Have you been up to anything, like, totally rad, dude?

Share your excellent adventure in this week's edition of Who Got the Gig!

Yes, we have a penchant for the nostalgic era of the early 90s here at VOX Daily today... a special thank you to Bill and Ted for stopping by ;)

Have you had any excellent adventures in voice acting this week?

Leave a comment and let us know all about it!

Cheers,

Stephanie

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As voice professionals, I can confidently say that each one of you has your own favorite tea or beverage of choice, but to that end, I know not what!

What's steeping in your studio?

Cuppa Cuppa

"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards."

~ A.A. Milne, Author of the Winnie the Pooh series

Lesley Lafferty, a British voice talent who is residing in the United States, has become a good friend of mine and I believe it all started over the mention of sharing a pot of tea.

While she's on the west coast in the US and I'm on the east coast in Canada, we both know that there's a cup of tea waiting for me at her home in San Francisco and one for her waiting here in London.

Why Do Voice Actors Drink Tea?

Just like anyone else, voice actors drink tea for pleasure, however, many find it is a great tonic and comfort as well when recording in the studio, especially during long or particularly strenuous sessions.

To revisit a couple of examples from this past week regarding voice acting and tea, Michael Hollick, star of Grand Theft Auto IV, referenced drinking Earl Grey tea with honey during scenes where he was required to yell and scream for his character Niko Bellic.

I'd also like to weave Narnia in here with this quote from C.S. Lewis, which I believe rings true on both fronts with voice over talent and a good script:

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

~ C.S. Lewis

According to Catherine Douzel, "Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage", as does each script that you narrate as a voice actor.

An ancient Japanese proverb relates that if man has no tea in him, he knows nothing of truth and beauty.

My personal favorite is Orange Pekoe. You can't go wrong with Orange Pekoe!

I also happen to believe that "There is nothing so sweet that should come between friends than a good pot of tea."

What Kind of Tea Do You Drink?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Stephanie

P.S. There are a couple dozen more tea quotes at QuoteGarden.com that might interest you if you liked what you read here.

©iStockphoto.com/Tjasa Maticic

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This week marked the 50th episode of the Voice Over Experts podcast!

Once a week for the past 50 weeks, voice actors have been able to listen to tips, pearls of wisdom and learn trade secrets from voice acting educators around the world for free via Voice Over Experts, produced by Voices.com.

If you're a fan of Voice Over Experts, we want to hear from you! Please take a moment to leave a comment.

Way back in June of 2007...

Once in while an idea forms and inspiration develops into action giving birth to something innovative and new that carves a path for itself in unchartered territory.

For our industry last year, that spark of genius was Voice Over Experts, a podcast created for aspiring and professional voice actors that provides ongoing education and access to some of the most interesting, generous and most esteemed voice over instructors of our time, all of whom have donated their expertise in efforts to positively impact and help propel the industry in the days and years ahead.

People Must Really Dig Experts

The podcast, which is available for free subscription in the iTunes Podcast Directory, has been downloaded over 32,254 times according to my FeedBurner statistics this morning. On behalf of our faculty of experts and the team at Voices.com, we give a hearty thanks to you our listeners!

Comments Matter

For those of you who have kindly taken a minute to comment on individual podcasts that you have listened to, I want to let you know that your thoughts are very much appreciated and valued by the contributing experts. Please continue giving your feedback and sharing your thoughts as they encourage the people who are volunteering and also add to the overall experience for everyone.

Do You Listen to Voice Over Experts?

If Voice Over Experts is a part of your life and has helped or entertained you in any way, please take a moment to share your comments here on VOX Daily.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Based on C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia : Prince Caspian, this action-packed movie from Disney is tops at the box office and boasts a great voice cast as well.

Prince Caspian Plot Summary

The movie starts off with a noblewoman woman giving birth. This woman bears a son and gives her husband, the brother of the late Telmarine king, reason to do away with his nephew and rightful heir to the throne, Prince Caspian X.

Prince Caspian's tutor Doctor Cornelius is tipped off and sends the prince riding into the night to escape certain death, providing him with a gift (a horn) that he must only use in the time of his greatest need.

Coming upon that greatest need somewhat early in the film, Prince Caspian blows the horn, summoning the kings and queens of old to return to Narnia, the human rulers of a nation that the Telmarines despised and nearly drove to extinction.

At the time of Prince Caspian's horn blowing, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie have been away from Narnia for one year and long to return. At the sound of the horn the kings and queens of old are pulled back into the ruins of their home in Narnia which has become a more savage place than they remember it.

While the children have been gone only a year 1300 years have passed in Narnia.

In brief, there is a lot of fighting between the Narnians and the Telmarines as the Narnians attempt to defend their land and people.

Without giving too much away, there is a happy ending, however there are many lessons to be learned first, primarily about the importance of faith and humility.

Voice Acting Review

The voice acting was very good and I must say that I was particularly fond of the voice of the badger, Trufflehunter, voiced by Ken Stott.

There was some great comic relief from a sword-wielding mouse, Reepicheep, voiced by Eddie Izzard.

I was taken aback by just how few Liam Neeson's lines as Aslan were in the film. For all of the hype I expected that his character Aslan would have played a larger role in Prince Caspian. I haven't read this particular Narnia book and am unaware if portions of the novel were left out to keep the film to 2 hours and 20 minutes.

One observation I made as the credits rolled by on the screen was that there were no female voice actors!

The movie was male dominated, both on-camera actors and off, so it wasn't a huge surprise to see a lack of female voice talent listed in the credits. I've heard that you need to have a certain number of lines in a film before you are credited, so it's possible that there were female talent who provided voice overs but because their lines were so few, they were not mentioned.

Prince Caspian Voice Cast

Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan
Ken Stott as the voice of Trufflehunter
Harry Gregson-Williams as the voice of Pattertwig the Squirrel
Sim Evan-Jones as the voice of Peepiceek
David Walliams as the voice of Bulgy Bear
Eddie Izzard as the voice of Reepicheep

Have you seen Prince Caspian? What did you think of the movie?

Leave a comment and join the conversation :)

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Are video game voice actors a bunch of whiners or is there justice to be served?

Read about the state of pay in video game voice acting and hear from one very vocal talent, Michael Hollick, star of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV), voice of Niko Bellic.

Grand Theft Stealing from Voice Actors?

Grand Theft Auto IV has received nothing but fantastic press and reviews thus far, however, the tables have turned of late and the spotlight has shifted from the gaming experience to the voices who give life to the characters who notably play an integral role in the success of the video game.

The voice acting is inarguably entertaining and of high calibre... that's not up for debate.

While the voice actors are being praised for their talent, they have failed miserably in the money department to reap any financial rewards from the videogame's gross sales starting with the $500 million GTA IV made in its first week on the market. According to today's stats, that number is now over $600 million.

Star of Grand Theft Auto IV Speaks Out

Voice actor Michael Hollick, who provided the voice of the lead role Niko Bellic, was paid $100,000.00 for his work over the fifteen month period that he worked on the game.

While it may seem like a lot of money to the majority of people under the sun, it's peanuts according to those who have seen their work used without further compensation in promos, commercials and via new media applications such as the internet and podcasts.

Recently, Michael was interviewed for an article in the New York Times. When asked about his feelings with regard to the compensation he received for voicing Niko Bellic, he said:

“Obviously I’m incredibly thankful to Rockstar for the opportunity to be in this game when I was just a nobody, an unknown quantity,” Mr. Hollick, 35, said last week over dinner in Willamsburg, Brooklyn, shortly after performing in the aerial theater show “Fuerzabruta” in Union Square. “But it’s tough, when you see Grand Theft Auto IV out there as the biggest thing going right now, when they’re making hundreds of millions of dollars, and we don’t see any of it. I don’t blame Rockstar. I blame our union for not having the agreements in place to protect the creative people who drive the sales of these games. Yes, the technology is important, but it’s the human performances within them that people really connect to, and I hope actors will get more respect for the work they do within those technologies.”

What Gives?

Here's what:

If you were to tally the unpaid usage at fair market prices (or union scale), you're looking at potentially millions of dollars of lost income and revenue per project for those whose work is being exhibited in order to increase the bottom line of the gaming companies.

Hollick went on to say:

“For instance, our contracts say nothing about the use of voices for promotional purposes over the Internet,” Mr. Hollick said. “The first G.T.A. IV trailer generated something like 40 million hits online, and that’s my voice all over it, and I get nothing. If that were a radio spot, I would have. Same thing for the TV ads. I recorded those lines for the game, but now they’re all over television. It’s another gray area.”

Residuals

What most people outside of the entertainment industry don't know is that in other forms of media celebrities and working union talent are paid residuals for their commercial work. Every time the piece of work they were part of airs, it begins a 13-week cycle of residual payments, a very attractive and self-sustaining means of income for thousands of actors and voice actors.

This is where things get a little bit messy.

Because video games fall under the umbrella of New Media, voice actors who lend their pipes to video games gain only what they are paid for the time spent recording voice overs in the studio via session fees, missing out on coveted residual payments.

Union scale for a session fee is $760 for four hours of work.

Payment varies based upon the number of roles they are portraying and subsequent number of lines that their character(s) voice (dialogue in cut scenes, exertion sounds, etc.). The voice actor only spends as much time as necessary completing their video game voice acting gig and sees not a penny more or less than the standard session fees.

New Media

New Media has been a thorn in the side of unions ever since it came into being, starting with DVDs, the internet, podcasts and mobile devices such as cell phones.

No one can seem to figure out how to make anything other than a buyout work with this creature and some have even gone on strike because of it.

Remember the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike? How about when the Canadian union ACTRA went on strike in 2007?

Jumping ahead, how about the potential strike SAG will face over the same issue? It's not just over higher fees in general, they're talking New Media and finding a way to capitalize on it.

Is this a battle that will be won around a bargaining table? Will voice actors ever see residuals for their work in video games?

Tell me what you think and let the debate begin!

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Izabela Habur

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It's all about strategy!

Did your grey matter help you to secure work this week?

Let us know by leaving a comment on this week's edition of "Who Got the Gig!".

What kind of voice over work have you been recording this week?

No doubt many of you saw fit to get as much work done as possible before the Memorial Day Weekend in the United States.

Whether you did the voice work during the past seven days or got to see your voice overs in action recently, we want to hear from you and celebrate :)

Leave a comment!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Chen Fu Soh

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Noticed anything different lately when taking a bus ride in London, Ontario Canada?

According to some people I've spoken with, riding the bus in London has never been so exciting, or for that matter, sensationally sonorous.

Who's calling the stops?

Meet London Transit's new voice, Passion Fruit Productions' Liz Raphael Helgesen.

VOX: How many prompts did you need to record for London Transit's voice overs?

LIZ RAPHAEL HELGESEN: We recorded about 1,000 prompts, mostly street names and monuments that define various stops.

VOX: Did you have a favorite prompt when recording? Any street names that stuck out to you as unique?

LIZ: I liked 1st Hussars Museum. While researching its pronunciation, I became fascinated with the museum’s collection of military history. Also interesting is that it is located in the Old Middlesex County Jail, another historic London Landmark.

VOX: How long did it take you to complete the project?

LIZ: We recorded several lists of prompts over a couple of months.

VOX: Where did you record the voice overs?

LIZ: My own recording studios, Passion Fruit Productions in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

VOX: You are a voice on the move, literally, recording VO for mobile technology (T-Mobile to name one), automobile navigation and now public transit. Is there anything you find particularly satisfying about this kind of voice over?

LIZ: In our mobile, time-pressed society, people are constantly rushing around to get where they need to go. I am grateful that my voice can give people all over the world peace of mind and point them in the right direction.

Are you a voice "on the move", too?

Leave a comment and let us know where your voice is heard!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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If you're feeling some tension I've got a neat idea you can try to release your stress.

This tongue twister might just do the trick!

I wrote this tongue twister earlier today and I hope it helps you. I found it to be quite beneficial :)

Decide to de-stress not distress from your stress,
Decide to deplete and digress don't distress!
Do not be stressed by distress caused by stress,
Decisively set your own course for success.

Try reciting the tongue twister in a triple meter placing the emphasis appropriately. You'll find that the words are somewhat calming and that the poem can also be used as a vocal exercise.

Another idea? Listen to and practice Rodney Saulsberry's tongue twisters which range from the moderately simple to the simply challenging.

I also recommend reciting nursery rhymes or reading Dr. Seuss books. Lilting rhythms and childlike simplicity are great catalysts for feeling better and more relaxed.

What's your favorite way to combat stress? Do you recite anything in particular?

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Suprijono Suharjoto

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Susan Blu, Molly Ann Mullin and Cynthia Songé's book "Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-over Excellence, 3rd Edition", is all about the rudiments of voice acting, giving yourself permission to play, and learning how to release the characters within.

VOX Daily Book Club Selection "Word of Mouth"

This week, I'm pleased to present you with a new book review for the VOX Daily Book Club ;)

Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-over Excellence, 3rd Edition

"Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-over Excellence, 3rd Edition" is authored by Susan Blu in collaboration with colleagues Molly Ann Mullin and Cynthia Songé.

First published in 1987, was the first-ever book written that focused on voice-overs. The edition printed in 2006 (the edition being reviewed) addresses technological changes that have developed since the initial printing.

The book has 160 pages of core content, a glossary, an industry contact list and also includes an entertaining instructional CD that was recorded at the time of the book's first release in 1987.

Many of you know about Susan Blu's extensive career in animation voice overs (Transformers, Smurfs, etc.) and also know her as a casting director and instructor.

Initial Impressions

I found the preface, which set the pace for the book, to be very affirming and encouraging without over-selling the notion that "everyone can do this".

As is presented in the title, the goal is to achieve voice-over excellence, which is not an easy thing to do by any standards.

Susan is friendly and very amiable in her descriptive writing style sharing information about preparation (study) and performance. The pictures of voice actors working in the studio also adds another element to the reading experience.

The More the Merrier

"I've come to care less about having to get every single job and more about the fun and passion for the work itself that I'm experiencing on a daily basis. Don't misunderstand! I love getting the job, winning the audition. But now I have a heartfelt appreciation that the right jobs are mine and that the others are yours. I know that there really is room for all of us."

-- Susan Blu

Want to Be a Working Voice-Over Actor?

You'll need:

1. Talent and passion
2. Perseverance
3. A belief in oneself that can't be shaken, rocked or questioned

There is always room for excellent new performers who will risk and take the chances to allow their creativity to come through.

As a person in a position of authority where casting is concerned, Susan shared that she remembers people who go the extra mile in pursuit of voice-over excellence and champions those who have the talent and drive.

Reading this book is a step in the right direction and it's comforting to know that it is authored by three people who care deeply about properly educating aspiring voice actors.

Concepts

One that I liked in particular was that you have a host of characters living inside of you... you just have to identify them and let them out!

Susan advises to look inside yourself to become all of the different people you already are. You're not just reading. You have a character who is a particular someone in a particular situation talking to another particular person (or group of people) about a particular product.

If you can become that particular person and respect the particular world that they live in you're on the right track as a voice actor.

Myth Busters!

I thought you would enjoy hearing about these myths. Not to include too much detail (you should really read the book for yourself), 5 myths are busted, including:

1. Voice overs are male dominated
2. There is a clique in the industry
3. You need to have an unusual voice
4. You have to be a certain age to do certain characters
5. You must already be a professional actor

Why Are You in Voice-Overs?

Susan asks the pointed question "Why are you in voice overs?", an important question to ask yourself at any stage of your career.

Whatever your reason, be sure that the reason is substantial enough to get you through the hard times. Your reason should serve as a motivator when the going gets tough.

Tip: If you aren't having fun doing voice-overs, do yourself a favor and get out of the business. The least bit of boredom or discontent will show up in your voice. The microphone doesn't lie.

Takeaways

1. Be a student everyday and keep learning
2. Treat VO as a game with the objective of winning (results of success will be automatic)
3. Have healthy attitudes and believe that you can achieve anything

Be Willing to Have Fun

Susan places a strong emphasis on the willingness to play and to really shoot for the stars, equipping her readers with a basic process to achieve believability called "Endowing the copy".

There are great exercises throughout that help with everything from the basics of reading copy and interpretation to fleshing a voice over out through attitudes and characterization. There are plenty of innovative ideas that keep practice / exercise more "game-like".

Resources

You'll find 9 commercial scripts to practice with. There's also an entire chapter dedicated to the demo CD that clearly states that people should not record a demo before they are ready! That's some sound advice.

Page 95 includes criteria for selecting a demo producer that you will find useful should you be in that boat.

"The demo represents you. In your absence, it auditions for you. Therefore it should always showcase your very best work and be of the highest quality."'

VERY TRUE!

Parting Words

This book was very good and quite comprehensive. On the performance and theory end of things, this book is one of the best I've ever read for voice acting.

However I found a couple of items to be surprising considering the publication date:

1. Complete absence of voice over marketplaces in the chapter on promotion and in the book in general.
2. Inaccurate information with regard to number and accessibility of non-union jobs.

The revised edition was published in 2006 and the marketplaces have been online since 2003.

Page 136 poses the question "Do I have to belong to a union to get a job?".

The answer reads:

"Not necessarily, and certainly not at the beginning of your career. Non-union jobs do exist, but they are generally fewer in number, harder to find and less lucrative."

In 2006 non-union work was quite bountiful and easily found online via marketplaces or through drumming up business the old fashioned way offline.

Today, non-union voice over work accounts for the bulk of voice over jobs. As we learned in recent weeks, major markets are seeing an upward trend in non-union work, even in the heart of Manhattan. As notable talent have said, the writing has been on the wall outside of NYC and LA for a long time... it's just finally hitting the two union strongholds and now being formally acknowledged.

Those two items aside, the book is a winner that I recommend finds its way into your library.

Have You Read This Book? Leave a Comment!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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As today is a holiday in Canada, I wanted to try something a little different and fun on the blog today. Trust me, if you are a first-time reader, this is not typical of VOX Daily but it's always good to shake things up now and then so I hope you'll see the humor in this!

Are you ready for some quirky entertainment?

I wonder what Jim Henson would have thought of this!

Rickroll

On April Fools Day (April 1st) 2008, there was a phenomenon that took over YouTube called "Rickroll" or "Rickrolling".

Countless videos were edited to include 80s British pop singer Rick Astley's single "Never Gonna Give You Up" causing a ruckus and many an uproar (not to mention the question of royalties!).

Newscasters, celebrities and even Yoda were Rickrolled. To bring it back home to voice acting, many of the Rickroll videos were dubbed and also had voice overs in them.

Maybe you were Rickrolled last April... I know I was!

David (CEO of Voices.com) Rickrolled the Voices.com team at a company meeting once which was pretty funny. If you've seen the actual music video, you know what I'm talking about, and you also know those funky dance moves...

Do you have any Rickroll experiences to share?

Add a comment below on Rickrolling in general or about the Muppets Rickroll ;)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Oh Friday, you couldn't have come a moment too soon!

What's been going on in your voice over business this week?

Leave a comment to join the conversation!

Ba ba ba booyah!

Any nice plays in your audio recording studio?

I'd love to hear about the kind of voice over work you recorded this week. Don't be shy... there's nothing wrong with dropping names if you are able.

Have a great long weekend for those celebrating! It's Victoria Day here in Canada on Monday.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Curtis J. Morley

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You know those words, phrases or terms that kind of make you go "hmm hmm" and wonder why they're still around?

3 specific terms are among my pet peeves. Maybe they're yours, too?

1. DEMO TAPE

Why should "Demo Tape" be removed?

The term "Demo Tape" needs to hit the road because demos are no longer produced on cassette tapes and barely anyone uses cassette players in 2008. Similarly, "Demo Reel", although it sounds cool and has agency elitism written all over it, is also passe. Same goes with "Agency Reels" or "House Reel".

The term "Demo Reels" comes from a time when tape was wound around a "reel" which is not the case anymore thanks to digital audio recording technology.

If you are using any of those words anywhere on your website or in your marketing materials, replace them with "Demo CD" or "Voice over demo". Not only are those words out of fashion, they date you and may give the wrong impression as to your present capabilities and knowledge of the industry.

"DEMO TAPE / REEL", BE GONE!

2. VOICE SEEKER(S)

Why should "Voice Seeker(s)" be removed?

It infers that the person is simply looking or browsing rather than conveying a description of someone who has a mission to complete that includes hiring a voice over talent.

Secondly, apart from seeking a voice, it has nothing to do with voice over or voice acting. It could be someone who talks, sings, is a public speaker, has a voice, and so forth.

Thirdly, picture a relationship ad in the local paper, many go something like this:

"Man seeking woman", or "Woman seeking man"

Not exactly the imagery you want coming to mind when describing your most valued client, whether perspective or otherwise.

Finally, "Voice Seeker(s)" is vague, noncommittal and is offensive to buyers of voice over services.

"VOICE SEEKER(S)", BE GONE!

3. PAY TO PLAY SITES

Why should "Pay to Play Sites" be removed?

This is probably the most annoying term that I've ever encountered let alone an inaccurate description of what it intends to communicate.

Pay to Play sites is a term associated with voice over marketplaces or any website that requires you to invest in a membership fee to access jobs to apply for. It's a very negative connotation that our industry and the world would be a better place without.

Let's get this straight.

When someone signs up for a membership and pays a fee to access job opportunities, they are paying a fee in order to receive upgraded customer service and gain access to job leads that have been qualified, laid before them and are ripe for the picking.

No pavement to pound, no cold calling, no having to ask permission to send a demo.

Talk about amazing opportunities to market your voice without having to lift a finger!

Marketplaces give you the ability to promote yourself like no other venue and calling them pay to play sites is a disservice to the companies that do provide remarkable value for little investment.

If you're really looking to replace it with something, try "Software as a Service". Software as a Service (SaaS) is defined by Wikipedia as:

A model of software deployment where an application is hosted as a service provided to customers across the Internet. By eliminating the need to install and run the application on the customer's own computer, SaaS alleviates the customer's burden of software maintenance, ongoing operation, and support. Using SaaS also can reduce the up-front expense of software purchases, through less costly, on-demand pricing. From the sofware vendor's standpoint, SaaS has the attraction of providing stronger protection of its intellectual property and establishing an ongoing revenue stream. The SaaS software vendor may host the application on its own web server, or this function may be handled by a third-party application service provider (ASP).

On behalf of all the services out there who have been mislabeled as such:

"PAY TO PLAY SITES", BE GONE!

Aspiring Talent, Take Note:

Make sure that you are aware of the proper terminology being used today. While you need to know terms from previous decades (there are still people in certain parts of the industry who use them), you'll find that the voice over industry is changing at a rapid pace and it will benefit you greatly to get in with the digital crowd.

By using voice over industry jargon (words used by those who work in voice overs), and by avoiding obsolete or inappropriate words or terms, you'll find that your career-building efforts in the new reality of voice over will come easier as will communicating with the new school of industry leaders.

That Being Said, Professionals, I Turn To You:

Does what I shared make sense to you? Are there any terms that you'd like to see removed from voice over jargon?

Leave a comment!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Skip ODonnell

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Do you have a voice over that you need recorded but can't do yourself?

When your clients make voice over requests that you can't personally fulfill, there's always the option to hire someone else to record the voice over for you, and you'll find that someone at Voices.com.

Want to know more about outsourcing VO?

Outsourcing Voice Overs

Ever had a client ask you to hire someone else (another voice actor) to work with you on a job?

You may encounter voice acting jobs that will require that you enlist the services of a talent of the opposite gender, a talent with contrasting texture in their voice, a different language, vocal style or voice age.

There's a Job for Every Voice and a Voice for Every Job

Sometimes you'll be offered a job that your voice is not at all suited to, or perhaps, you're simply too busy to take the project on.

Whatever your reasons, you can always find the voice that you are looking for at Voices.com, the voice over marketplace.

Getting the Job Done Right

You need the right voice that meets your budget and you need it fast!

There are 3 ways that you can find a voice over talent to record your project:

1. Post a Job
2. Browse the Featured Talent Directory
3. Use the Voices.com Search Engine

Posting a Voice Over Job at Voices.com

I personally recommend posting a voice over job (I've posted about 5 jobs to hire talent) because you'll receive a more than adequate number of proposals from a variety of voice actors who meet your hiring criteria with the ability to easily compare proposals, demos and price quotes.

Also, something unique to this experience is that you guaranteed to find the best voice for your project and can ensure that you are satisfied with the voice over before making payment by using the Voices.com SurePay Escrow service. SurePay is convenient and protects both the buyer (customer hiring talent) and the seller (voice actor who records the voice over), making for worry-free outsourcing and a smooth hiring experience.

Browsing the Featured Talent Directory

If you're ready to rock and need to find a voice for a specific to a particular kind of voice over, let's say telephone voices, radio commercial voices, or narrators for audiobooks, business presentations, voices for podcasts, character voice actors and so on, you'll find everything you're looking for in the Featured Talent Directory linked off of the Voices.com home page and search engine.

Search the Voices.com Talent Search Engine

You know how you can use search engines like Google, MSN and Yahoo! to find what you are looking for? Voices.com has a voice search engine that helps you to sort talent listings and makes it easier to find the kind of voice or voices you need to complete your project.

You can search by simply by keyword and gender or take advantage of the advanced search options that include factors such as language, location, skills, age, and union status.

The Next Time You Need a Voice...

The team at Voices.com looks forward to serving you!

Be sure to let your colleagues and business associates know about this fast, easy to use (and best of all... free!) web service for outsourcing voice overs.

Voices.com is home to a diverse talent pool spanning the globe and we're proud to say that clients who have hired at Voices.com relate that talent who are listed here are the best in the business. With a 94% client satisfaction rate and the added comfort of SurePay Escrow for purchasing, you know you're in good hands and at the right place.

Best wishes,

Stephanie and The Voices.com Team

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Ever laughed out loud or found it hard to contain yourself when you were on the air?

Jeremy Jacobs, a presenter, corporate host and radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom, posted 4 great tips for how to crack down on laughter for broadcast radio professionals that are sure to get you out of jeopardizing binds.

Whether you are on the radio, in front of the camera, speaking in public or simply find yourself about to laugh at an inappropriate time, these tips will do wonders to help you stop laughing or prevent embarrassing laughter altogether.

Tips for Radio Broadcasters

It's hard to maintain composure when you are unexpectedly struck by a fit of the giggles.

Jeremy Jacobs proposes these four ideas that will help muffle inappropriate laughter as well as potentially save your job!

How to Stop Laughing

1. Focus on the task in hand.

2. Bite your lip or the inside of your mouth. The minor pain takes your mind off other matters.

3. If you’re able to, think of something else. Pink elephants are my favourite.

4. Take deep breaths.

Have you ever had (or almost had) a bout of uncontrollable laughter on the air?

Please leave a comment to join in the conversation!

Cheers,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Ian McDonnell

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Dilbert Fans Rejoice!

In April, Dilbert and his fellow comic strip buddies hit the animated scene on the official Dilbert.com website, enjoying coverage from Reuters and now an exclusive interview with Dan Roberts, the voice of Dilbert, at Voices.com.

VOX: Did you know you were auditioning for roles on Dilbert from the beginning?

DAN ROBERTS: Yes. The interesting thing is, the producers at Ring Tales contacted me directly. Normally at www.voices.com, I would follow-up on a job lead that was posted. There are thousands and thousands of voices online. I'm so lucky that they found me! After that, it was up to me to win them over.

VOX: Were you a fan of Dilbert before getting this job?

DAN: Well, I'm certainly his #1 fan now! I was familiar with the strip. I own one of the books, and I watched the TV series a bit.

VOX: How does it feel to give voice to an American comic icon?

DAN: Surreal. It is an honor and a privilege! Did I mention terrifying?

VOX: What's it like being Dilbert?

DAN: You spend a lot of time in cubicles. Seriously? I love comic strips, comic books and animation, so this is a dream come true!

VOX: What characteristics did you groom your "Dilbert" voice to have?

DAN: Meek, but not too nerdy. Sarcastic, but not overly aggressive. His voice is pitched only slightly higher than my normal speaking voice. Really, the only difference between him and me is that I have pupils. Oh! And he's smarter.

VOX: Do you do all of the Dilbert / Dilbert's boss recordings from your own studio?

DAN: I'm in Seattle and RingTales (the producers) are in California, so yes. Isn't that great? One of the benefits of the 21st century! I work on a Mac and save each recorded voice as an .aiff file. Then I upload the file to an ftp site. So it's great quality audio!

VOX: The animated shorts are absolutely fantastic. How often do you need to record for this gig?

DAN: We're still in the early stages, but it looks to be one or two times a month.

VOX: Do you know who rounds out the voice cast with you?

DAN: Dogbert is voiced by Marc Pouhe, Alice by Megan Kluck and Wally is done by Jason Williams. None of the other voice actors are from Voices.com, although RingTales does use some other Voices.com talent on their New Yorker Cartoons -- which are nominated for a Webby!

VOX: Are there more opportunities to come from voicing Dilbert animated shorts on the web in the works?

DAN: I hope so! Ring Tales has other animated shorts in the works, and they are nominated for a Webby for their animated New Yorker cartoons! Perhaps they'll find another character that fits me. Michael Fry and Jim Cox, the founders of the company, are also responsible for a little movie called Over the Hedge (with Bruce Willis and Garry Shandling) that did quite well. Maybe they'll throw me a bone if they do a sequel. Heck, I'd bring the actors their coffee! Do raccoons and turtles drink coffee?

VOX: Have you had the chance to communicate with Scott Adams?

DAN: Not in person. But there are encrypted messages to me in each new strip.

VOX: Did he give any specific direction for the characters?

DAN: He had those conversations with the producers. They coach me when I record the voices. I do know that Ring Tales went to bat for me to get the part of the boss. As the story goes: Once cast, for some reason they threw my Dilbert audition Mr. Adams way and he hand-picked me from among the others! That's flattering! I have to tell you I was quite nervous when it came time to send him the auditions. How do you compete with the voices the creator of the strip has heard in his head all these years?

VOX: The online Dilbert fan base is very involved. How have you found their response to the animated shorts so far?

DAN: They are clearly very passionate about Scott and the characters. The response to the shorts seems to be very positive! They're rooting for us.

VOX: What is your favorite Dilbert comic strip?

DAN: Anything with the Boss, Dogbert or Catbert. They make me laugh!

Any Dilbert fans out there? Leave a comment!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Well folks, it's time to return to our regularly scheduled programming :)

What kind of voice over work have you been doing lately?

Share your news by adding a comment!

What'd you do? Let us know! Reply below.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Anna Bryukhanova

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At the end of the day, we were treated to an expert panel Q&A session featuring Rodney Saulsberry, Billy Serow, Evan Farmer, Heather Frenz, David Ciccarelli, Dan Dinsmore, Jay Silverman, Jenny Marcotte, and David Bourgeois.

Get some fabulous insight and then some here on VOX Daily.

Rodney Saulsberry, Voice Actor, Author and Voice Over Coach

Q: What kind of steps did you take as a fledgling artist?

A: I saturated the market and made a lot cold calls, if you want the top guy or girl, call late close to 5 or 6. You need to know the name of the person you’re calling so do your homework. Get their name right. Know who you’re calling and be fast on your feet.

Jay Silverman, Voice Coaches Instructor

Q: Should I put non-paying vo jobs on my resume?

A: Absolutely, pro bono (no pay) is a good way to get your feet wet, but you can start practicing voice overs over the air to the blind and visually handicapped. Organizations that offer these opportunities exist everywhere.

When you go to do a pro bono piece, make sure that you get a CD of what you have done so that you can put the recorded material on your demo. Pro bono work shows professional growth and you certainly should include it in your letter. It's a great way to get started and build your reputation.

David Ciccarelli, CEO of Voices.com

Q: Should I join as many marketing sites as I can?

A: Just as Rodney said, saturate the market and get your name everywhere you can. Get on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

Before you sign up with any sites that require you to pay a membership fee, make a call to their office to speak with them to see if their service is a good fit for you. Be sure to note the quality of their customer service. Compare competing sites and get comfortable with a service before making a financial commitment. Look for testimonials, read up on the company's latest news and ask colleagues about their experiences.

Dan Dinsmore, CEO Overit Media

Q: How long does it take to get visual branding done?

A: The process varies and is dependent on the interaction between the designer and voice over artist. On average it takes about 2 weeks to get a brand together and fulfillment.

Billy Serow, Abrams Artists Agency

Q: Should people who are in the union go non-union to get work?

A: If a member of the union who declares themselves Financial Core, they lose the right to vote (among other privileges), however, with Fi-Core status you can audition and procure both union work and non-union work.

The stigma attached years ago to the status of Financial Core and prejudice against talent who were Fi-Core is not as great as it once was. Tough times call for greater understanding of the choices voice actors are making to go Fi-Core.

David Bourgeois, President of Voice Coaches

Q: How do you feel about the unions?

A: We support the union but understand that many of you are in smaller markets will not become members of the union. For more info on AFTRA, check out the literature at the back of the conference workbook.

Heather Frenz, NY Voice Actress

Q: Can women who have families make a successful living working in voice overs?

A: Women with families can make time for voice over and it is a good career if you can make it work for you. I have a family myself. Oftentimes there is little amount of work for big return.

Evan Farmer, Television Actor and Voice Actor

Q: How do you get work?

A: When you are looking for work, you've got to be in the hunger category; I would pursue all the jobs I could and my entire approach to the entertainment industry was to get work. I came to New York City to get work, and I found myself doing everything that presented itself to achieve my goals. One of my first character voice acting gigs was voice acting on the MTV program “Daria”. I joke that I booked my first job in a towel because I got the call about it fresh out of the shower.

You need to approach everything with the purpose of getting work, a hint of desperation, and a little more enthusiasm than the next person. You can get out there and get work if you are more prepared and more motivated to get the work than your competition.

Jenny Marcotte, Voice Coaches

Q: Are talent given the opportunity to pick a time slot when they have a session?

A: Sometimes flexible we're flexible and can work around someone's schedule but if we need you in for a session immediately or have booked all other time slots, it's important that a talent respect the schedule and take the session that is available.

Rodney Saulsberry

Q: Were there days that you wanted to pack it in? How did you react?

A: There are days when we all experience those kind of days, but I have faith. If you have a lot of auditions you don’t worry about any specific one. Once I was out golfing with Denzel Washington and one of his friends. We had lunch, and when the whole thing was over, Denzel said to his friend, "He sounds just like Pick (James Pickens Jr, actor on Grey's Anatomy), doesn’t he?" to which his friend replied "Yes he does."

Later on I had an audition for Grey's Anatomy. When auditioning for this role, I wanted so badly to tell them that "Denzel thinks…" but I made the decision to make it on my own merit. As I was waiting for my turn, I was told “If they’re looking for somebody to act it, you’re probably going to get it”. I got a call saying "The people at Grey’s Anatomy want to know what your availability is for a given day."

You've got to take every opportunity that comes your way. I'm encouraging you to join Voices.com, get auditions and get out there.

Jay Silverman

Q: Is there such a thing as overdoing follow up calls?

A: It’s funny, Heather and I were talking about this and she believes in every 6 weeks to follow up, I believe that you should follow up every 3 weeks. If you pick a time frame between 3-6 weeks, you’ll be in the right ballpark. Be assertive and don’t be obnoxious. Say what your business is and what you want to do, express interest, and always leave a phone number.

David Bourgeois

Q: Who gets the gig?

A: Sometimes it is the easiest person to go to who is hired. Not every demo is listened to even though it would be great to be able to sit in a soundproof room and listen to everything. Remember that the most difficult job to get is the first one.

It takes 60-70 percent more effort to get an initial job with a new client than more work from someone you’ve already done business with. Always be looking for the next work opportunity in an established relationship.

Jay Silverman

Q: Can you just stop in anytime to follow up or say Hi?

A: Remember that people are in business and make appointments out of courtesy for those whose work you are disrupting. By making an appointment, you're showing consideration for both your time and the client's, and they'll appreciate that greatly.

Dan Dinsmore

Q: How important is branding for voice actors? Does it affect whether or not you hire?

A: You want to have consistent branding on your website, CD packing, and so on. I receive anywhere from 10-15 demo CDs a month of potential talent looking for work in commercials and ad campaigns.

Usually I will throw away 50% of packaging that I get based upon professionalism and looks because I need to present my clients with something professional. You are selling yourself to an agency or network for work and your product needs to look professional. This is a business and anything that doesn’t look professional will probably get tossed.

We have worked with numerous artists and one woman would call every so often. She sent a gift once that I still keep in my wallet (gift card). Every time I open my wallet it makes me think about that individual because I have a piece of her branding with me at any given time. Once I use the card, that'll be that, but for now her branding is with me everywhere I go. To reiterate, make sure that you have a professional package to represent your business.

Billy Serow

Q: How do you feel about packaging?

I listen to every demo that is sent to me because it's a piece of someone's heart, now that being said, it might just be for 10 seconds or so. Bad packaging? I've seen it all, including CDs that have names written on with sharpie pens. Most CDs with poor packaging end up in the circular file, and sometimes I want to see how bad it will be (or will it be a surprise?); more often than not it lives up to its expectation. Success in voice over has everything to do with your talent and voice and nothing to do with your appearance. My greatest pet peeve is people putting picture on a CD.

Don’t put your pictures on your CDs.

One woman sent an incredibly beautifully designed CD along with a crystal (she paid pretty good money for it because I went on the Internet and checked). As I do with each CD, I listened to it and liked it regardless of the crystal. I called her up and said I'd like to bring her in for an appointment, but only on one condition -- that I could give her gift back to her. I told her that bribery is inappropriate and the CD stood on its own merit. She did graciously accept the crystal and because of her talent ended up getting signed.

Evan Farmer

Q: When you’re an on-camera host do you have more input in to what your voiceovers should be?

A: It depends on the producers. When I started While You Were Out, they dictated a lot of things, including hair, to which I argued "You hired me based upon who I was in the audition". In the early days I didn't have as much influence but as the show progressed, more and more of my suggestions were implemented and I felt more like myself. If you have a good relationship you can negotiate certain things.

Somewhere down the road if you have an ongoing gig, you become the person that they’re hiring. By the end if you put the first show up against 372 show, there’s more Evan input than in the beginning. With regard to voice over hosting, the work was very technically derived. I had to squeeze in 3 words per second and had a limited amount of time to hit marks. In the end though, creativity won out and had full reign.

David Bourgeois

On Evan's participation on While You Were Out

A: The While You Were Out people did ask Evan what he thought later. Producers are counting on you to walk in as a collaborator. If you give more creatively it’s easier to turn it down rather than try to pull energy out of you. Once, we recorded 2 episodes in 40 minutes.

Jenny Marcotte

Q: Is there any one quality that you are looking for in a voice talent?

A: Professionalism, politeness, and personality. Please show up for appointments.

David Ciccarelli

Q: There are so many talent out there. How does one stand out?

A: Give a unique headline as description for your voice and use graphic design to help solidify your brand. Only include your best work on your demos. Keep things current culturally as well as relevant to the calendar year. For instance, don't have a Christmas theme demo on your page during the summer.

Rodney Saulsberry

Q: Do you know of any ways to help someone relax immediately in the booth?

A: Adrenaline is good. I was nervous today and I’ve been talking before people forever. I don’t think it’s a problem. If you miss you have to be good because the competition is good. Embrace nervousness because it’s energy and you need energy. When you get to the job you still have to get it right. Take some deep breaths.

There is no technique for immediately getting rid of nervousness. Be prepared and that will help to make you more comfortable. Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity. Preparation cuts some of the nervousness because you know what you’re doing.

Heather Frenz

Adding to Rodney's comment

A: Think that everyone there wants you to succeed. That's how I maintain composure if I am nervous. Everyone wants you to have the best performance possible. Their success depends upon your comfort level and performance.

David Bourgeois

Further comments on being nervous

People who are nervous are worried about if it is right. It shouldn’t be your concern – that’s someone else’s decision. Read aloud, be aware and be open to suggestion. Creatively approach the copy. You have your best possible performance and worse possible performance – hit for upper middle range.

Evan Farmer

On pressure continued

A: Pressure that makes you nervous is that if you screw up you don’t get the job. The worst thing I ever did was walk into the room when you were still making decisions – clear your head – you’ve done the work – there’s nothing you can do in the last half hour before the audition. Get it out of your head – it’s the best thing you can do. It makes your performance that much more natural because you are connecting with the casting director.

Your confidence makes casting directors less nervous and more receptive to your audition.

Rodney Saulsberry

Q: Since I’m not in or near a major market what can I do to market my talent?

A: You can be anywhere today but Billy makes a good point. Big jobs are in major markets and residuals come with the union. If I were somewhere else in today’s times, I would still make it in this hussle. Yes, you can be anywhere but union work is mostly in NY or CA.

Do you have any comments on the panel?

Looking forward to hearing your feedback!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Rodney Saulsberry taught people more than a thing or two about how you can bank on your voice at the Voice Coaches Advanced Marketing Expo and Conference.

Discover some tips that will more than get you on your way and light a lively fire beneath you in your voice over career.

Need A Moment?

What do the movie trailers "Waiting to Exhale", "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", "IronMan", Twix chocolate bars, the Zatarain's Jazz Man commercials and Dominos Pizza all have in common?

They are all voiced by Rodney Saulsberry, celebrated voice over artist, author and voice acting instructor.

You might recognize the following:

"Need a moment? When you need a moment, chew it over with Twix"

"Jazz it up with Zatarain's"

That's Rodney Saulsberry!

Rodney Saulsberry

One of the reasons why I love hearing Rodney Saulsberry speak (and reading his voice acting books) is because he is so down to earth and is genuinely interested in helping others succeed and meet their potential.

Rodney firmly believes that we all have a path in life and that hard work and determination pay off when the right opportunities present themselves.

Isn't it nice to know that you've arrived at this stage in your career for a reason?

Voice Over is Voice Acting

Voice over isn't just talking, it's acting. Rodney advises that all aspiring voice actors take an acting class. Also, consider improvisation (improv) classes and singing classes as voiceover is analogous to music.

It's not how you sound, it's how you interpret the copy. That's the way you get the work.

Remember that beauty is in the ear of the beholder. Upon making that critical realization, you'll learn not to take rejection personally and be better for it.

Take Action and Make Your Own Opportunities

Many years ago, Rodney got an audition for a show called "Happy Days". Although he wasn't cast for the show, this ambitious talent from Detroit, Michigan wasn't going to pack up and go home without dropping some resumes!

While making the rounds, Rodney stumbled upon a rehearsal for the show "Taxi" starring Tony Danza.

Tony saw Rodney and purposefully pushed him. Rodney, always being the actor, decided to reciprocate and a light boxing match took shape right there and then. As soon as Tony had seen enough, he motioned to James L. Brooks and told him to hire Rodney on the spot to play the role of Carl the Boxer.

See what creating opportunities and taking risks can do for your career?

Trends in Voice Acting

The trend today is to sound like a "real person".

While that may sound easy enough, you'd be surprised at how much work goes into sounding real without sounding contrived or fake.

During his presentation, Rodney graciously shared the floor with a handful of participants who were asked to read for him using some advertising copy he had prepared. The energy in the room was fabulous, being a theatre and all, and the voice actors really gave it everything they had.

The performances were noteworthy but what the genius of it all came out through some very carefully worded direction that turned a voice over read into a believable voice over performance. Big distinction.

Rodney asked his volunteers to perform and insert his name at key points in the script so as to create an atmosphere where it wasn't just a voice actor talking to the wall but to a real person who they could converse with and relate to.

I Am Always a Student

Even people at Rodney's level in the voice over biz are students.

With the industry changing fast and furiously, it's hard not to be a student, and if you aren't still learning you'd be surprised by how much things have changed!

In the past, people like Rodney in sunny California used to hop in their car and drive all over Los Angeles -- just to audition. Of course, the majority of the work was also done on-site at recording studios, but with today's technologies (Internet / ISDN), there's significantly less commuting which happily makes for cleaner air and less money spent on gasoline.

It also used to be more common that talent would get bookings based upon their demo. Not so in recent years. Top talent also need to audition nowadays according to the new realities of the voice over marketplace.

Takeaways

• Say your name before you read audition copy and state it nice and clearly.
• Don't enhance your voice in auditions at home. You need to live up to your demo in person.
• Send MP3 files instead of WAV files when auditioning.
• Celebrity sound alike work is big business. Match the key they speak in, their timing and breathing.
• Once you find your signature voice, stick with it. Your signature voice makes you the most money.
• It all starts first with hard work. If you work hard, how can you not be successful?

Ask yourself:

Which voice gets you the jobs?
Which voice makes you happy?
Which voice are you most comfortable with?

If you work hard and you also have talent, the sky's the limit.

Ideas for Practice to Gain a Competitive Advantage:

• Read copy.
• Cereal boxes, sides of buses, and so on.
• Turn on the radio. Repeat right after the announcers.
• Listen to other voice talent.
• Notice their phrasing and voice over style.
• Listen to timing.

Any comments? I'd love to hear your thoughts and I'm sure Rodney does too.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Big League VO is where some of the meatiest, most lucrative voice over jobs are acquired, but the latest news out of the traditionally union-dominated Manhattan voice over scene may surprise you.

Find out how the US economy continues to take a bite out of union work.

Big League VO

One year has passed since we last met with Super Agent Billy Serow and heard him speak on the topic of Big League VO.

While the man and the agent are still the same, the way the game is played has changed considerably.

Billy Serow

For those of you who don't know Billy Serow, Billy started out as an actor who later moved to the other side of the dinner table to work as a casting director, followed by becoming a voice over agent working at William Morris representing celebrities.

Although William Morris paid the bills, Billy's heart was set on developing talent more than further lining the pockets of established personalities. He enjoys making people stars, not servicing stars, which led to his current position as a voice over agent at Abrams Artists Agency where he has been for the past six years.

The Abrams Artists Agency voiceover department has 6 agents. They make money for their talent in every possible venue using the human voice.

Sounds pretty normal so far, doesn't it?

The Conversation Took a Decidedly Different Turn

Fact: The voice-over world is rapidly changing.

When Billy first got into commercials, 95% of national network commercial jobs cast in New York City were union jobs and 5% were non-union jobs.

Commercials are the mainstay in the union field.

In recent years that reality has dwindled. Non-union network voice-over commercial jobs in New York City now account for 38% of the work and climbing while only 62% presently remains union voice-over work.

For union talent (SAG / AFTRA), that's a tough pill to swallow -- for a franchised union agency, that's a wake up call.

The non-union sector is growing in leaps and bounds and uncertainty is ravaging the landscape, overshadowed by a thick cloud known as "New Media".

Big League VO has Found Itself in the Wild West

The new frontier of New Media is quick to move and the unions have yet to find a satisfactory and standardized way of handling work contracted for mediums and applications such as podcasts, DVDs, mobile devices, cell phones, viral marketing campaigns and Internet.

Let's be clear: There is no contract for “New Media”.

Example: A commercial that was on radio first and then re-broadcast online has additional fees.

Online use post-broadcast is billed at the equivalent of 3 session fees ( $400 per session ) = $1200 for 1-years rate

That being said, when the audio is procured initially for distribution via New Media and then subsequently applied to other mediums, there's nothing in place to charge for usage of the material.

If you think this subject sounds familiar, take a moment to remember the Writer's Guild of America strike last year and think ahead to the imminent discussions SAG will take part in with producers regarding issues of compensation for usage of broadcast material in New Media.

US Economy Poses Challenges for Union Talent

The US economy is in danger of entering into some murky waters and as a result union work is becoming harder to come by and negotiate each day.

Enter Financial Core.

Some people in the union struggle with the thought (and some with the reality) of taking non-union jobs just to make enough money to support their families. In most cases this would be impossible, but not where Financial Core is concerned.

In a nutshell, Financial Core is the only way for union members to do non-union voice-over work without being scrutinized or risk excommunication by the union. While work can still be pursued on both union and non-union terms, the individuals who apply for the status of Financial Core do lose some privileges such as the right to vote on union politics and attend union functions.

Several years ago, there was a glaring stigma associated with having Financial Core status in the union, but the stance held on the issue has become seemingly less stringent and more forgiving in recent months.

This Is The Sound of an Industry Changing

What happens now? Many are debating over whether or not to join the union considering the financial outlook, diminishing signatories who hire union talent, and increasing percentage of non-union jobs.

With living expenses on the rise, an uncertain economy, sparring unions, and fewer union jobs to go around, some people will need to make difficult decisions in order to get by.

What Do You Think of All This?

Leave a comment sharing your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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Mark Magdich from Fort Wayne, Indiana flew in and gave a whirlwind talk featuring audio recording equipment and basic concepts of home recording for voice actors.

Discover the benefits of investing in quality gear and learn about standard technologies you should have in your studio.

Sweetwater Sound

If there's anyone who knows the scoop on hardware and software for home recording, it's a hardcore rock musician, and the audience at Voice Coaches certainly had access to one of the most knowledgeable people in the business, Mark Magdich of Sweetwater Sound.

With the advent of new, more efficient technologies the costs associated with building a top tier audio recording studio have plummeted, making some aspects of the previously unattainable multi-million dollar studios of a decade ago available for somewhere in the neighborhood of a few thousand dollars today.

Now, you'll find that you can "plug and play" with the aid of simplified digital audio recording devices, specifically using USB microphones and cables.

Essential Audio Recording Studio Equipment:

• Microphone
• Audio Interface
• Pop Screen
• XLR Cable
• Music Stand
• Blank CDs
• Headphones
• Recording Software
• High-speed Internet Connection

Now, having the equipment is one thing, but understanding how it works is another.

Signal Flow

Something you should be aware of is "Signal Flow" sometimes referred to as the "Signal Chain". The Signal Flow encompasses a series of steps that begins with your voice (reading a line) all the way through how your voice is recorded using recording software.

The Signal Flow operates as follows:

Voice -- Mic -- XLR Cable -- Audio Interface -- USB / Firewall Cable -- Computer

With proper equipment and studio setup, you'll get good, clean audio which is a very good investment if you are going to take voice acting seriously and work in this friendly yet competitive industry.

Recording is Just Like Using a Word Processor

Mark elaborated on some basic recording techniques and practices including editing and exporting your audio, likening it to a word processor.

As he put it, there are many parallels such as:

• Creating data (Recording your voice / Typing words)
• Copying
• Cutting
• Pasting

The beauty of digital audio recording is that you can start and stop the process at your leisure and combine the best parts of each recording into your final take.

Once you're through with the editing of the file you'll want to export it from your recording program. Once exported, the audio is ready to send to your client via email or bounce down on CDs to mail out and promote your voice.

Software Suggestions:

• Cakewalk Sonar
• Cubase
• Digital Performer
• Pro Tools

Interfaces / Hardware Suggestions

• M-Audio FastTrack
• Digidesign MBox
• Edirol AudioCapture
• Lexicon Lambda

Microphone Suggestions:

• Audio Technica AT 3035
• Neumann TLM 103
• Shure SM-7B
• Rode NT1-A

For reference purposes, I've included the current US pricing (May 3, 2008) for certain items listed here courtesy of Mark Magdich's presentation notes as provided in the Voice Coaches 2nd Annual Advanced Marketing and Conference workbook:

• Cubase ($149, PC only)
• Garageband (Mac only but comes free with most Mac computers)
• Cakewalk Sonar ($100, PC only)
• MOTU Digital Performer ($500, Mac only)
• Digidesign Pro Tools ($295 for the MBox mini 2 audio interface with Pro Tools LE included, for PC or Mac)

One of the sweet things about Sweetwater Sound is that they have fanatical support and many of the products they sell have long warranties, long meaning 5 years of coverage!

If you are interested in purchasing audio recording equipment from Sweetwater Sound or learning more about how they can serve you, check out their website as linked in this sentence.

Any comments?

Best wishes,

Stephanie

P.S. That's Mark arriving in a limo with the lovely Anna Bourgeois as his personal welcoming committee. As I've said before, Voice Coaches does it up right.

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Jay Silverman of Voice Coaches took his bulldog at the gate lecture to new heights with a baker's dozen of self-marketing tips specific to offline marketing for voice actors.

While these tips are based upon traditional marketing procedures elements of this presentation can also be applied for auditions online through the voice over marketplace.

13 RE's of Self-Marketing for Voice Actors

1. REsearch the Internet and other directories. You'll be able to find job listings posted by prospective employers. Be sure to get their contact information right when you apply to work for them.

2. REvive past networking and business relationships. Keeping in touch with people you've met through business over the years will become advantageous to your career.

3. REwrite your cover letter for each job and be sure to personalize it as much as possible for the different kinds of recruiters you'll encounter.

4. REcap your strengths in your letter. Always capitalize on your strengths! Be sure to "hook" the reader and persuade them with your words to take notice of what you have to offer.

5. REview the letter. You want it to be polished and free of any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Remember that a person who is in a position to further your career will be reading it.

6. REalize that this letter (proposal) and the demo that accompanies it may be your only shot of getting the job.

7. REmember to tell the recipient that you'll follow up in a specific number of days from the date of the letter. Commit to this unless you hear from them first.

8. REach out to the "bulldog at the gate". Establish a relationship with that key player and develop a relationship with the gatekeeper to get him or her on your side.

9. REevaluate your letter and marketing methods. If you don't get some calls within four months, reconsider whether that prospect is worth keeping on your list of follow ups.

10. REpay your hard work by networking at advertising industry meetings. Don't be afraid to treat yourself to a meal and the company of other people. Be active in at least one professional organization such as an ad club, chamber of commerce, tech alliance, etc.

11. REexamine your goals if you have difficulty marketing yourself.

12. REconnect with your instructor for additional suggestions.

13. REcall that you're the only person who can self-market your talents. Outside help can teach you, train you, and give you time and expertise in the studio but you must develop the skills and nurture a desire to market yourself!

Any comments?

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Jack Puccio

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When it comes to blockbuster video games few companies compete with Vicarious Visions and Activision.

Are you ready to go inside the world of gaming voiceovers?

This article profiles Vicarious Visions' gaming VO Producer Evan Skolnick. Evan has worked as a producer and writer on games including Guitar Hero, Spider Man 3, Shrek 2 and numerous others.

At the Voice Coaches Marketing Expo, we learned how material is prepared for recording and how Evan works collaboratively with his team on both coasts, as well as celebrities like Tobey Maguire and James Franco to complete the job.

During his career, Evan Skolnick has been a writer and editor for a variety of media and was a member of the Marvel Comics team.

Currently, Skolnick Works for Vicarious Visions, a division of Activision. A couple of his credits include the wildly popular SpiderMan 3 and famed Guitar Hero.

The US Gaming Market

The Video game industry has experienced exponential growth, raking in 18.5 billion dollars of revenue including both hardware and software.

In comparison, the US Hollywood box office during 2007 brought in a mere $9.7 billion, their best year ever, yet still half the sum of the booming video game industry whose products and culture is asserting its position in the mainstream and rivaling traditional forms of entertainment such as film.

Video games have become increasingly commonplace in our society. To give you an idea of just how commonplace, 72% of Americans play videogames either on a console, a PC or on a mobile device.

Old Games vs. New Games

Do you remember the first games available for Atari? Does the name "Pong" ring a bell?

Since the early years of gaming (circa 1982), there have been some monumental improvements made to heighten the gaming experience including better graphics, gameplay, audio, character development and more engrossing plot lines with additional complexity.

Doom

As an example of progress heading into the mid 1990s, the video game Doom (1993) was recognized as a turning point and the beginning of a new genre called "First Person Shooter". Every game before Doom had the main character shown from the back looking down. Doom was the first game that the gamer got to experience playing the game while looking through the character’s eyes.

Although it was a step in the right direction, Doom was pretty basic and only featured music, gunshots and was lacking in the voiceover department.

BioShock

In contrast, BioShock (2007) found itself competing directly with the movie industry. BioShock and games like it today give the player control of the characters and are more interactive thanks to cut scenes, compelling story lines and voiceovers.

How is this possible?

• Shared knowledge
• More attention to the story and character
• Increasingly savvy marketing / focus testing
• Hiring producers and managers and more experienced processors

Scope of Work: How much goes into a VO Project

Scope of VO in games:

• Movies have about 2000 lines of dialogue
• The average video game has 8,000 lines of dialogue
• Herculean video games have upwards of 70,000 lines of dialogue

In order to keep some variety, the voice actors are asked to record several versions of utterances or words that are repeated countless times throughout the game, for instance, when a character is hurt, screams or passes out, there needs to be a variety of takes that will be incorporated into the game to ensure that the gaming experience fluctuates and is less predictable.

During the presentation, we got to hear a couple dozen varying exertion sounds performed by Tobey Maguire in a row followed by a couple rounds of him passing out, demonstrating just how many different versions of the same lines are recorded to be used in the video game to entertain and satisfy gamers.

Who Records Video Game VOs?

When the movie stars can't or aren't willing to record their roles in the game, their rights are signed over to a soundalike, that is, someone who can make their voice match the sonic quality of another person's voice, even their vocal mannerisms and style. Being a soundalike can be big business if you're voicing as a soundalike for a prolific or popular actor.

Some contracts require the celebrity to approve the soundalike.

When you have big-name games you usually encounter big-name voice actors. Some examples include, Bruce Willis, Steve Carell, and William Shatner. These games are certainly in the minority but they are interesting to discuss.

Developers of medium and high-profile games use lesser-known voice actors (union with either SAG or AFTRA) and developers of smaller budget games use non-union talent as a rule of thumb.

Recommended Articles

Want to get into gaming? Play the Games!
Interview with David Sobolov
Infinite Ammo : Peek Behind the Scenes of Videogame Production

Gaming Voiceover News Stories

Spider-man Web of Shadows Game Swoops in August 2008
Incredible Hulk Game in the Works, Celeb Voice Actors
Iron Man Video Game to Feature Robert Downey Jr.
LOST : Via Domus Videogame
Actors Score $500K for Video Game Voice-Overs

Have a comment? Let us know what you think!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

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As promised, here starts the coverage of the presentations at the Voice Coaches Advanced Marketing Expo and Conference that was held in Schenectady, NY.

To kick things off, I'd like to share the Voices.com presentation with you and other articles will follow throughout the week.

Check out the Secret Playbook for Marketing on Voices.com and the Internet!

You can revisit this playbook once per year. Just like you would a business plan or doing an annual check-up at the doctors who looks for the same stuff year-over-year, it’s important to have a solid foundation for your voice acting career.

Build a Winning Team

Even though you’re a freelancer, every person in business is supported by their peers and colleagues within the industry. Consider yourself a business person. Reality is that you are in business, and the service you provide is voice-over.

Your winning team will include:
• Voice Coach
• Voice Over Agent
• Peer Support Group
• People in Your Social Network
• Tech Guy or Gal and Web Guy or Gal
• Vendors and Partners
• Lawyer and Business Advisers
• Role Model or Mentor
• Spouse or Significant other

Make the Most of Training Camp

From the second string goalies to the captain of the team, everybody goes to training camp, plays the exhibition games and gears up for the season opener.

Going to events like this, or study privately or taking a course to improve your skill set. Just because you have decades of experience doesn’t mean that you don’t have to brush up your skills every so often.

• Annual Events
• Monthly Newsletters
• Weekly Podcasts (+100 Lessons Available FREE)
• Daily Blog Articles (+2000 Articles Online)
• Everybody goes to training camp.

Prepare for Success During Pre-Season

Apply the techniques that you learned during training without being penalized during the regular season.

• Learn how to use your computer, recording equipment and websites
• Outline a workflow for how you handle an audition
• Set-up systems for how you going to manage your contacts, organize scripts, auditions and send invoices

Complete Profiles Get More Clicks

Your Profile is your online storefront at Voices.com and is used to conduct business with clients from around the world if used effectively. An incomplete Profile is not representative of you and your body of work nor will it attract prospective clients or index much about your skills as results for search engines such as Google, MSN or Yahoo!.

One of the criteria that influences the rankings in the Voices.com Search Engine is "Profile Completeness". People who have completed profiles will rank higher in search results than those whose profiles are incomplete. You can measure your Profile Completeness in your account.

Solution:

• Fill out as much of your Profile as you can

• List anything and everything that supports your voice acting career

• Upload samples of your voice

• Use keywords that relate to your voice, studio equipment, clients, etc.

• Select voice ages, skills, years of experience and other criteria

• Add testimonials in your Experience area

Stand Out By Doing the Opposite

One of those winning, but counterintuitive strategies in marketing is to be different. You can accomplish this by creating a visual brand that positively identifies you.

We've designed several new themes to help you personalize and brand your Voices.com website. There are 22 elegantly designed themes to choose from and they'll be available in your Profile section, under Themes.

Create a Visual Brand by Adding an Image

Does your Voices.com website have a placeholder avatar where your picture, logo, or graphical representation could be? Without an image that represents you as a professional, it is hard to relate to you and next to impossible to see how you brand yourself and your voice acting business.

Solution:

Upload an image to your account, whether it be a professional head shot, cartoon image or corporate logo. This is a golden opportunity to brand your website! Let people know more about you visually to become intrigued enough to listen to your voice over demos. If you don't want to present a photo of yourself, you don't have to, but it is wise to have something to brand yourself with - just don't be a placeholder.

Create a Unique Vocal Description

Famous advertising executive David Ogilvy say “The headline is the ‘ticket on the meat.’ Use it to flag down readers who are prospects for the kind of service you are offering.”

When a client is looking through the Voices.com search engine or is visiting your website at Voices.com, the first textual impression they get of you and your voice comes from your vocal description. If a description lacks the appropriate adjectives that best describe your voice and an element of pizazz or originality, it makes it easier for a client to overlook your Profile due to lack of perceived information or detail upfront before they listen to your voice over demos.

What's an example of a weak description? Try this one on for size: Strong, great for all kinds of reads, can be old or young.

Solution:

Really and truly describe your voice. Three adjectives (unless they are extremely telling and succinct) aren't enough to whet an ad exec's appetite when they are looking for something that stands out from the crowd and gives them an immediate impression of your vocal capabilities.

Ask yourself "If I were a client, would I hire me based upon what I have on my website?"

Your vocal description should not only be a litany of complementary keywords about your voice but also a persuasive advertisement for your voice. Those who can describe their talents in an inviting and appealing manner will be listened to and hired.

Examples:

Your voice description provides a summary of your vocal qualities and abilities. Your voice description is also visible in the search results as well as on your website.

Sample 1: Jim's voice is quite versatile and has been referred to as genuine, charismatic, and hilarious. Ranging from characters such as the stereotypical football coach to a doting father, Jim is able to cater his performance into a voiceover that works perfectly for your project.

Sample 2: Annette has a wide spectrum of vocal capabilities. Trained as a classical singer, Annette's vocal elasticity and burnished tone color shines brilliantly through commercials, telephone recordings, and children's audiobook narration projects.

Sample 3: Richard's light tenor voice is caring, authoritative, and didactic. Richard specializes in recording for educational materials and has an impressive command of technical jargon for medical and scientific scripts.

Showcase Only Your Best Work by Uploading Your Voice Over Demos

No matter how you slice it, sometimes, interpretations can sound more like reiterations or regurgitations. The client doesn't want to hear theme and variation when they click on demos that are classified as being in completely different niches or for distinct applications.

Solution:

Make sure that your vocal style, interpretation, tonality, versatility, and range varies not only from demo to demo, but from spot to spot.

If you work in radio as an announcer, for instance, be sure that your voice is not stuck in a radio rut. Announcers and DJs, (sorry to pick on you!), do at times adopt the same delivery and vocal approach for voice over as they do when on the air. The trick to all this is to concentrate on voice acting and really interpreting a script, internalizing it, and giving the words their own unique embodiment using your voice.

Titles & Tagging

When you go to a store and pick up a product, you likely read all of the advertising copy, the ingredients (if it's food), and once you've done so, are able to discern what it is that you may be purchasing. It's the exact same with demos. Simply giving your demo a category isn't enough when a client is looking for something very specific to their needs.

Solution:

Be sure to properly name (the "title") and label (the "tags") all of your demos in the appropriate field when you are in the process of uploading them. If you do that, you'll not only rank higher in the search results and be found in more places, clients are more likely to listen to your demo and hire you for work. Why? Because you've clearly identified the style, voice type, tone, and supplied other adjectives that describe your voice and the audio recording.

Don't make any assumptions - not everyone is a casting director by trade and most people will appreciate the extra details.

Feature Your Voice Over Demos in the Directory

As a Premium or Preferred member, you have the ability to promote your voice in a variety of application specific categories such as TV Commercials, Movie Trailers, Telephone System Recordings, and so on.

If you aren't making use of the real estate being provided to you as part of your membership, you are missing out big time on clients finding you who prefer to search in this manner.

Solution:

When you are uploading your demos, be sure to check the box that says "Feature this demo". If you are a Premium member, you have unlimited categories to feature your voice in. As a Preferred member, you have 5 categories to feature your voice over demos in.

You can change which demos you feature and their respective categories at any time in the Studio section of your Profile.

Be a Star During the Regular Season

When a new job that matches your preferences and skills is approved at Voices.com, you will receive an email from us with an invitation to reply to the job posting. Simply click through the "Reply to Job" button to audition right away.

Your jobs manager organizes all voice-over jobs in one central location. All job notifications are governed by your user Preferences in your Account and Settings area.

See Opportunity in Every Audition

Simply put, you are auditioning or applying for a job online using the Internet, a medium that is available to you 24/7.

The Internet is generally a one-way medium wherein the person using it is able to move along at their own pace and fulfill a task with the help of their personal computer or hand-held device using an Internet connection.

As a freelancer applying for a job online, be sure that the person on the receiving end of your bid for the work is provided with all of the information necessary to make a hiring decision while they are reviewing your submission ONLINE.

Your Proposal Should Include 5 Critical Components:

1. Your name

2. Sample of your voice (or work)

3. Proposal detailing why you want the job

4. How long it will take you to complete

5. Quote

Always Have a Call For Action

How effective are ads or websites that have no obvious call for action? Not very, but with a solid call for action or invitation, you'll see remarkable results.

Solution:

Invite and encourage potential clients to send you an email if they like what they hear so that you can further discuss their objectives and how you can work together.


Now, those are just ten of the most common mistakes. Here are some more that fall in line with what we've discussed but are further along in the routine chain of events.

Sample of a Winning Proposal

Dear (Contact Name)

Thank you for the opportunity to present my custom demo to you and quote for your commercial project.
I have extensive experience recording for radio and television commercials and I confidently feel that my voice meets the requirements listed in your project details. I can deliver your audio within 24 hours via email or on CD.

My rate for a :30 national broadcast commercial recording is $.

Looking forward to working with you.

Best regards,
Voice Actor

“The ones that were the most succinct (but still had all of the info I really needed) were the most appealing” ~ Dana Detrick-Clark from Serious Vanity Music

Be a Fan, Cheerleader and Advocate for the Industry

BLOGGING

1. There are millions of blogs out there on the Internet (get recent stat)
2. There are now over 50 voice acting blogs on the Internet.

Getting involved
1. Discover a blog
2. Subscribe to that blog
3. Comment on articles

Comments add value to the conversation that’s already going on.

They should:
1. Be insightful
2. Validating
2. Carry Momentum

• Bloggers love to approve valid comments to share with their audience
• Comments can be reassuring to a blogger
• Comments validate what has been written
• Comments provide new ideas for the voice over community.
• Wonderful way to introduce yourself to other people
• Build links to your website
• Keep yourself involved in the conversation

Bloggers need to:
1. Promote their blog
2. Build an audience
3. Write consistently
4. Reach out to their readers
5. Help direct the conversation

PODCASTING

Podcasting is audio content on-demand, when you want it, where you want and how you want it.

Listening to podcasts is:
1. Fun
2. Educational
3. Community oriented

Most podcasts are accompanied by a blog. The blog often includes:
1. Synopsis of the show
2. Show notes with links to websites
3. An image or picture
4. Area for comments
5. Opportunity to submit audio feedback.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social Networking can be an integral part of your marketing mix.

Connect with other people who:
1. Are in a position to further your career
2. Could become a client of your services
3. Network with as friends.

Popular social networking sites
• Facebook
• MySpace
• LinkedIn

Some tips when using Social networks are:
1. Use the same name and photo at all sites so that people can easily recognize you
2. Personalize your profile and list your business information
3. Upload audio samples if you can and link to your website
4. Keep any information that you want to remain private off of your profile
5. Add friends to network with and try your best not to become addicted!

Go To Market Strategy

Did You Find This Helpful?

If you found this presentation insightful, download the entire presentation as a PDF, then leave a comment below.

Stephanie and David

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After seven hours of driving, we arrived in Schenectady, NY for the Voice Coaches Advanced Marketing Expo and Conference at the GE Theater at Proctors.

The energy here is great and everyone can't wait for what tomorrow will bring. Come join us by catching the latest news on VOX Daily!

Voices.com Road Trip

I'm writing this post-soiree and am happy to share some information about the conference thus far.

We arrived shortly before 6 p.m. in beautiful downtown Schenectady after a long drive through Canada and New York state.

There are a lot of returning faces as well as some new ones which is always fabulous to see. While everyone hails from somewhere different they all have a couple of things in common including a passion for voice over and that they are an absolute delight to converse with (and easy on the ears to boot).

Get Ready to Read!

If you're reading this posting at home the voice conference will be covered on VOX Daily and you'll get to read articles about each presentation and featured presenter as well as a roundup from the expert panel.

There's a stellar lineup of speakers and topics so expect to hear and learn some useful things. David and I will updating the blog throughout the weekend.

Want to Stay in the Loop?

Stick with us at VOX Daily and it will feel like you're here too :)

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Dmitriy Shironosov

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What kind of voice over work did you do this week?

Let us know by adding your comments.

What's been going on in your world?

Whether the job was big or small leave a comment to let us know so that we can celebrate with you today.

What did you do this week in VO Land?

LEAVE A COMMENT!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/muharrem öner

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If you've ever been curious about my sign off on the blog asking you to comment below but you don't know how, read this post.

It will start to make sense, trust me :)

Comment Below

Today I was checking my email and saw a reply to a VOX Daily email from a subscriber who wasn't sure what my "comment below" phrases at the end of each post meant and where they could comment.

Are you reading this in your email?

If you are reading this in your email, you are probably wondering where on earth you can leave a comment and how it's done.

I'm happy to answer this question because I know that there are many of you who read VOX Daily in your email who haven't commented yet and I really want to hear from you!

Click Through the Email to Comment

In order to comment on the article that you are reading right now, you'll need to click through the email on the main heading which is hyperlinked to get to the VOX Daily blog website on the Internet.

For this particular article, click on the blue heading near the top of the email that says "Comment Below!". You'll find it just below the Voices.com logo.

Click through the blue heading and you'll be taken directly to this article on the VOX Daily blog online.

Once you are there, you'll see the article and at the end of the article you'll discover a box that allows you to leave a comment and add your voice to the conversation.

Also, by clicking through to the blog, you'll be able to read comments that have been left by other people in our community.

If you want to get to the main page of VOX Daily right now, please click on this link.

I hope to hear from more of you that perhaps haven't commented yet. All it takes is one click :)

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Slavoljub Pantelic

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