Vox Daily

Have you seen the Simpsons Movie yet?

Find out more about the movie and also discover a cool website where you can make your very own Simpsons avatar.

Want to know what mine looks like? Check it out!

The Simpsons Movie, as we covered last year, is now out on the big screen featuring the voice over talents of people we've let into our homes for over a decade, including the voice of the eternal 10 year old boy, Nancy Cartwright, also known as the Simpsons character, Bart Simpson.

Other cast mates include Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, and Tress MacNeille. Guest starring in the movie are Erin Brockovich, Minnie Driver, and Albert Brooks.

While the movie is sure to please, the companion website is just as much of a crowd pleaser. You can make your very own Simpsons avatar, take a tour of Springfield and play interactive games as well.

One of my favorite parts of the site was that your character gets to go along for the ride with Homer to different destinations of your choice in Springfield.

In each location, you get to meet characters that are commonly found in that place. I went to Moe's Tavern where the usual crowd was hanging out and to the Kwik-E-Mart.

If you click on a character, they are prompted to say a signature line from the show. The use of voice over on the website is just phenomenal.

If you'd like to have a Simpsons experience and create your own avatar, go to SimpsonsMovie.com and register for a free account.

Best,

Stephanie

Images © SimpsonsMovie.com

What does 007 do after retiring?

Pierce Brosnan, known in North America for his former roles of James Bond and Remington Steele, has now moved on to greener pastures, literally.

Meet the new voice and narrator of Thomas & Friends™.

Thomas & Friends™ has just received a new, British voice to lead them into the next phase of their series.

HIT Entertainment has recently announced that actor Pierce Brosnan signed on as the new voice of the Narrator in the award-winning children's DVD and television series Thomas & Friends™.

Pierce Brosnan has already started production in London and will make his debut in “Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery” a direct to DVD special, set for release in the US and UK in Autumn 2008. Pierce Brosnan will provide the voice over for all English-language releases for the brand, including three upcoming Thomas & Friends television series and three DVD specials.

Famous Thomas & Friends alumni include former Beatle Ringo Starr, Comedian George Carlin, Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, Bronx native Michael Brandon and the Michael Angelis of the UK who have all voiced the role of the Narrator in the United Kingdom and in the US.

Thomas & Friends is Live Action and is shot in High-Definition technology at Shepperton Studios in the UK. Thomas & Friends can be seen on Nick Jr. and FIVE in the UK, and PBS ® and PBS KIDS SproutSM in the US.

Thomas & Friends is one of the most beloved and recognized brands worldwide inviting children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Thomas the Tank Engine was originally created by a father for his son. Today, families in more than 140 countries and 25 languages enjoy fun and adventure with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.

Pierce Brosnan commented, "One of my fondest memories as a father was sharing the stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and watching the series with my children when they were young. I am thrilled by the opportunity to be the Narrator for this beloved series, following in the shoes of so many famous names, and helping introduce Thomas & Friends to many more generations of children."

Bruce Steinberg CEO HIT Entertainment commented, "To say we are thrilled that Pierce Brosnan is the new Narrator of Thomas & Friends is an understatement. Pierce brings a wealth of acting experience to the role, as well as a unique voice that children and parents around the world will recognise and trust. Pierce's contribution to Thomas & Friends will go a long way in maintaining this iconic character as one of the most loved children's brands in the world. I would like to also take this opportunity in thanking Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon for their significant contribution to Thomas & Friends. They have set the standard for future Narrators."

To learn more about HIT Entertainment and read the full press release, visit the HIT Entertainment website.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

Images © HIT Entertainment

What do you love about VOX Daily?

What would you like to see more of and is one post a day enough for you?

Here's a chance for you to leave your suggestions and help shape future publications at Voices.com via the VOX Daily blog.

What do you have in mind?

You may have noticed that I've been writing a lot of themed weeks over the past couple of months to unify concepts and particular events going on in the voice over industry.

Periodically, we also have guest bloggers who submit their articles to be published here on the blog, many of whom are familiar faces in voice acting as well as those you may be meeting for the first time.

As much as we provide our own spin on what's going on with regard to news, entertainment, interviews, vocal health, career, or business practices in the voice over industry, VOX Daily truly belongs to the voice over community and it's primarily through your participation that this blog comes alive, bursting with conversation through comments and spreading the word about voice overs.

At the time of this article being published, nearly 500 of the most influential people in the industry receive VOX Daily each day via email subscription and thousands more come to the website to read each VOX Daily each week.

Wow... that's a considerable amount of people, isn't it?

That's precisely why I wanted to provide you with an opportunity to let us know how VOX Daily affects your business, even your life.

By sharing what you like most about VOX Daily, what you think is missing, or what you'd like to see more of, we can improve and deliver more of what you want to read about.

This week, I'll be posting a potpourri of topics as we receive feedback from you. This could be presented either as comments or emails sent to me directly (stephanie(@)voices.com).

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Stephanie
Editor of VOX Daily, The Voice Actor's Blog

©iStockphoto.com/geopaul

Need a break from the everyday?

Tune in to hear the winning pitches from our first ever 60 Second Pitch Contest here at Voices.com.

For 60 seconds, voice actors will be pitching their services, letting everyone know who they are, what they do and how their product or service can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Three voice actors will be chosen from this group of outstanding participants as winners, but truth be told, everyone who entered the contest is better for it as the true prize is being able to confidently converse and promote your business.

The criteria being judged includes: clarity, purpose, passion, creativity and professionalism.

And the finalists for the 2007 60 Second Pitch Contest, in alphabetical order, are:

Alison Pitman, Amy Snively, Amy Taylor, Betty in Boca, Bob Green, Bryan Cox, Chuck Patterson, Doug Barron, Jason McCoy, Janice Downes, John Weeks, Karen Commins, L J Jackson, Marc Cashman, Mike Holmes, Rajiv Hasan, Robert Jadah, Thom Wilkins, Tracey Rolfe, Troy Lund and Vicki Amorose.

Prizes for the winners of the 60 Second Pitch Contest are as follows:

First Place, valued at $2500.00 includes a Five-year Premium membership subscription to Voices.com, a website optimization package, a public relations campaign, a featured article on the #1 voice over blog VOX Daily, Julie Williams’ “Proven Voice-Over Techniques” CD, and coverage in the Biz segment on the VOX Talk Podcast along with a link on the Voices.com home page for one week.

The 2nd place winner receives a prize package valued at $1000 which includes a 3-year Premium membership subscription to Voices.com, website optimization package, a public relations campaign, the “Proven Voice-Over Techniques” CD courtesy of Julie Williams, and an acknowledgment on VOX Daily and VOX Talk with a link to their website.

And the 3rd place winner, with a prize valued at $500, receives a one-year Premium membership subscription to Voices.com, website optimization, a press campaign, the “Proven Voice-Over Techniques” CD courtesy of Julie Williams, and an acknowledgment on both VOX Daily and VOX Talk with a link to their website.

To find out who won and to listen to their 60 Second Pitches, listen to the show here at VOX Daily!

We hope you enjoyed the show!

If would like to add a comment, please do so below :)

Best wishes,

Stephanie, David and the Voices.com Team

Here's the run down on 12 new features we're confident you'll love. Check out the list, then give your feedback by leaving a reply below.

1. SurePay Escrow service
Accept online credit card payment using SurePay directly from your Voices.com website.

2. "Add This" Social Bookmarking
Drive more traffic to your Voices.com website by bookmarking the page with this handy tool. You'll see the widget located just below your contact information on your Voices.com website.

3. File Attachments
Clients can now attach images, PDFs, Word docs and other text files to job postings, giving you the opportunity to review the full script prior to sending a reply.

4. One-click Private Leads
Private Leads can be created directly from your Voices.com website.

5. Previous & Next
You'll notice some new links that make navigating the Leads at Voices.com much easier.

6. Better Formatting with the Print This Page Feature
Print This Page is now formatted specifically for printers with no graphics and large clear fonts while still including all the relevant details for each job posting.

7. Updated Feedback System
We’ve updated the Feedback system so that only those people who've hired you can rate you. We will only be including transactions processed through SurePay in this metric because those are truly the only transactions that we can track and espouse as work that we have concrete proof of that has been completed at Voices.com.

8. Recently Hired Replaces the Top Rated
To coincide with the much-improved Feedback system, we’ll be showcasing those voice talent who have recently completed work at Voices.com on the home page under the new Recently Hired list.

9. Better Security
Voices.com is bank-level secure. We use the industry standard Versign 128-bit SSL certificate to encrypt the storage and transmission of data on our servers. Currently, Voices.com is the only voice-over website to offer this level of security.

10. Voice Over Experts Podcast
The #1 educational podcast featuring renowned voice over coaches from US, Canada and abroad. Join us each week for pearls of wisdom and tricks of the trade to improve your voice over career. This show is produced weekly. Listen to this podcast if you are a voice actor, actor, public speaker, voice over coach, student, producer, instructor, voice talent agent, or a casting director.

Listen to the podcast here

11. Webinars
• Discover how to maximize your voice talent account and learn how to attract clients to your Voices.com website as well as audition tips and more.
• Participate in the next webinar if you are a voice actor, voice talent, or member of Voices.com.
• When? Every Tuesday at 2:00 PM EST ( Toronto, Canada / New York, USA )
• Register for the next webinar at WebEx >>

12. Free eBooks
Need a place to find excellent royalty-free scripts to practice from and an awesome how-to book for voice overs? If you're a Premium or Preferred member at Voices.com, you need not look any further than your new library of resources, accessible to you absolutely free!

Just click on the “Help” link, then click on “eBooks & User Guides” to access the bonus material.

How did we do? Are you happy with this release?

Let us know by adding a comment!

Best wishes,

David, Stephanie, Laurynda, Carol and Erica
The Voices.com Management Team

How are voice actors found and who hires them?

What do clients look for and are there any similarities?

Learn more about the kinds of jobs voice actors are hired for and the kind of businesses that are researching the voice over industry and progressively going online to work with voice actors directly at voice over marketplaces.

Want to know more?

Clients who purchase voice over services can be from any industry, country, and speak a variety of languages.

Since the need for audio production is universal as well as the need for voice overs, the global market of clients creates an enormous demand for voice actors who provide quality voice over recordings to represent their company, organization, or event.

Clients hire voice over talent to record for television, radio, podcasts, video games, audio books, film, animation, telephone, corporate presentations, narration and other purposes.

While some of that information is common knowledge, it may be a good time to analyze why it is that people who need to hire voice actors are choosing to do so online through voice over marketplaces.

For some, it's all about convenience. They can be anywhere in the world, login to their accounts and post a job or review responses submitted to them without having to even pick up a phone. With the ability to do business online a substantial amount of time is saved.

For others, it's about saving money. Why go through an advertising agency or talent agent if you can go direct to the source? In some cases, clients who go this route are even more generous with their budget because the funds weren't divided between several different people.

Or, it's all about staying on message. It's not surprising that companies want to provide creative input and direction. Some organizations have people on staff who are responsible for voice casting and project management, an asset that saves them time, money and also enables creative control.

Many clients who use agencies to hire talent on their behalf miss out on being able to communicate directly with the voice actor, perhaps not even pick the voice that they want. Using a voice over marketplace to find a voice actor provides a client with unlimited choice and possibilities unheard of if working with an agency.

People who use voice over marketplaces are early adopters and Internet savvy. They likely use other online services to conduct business with and generally have a corporate website of their own. These people are familiar with the Internet and are able to use it effectively to meet their goals.

These people, for the most part, are also comfortable using online payment systems to purchase products or services.

A growing number of these people grew up with the Internet, so the concept of searching, finding and making purchases online is a part of their lives or second nature to them.

When it comes to hiring a voice actor online clients are likely to do so in one of three ways.

1. Searching
2. Posting a Job
3. Contacting a Voice Actor Directly

For a client who needs to hire a voice actor, a voice over marketplace meets all of their business needs and fulfills their project requirements while ensuring their satisfaction in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The beauty of being able to work directly with a voice actor for the client is that they can also build a long-term business relationship with them.

First of all, they know who they hired, their contact details, and can easily refer them to colleagues who need a voice over recorded. Secondly, a bond is forged with that voice actor. The voice actor understands what it is that the client wants and can consistently deliver audio to meet their needs as well as help their client with other multimedia projects.

How has your experience been working directly with a client or voice actor?

Add your thoughts below :)

Best regards,

Stephanie

What is a voice over marketplace?

How have voice over marketplaces impacted the voice over industry and what does the future hold?

As more and more people take their businesses online, the paradigm is shifting from traditional offline scouting to online recruiting.

A voice over marketplace is a location, typically based online, where voice actors can feature their voices and audition for job opportunities to acquire voice over work.

Merriam-Webster.com defines "marketplace" as:

1 a : an open square or place in a town where markets or public sales are held b : MARKET
2 : the world of trade or economic activity : the everyday world
3 : a sphere in which intangible values compete for acceptance or the marketplace of ideas

As the term "marketplace" implies, portals that perform this function connect buyers and sellers, for the purposes of this article, buyers and sellers of voice over services. Voice over marketplaces serve both the buyer and seller, and in some instances, facilitate communications and or transactions between the two.

By virtue of the fact that a voice over marketplace consolidates both talent and job opportunities, it is an integral part of any voice actors marketing efforts as well as the most convenient and effective source for clients to find voice actors and buy their services.

For those who discover this method of recruiting nowadays, it seems very commonplace as if it's 'always been' this way.

For many people who have lived longer on this earth, they know that there was a more complicated way in a simpler time when things were done according to the corporate whims of large agencies that controlled the majority of all voice over work and voice over talents.

Anyone who can remember recording with analog technology, splicing tapes together, recording sessions with your peers, and auditions recorded in person at recording studios and agencies can relate to what I've qualified in the statement above.

During those days there was a specific way things were done with few alternatives to the status quo. You were either in the union or you didn't get work. You had an agent or you didn't work in the biz. You had the Voice of God as an announcer or you had nothing at all. As a female working in the field, making a living was extremely challenging to say the least.

With sweeping changes in technology, the mindset of the public, and methods for acquiring voice over services, the world of voice over has realized that there is a job for every voice type, not just for a certain kind of voice or limited to a select clique of players.

While there are still people who clearly dominate their particular niches in voice over, technologies such as the Internet, more affordable audio recording equipment and accessible educational voice over information through online channels has broadened the horizon considerably, turning a boys club into a marketplace.

Here we find ourselves in the year 2007, post 90s Bubble-Burst in a new world of Web 2.0, an era that some refer to as the second coming (or second generation) of the World Wide Web.

Voice over marketplaces have made searching for, auditioning, and hiring voice actors easy and direct, streamlining the entire recruitment process by presenting a variety of the world's finest freelance talent in one central location online.

Barriers once put in place by limited technology or bureaucracies have crumbled. Globalization has also figured prominently in the paradigm shift regarding voice overs and how they are recorded, delivered, payed for and used.

International business is done on a daily basis through voice over marketplaces, most people preferring to use the US Dollar as their global currency of choice.

The voice over marketplace has increased the visibility of professional voice actors and in turn has made it hassle free to work with the right voice for a project.

How have voice over marketplaces affected you and your business?

Add a comment sharing your thoughts.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Stephanie

What is a union?

What can unions like SAG, AFTRA, ACTRA, and Equity do for you, and to be considered a professional, does everyone need to be in a union?

This article about unions is one of the more controversial topics we'll be exploring this week. Unions are part of the voiceover ecosystem, and they have done quite a bit to secure particular benchmarks and benefits on behalf of all performers who use their services.

How do you feel about the union(s)? Add your thoughts here at VOX Daily.

In the past, we have written about unions on VOX Daily to help define what role a union plays in the big picture which is the voice over industry.

Unions are not unique to the voiceover industry.

There are unions in nearly every field of industry. Off the top of my head, the first unions outside of the ones related to recording and performing arts are teachers unions, construction workers union, the autoworkers union, and the nurses union.

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines the term "union" as:

2 : something that is made one : something formed by a combining or coalition of parts or members: as a : a confederation of independent individuals (as nations or persons) for some common purpose b (1) : a political unit constituting an organic whole formed usually from units which were previously governed separately (as England and Scotland in 1707) and which have surrendered or delegated their principal powers to the government of the whole or to a newly created government (as the United States in 1789) (2) capitalized : the federal union of states during the period of the American Civil War c capitalized : an organization on a college or university campus providing recreational, social, cultural, and sometimes dining facilities; also : the building housing such an organization d : the set of all elements belonging to one or more of a given collection of two or more sets -- called also join, sum e : LABOR UNION

Unions are not just groups of people with a common purpose. A union is made up of a bureaucracy and there are certain rules and initiation rites (either a financial fee or working a union job) that go hand and hand with being a member of a union.

In theory, a union embodies the Utopian idea that everyone should behave in a particular fashion, observe the same guidelines, assume the same political leanings and strive to achieve a common good as is defined by the union. As a reward for doing so and by hitting a specific financial goal, members can achieve access to health coverage, a pension, and other worthwhile benefits.

While it may sound ideal, there are issues that do arise in each union and they are generally discussed through meetings and conferences, sometimes achieving the desired outcome of resolution, sometimes not.

Unions exhibit traits of strength, unity and purpose through strong membership. Without a strong membership base and reasons for everyone to abide by the ideals set out by the leadership of the union, no matter how great a union's past, it can still fall as an organization is only as strong as its weakest link.

External factors can directly affect a union for better or worse.

Oftentimes, politics or changes in the marketplace will come into play from outside of the union that cause great unrest or great joy, depending on the new reality of the day.

Many unions themselves, as mentioned above, do have distinct political views which makes the union not only an organization that adds value through membership via benefits or community, but can also alienate people within their organization who do not subscribe to the beliefs adopted by the union.

Internal conflict, though not spoken of publicly for obvious reasons, does occur. If a member decides to leave a union, there are consequences for doing so and often the stakes are very high. There is even a name for this membership designation, in some cases, a designation which enforces drastic action. Rejoining the union for some is very difficult. Whenever politics are involved it is quite seldom that things are very simple.

To get another view of the question of joining the union, I asked our friend, non-union voice talent and Canadian voice over coach Debbie Munro to share her thoughts on the matter.

Do keep in mind that the views presented in quotations below are Debbie's views and they do not necessarily reflect the views of Voices.com:

Debbie Munro's Opinion on Union and Non-union

To be union or not to be union, that is the question isn’t it?

I will start out by saying everyone is entitled to their opinion and both sides have valid points. Keep in mind this is all the info that I’ve heard and accumulated through various professionals.

Research for yourself.

Union

There are many benefits to the union so let’s start with those. First off in the acting industry there are usually no salaries, benefits, retirement or rate guarantees and with non-union they are doing away with residuals (being paid for the project after the end of the contract each time it airs). The union makes sure we’re covered in these areas and fights for top wages.

There are three main unions to consider.

In the US, SAG (need only one union credit to join I believe), AFTRA (can join without any credits) and then in Canada ACTRA (you need 6 credits to become ACTRA). ACTRA is individually run from province to province.

Each union has their pros and cons. If you live in a union working town such as L.A., Vancouver, Toronto and so on, then the union works very well and its presence is strong and worth joining. If only it were that way everywhere.

Non-Union

In cities like San Diego, Calgary, Edmonton and others, the union has a harder time. If you are union, you can’t audition for non-union work, however you can audition for union work if you’re non-union (if you can find a producer willing to see you).

Voice over marketplaces like Voices.com promote both union and non-union work, however most of the work offered is non-union. In many cities there is a lot more non-union work than union work; that fact makes it very hard on the actor to decide which direction to go.

If you are union your rates are set out for you. There is no guessing game. If you are non-union, your agent (you) have to negotiate the rates with the production company. Sometimes they will pay you union scale, but most times do not. This is why the company goes non-union in order to save money. What this does for the union though is to make it harder to stay alive.

If too many people go non-union then the union won’t be able to work as well, and for those that are union, they survive off of their residuals and larger scale projects. They’ve earned it and non-union projects are taking it away.

On the other hand, todays market is a lot tougher than it once was and joining the union isn’t as easy
anymore (with the exception of AFTRA).

Due to the Internet, work is easily accessible so producers are finding people who will do the job without the unions. Technology is changing things and competition is getting tougher.

What’s the right answer? Only you know.

For me, if I stayed in Edmonton the opportunities for union are slim. It was great for me when I volunteered to work my way in, and to build my education. Sites like Voices.com gave me the opportunity I needed to get where I am today. I believe they are the starting block in todays world, unless you live in a union town. At least there is hope for newer voicers looking for a way in to work their way up to union.

The bottom line is it depends on what you want for you.

I believe we get to a point where we shouldn’t be bidding against each other for rates. But we can’t forget that there is a journey along the way. A process that for many is absolutely necessary. I hope that they can one day find a happy medium, but lets face it folks, it’s all politics, and no one ever really wins in politics.

Always aim for the highest goal…to be union, but research what you have to do to get there."

~~

So, that's Debbie Munro's opinion.

I want to reiterate that what Debbie has presented regarding the unions are her opinions and they do not reflect the opinion of Voices.com.

Ladies and gentlemen, again, I leave the floor to you.

Looking forward to hearing your opinion on the topic presented.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

When you hear the word casting, do you think of going fishing?

If so, you're going to learn about a whole new world... the world of the voice casting and the casting director!

What is a casting director, what do they do, who hires them and how do you go about getting in front of one...

And once you do, what do they want?! Find out at VOX Daily.

As we have heard before, a casting director, specifically a voice over casting director, is someone who has an ear for picking the best candidate for a particular job.

It is the responsibility of the casting director to "cast" the right person in a role for a client who usually has little interest, ability, or lacks the confidence to "pick" the right voice to represent their company, project, or brand. The casting director wants to get the best possible performance out of an auditioning talent.

It is their goal, in fact, to make a voice actor feel at ease because they need to evaluate all of their options in the best light to pick the most appropriate voice for their client's campaign or project. A casting director charges a fee to the client for their time and expertise.

Casting directors cast for a variety of projects including commercials, movies, animated films, cartoons and more.

While the role of the casting director may appear intimidating, after all, they do decide who gets to land the part, it is in the best interest of the casting director to solicit the best possible performance from each performer who auditions for a role.

Voice casting is an art. The casting director needs to be familiar with the project they are casting, the audience that will be consuming the production and also how that audience needs to be communicated to.

In essence, the casting director is a voice actor's friend, just as a voice over coach and recording engineer are.

A casting director has a huge responsibility placed on their shoulders to not only cast the best candidate but also to treat each person who walks in the door with the utmost respect which helps them keep an open mind when casting for a particular role, voice over, or shot.

Sometimes, a voice casting director is responsible for casting an entire voice acting cast for cartoon series, animated films, video games and audio books. These projects are especially interesting and challenging for a casting director as there is so much to consider, including how the voices match each other, how a voice fits a role, if the voice actors have good chemistry and if their voices fit the ideal that their client is looking for.

How do you impress a casting director?

Be sure to arrive on time, even slightly early for your audition to make a good first impression. Give them as much as you possibly can in an audition because it is far easier to tone a performance down than to pull more out.

Casting directors want you to shine. The more at ease you are, the likelier they are going to receive a bang on audition from you and have something to work with when the casting director is deliberating with their team.

Be sincere, personable and respectful. If they provide direction to you, take it! Show them that you can be directed, that you are able to listen and also that you can improvise.

After all is said and done, there is a new breed of casting director that you should be aware of.

When people post voice over jobs at Voices.com, they put themselves into the seat of the Casting Director. They are responsible for picking the perfect voice for the job from a variety of applicants, only these are submitted to them online as digital auditions.

Sometimes, hiring a casting director just isn't in the budget for many companies employing voice talent or it just simply isn't necessary because the company has someone on staff who possesses an ear for the creative elements their client requires and is capable of picking a suitable voice.

These clients prefer to hire voice talent through voice over marketplaces to get the job done, and more and more hiring is being done this way as technology and other aspects of business evolve.

Have you noticed any particular trends in this field with regard to online voice casting?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Stephanie

Now, we enter into waters where it's all about selection and not rejection!

Agents are very selective, but as we've said earlier, there is a voice for every job and a job for every voice.

Does an agency shoe fit for you?

Learn more about voice talent agents, what they do, how to find one, approach one and what happens if you are offered a contract.

Agents. Voice talent agents...

This category of people in the voice over industry as often seen as the individuals who hold the keys to the kingdom, are negotiators of deals, and promoters of talent.

Finding and getting an agent is usually somewhere on a voice actor's To-Do List after making a voice over demo and before joining the union (if joining the union is an objective for them, that is).

Having an agent does simplify some aspects of a voice acting career, however, being contracted by one is not an easy process and many people who are very talented do not have representation for a variety of reasons.

Voice talent agents and agencies who represent voice talents are usually situated in cities known as hotbeds for voice over work like Los Angeles and New York among other high profile cities. While New York City and L.A. may be loaded with opportunities and perceived as well-connected to lucrative voice work, there are other markets to consider where representation by an agent is concerned.

Some agents as noted above prefer to work in major markets. Others may represent talent by state, regionally or even locally, depending on their preference and business goals.

There are agents who specifically represent voice actors and some who have voice actors on their roster of talent which may include actors, models, singers, and other performers.

Now, cracking the nut on how to get a voice over agent.

Many agents prefer to be contacted by mail (yes, mail routed through a post office) and are generally inaccessible by email or phone due to the volume of applications they receive on a daily basis.

Research how agents prefer to be contacted before doing so.

Some appreciate receiving a brief letter asking if you can submit something to them before you send your package. If they are interested in taking on new talent for their roster, they will give you instructions or a go ahead to send your package. Showing courtesy to the agent and their staff makes a big difference when you are trying to establish a relationship.

If you have the go ahead, you can send a package promoting your voice over talent.

Most agents expect to receive a package from you that contains a brief cover letter, resume with references, an updated head shot (head shots are required by some agents and specifically not requested by others) and a CD copy of your voice over demo. Some agents like receiving packages that stand out while others are not terribly concerned with the packaging.

Make sure that your packaging is professional looking though and properly addressed. The person receiving the package may or may not be the agent, so be sure that what you send is a package a secretary or other staff member feels comfortable passing on to the agent. If the package looks tattered, poorly labeled or addressed incorrectly, they may see it as non-professional and throw it out to save their boss some time; at least this is how some may see it.

Assuming that your package makes it to the agent, chances are that a busy agent will only have time to listen to about 5 to 10 seconds of the demo, so it had better be your best material as you won't be in the room to tell them to "skip to track 2". Some are more generous with their time, but these agents are few and far between.

Something to remember is that just because your voice is not what a particular agent or agency may be looking for doesn't mean that no one wants to hire you on. It's all about selection, not rejection.

If the result is a positive reaction from the agent, you might just receive a call and potentially an offer or contractual agreement to be signed with the agency for a period of time.

Now, this is where things become as clear as mud.

Contracts from agents are usually a mixture of legal terminology and a bunch of places to leave your signature. They can be very confusing as the contracts aren't necessarily scribed in layman terms or self-explanatory.

It's critical that you understand what is being required of you when signing with an agent otherwise you could literally be "signing away" some of the freedoms you currently enjoy as a freelance voice actor.

This week, we received a question from one of our voice actor members here at Voices.com about a contract offer received from an agency.

After trying to review it and not having much success confidently deciphering the agency contract, it struck me to seek help from my good friend Nancy Wolfson, a former agent who is now a voice over coach, to give us some perspective regarding contracts and the like. Nancy is the owner of Braintracksaudio.com, and as a former agent, has a wealth of information on her site about what to do in this very situation.

Nancy reveals that although the vast majority of agencies have standard operating policies, there are instances of variation where the agency code is concerned.

Some agencies still abide by rules set in place by traditional agencies decades ago while others have adopted more progressive procedures that have adapted to the new landscape of voice overs today, resulting in "loosey-goosey" spins on the former "standard operating procedures" of voice talent agencies.

Here's some advice taken straight from Braintracksaudio.com courtesy of Nancy Wolfson:

If you’re confused about any legal paperwork, ASK.

If your agent is too busy to entertain your questions (they are probably on the other telephone line trying to round up opportunities for you!), see if there is someone in their accounting department or their legal department who has time to answer your questions.

The typical top market union agency contract agreement is boiler-plated to engage a talent for a 3-year window.

Once signed, this means that an agent can (legally) keep a talent from leaving and taking their talents and earnings to another agency during that 3-year window.

Excepting extreme circumstances that might come into play, the talent can only wangle loose from that agreement if they have not made the minimum amount established by SAG in a 90 day span of time (details on that is available by contacting SAG).

An agent can "drop" a talent any time the agent wants to, even if that talent is under contract.

However, when handed such a contract, there are all kinds of options a talent has the power to make on that contract.

For example, talent can get in there with a red pen and cross off that "3-year" thing and handwrite in "1-year" instead and initial by that change. If the contract says "this talent agrees to work exclusively with us and nobody else," the talent can get in there and "red line" through that and re-write what they want to establish as the operating agreement on that front. The talent needs to tell the agent that they are requesting these special amendments and tweaks, and it is up to the agent to decide if that nullifies the desire to put the talent under contract...

A talent's leverage in this situation rests upon on how much money they are, may be, or might be perceived to be bringing in with them to the agency.

I've always encouraged talent to take a contract home and even run it past an Entertainment Attorney for review with them, as we are all entitled to and responsible for understanding the legal agreements to which we sign our name. And in the ever-growing landscape of the Do-It-Yourself business models, it becomes even more important to understand the legally binding engagements you are creating.

That said, if a talent is very new to the scene and is objectively lucky to be receiving the offer of contractual engagement at all from a proper agency, then they might consider being as gracious and compliant as possible lest they appear more high-maintenance on the front end of a new relationship than their earnings (or absence thereof) would merit.

Back to the "loosey goosey" factor of how things are commonly handled these days: It is not uncommon for an agent to express interest - legitimate and earnest interest - in a talent these days, and still NOT offer that talent a contract.

My advice to that talent? Who Cares. Don't press the agent on this matter. They are "trying before they buy," in a sense, and so long as the talent is getting opportunities from the agent, there's no reason to pester them for a binding agreement.

Sure, it's nice on a personal and emotional level to know that an agent wants you so badly that they want to "marry" you into a contract. But so long as the talent is benefiting from the opportunities that agent has on deck and/or making money, drop the need for proof of their love on a piece of paper - keep on "dating" and making money.

~~

I must say, that's sound advice!

Thank you to Nancy Wolfson for sharing this insider view of the business.

Have any of you found this article useful?

Please add a comment below and share your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

What does it mean to be an audio engineer?

How do audio recording engineers fit into the mix of the voice over industry and why is there an entire profession dedicated to making everyone sound good?

Learn more about audio recording engineers, the people with the golden ears, here at VOX Daily during our Meet the Voice Over Industry Week.

First of all, what is an audio recording engineer?

An audio recording engineer is a person who has amassed a wealth of information specific to the art of audio recording techniques, and technology.

These are the people many pay the big bucks to when they want to sound polished and broadcast-ready.

Similar to an engineer, audio engineers are hired to create a solution to an audio challenge or plot out a course and 'engineer' the project.

Audio recording engineers generally work in recording studios where they are responsible for anything related to audio production, which may include recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio files. Recording engineers, by nature of their craft, often work with musicians, spoken word recording artists (voice actors, narrators, etc.) and session singers.

Formal education is accessible for training audio engineers. These programs are very focused and address a wide variety of content in their curriculum as well as provide practical experience for their students to record different subjects to learn how to work with different people, instruments, and be flexible as an engineer in a number of recording situations.

Recording engineers are experts when it comes to gear and how to use it. These people are very serious about their equipment and know each sweet spot, room temperature and level like the back of their hand. Many have experience as musicians, so they are familiar with nearly everything they encounter that emits sound.

Recording engineers are your friend. If you are a voice actor who needs to lay down some tracks, make a voice over demo, or record a for a client, audio engineers are there to see you through the session and capture your talent digitally for all to hear.

While many voice actors are capable of recording auditions and voice over work from a professional-grade home recording studio, those beginning in the field, making a voice over demo, or revamping their sound often work with a pro to engineer their sound, whether as a personal choice or at the behest of a client or voice over coach.

Not all voice actors are audio engineers by trade although some may consider themselves to be so. Many voice actors happily reply upon audio engineers to produce all of their recorded work for clients because either they do not have the technical skills, desire, or finances to setup a proper studio at their home.

Although this reality may result in more fees for the client when hiring talent who frequent audio recording studios to do their voice over work, many people are willing to pay for additional expenses if necessary should the voice actor's voice be exactly what they need to complete their project. Some voice actors even have agreements with studios that they use on a regular basis that include discounts in exchange for their loyalty and referrals.

Have you had any experiences working with an audio engineer that you would like to share?

Add your comment and let the discussion begin!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

What is a voice over coach?

What do they do and what qualifies them to teach?

Why would you need one, how do you find one, and what can they offer you?

That's a lot of questions, isn't it? Good thing we have the answers!

Learn more about this integral role in the voice over ecosystem and why it pays to be educated and trained as a voice over actor.

When it comes to the becoming a voice actor, it is strongly advised that training is sought out and taken on with interest and vigor.

While there are many different avenues that education can be consumed there is one definite way above all others that rises to the top as not only the preferred method but also the most effective: receiving personal instruction from a voice over coach.

Many voice over coaches as we have learned before have worked in the voice over industry as voice actors and have reached a point in their career where they have much to share and pass on to other people who perform voice overs for a living.

Just as a voice actor may specialize in a particular niche of voice over, some teachers are renowned for specific areas of expertise.

Some examples are coaches that focus on commercial voice over, coaches that are expert narrators, others who create character voices, and those who tend to have musical or theatrical backgrounds that add to their voice acting instruction in general.

As we've come to see, there are many different ways you can study with a voice over coach or instructor.

1. Private instruction in person
2. Private instruction over the phone
3. Group instruction in person
4. Group instruction over the phone (teleseminars)
5. Group instruction over the Internet (webinars and podcasts)

Private Instruction in Person

Private instruction in person is most effective when pursued on a regular basis. It is through private instruction in person that a voice actor will be able to track their efforts and further develop their skills one on one. Studying privately with a teacher in person is often preferred as a teacher is able to observe and demonstrate physically with more ease than instruction provided over the phone.

Private Instruction by Phone

Private instruction by phone is one of the more convenient ways to learn about voice acting as you don't have to be in the same vicinity as a voice over coach to receive an education. Many students have found that this method works best for them if they are based in an area outside of where voice over hotbeds are to be found such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago.

Group Instruction in Person

Group instruction through workshops and seminars conduced in person gives the attendees a different kind of education, similar to a classroom style education where a teacher is responsible for reaching a variety of different people as they present their material. These options are quite popular and many teachers tour with their workshops to cities across the US. Many students will fly in for a workshop to a central location for a number of reasons related to studying with a specific teacher, honing a particular skill, or simply for the sheer enjoyment of community that these educational opportunities provide.

Group Instruction by Phone

Group instruction over the phone known as teleseminars feature an instructor presenting on a given topic with callers on the line who are generally muted. Near the end of a call, the teacher will usually open up the lines and release the mute functionality so that questions can be asked or clarifications made. This also presents time for people to come in on the call and thank the coach for their efforts too, providing feedback if they like.

Group Instruction over the Internet

Online training is also an option that is favorable depending on what a voice actor's needs are. Webinars and podcasts are excellent ways to join in on a lecture topic or discussion. Many webinars are free to attend and simply require that a long-distance phone charge be incurred in exchange for listening in. Questions can be asked in real time of the instructor and a Q&A period opened up toward the end of the webinar.

On a similar note, receiving podcasts are nearly always free unless stated otherwise. While they are not as interactive (you can't ask a question and get a response in real time from a recording), they are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be listened to from anywhere. Follow up questions can be sent to the instructor, usually by email from their website. A podcast is more a less a "taste" of what you could learn from the coach if you decide to study with them.

Just as a voice actor uses their voice over demo as a free sample or calling card, voice over coaches are able to promote their services via podcast or writing articles for blogs and online publications.

Another way for teachers of voice acting and voice over to promote their services is through writing books or producing training CDs. Many instructors are also authors. You can get a really good feel for how a teacher will be in person from reading their books. I know because I've read enough of them to see how their personality comes through on the written page and how it correlates with how they teach or are in person.

Through their publications and or podcasts, you'll learn more about what they can do for you, but one of the best ways to measure how qualified a teacher is to teach you is by reviewing student testimonials and reviews.

Credibility can be measured by a voice over coach's career successes, personal success or the success of other people they have taught.

Studying with a credible teacher is very important. Be sure to check references and read any biographical information you can find related to their teaching career and education. Referrals are often the best way to connect with a teacher and students who love their teachers are very good ambassadors for them.

A sign of a great teacher is that they care about you as a person as well as a student. Teachers who invest this level of interest in their students are more likely to help them succeed throughout their career and connect those individuals with opportunities for advancement in the field of voice acting.

Some teachers even help students create or reinvent their voice over demos. This service can range in price depending on the overhead incurred or services included with the production from about $800 to a couple thousand depending on where you record and with whom. We'll talk more about this when we discuss audio engineers.

How do you find a voice over coach and pick the right voice over coach for you?

There are voice over coaches who actively participate here at Voices.com in our podcasts, on the blogs and webinars. There is also a beauty of a list at Harlan Hogan's website that lists teachers by location in the United States.

That being said, do any of you have a teacher you would like to refer?

Best wishes,

Stephanie

What is a voice actor?

Many people want to be one, others think they are one, and some people just plain don't know what they are!

Why do they exist and what do they do?

How do you become one?

Find answers to these questions and more at VOX Daily.

For many, becoming a voice actor is a dream come true.

While voice acting is a popular career field to consider at present, it is still a business and successful voice actors know that their career has everything to do with three specific factors:

1. Artistic Vocal Talent
2. Being Technically Savvy
3. Having Business Sense

As we mentioned earlier, a voice actor is the producer of the creative vocal work that is recorded and used for a variety of applications including commercials for radio, television, telephone, podcasts, audio books, video games and more. The voice actor uses their natural gifts, predominantly their voice and mastery of it, to infuse life into the written word.

A voice actor is a creator of voice overs, and a voice over is the audio component of a media application commissioned by a client. Voice actors are also known as voice talents, voice overs, voice over artists, VO, VA, narrators, announcers, orators, and so on.

Voice actors come from a variety of backgrounds including the theater, singing, public speaking, educating, film and other fields.

Who are voice actors?

They could be your next door neighbor, your favorite on-air personality, the person who volunteers to read for the blind, a children's storyteller at libraries or hospitals, a musician, or someone who reads at your church.

Voice actors come from all walks of life which makes this industry all the more interesting and eclectic.

As with any business, there are different areas that people can specialize in while using their signature voice, that is, the voice that brings home the bacon.

Some voice actors make money doing commercial reads while others are more at home reading epic poetry or character voices for video games. There is a job for every voice actor and voice type as each client is looking for something different.

A while ago, we covered how to make the transition from singer to voice talent, a popular article that recognized the connection between the two professions. As a singer, many of the tools and techniques developed as a result of the Bel Canto method are ready made for voice overs. Years of operatic training come full circle as diction, proper breathing, tonality, interpretation, and characterization skills are transferred to create a vocal masterpiece using the spoken word as the canvas.

Many come from the theater or from on-camera careers in television or film. Sometimes, even celebrities take on the art of voice acting, a phenomenon that started with Tom Hanks' voice acting in Toy Story way back in 1995 to the star studded celebrity voice acting films of the 21st century including Cars, Shrek, and Ratatouille.

Some people find their calling in voice over earlier than others while most discover voice acting later as they opt for a career change (something new) or desire to use skills acquired during their former career and apply them to an entrepreneurial dream of starting their own business.

Voice over is a field of study as well as a profession and instruction is available through individual coaching sessions, voice over workshops, books, podcasts, CDs and webinars, many of which are accessible regardless of location and are reasonably affordable when investing in your voice over business.

There are several designations that we can consider when identifying the professionalism of a voice actor.

Voice over instructor Connie Terwilliger has identified four basic phases that people go through as they mature in their voice over career.

These Four Basic Phases are:

• Wanna-be
• Newbie
• Part-time
• Full-time

To define them further, a Wanna-be is someone who has been told that they have a great voice and should use it to make money.

A Newbie has taken a couple of seminars, has an idea of the direction they want to go in, simple technical abilities, and a low cost home recording studio.

A Part-time voice talent still works a day job to pay the bills, is more educated in voice overs than a Newbie and has the ability to record pro quality audio.

Lastly, a Full-time voice over talent is actively working in the business and can pay their bills in voice over or a very closely related area.

Obviously, it is the goal of any voice actor to achieve the fourth phase and work at their business full-time.

That being said, in order to get to this stage, you need to possess a solid balance of artistry, technical abilities and business skills.

While it's easy to identify your strengths you also need to know where your weaknesses may be in order to succeed in voice overs.

The floor is now yours: Can you relate to anything written in this article?

Add a comment with your thoughts!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

This week, we'll be looking at all the different people and the roles they play in the voice over industry.

If you're new to voice overs, consider this a tour of the community that you'll be part of for years to come where you'll get to know who is who and how each person in the mix plays a contributing role that propels the voice over industry, and, even your career.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? Find out this week on VOX Daily.

Voice over is a very distinct niche within the entertainment and audio recording industries.

Similar to an ecosystem, there is a natural order of things and diverse relationships that take shape, many of which are symbiotic, or, mutually beneficial to the parties they involve.

Take humans and trees for example.

Trees produce the oxygen we need to breathe. When we exhale, or breath leaves our bodies, carbon dioxide is produced as a result. Following our exhalations, the trees then breathe in our CO2, which is their source of air, and the cycle thus continues as they instinctively produce more oxygen rich exhalation for us to inhale. We then exhale carbon dioxide and the tree is nourished... you get the picture.

Just as in nature, many relationships within voice over are complementary and there are very few self-serving relationships. For those that do exist, they are a necessary part of our voice over ecosystem, and without them, there wouldn't be a balance.

That is just the nature of things.

Let's take a look at the roles we'll be profiling this week with a brief overview on each, starting at the base of the ecosystem.

Voice Actors

A voice actor is the producer of the creative vocal work that is recorded and used for a variety of applications including commercials for radio, television, telephone, podcasts, audio books, video games and more. The voice actor uses their natural gifts, predominantly their voice and mastery of it, to infuse life into the written word. A voice actor is a creator of voice overs, and a voice over is the audio component of a media application commissioned by a client. Voice actors are also known as voice talents, voice overs, voice over artists, VO, VA, narrators, announcers, orators, and so on.

Voice Over Coaches and Instructors

A voice over coach is a person who is either a teacher of voice, instructor of voice acting, or has extensive practical experience working as a professional voice actor who applies their knowledge and methodology through the teaching of their craft. These people are trained to educate and are often associated with beginning voice actors or voice actors who are seeking to enrich or expand their voice over abilities through private coaching or workshops. There are fewer voice over coaches than there are voice actors and their profession is in many cases related to the theory of Publish or Perish. The nature of a voice over coach is to teach but this person may also perform, direct or cast (pick) voices for other projects.

Audio Engineers and Producers

An audio engineer is a person who is highly skilled in the field of audio production, including recording, editing, mixing and mastering. As an audio engineer, this person is usually employed by a larger recording studio or can also be a freelance producer who works independently, running their own production studio. There are schools where people can be trained to acquire skills in this technical aspect of the voice over business. For voice actors who are not as savvy technology wise, recording engineers and audio producers are heavily relied upon to help them produce their voice over demos or record broadcast ready work for clients.

Voice Over Agents and Talent Agencies

A voice over agent is a person who promotes and represents a voice actor, presenting their voice over work for consideration when a job that the voice actor is suited for becomes available. An agent can be independent or part of a voice talent agency that operates similarly to a quintessential talent agency, meaning a company that employs several people as agents to build a brand and manage a variety of talent, not just voice actors. Agents usually represent voice actors who are either union or non-union depending on the agreement an agent has and if they are affiliated with a union. Agents take a commission on the work they acquire for their voice actor clients, usually in the 10% - 15% range for their services; this could be a commission on top of what the voice actor makes or taken from the earnings directly. A Finder's Fee is also a term that applies to some agents and agencies.

Casting Directors

A casting director, specifically a voice over casting director, is someone who has an ear for picking the best candidate for a particular job. It is the responsibility of the casting director to "cast" the right person in a role for a client who usually has little interest, ability, or lacks the confidence to "pick" the right voice to represent their company, project, or brand. The casting director wants to get the best possible performance out of an auditioning talent. It is their goal, in fact, to make a voice actor feel at ease because they need to evaluate all of their options in the best light to pick the most appropriate voice for their client's campaign or project. A casting director charges a fee to the client for their time and expertise.

Unions

A union is a governing body that regulates terms of employment for their customers. Unions may take action on the behalf of their clients in cases where agreements are breached. A voice actor pays union dues or fees to be affiliated with a union in order to receive particular services, benefits, or opportunities exclusive to the union. While some unions have an open door policy allowing anyone to join so long as they meet membership fee requirements, there are other unions that are "invitation only" or other criteria. Being part of the union is not mandatory and there are more non-union voice actors in the world than there are unionized voice actors.

Voice Over Marketplaces

A voice over marketplace is a location, typically based online, where voice actors can feature their voices and audition for job opportunities to acquire voice over work. As the term "marketplace" implies, portals that perform this function connect buyers and sellers, for the purposes of this article, buyers and sellers of voice over services. Voice over marketplaces serve both the buyer and seller, and in some instances, facilitate communications and or transactions between the two. As a voice over marketplace consolidates both talent and job opportunities, it is an integral part of any voice actors marketing efforts as well as the most convenient and effective source for clients to find voice actors and buy their services.

Clients Who Purchase Voice Overs

Clients who purchase voice over services can be from any industry, country, and speak a variety of languages. Since the need for audio production is universal as well as the need for voice overs, the global market of clients creates an enormous demand for voice actors who provide quality voice over recordings to represent their company, organization, or event. Clients hire voice over talent to record for television, radio, podcasts, video games, audio books, film, animation, telephone, corporate presentations, and other purposes.

Stick with us this week as we take a closer look at each of these designations, their crucial roles within the voice over industry, and also how each affects other parts of the whole.

Best,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Olga Telnova

Remember when we opened the 60 Second Pitch contest and asked you who you are, what you do and how you can serve others through your business?

It's time to meet the voice talents who made it to the finals and hear their stories.

Time is ticking, so listen in as we count down to the official awards podcast to be released on Friday, July 27th, 2007.

We're in the homestretch for the 60 Second Pitch Contest here at Voices.com!

You can listen to the finalists here (listed in alphabetical order by first name) and then hit the "back" button to come back and comment on what you heard sharing your thoughts on who you feel deserves a place on the podium!

Listen to the 60 Second Pitch Finalists from 2007 here.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Don't forget to add a comment here on VOX Daily with your ideas and predictions.

Best wishes to all involved :)

Stephanie, David and the Voices.com Team