Interview with a voiceover: John Burke

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Any interesting gigs lately?
I have just returned from Hong Kong where I was on stage for  8 performances of “Waiting for godot” where I played Vladimir with AC productions who were bought in by ABA productions.

How and when did you get into voiceover work?
I started to delve into VO work the career on graduating from the Gaiety school of Acting in 1998 when we were advised to create a demo as a life raft in the scary waters of professional acting.

Get any work from Piehole?
Yes , just when you start to feel nothing is happenning with voiceover work  I get a call from an unknown producer from an advertising agency saying my details and demo were found from piehole and that would I be free next day to do a voiceover!

What styles do you kick ass at?
I kick ass as the man in the street , plumber taxi driver or tradesman, van driver- characters!!!
Any advice for aspiring voice overs?          

Be prepared to take kicks in the face about your demo and to aim to improve it so that demo number 4 or 5 is a contender (full of ads you were paid to record)

Interview with a voiceover: Tim O’Donovan

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1) So… performing in any interesting shows lately?

Recently did a Jameson marketing video, doing both an American and a South African accent.  I tried to make it as authentic a Sith Ifricin iccent as possible without veering into a Kiwi one. Not easy. It was the first job on which I had to do foreign accents - more fun than your average mortgage ad.

2) How and when did you get into VO work?

A few years ago now. I’d always been told I had a good radio voice, so I thought I’d put a demo together and see what happened,no harm in trying. Without agency representation, Piehole was a godsend and pretty much the source of all my jobs thus far.

 3) what type of VO style do you kick ass at?

I’m quite flexible and can do the accent thing as mentioned above or the straight, friendly neutral read, for which I’ve been booked a lot.

 4) Get any VO work through Piehole?

See question 2. In a word, yes.

 5) Any tips for aspiring VO’s?

Carry a bottle of water. Turn up on time. Relax. Shut up and take direction. Get the hell out of there. Follow up on invoices.

Interview with a voiceover: Margaret Ward, American VO

4web4_2_.jpg So… performing in any interesting shows lately?
 Not shows.. more like interviews and debates. As a journalist, I’m a regular on radio programmes like the Tubridy Show, The Right Hook and the Late Debate with Rachel English. This month I’m also on a panel at the Abbey Theatre. A number of journalists, academics and pundits are taking part in a debate about the new Amercian president - will the President-elect have any interest in Ireland, does American politics matter here and what will happen next?

How and when did you get into voiceover work?
It was a complete fluke. A radio journalist friend suggested I go to an audition for VOs at Skillsoft, the e-learning company. I was on maternity leave and though “what the heck?”. Incredibly, I got the job. I had no experience but I worked there as a narrator (with some character parts) every week for four years and loved it.
What type of VO style do you kick ass at?
Narration, authoritative, sexy and quirky parts. I also love humourous pieces. (Think narrator in Desperate Housewives or a broadcast journalist).
Get any VO work through Piehole?
Yes, a great gig for a TV commerical. I played a snobby New York fashion-lover. It was great fun and I’d love to do it again.
Any tips for aspiring voiceovers?
Be persistent, but professional. Read the voiceover book. Keep knocking on doors. Think of inventive ways to market yourself. This is a people business.

Interview with a voice over: Glen Barry

glen_barry_3011.jpg So… performing in any interesting shows lately?
Nothing at the moment…
How and when did you get into voice over work?
I got into voice overs at the start of this year. My Agent, Lorraine Brennan, recommended that I get into it and I did some voice over training.
What type of VO style do you kick ass at?
 I enjoy doing young energetic voice overs but i have been lucky with ads I have done as they are all different styles
Get any VO work through Piehole?
 I am sure I have as my contact details on Piehole refer you to my Agent. I have had a great year with voiceovers [this being my first year as a voiceover artist] I have been used on some big ad campaigns such as O2, Coke Zero James bond, Playstaion etc.
Any tips for aspiring voiceovers?
 Practice reading aloud with new text. Look after your voice, its your tool. Learn to take direction from the Client and know when its time to leave the studio! Engineers don’t have time to talk.

Interview with a voiceover: Esther O’Moore Donohoe

esther_o_moore_donoghue2.jpgSo… performing in any interesting shows lately?
I’m just back from New York after studying long-form improv with Upright Citizens Brigade (started by Saturday Night Lives Amy Poehler who played Hilary Clinton to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin on SNL recently!). It was an amazing experience and I even got to perform at the UCB Theatre while I was there. Even better was the fact that we managed to get (some) laughs!

How and when did you get into VO work?

I’m fairly new to voiceover work and only started earlier this year. Like many others making a voice over demo was on my ‘to do list’ for a long time. Finally I wrote some ads, booked a recording session with a demo producer and soon I had my very own voiceover demo.

What type of VO style do you kick ass at?

Of course I’m going to say I can do it all! I really don’t have a preference but working on character driven and comedic scripts is always good fun. Whatever job I am doing I always work hard to deliver what a client is looking for.

Get any VO work through Piehole?

I’ve been lucky enough to get some great jobs since registering with Piehole and can count Aer Lingus, Meteor, Lucozade and Today FM amongst the companies I have worked for.

Any tips for aspiring VO’s?

I’d advise anyone who wants to get into VO work to just get out there and do it! Spend some time listening to the radio to get inspiration for your own demo and then sit down and write some scripts. I would also say it is important to invest in a quality demo. I had toyed with the idea of recording mine myself initially but I am so glad I didn’t now. It’s so important to present a professional sounding demo to potential clients. Just get out there!

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Interview with a voiceover: Brian Walsh

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So… performing in any interesting shows lately?

I wish…

Why did you get into voiceover work?

I just always wanted to be the guy in the telly ads.

What type of voice over style to kick ass at?

Corporate and seductive (wooohoo…)

Get any voiceover work through Piehole?

Oh yes, and enquiries too.

Any tips for aspiring VO’s?

Never give up.

Interview with a Voiceover: Ronan Byrne

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So… performing in any interesting shows lately?

I have just finished a run of an original theatre piece for Tabs Theatre Co. called “Three Sides”. I’m currently working on a travelling show for children which will kick off in January entitled “Shakin’ Up Bublin”.

How and when did you get into VO work?

When I was a student in Wales many of the film students required voice overs for their various short films so it was intersting to me to act solely with my voice. About a year and a half ago a colleague suggested that I create a demo and put my voice out there.

what type of VO style do you kick ass at?

I have always enjoyed specific character voices but in particular I love the movie trailer voice. Its one of my favorites but for work either the hard sell or cheesy breezy ad man are my best. And I enjoy using Sean Connerys voice or Patrick Stewart. Bald men always sound the best.

Get any VO work through Piehole?

I got a long running gig from Piehole and many auditions. Piehole is a far cry from the usual companies who simply have you on the books. They really do help you out to the utmost of their abilities.

Any tips for aspiring VO’s?

Patience is a virtue and determination will always be rewarded, eventually. If you can find the balance between those two then you’ve almost won the battle. Creating versatility in your voice is work and so must be treated as such. Don’t over or understretch your range. Know your limits. Most importantly be about 20 minutes early, always. Time is money and your either early or your late.

Ronan’s voice demo can be heard on www.piehole.ie/ronanbyrne

Interview with a voiceover: Rhiannon

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Q: So… performing in any interesting shows lately?

A: I just Recorded and Launched a Quirky new Duet Single called HALLOWEEN LADY for Halloween with Enda Reilly. You can download it on www.rhiannon.ie

Q: How and when did you get into voiceover work?

A: I did a training course this year, and also did a series of workshops with other professional voiceovers and learned a lot from their experience and knowledge and advice.

Q: Get any Voice Over work through Piehole?

A: Yes I did, just after joining I got 2 gigs. Both Radio Adverts and it really made me glad that I had signed up with piehole.

Q: what type of VO style do you kick ass at?

I love playing characters and my experience as an Actress and Singer gives me a lot of colours in my voice. I am very good with hard text. I kick ass in all styles :-)

Q: Any tips for aspiring VO’s?
A: Persistence and constant practice, to regularly read aloud and to test yourself with tricky tongue twisters. Listen to lots of adverts on radio and TV, to tune your ears into the market.