So, obviously, I'm listening to a lot of demo reels as of late. And I, uh... have a lot of general notes. I'm going to go ahead and get this thread started with some.

Each clip should be roughly the same length of time. Don't ramble. The only reason a clip should ever be longer than others is if there is a wide range being showcased, be that emotional or vocal. Even then, don't overstay your welcome.

Demos need energy and rhythm. You don't want directors to listen to them and skip voices because the same notes are being hit. No one wants to listen to a sad line in a high voice and then a sad line in a low voice.

If audio production isn't your strongest suit, have someone else mix your demo or ditch backing tracks altogether. If you think your demo is lackluster without music, that's an issue with performance and scripting, not audio.

(cont.) Music needs to be supplemental. It should sound like YOU are the one guiding it rather than it propelling you forward. Remember, as a voice actor, the product you need to be selling is YOU.

Your first line and voice needs to be your strongest performance. This should go without saying, but honestly, the first step is always the hardest, so I get why this is a common problem.

Avoid "over-acting" that first ten seconds.

Characters that should almost never start a demo: shy, timid types that stutter, excessively angry types that scream unholy rage into your ears, and dramatic characters that are sobbing their lines.

(cont.) These are just poor choices for the start of a reel for two reasons. They are hard to listen to without momentum leading into them, and honestly, they just give a bad look overall, IMO.

(cont.) Keep in mind this little bit IS sort of personal, but real talk, if your demo starts off with a line that just screams at me "Look at how good of an ACK-TOR I am," I have to fight the urge to skip the demo.

Please. Please avoid self-referential humor in your demo reels at ALL costs. None of this "One man, one voice, one dream" or "Hire me, Funimation!" crap. This is probably more embarrassing and "cringe" than the "Look at me, look at me! I can act!" takes.

Don't over-produce your reel. Please. If I hear more audio production than I do your voice, I'm not going to know what to do with you. Hold back on the filters and sound effects. Dial back heavy music. This is YOUR reel, your spotlight. Take it up.

Don't speak Japanese in your demo reel unless you're fluent. Even then, consider having different reels to showcase your multilingual abilities. Your character/video game/animation reel should include potential characters (or characters you have actually played.) Not weaboos.

/ . Really, REALLY think about whether you want your demo reel to sound like you're bored and don't want to be there in your first line. Really think about how your first line is your first impression on the director.

(cont.) If they're listening to hundreds of demos, you want that first line to make sure they're awake and listening to you. If you come off as bored, unimpressed, uncomfortable, or tired, they're just going to skip you.

This one's specifically for the masc. voices out there. Don't shy away from having a youthful voice! Not all of your voices need to be hyper-masculine. There is still a need for young male roles, and there are a wealth of characteristics and types that you can show off.

And for the fem. voices. Don't shy away from a voice you think is "boring." Motherly voice types come in a range of expression (think: Pearl from Steven Universe to Angella in She-Ra) and you need to take advantage of that. (The competition is weak. Trust me.)

Dead air. Don't let it happen to you.

Do you know how many of these demo reels have some iteration of scratchy/screechy British/elevated mad scientist voice?

Triple that number. It is the most overdone demo voice by far. Axe it from your reel.

Please consider separating your cartoon and character stylings from more natural range with separate demos. These are both GREAT to have, but if they're not evenly distributed in a single reel, then you really need them separate.

(cont.) I just listened to someone with a GREAT natural voice and didn't get to hear their acting range at all because the rest of the voices were too character-y. Please avoid this.

This is a big one. Read out loud every day. Take acting classes. Look into vocal coaches. LEARN.

Start observing your body on a daily basis when you speak. Pay attention to how you sound at different times of the day, in different moods, different states.

(cont.) I honestly recommend keeping a journal and taking notes on these observations.

The point of this is to start to understand your own range. You know to physically be able to identify when a voice is not working for you.

(cont.) When you start to become keenly aware of your body, you can start to identify your limits and constructively work to break them. This doesn't happen from sheer practice alone. It happens through concentrated effort from the self-awareness you obtain through learning.

(cont.) There are a lot of reels where actors are hitting token voices despite the fact that it's not their strongest suit. Congrats, you just ate up a chunk of time where you were better off making yourself look good.

Seriously. Get to know your range. Learn it. Use it.

Guess this actually needs to be said.

Unless you are officially in a licensed property, for the love of god, do not namedrop licensed property in your demo reel. Do not call for Pikachu, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

Okay. This note is for more than just demo reels. This is a general voice acting note overall:

Hit. Those. Consonants. For example, the word "front." It is not "font," "fun," "fron," nor "frun." If you want to work in voice over, please work on your diction. It is critical.

Another general VA note. In particular, when auditioning.

Learn mic etiquette. I don't care that you can go all out as an actor, if you have poor mic etiquette, I'm not going to appreciate your commitment to the performance because engineers and producers will hate you.

Oh. Since I unpinned this thread for my own demo. Here ya are:

Blog version: https://www.morglea.com/post/tips-for-your-demo-reel