One of the main reasons things are going so great at Simplifilm is that we’re very picky with the voice talent we use. We have auditioned – literally thousands of Voice Over actors over the year we’re in business.
The right VO can make a huge difference for you. The right VO will sell your work in a way that nothing else will. And, instead of making each time a stab in the dark, and hoping for the best, Simplifilm has decided to work with the best people (i.e. those that test out well, are professional to work with, and more) time and time again.
September Day Carter Commercial Demo
We’ll be introducing our voices to you one at a time. We can’t say enough good things about September. Her voice sounds fantastic, and she’s simple to work with. She’s been the voice of 10 or so of our productions, and each time, she gets it right with minimal direction.
Unlike others, it’s never a hassle to get her to tweak the production. She’s better and more professional, than 99% of the voices out there. (We can’t reccomend her enough).
Recently, we wanted to know what goes into VO work so we took a few moments to interview her.
September Day Carter: The Interview
How did you get into VO Work?
Through my then future husband (who I’m still happily married to) actually. He was a DJ at a local radio station I loved and one night I called in to request a song and we hit it off and became friends. He’s the first person who told me I should do voice over work but I didn’t think it could be a career so I became a veterinary technician instead. After 7 years, I was bitten by a Rottweiler pretty badly, decided it was time for a new career and thought I’d give voice over a shot. I had been working for about 6 months when I landed the live announcing gig for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and haven’t looked back since
Is it true that you record naked in your closet?
HA! In the Georgia summertime, yes, I have been known to record in the buff. It’s hard to stay cool in an upstairs closet with mic equipment, lightstand the temperature hitting over 100 degrees outside. And down here, that ain’t a dry heat.
You’ve had kids – does pregnancy change your voice?
It hasn’t changed mine. The one thing that did affect my voice with pregnancy is my ability to take deep breaths. When you’re more than halfway through the pregnancy, the baby starts crowding your organs and your lungs just can’t expand like they could before. It can be a little frustrating.
Do people stop you in public and say that you should do VO Work?
Only very rarely. My voice is a little non-assuming and it’s usually the guys with the big, deep voices the people think should be doing VO. However, if you ever take an evening and listen to the voices on national spots, you’ll see the non-assuming voices are the ones getting the work
You have a southern lilt in person. Your voice work has none of it. Is it hard to be “neutral” How did you learn that?
It’s not hard any more. When I first started, it was VERY difficult. I’m a 4th generation Georgia girl so I had to really work at getting rid of the accent, but now it’s pretty much second nature. The accent only really comes up when I’m tired…or angry hormonal pregnant woman, just ask my husband.
What kind of mic do you use?
An AKG C2000B. I’m a huge AKG fan.
What would you say to someone getting started in VO Work?
Get ready for the most fun and frustration you will ever have! It’s not an easy business, but it’s never dull. And it’s sure beats scrubbing toilets!
How do you stand above your competition?
I think my best gift in voice over is being able to take direction really well and getting it right on the first take. We’re always the last link in a very long chain in projects, so time is of the essence. Being able to deliver quickly and accurately will always make you stand out. And, I’m pretty darn hilarious in the booth.
How much time are you in the studio?
At home, maybe 10 hours a week. About 80% of what I record is from home and I’ll record in outside studios maybe 5 times a month. That’s the really cool thing about VO. You can do it and still have time to have another job, go to school, or be a Mom.
What’s the biggest technical mistake you’ve ever had?
Well, it’s not really technical, but I once had a session with IKEA during early morning and I hadn’t had breakfast. The studio where I was recording happened to have a bunch of Cinnabons in the next room and my tummy was growling SO much and the mic picked up every rumble. We actually had to break to let me eat because the takes had so many rumbles, that weren’t able to be used. Besides that, I’ve had a home session where we did a two hour phone patch…..and I forgot to hit the record button before I went into the closet.
What’s the most fun project you’ve ever done?
Oh, the Video Music Awards, hands down. Being out in Las Vegas for a week on MTV’s dime, being able to have all access to the backstage area, and hanging with the rock stars after. It was incredibly surreal.
It says that you teach workshops – how does that work?
I teach people who are just starting out. It’s difficult to know where to begin in VO and I give people a step-by-step plan during a 6 hour workshop. So many people out there teach technique and acting skills and breathing and those are important skills, however, you also need to know *how* to apply those skills to make money. Otherwise, what’s the point? For anyone taking classes, they need to make sure their teachers are currently booking and booking well. If a teacher can’t book, how can they teach *you* to book?
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We’re happy and proud to work with September. She’s versatile and professional like nobody’s business. She’s been a huge help in the development of Simplifilm, and she’s one of the many details that go into our movies. She’s a not the cheapest voice, but she’s a bargain. Get in touch with her at SeptemberVoice.Com, or voice123.com/septemberday. You’ll find her easy to work with!