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Jodi Krangle

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Jodi@VoiceoversAndVocals.com

Voiceovers

Is It Too Late?

November 27, 2019 by Jodi Krangle

      Is It Too Late? - Audio Branding Podcast - Jodi Krangle - voiceoversandvocals.com

Our audio landscape is definitely changing.  It’s becoming more and more important for brands to have a recognizable sound, especially with the rise of Alexa, Google Home, and similar products.

Even our appliances are becoming “smart”.  If they recognize voice commands, how long will it be before they start selling us products directly – without needing a desktop computer, an iPad or a phone at all? And what’s the quickest way for these “smart” devices to let us know what brands they sell?  Audio, that’s how.

In lots of different places, these options may not be displayed as *only* audio, but those sounds are certainly played when we choose what we want.  And that reinforces the idea of an audio brand.  If we’re in public when this happens?  It also reinforces it to everyone around us.

Now, how about when we actually buy something?  We already use a lot of automation to purchase what we want.  What if the very act of purchasing, reinforced a company’s audio brand?  Turns out, Mastercard is thinking about this.  And they apparently (according to Forbes) spent $15 Million dollars on it!  The video below will explain more of what their thinking was and let you hear the results.  It doesn’t sound bad to me or anything.  But I think they’re betting on how recognizable it’ll be across platforms.  I’m not entirely convinced, but time will tell, I suppose. Should Mastercard have thought about this years ago?  Probably.  But if they couldn’t do this kind of audio branding years ago, at least they’re doing it now.

Of course, this might be too little too late.  Visa had a 2 year head start on them!

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/07/visa-spent-a-year-developing-a-signature-sound-report.html

And I love this CNBC video because the two commenting actually have opinions on which sounds appeal to them across many different brands.  They have a good point. Visa’s criteria, in case you don’t want to watch the video?  It has to be short, unobtrusive, energetic and optimistic.   It took them a year to develop that one little bit of sound – so this is no joking matter.  Maybe it surprises you that Mastercard spent so much money on this.  It doesn’t surprise me at all.  After all, Visa paid Morgan Freeman to do their commercials.  That couldn’t be cheap.

But that leads me to another point.  You may not be spending fifteen million dollars on your ads – or your audio brand.  But you still do want to remain consistent – and professional – across all your touch points.  This has already become really important.  And falling flat on this part of your marketing will cost you (and it’s a cost you may never actually be informed of).

Not everyone has to have a certain trill of notes or a particular melody associated with their brand.  But your brand should definitely have a consistent “feel”.  Something you follow through with in music, voice over and automation (if you have it).

The future of branding is sound and if I can help you with the voice over end of that, feel free to reach out.  Even if I’m not the right voice for your particular sonic image, I know a lot of talented folks that might be able to help and I’m happy to make introductions.

Now – go out and make some noise!

Filed Under: Audio Branding, Technology, Voiceovers Tagged With: audio branding, automation, jingles, mastercard, sonic branding, technology, visa, voiceover

Taking Your Show On The Road

September 18, 2019 by Jodi Krangle

      Taking Your Show On The Road - Jodi Krangle - voiceoversandvocals.com

I just recently went to my first podcasting convention (MAPCON, now the Independent Podcast Conference in Atlantic City) and had the privilege of meeting a lot of super talented and passionate people who create and have services for, podcasters (of which, I am now one!).  One of the topics that came up time and time again, was sound treatment.  How do you get the best sound for your podcast?  How do you get rid of echo, cut down on ambient noise, and travel with your sound equipment while still putting out a decent show?

A lot of people will tell you that it’s all about the microphone.  And it’s true that if you use a microphone that’s highly directional and of decent quality, you can get pretty good sound.

BUT – without the right recording environment, your audio still isn’t going to sound very good – no matter how expensive your microphone is.

I’m here to tell you – it’s all about the sound treatment.

As a voice actor, I have a 5×4 sound treated booth that has thick, insulated walls and a similar ceiling and floor, all carpeted so there are no sharp edges or surfaces for sound to echo off of. (I’ve included a picture below of both the inside and outside of my booth.) It makes for an almost entirely dead sound that engineers prefer, because then they can go in and color that sound in post, the way they need it.  You probably don’t need this elaborate a set-up as a podcaster, but you get the idea.

The inside and outside of my vocal booth. (That’s “cubie” my gelatinous cube, holding my headphones. 😉 )

It’s not sound proof exactly, though it does filter out a great deal of ambient noise.  There are just some sounds – like rumbling trucks, planes flying overhead, and that sort of thing, that simply couldn’t be blocked out unless I had a 6 foot concrete box around me.  I do the best I can.

But if you’re not going to spend thousands of dollars on a sound booth, what do you do?

Here’s where a portable booth comes to the rescue.  Usually made of things like foam or moving blankets around a metal frame, they’re able to be carried around in a flat case and opened up where you need them – a bar, a hotel room, a podcasting convention or anywhere else you might travel to.  You could even set it up in a permanent place in your home rather than building a full sized booth.

One of the companies I’ve been using for years – and I currently have several of their models – from the first one, on up to the newest one – is Vocal Booth To Go (full disclosure – these are affiliate links – but I wouldn’t affiliate with a product I didn’t believe in!).  If you visit their website, you’l see a variety of options available to you.  But the one I’m most familiar with, is the VOMO.

It’s a bit large for me to take on a plane if I’m flying internationally (just somewhat awkward as it’s flat, but fairly square and large and I’m not an overly tall woman. If you’re a tall man, for instance, you may find it easier to carry) – but if I travel by car or domestically on a plane – WOW is this thing handy.  You can set it up on any table, or bring along the convenient tripod, unfold it, and away you go.

Also, unlike some other options you might see that offer this same sort of thing, it’s less bulky, and larger around – so you don’t get a “boxy” type of sound when you record.

They do have some older versions of this portable booth, in case that price tag is a bit much for you at the moment.  They all work with the same idea – and virtually the same materials.  They just come with different options, and some are more “portable” than others.  But I’ve been using these for years – and have loved them since the first one.  So even if you go for an older version, you’ll find it extremely helpful when taking your podcast – or your voice overs – on the road.

There’s also a dedicated website specifically for this portable booth option.  (And if you check out the photo gallery and click on See All Pictures, you’ll see me, using one of them, right in the center of that collage.)

Here’s a video from voice actor, Simon Hill (a fellow Canadian), all about how he uses his VOMO while he travels – and some of his really helpful tips to make the most of your recordings while on the road.

Filed Under: Podcasting, Travel, Voiceovers Tagged With: podcasting, sound treatment, travel, voice overs, voiceovers

Voice Over Licensing & Usage Explained

June 10, 2019 by Jodi Krangle

      VoiceOverLicensingExplained-Spoken-JodiKrangle - Jodi Krangle - voiceoversandvocals.com

Hiring a voice actor for your project is easier than you think – but at the same time, it’s not really an exchange of time for an exchange of dollars.  It has more in common with the way you might license music or photography for a commercial project.  There are also different pricing structures based on whether or not a voice actor is performing in a union production or a non-union one.  Since most of my work is non-union, that’s what I’m discussing here.  You could visit the SAG/AFTRA website for more information on their rates – or check out this handy calculator (though keep in mind, it’s still in beta).

Hugh Edwards, the CEO of Gravy For The Brain, has been in the voice acting industry for a very long time – and he knows a thing or two.  He’s put together a really great little video that explains how voice over licensing works.  While he’s in the UK, the concepts are the same no matter where in the world a voice actor might be – and this is how most voice artists figure out pricing for their clients.

Voice Over Licensing
Photo by Ben Koorengevel on Unsplash

Since I’m in North America, my pricing structure usually has its basis in the GVAA Rate Guide – which has standard rates for particular usages.  Depending on the project, my pricing might be lower or higher than what’s listed there, but that’s a good starting point and will give you an idea of what the standard industry pricing for a particular project might be.

There are many reasons to hire a professional voice talent for your project.  I’ve listed a few here, in my Professional Services Guarantee.  I also have a Revisions Policy.  I feel it’s important to share these two documents so that we’re both on the same page when it comes to hiring a voice actor, expectations, and fulfillment.

If you have any questions about any of this, you’re welcome to reach out. I’ll be happy to talk with you.

Filed Under: Voiceovers Tagged With: revision policies, service guarantees, voice over licencing, voice over rates, voiceover rates

Winner of the 2018 SOVAS Award for Outstanding Narration Demo

December 2, 2018 by Jodi Krangle

On November 18th of this year, the 5th annual Society of Voice Arts & Sciences held their awards ceremony at Warner Bros. Studio in J. Michael Collins & A. J. McKay accepting a SOVAS on my behalfL.A.  My TV (In Show) Narration Demo was nominated for an award (along with several other very talented nominees) when it was sent in by my demo producer, J. Michael Collins.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend this year as I had just returned home from another convention in Vegas (WoVOCon – the convention put on by the World Voices Organization, our Industry Association – www.world-voices.org for more information if you’re interested), so I went about my Sunday evening as usual.  I truly didn’t expect the flood of emails and texts and instant messages from Facebook when I won in my category (woah!).  What a wonderful and unexpected surprise.  Not that J. Michael and A.J. McKay (the audio engineer on the project) didn’t do an outstanding job in making me sound my best – but the competition was fierce.  It always is at these award ceremonies.The SOVAS Award with my name on it

I’m extremely grateful to both J. Michael and A.J. for the stellar job they did (they’re pictured above, accepting the award on my behalf).  But I also hugely appreciate all the judges (that must be a really hard job!) and Rudy Gaskins & Joan Baker for being the masterminds behind this wonderful show (along with the That’s Voiceover Conference that happens the day before the awards).  This 5th Annual Awards Show featured a tribute to Sigourney Weaver, as she received a Voice Arts Icon award, a tribute to Van Jones as he received the Muhammad Ali Voice Of Humanity Award, and a tribute to Rosario Dawson as she received the Environmental Voice Arts Award.

It was a wonderful night for nominees and award winners alike, lighting up the red carpet with their elegance – and while I was sad I couldn’t be there, J. Michael’s acceptance speech on my behalf was far better than I would have been able to come up with on the spur of the moment.

You can hear the announcement of the winner and his acceptance speech below.

https://voiceoversandvocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Project14_2018_11_30_1.mp4

This video was very kindly taken by Sophia Cruz – who you can hear “whooing” in the background. 😉

In case you’re curious, the award-winning demo is here:

      JODI_KRANGLE_TV_Narration_Demo - Jodi Krangle - 2892211261

It’s a rare occurrence that a voice actor gets any recognition at all, and most of us spend a great deal of time in padded recording booths speaking to ourselves.  😉  So this kind of appreciation is a rare and wonderful thing.  Thank you to all involved.

Filed Under: Narration, Voice Talent, Voiceovers Tagged With: award winning, demo production, in show narration, SOVAS, tv narration, voice overs, voiceover narration, voiceovers

Stein Mart Commercial Voiceover

October 3, 2017 by Jodi Krangle

https://voiceoversandvocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SteinMart2DaySale.mp4

 

I LOVE Stein Mart.  I’ve been a fan since I started visiting my friend Mary in Huntsville, Alabama every year around the beginning of January, over 15 years ago.  We always make a pilgrimage to the Stein Mart there – and I pretty much always come away with some fantastic finds.  So what an absolute pleasure and thrill it was to voice for this company I so adore.

The direction for the audition on this one was pretty simple.  It read: “Female, Friendly ANNCR, 35-45”.  I must fit those specs pretty well. 😉

Filed Under: Commercial, Department Store, Voiceovers Tagged With: female voice actor for commercial, professional female voice talent, stein mart commercial, TV Commercial, tv voice overs

Shiny New Commercial Demo

August 31, 2017 by Jodi Krangle

J. Michael Collins is a talented and hugely successful voice actor – but he’s also an outstanding coach and demo producer.   I first participated in a workshop of his this past June in Vegas and I was struck by how well the practice copy was written.  Humor can be a tricky thing to write and he does it really well.  So when I wanted to update my commercial demo, I reached out to him.  At the session, we did both a commercial demo and a political demo, since I’ve been doing some of that work lately.  I’m really happy with how both of them turned out.  Have a listen, if you’re so inclined. (You can also hear them on the player on the main page of my site.)  Thanks, J. Michael!

      JodiKrangle_Commercial_Demo
      JodiKrangle_Political_Demo

Filed Under: Department Store, Voiceovers Tagged With: commercial demo, commercial voice over demo, female voice actor, female voice talent, J. Michael Collins, political demo, political voice over demo, professional female voice talent, voice overs, voiceovers

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If you're needing other voices, feel free to email me with your requirements. I'll speak with people I know to be extremely talented, reliable and quick and will either get back to you myself or have them contact you directly (whichever you prefer).

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