What’s New? w/ MIKE COOPER is part of a series in which MVO: The Voice-Over Guys’ checks-in with one of our male voiceover talents to learn more about a recent media project he has voiced. Here’s what Mike shared with us.
1. You mentioned a really cool voiceover project in your recent MVO: The Voiceover Guys update. Can you talk about who the project was for and where it was heard or seen?
I recently became the brand voice for Gala Bingo in the UK, with a series of spots and sponsorship bumpers that are running on Channel 4, and on national radio. Gala is a bingo brand that’s been very well-known for decades across the pond, and this campaign is for their online gaming app.
2. What made the media production’s content interesting from your perspective?
It’s always great to get booked for an international project, and wonderful – as a voice talent who now lives in America – to know that I’m on air back in England! The time difference really isn’t an issue, and being able to offer the client a high quality audio connection to listen in to the session (which I do using Source-Connect Now) means I could just as easily be in the room next door as 4,000 miles away!
3. As the voice talent in the media project, were there any technical or performance challenges during this voiceover recording session?
Ironically, although this one came through my agent, Natural Sounding Voices, in England, this one’s actually a larger-than-life Voice of God project: a big, bold, loud tag line: “Are YOU playing Gala Bingo???” I can’t begin to tell you how many variations, at differing levels of hysteria, I had to offer. But here’s a picture that illustrates the point.
4. Is there anything else you would like us to know about this voiceover project?
A few weeks ago I was in London for a visit. Unbeknownst to me, a couple of my friends were actually using the tagline as a joke between themselves. They’d heard it on TV, but didn’t even realise it was me. Which just goes to show that a memorable tag, delivered in a unique way, really does have a way of lodging itself in the minds of those who see it. Advertising still works!
ABOUT MALE VOICEOVER TALENT MIKE COOPER
Mike is a British voice over from London, who’s now based in the mountains of North Carolina. Mike emigrated from London to the USA in 2014 with his partner, two rescue dogs, and his natural, neutral, and famously friendly sound – which is fast becoming as popular in the States as it is in the UK.
The voice of numerous shows for A&E, HISTORY and National Geographic in the UK – as well as being heard globally for a decade on the BBC World Service – Mike has been called a “one-take wonder”, and loves bringing his wit and humour into the booth (when appropriate!) to play tongue-in-cheek, as well as straight/dramatic British. Producers who are taking the time to get to know Mike just seem to love him and keep coming back.