Should you write your own #VO demo scripts?

Pete Goode

2022-05-24 11:27:27

I am trying to help my 14yo daughter get started in voice over work. She’s an American who is becoming fluent in French. My wife & I have had her voice a few small parts in her mom’s YouTube videos. Also, We are considering making this one of her homeschool classes for next year. I believe she would be very good at this as a profession.

Questions;
Do you have a video or playlist of yours (or others) that would be helpful?

What tips would you give to someone just starting out?

Any online resources or trainings you’d recommend?

Erik Brush

2022-05-23 20:43:59

Interesting though I am not fully on board with the discussion, in spite of agreeing with you that professionally written copy is best for many forms of demos.

First off, while I understand the literacy and copy writing concerns, I think that stating as a blanket statement that unless you are or have experience as a copy writer you shouldn't write your own scripts is quite presumptive.

Copy writers sell products using word expediency, brevity, product highlights, and psychology to create marketable copy for products and clients.

Content writers conversely, inform and generate interest in a product, brand, or service based on research and creative writing.

They are generally a bit longer in their written structure, though still concise within the framework of that topic.

I am a professional writer and a published author. Literacy is not an issue. However I will freely admit to having no experience writing copy commercially or otherwise.

Still, I'm a consumer that has been inundated with commercial sales over the years.

Recognizing the patterns, key words, structure, terminology, and techniques being employed in such work is not all that difficult.

I think that in the case of demos there is also the question of what is being sampled?

If the demo is for a documentary, does your rule apply? I don't think so.

The intent is to both sell the audio service and provide a realistic, informative, well conceived sample.

Any fairly literate or accomplished author can do so. Copy writing is a skill set that can be honed and learned, like anything else.

I think you might easily weed out poorly written demos by listening to them comparatively. But I don't think that a copy writing background is prerequisite to producing good demos.

I think it's more of an equivocation. Just as starting out with low end equipment is not as large a deficit as not starting at all. Equipment can be upgraded.

The same holds true for writing demos. Even for those of us who are green and inexperienced.

In closing, I appreciate your discussions. They are always helpful and informative. I am grateful for the many tips and tools that you have provided me with your video advice.

Thank you!

Anne Ahlert

2022-05-23 18:51:28

I've done all kinds of writing for many years, including radio ads. I wrote my own material, but it was good enough to fool two other VOs, one of whom was a former DJ. They told me to keep it as is. It was helpful to me, because I could use characters I had created and emphasize my personal strengths.

My advice would be, if you have your heart set on doing your own writing, run it past two other PAID and VERY EXPERIENCED commercial VOs and/or DJs.

One of the downsides of using your own material is that it's very emotionally tough to "let go" of pieces you shouldn't use. Maybe you enjoyed doing them or really like the joke or whatever reason-- you just can't bring yourself to not use it in your finished demo.

This is another reason why you need to have a couple of impassionate and highly experienced pros give you feedback. My early demo was almost a minute too long, because I just couldn't let go of my favorite bits. Having the feedback I did made me realize that I was approaching my demo too emotionally, and needed to step back.

Dale Nihiser

2022-05-23 14:20:45

Good advice! My diy Fiverr demos are videos based on national ad videos and copy using my voice and music/sound effects (from my royalty free library). Never once had an issue. I've written plenty of copy but for a demo why bother when it has already been written for you.

LightningBoltForever

2022-05-23 13:45:10

Okay, that’s wild - I was literally just wondering about copywriting for demos a few minutes ago, and now here you are talking about it! On that note, I found your channel a few weeks ago and felt like I struck gold. Thank you for all the great advice Bill!

Famously Robyn Voice Over Artist

2022-05-23 12:52:40

Fellow professional copywriter here too!