) and got a great feel for how one should sound. There are a couple rules for your demo.

1) Do not use someone Else's material. Do not re-do commercials you hear on the radio or TV. Someone else already booked that job, and chances are you will submit your demo to an agency that represents the person that did it. And you will not be given a chance.
2) Don't fool with your voice in post. Don't speed up or slow down your voice in your demo electronically. If you fool someone on your demo, you won't be able to re-create that in real life. Big no no.

So with that knowledge, my home studio, and Adobe Audition. I started writing my own commercial spots. Things that I wanted to get booked for. I thought, what do I love? What am I most passionate about? And I wrote commercials for it. But I needed variety, You can't have your demo be all the same sort of commercials, you need a hard sell, a soft sell, and for me, I wanted to showcase the relaxed everyday guy, your friend, humor, my personal "signature" voice. I began recording and re-recording and RE-RECORDING. When all was said and done I had recorded 7 commercials, all about 20 seconds long. I then had to edit them all together and cut them down to under 2 minutes. THEN, I had to find music for each piece. I searched two fantastic free databases; Incompetech and Auditionautix. You can find them both under the links section of JayPreston.com. I spent probably 2 hours listening for the perfect jingles and songs, importing them and cutting them to fit the spots. After alll that was done, I had cut it down to 1 minute and 57 seconds. And I was pretty excited. This is what it sounded like.

My first Demo Take 1

So I sent this out to many people, teachers from my classes, friends, family and reputable VO actors. From friends and family I got great responses, they loved it, from the teachers and VO industry folks, it was quite different. Here is part of an e-mail from a very successful source.

"Reels are no more than 60 seconds at this time - that is the trend - fast and furious - yours is 2 minutes.
Take out the character spot, the spot with the accent and the legal tag - this is a commercial demo not an animation demo. If they want a Brit they will call a Brit not you. And if you want them to know you do legal tags - make a demo with just that - there are people who make that their primary work so you must compete with them.

My favorite spots were the Old Spice and the Hair spot - all of the spots sounds great though - the quality is fabulous - you just need to edit this right down and take out the stuff that shouldn't be in there. Then just use smaller sections of the spots - they are all too long - you need one or two lines at most.

You can't throw all the genres in there to show them how great you are (Animation, Accents, Legal) - it will just show them how inexperienced you are okay? so save them for the appropriate demo (they are good - except the legal which I didn't think was clean or fast enough, sorry)
The advice I am giving you is not my opinion it is the way things are done in vo right now" 

So with that and similar replies from industry, I went back into editing and cut it down to 1 minute exactly. And it sounded like this.

 

My First Demo Take 2

 

I added two new spots and removed a few others. I thought it was great. Sent it back to everyone and the one who wrote that email said it was fantastic. I then heard back from some sound engineers and another actor in the VO world that I hold in very high regards. He said,

 

"I'm a little concerned about the audio quality. The music doesn't feel integrated with the spots. It feels like the voice track is just laid down on top of it and not mixed."

 

So, I started to ask around, to figure out what it was that I was doing wrong. It took some time before I got any sort of response from anyone, and then finally I realized, with the help of my good friend Mike, that I was recording in Mono, AND without the use of monitor headphones. I was editing everything to the crappy laptop speakers that I had. So when people heard it on better speakers or different computers it sounded awful. This meant that I had to go back, buy a good pair of headphones, set it all up, and re-record all the spots, and re-mix all the music. I figured while doing this, I'll take into account a few more notes from people, and re-do it all. The headphones are amazing by the way, I highly recommend them. Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones You can actually find them cheaper than amazon. Just do some searching. After the new recording and editing, my current Commercial Demo Reel is here.

Jay Preston Commercial VO Demo Reel

So there you have it. I definitely welcome your feedback and suggestions. I am content with this reel for now, however there still are some tweeks I'd like to make. I am working on my legal and trying to write a good spot that involves two people for dialogue purposes. 

Animation Class

I also have begun an Animation Class at Voicecaster with Marsha Goodman. A sort-of legend in the casting directors for Voice Over in my opinion. The first person she ever directed was Mel Blanc, and has been the casting director for shows such as Captain Planet, Inspector Gadget, Ghostbusters, and Sonic the Hedgehog to name ONLY a few. I have one week left, and have gotten many a "high-five" from Marsha. Our last class consists of a feature length animated film where I will be portraying 7 different roles. I can't wait to be doing this sort of thing and getting paid! 

Until next time, May the Voice be with you, and as always,

Be Wonderful

"MAY" bring me an agent!

It's the beginning of May which will mark the month that this Voice Over career takes another step forward. I am one week away from finishing my second run of classes with Huck over at Voicecaster. He is an excellent teacher and I have definitely increased my knowledge and skills. The classes have given me extra booth experience which is exactly what I wanted. Huck talks very fast which is fantastic, It allows him to cover more in the three hours then usual. He also called me in for an audition recently, that alone, makes the class worth it. :-)

I will be creating my new Demo's this month in prep for my interview/audition with the agent that started this little learning quest. I am very excited to go in there with all I've learned and book myself an agent. In the past two months, I can't tell you how often I heard the words "I would cast you in an instant" and "You are very cast-able" and "It's so hard to find that natural sound" THEREFORE!!! I know I'll be able to book jobs, I just need to get those auditions. I've been working with my home studio, and learning adobe audition which has been alot of fun. As soon as I get some video editing software I will be able to post some funny voice-over video's for you all.

Check back in a few weeks for my demo's! :-)

Be Wonderful!