4 Reasons Commercial Voiceover Demos are a Voice Actor's Greatest Business Asset

Whether you’re a new or seasoned Voice Actor, you don't get very far into voiceover without hearing about the mighty demo. Why is that? Well, since the beginning of professional voice actor-hood, demos have been used to showcase the vocal range and portfolio of voice talent.

Today, demos are used as business cards or calling cards for Voice Actors. It’s one of the only ways potential clients can hear your voiceover chops outside of auditioning, so it’s pretty important to be sure our demos are not only relevant but also showcase what we can offer to clients.

You might ask what type of demo do I need? There are multiple demo genres, just like there are various genres of voiceover, so how do you know which one is best for getting started?

There are many reasons why demos are important for a voiceover business in general, but here are my four reasons why, specifically, a commercial voiceover demo is your greatest business asset as a Voice Actor.

1. Voice Actors at all levels can get one.

When you’re just starting out, and you don’t have any way to market your new voiceover business, what are you supposed to do? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. Whether you want to produce a demo yourself or save some money to hire a producer to make it for you, demos are an option for Voice Actors at any level, from beginner to advanced. I’ll go out on a limb and say there aren’t many industries where this is the case, but with online and remote work, it is easier than ever for beginner Voice Actors to get a demo produced one way or another to start marketing their businesses ASAP.

2. You own it outright.

When so many elements of how we do business are controlled by other entities (social media, website hosting, etc.) it’s essential we have business assets that we own outright. Our demos are just that… ours. We pay for them to be produced, or we learn how to produce them ourselves, so it’s one element of our businesses that we have a lot of control over.

3. It showcases the very best of your vocal range.

One reason I always suggest Voice Actors start with a commercial demo is that online, TV, and streaming ads offer up many work opportunities for talent and showcase the very best of your vocal range and delivery. Commercial demos are wide and vast in what they can contain when it comes to style, tonality, and overall delivery, unlike other voiceover genres like audiobooks or e-learning, for example, that usually require a certain type of voice or read that don’t advertise much range or ability in a demo.

4. You can use it in multiple ways to market your voiceover business.

Probably the best reason a commercial demo is your greatest business asset is that it works as an audition or talking point for just about any client project. The variety in your commercial demo will offer potential clients the opportunity to hear your voice in a few different ways to see how your voice might fit their project.

You can utilize this aspect of your commercial demo in three ways:

1. You can upload the full reel and/or individual spots to Pay to Play sites for more diversity in your samples.
2. You can utilize it on social media and your business website to showcase your ability.
3. You can send the full reel directly to potential clients when marketing your services via email.

To Wrap

There are many reasons a commercial demo is essential to any voiceover business, but ownership, marketing, and other usage means are primarily why it’s so valuable. Plus, there’s simply more variety within a commercial demo than other types of demos, which makes it exceptionally handy to be able to share with potential clients who are looking for something specific with their projects.

In business, it’s vital we have assets we own and, even more so, get to decide how they’re used in our operation. And, as I say, we are business owners first and talent second and business owners utilize the tools they have to maximize their potential. Our demos can do that and more for us.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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