I am delighted to bring you the following exclusive article written by my friend, Stephanie Ciccarelli, who is today's guest blogger.

  Stephanie Ciccarelli

Stephanie Ciccarelli is one of the most connected people in voice overs, a sought  after industry expert and respected blogger. In 2003, she co-founded voices.com  the voice over marketplace, and has been actively engaged in the voice acting community ever since. She graduated with a Bachelor of Musical Arts '06 from the Don Wright Faculty of Music at  the University of Western Ontario and is also the author of many eBooks, including the Definitive Guide to Voice Over Success, editor of the VOX Daily Voice Actors Blog and also shares her insights and unique  perspectives via podcast.

Stephanie will also be appearing on Curt Byk's panel, "When All Is Said" at this year's VOICE 2010 on Thursday, June 3 at 4:30p.
Thank you, Stephanie for your insights and your contribution here today!
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The Softer Side of Voice Casting

By Stephanie Ciccarelli

When it comes to voice casting, it's usually a case of "I'll know it when I hear it," and although not everyone who hires voice talent is a seasoned casting director, they (or those casting with them) do know what they want upon hearing and will move ahead accordingly.

 http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2009/12/voice_casting_outcomes.html

In a number of instances, people may feel obligated to listen to all submitted responses. Doing so might mean dedicating anywhere between 5 to 10 seconds to each audio file thus acknowledging the effort that was presented and giving each person who applied the opportunity to be heard.

This is true for me whenever I post a job through the Voices.com service.

Part of my heart goes out to each person who auditioned. I owe them my time and my ears.

When someone auditions, even if it's just business, they are often putting their hearts on the line. Your voice is part of you, and as someone in a position to cast, I feel an enormous sense of responsibility to acknowledge and respect each submission. This may not mean that I send a personal email but it could translate into being saved as a Favorite or keeping that person in mind for next time.

Why take the time? This is why I take the time:

You didn't need to apply for this job... you chose to, and in doing so, you chose to put yourself on the line and deserve my undivided attention and consideration.

People who are listening to most if not all of their audition submissions may subscribe to the same mindset.

The next time you are feeling alone or think that no one is listening on the other end, be comforted that there is someone who listens… and that person might just be your next client!

Best wishes,

Stephanie