Hey there!
This question has come up a lot lately, and I want to put it to rest.
When I audition, do I voice the other characters’ lines?
The answer is given in my Auditioning with Audacity class, as well as several others in the VO2GoGo curriculum, but the short answer is: no.
Here’s the longer, more complete set of answers…an FAQ if you will.
When faced with auditioning for one or more characters in a multi-voice production, whether it’s a commercial, a video game, an animation episode or anything else, VO artists often have questions.
A lot of questions. Like…
Q: Should I say the other character’s lines?
A. No. You should pause for a beat, then voice your next line.
Q: Should I leave enough silence between my lines so the other character’s lines could be said?
A. No. There’s no need to leave that much space – no one’s going to be reading against your audition. Take just a beat.
Q: I was thinking of having my girlfriend/boyfriend/son/daughter/husband/wife/you read the other lines on the audition audio.
A. Don’t do that. Just slate comfortably, with the character name, and read your lines only. No one else should be heard, either on mic or in the background reading to you.
Q: If I’m being asked to read for the other character as well, should I go back and forth?
A. No. Just read one character at a time, and provide separate reads and/or MP3 files for each role, clearly labeled in the file name.
Q: But I’m an artist. And it would help me to read back and forth.
A. No. Just read one character at a time.
Q. But…
A. No. Just read one character at a time.
Q: What if I’m really good at it?
A. {sigh} No. The casting entity usually wants to hear all of the auditions for one character, then all the auditions for another character. Don’t make it hard on them.
Q. {resigned} OK…
A. Thank you.
Q. Do you offer coaching for auditions to help me develop my character?
A. Yes, we call them VO Workouts. You can reserve a coaching session for any facet of your VO career on the Workout page, and if you’re a member of the VO2GoGo Pro group, you get those coaching sessions for 20% less.
Any other questions about this? Any situation I may have left out? Leave them in the comments area below.
Hope this helps.
David
Another great piece of very valuable information. Nicely presented! Tks.
Andi
Good to know. I’ll add it to my things to remember when I get to that point in my VO career.
Thanks for this valuable information presented in your inimitable style. I love to laugh while I learn. ;-)
Hey, David, what about on camera auditions? Do the same rules apply? I ask because I did only my lines on my last audition, and my agent said I did it wrong.
Thank you!