Finding the best voiceover artist for your commercial or ad campaign can take time, and the interview process typically includes listening to each candidate's voiceover demo tapes. Demo tapes give you and the rest of the interviewing panel a chance to listen to the talent's overall style and tone and determine if they will be a good match for your specific project.

Voiceover demo tapes can be a better resource of determining the candidate's talent than an in-person test or voice over session at your office. Voiceover artists who are not under the pressure of the job interview may have the freedom to perform at their best, and their demo tapes will give them a chance to showcase their best work. Still, there are some critical elements to listen for when reviewing the voiceover demos. These include:

1. Pacing. Listen closely for examples of speaking slowly and rapidly throughout the presentation. You will need a voiceover artist who demonstrates different tones and styles, and can adapt to a different pace with ease. Rodney Saulsberry, author of the book "You Can Bank On Your Voice" explains that pacing is an important element of any voice over delivery. Someone who speaks too slowly or too rapidly can confuse the listener, so the artist needs to show that they have the ability to pace their voice more often than not.

2. Arouses interest. You want voiceover talents that can easily grab your attention right at the beginning of a set. Along with a talent's tone, good voiceover talents can stress specific words and emphasize important phrases to stir interest in a piece. Prioritize tapes that start out strong and are able to sustain that initial interest through the end.

3. Flexible accent. Good voiceover talents can change their accent and imitate other dialects. Pay attention for examples of these when listening to a recording. An artist who has this quality will have no problem in portraying different characters.

4. Rhythm and beat. Voice over monologues and conversations must be delivered using the appropriate rhythm in order to be successful. A voiceover with the right rhythm will have greater recall and higher brand identification among listeners. Listen for the rhythm or flow as an artist delivers each line.

5. Wit. Comedy is an integral part of many successful voiceover scripts. Listen if an applicant displays wit through a cheerful tone and jokes. Assess if the artist delivered his jokes in such a way as it made you smile or made you feel uncomfortable.

Selecting the right voiceover talent for your commercial or voice over project can be challenging, but demo tapes can help you assess a talent's ability and skill level. Listen for these key elements in every demo tape so that you have an accurate assessment of the talent's potential; a seasoned voiceover artist will demonstrate mastery in these five critical areas, and provide you with several examples of each skill and style.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Companies and Agencies Since 1991.