D.C.’s Metro is searching for a new voice to do the recorded announcements on Metrorail cars. People interested in being the voice heard by thousands of subway riders every day (“doors closing” [WAV]) are asked to send in recordings of themselves saying a couple of specified phrases.
A panel of judges on Metro’s staff will listen to all entries and select the top 10 voices based on vocal quality, versatility, enunciation, and elocution. Metro will contact the top 10 contestants and take them to a studio to make professional recordings of their voices. A panel of industry professionals will listen to the finalists and choose Metro’s new “doors closing” voice.
(Gee, and I was afraid it was going to take an American Idol-like turn: “…and America will cast its vote for the winner!”) Entries must be received by Jan. 20; contest information and rules (PDF) are available at the WMATA website. They ask that the recorded phrases each be read in three different takes: “authoritative,” “polite,” and “serious.” Ohhkay. (Now “Martha Graham, Martha Graham…”) How about “jaunty”? That’s the only way to describe New York City’s “stand clear of the closing doors, please” (MP3), which I’ve become fond of during our visits there.
I’m encouraging Thom to enter, especially since he’s done a bit of corporate voicework. And it would just be cool to ride the Metro and hear him over the speakers. “Doors closing.” “Thanks, Thom!” I’d say to the disembodied voice.
» Related: Subway announcements and lots more at Metro Bits, a site dedicated to underground railways worldwide.
5 replies on “Use your underground voice”
I’d send in an entry, but I’m terrified that people would be hearing my voice for the next two decades. My voice is on the automated attendant system at my old office, where it has welcomed callers for about 10 years now… and now that I don’t work there, it’s very strange to call up and hear myself.
ooh, how exciting! i should send this to my roommate, who wants to do voiceover work.
are you submitting an entry?
I’ve always been a big fan of London’s “Mind The Gap.”
An interesting bit of trivia…the announcements on the subway’s new cars here in NYC are recorded by several broadcasters from Bloomberg Radio.
They ought to have several different ones ranging from soft and pleasant to ‘drill sergeant bark’ and rotate them… to keep people on their toes.