“Are you talkin’ to me?”
I created some voice-overs for a wide range of clients over the past couple of weeks including Staples-Business Depot, Stonebridge Life Insurance, Arena Sports Bar & Grill and the University of Ontario - Institute of Technology.For the UOIT project I played the part of a speaking laptop for a university orientation program. I believe I have now reached the pinnacle of my career. Back when I was in university we didn’t have speaking laptops. Come to think of it…we didn’t have laptops. But, of course, when I was a lad I trekked hundreds of miles to school in waist-deep snow. Scaling steep inclines to the University of the Himilayas where mere rations of stale bread and yak’s milk would nourish me before having to build a meagre fire to stay warm. I’d then use a piece of coal to write my thesis on how the absence of Sherpa guides could affect the global economy. Speaking laptops?
But, alas, I digress. The project was fun and the client was thrilled.
The Staples Business Depot gig had me traveling to a local Toronto studio (no Sherpas required). It was a quick revision on a read I had done a couple of weeks earlier. Those can be some of the best jobs if you’re already running on a tight schedule. You’re in and out quickly with a tweak on a previous script and everyone’s happy. The voice over was for an in-store presentation running across Canada.
Back to my studio for some hard sell reads on three regional spots for Arena Sports Bar & Grill. Getting into the high energy head space can also be a real cardio workout at times. Often I feel that I’m going way over the top as I’m screaming into the mic and hearing myself blazing in the headphones. But, actually, when I catch the finished product through the speakers it just sounds like what the client asked for…”OVER THE TOP!” These were TV ads running in Miami, Chicago and Cleveland.
Another contract that called for me to go to a local studio was Stonebridge Life. This would be for an American cable TV broadcast. The session was running smoothly until we arrived at the dreaded “out & about” obstacle that occasionally surfaces and creates more cross-border disputes between the U.S. and Canada than soft wood lumber.
I listen back and can never hear myself say “oot & aboot” or “a boat” instead of “about”!! I get my brain to kick into American-speak. It works and we call it a day.
Not to get all uppity and the like…when I say “American-speak” I simply mean there are some words I, as a Canadian, have to twist accordingly to fit in for my U.S. clientele. Below are some examples. Please say them out loud. Yell them if you feel so inclined.
*Dollar = Daw-ler
(Ed. note: American dahlur is worth more than the Canadian dollar so I guess they can say it any way they please)
*Room = Rum
*Roof = Ruff
*Been = Bin
(Ed. note: above 6 words often used in same sentence describing previous night’s frat party)
*Superkalafragilisticexpialidocious (same pronunciation both sides of border. Blame it on the Brits 