Dan, I am unclear in the second part of your comment if you are differentiating between putting on an accent and actually having an authentic one. Very few actors can do accents really well and my comment still stands: most clients want an authentic accent anyway.

As for your first comment, we've had our British roster for over 12 years and rarely has a specific British accent been requested. Our Spanish voices are all good for the US & Latin American market. That aside, not sure what any of this has to do with the point I'm making about not doing accents unless you are really, really good or of course the real deal.

Here's a person running Ethnic Voice Talent, who places all Spanish speakers under just two categories, and all British under just one category. So excuse me if I take his advice on point number 2 with a grain of salt.

Not that I'd try to sell an Indian accent, but if specific particular British or Spanish regional accents are an actor's strength, I see no reason whatsoever to leave those out of a demo IF said actor is after that type of work.

Agreed, Roger, and well said. Accents...absolutely. Why would I hire someone to put on a fake accent, if I could hire the real thing?

Thanks for mentioning the accents. I've noticed that we now have access to authentic accents and the need to hire a non-native is less and less relevant.

Yes, Mr. King, you are perfectly right. Thanks for those important reminders.
Irene

Great article, Roger! Spot on and blunt. No mincing words in your article our on the mic. Thanks for posting it.

Good advice! Only 2 shades of gray in my opinion...I usually recommend that you choose dialogue spots with exaggerated or stylized if they're for your animation demo or serve a comedic purpose.

And finally, I bow to advise from Oscar winning actor Richard Dreyfus, who told an interviewer about the risk & reason for breaking rules. He noted that acclaim & awards come from breaking accepted rules & doing it well. We'll all be amazed by the next Robin Williams or Don Rickles...not as carbon copies but those who redefine & evolve the craft to new levels. But he also pointed out the risk of serious failure that comes with accepting the risk. So I accept the good advice & list of rules.

But remember that creative rules are meant to be both followed...& broken..."& thus evolveth our craft!"

Great post, Roger! I have a hot-off-the-press demo, produced by the amazing Cliff Zellman,
which includes a short clip in a NYC accent. I'd be curious if you felt the same about that?
With your permission, I'll send it to you and we can discuss it in this forum or privately.

Thanks!
Debbie@DebbieIrwin.com

Whew!

Much wisdom here, Roger. Sends me off to check my demos...and reminds me of an embarrassing audition attempt recently to provide an Irish accent. "Not bad," I thought, before sending if off. Listening to it a few hours later, I could only say to myself, "What the h... were you thinking!" I can only hope the potential client has a good sense of humor.

Spot on, Roger. One more suggestion: if you have dialogue samples, don't include one that features two voices of the same gender. You don't want the listener to have to guess which one is yours - and it isn't always obvious.

Roger - tell it like it is! Pleasure to see this good list from you. Hope you doing great!