1. A chat show with the voice of Bart

    Posted April 30, 2007 by Bob

    With my thanks to my friend David Houston for linking to this, here’s a nice conversation featuring Nancy Cartwright.

    Category: General, People | Comments (0)

  2. It’s Just Talk

    Posted by Bob

    Would you care for a dash of cold water? But, a funny dash, to be sure! Here it is, with my thanks to Tom and Jim at VO-BB.com for pointing out this article in the Los Angeles Times.

    Category: General | Comments (0)

  3. So you want to record audiobooks?

    Posted April 29, 2007 by Bob

    In the last three months, I’ve been asked an amazing number of times about how to get started recording audiobooks. I suppose this is because I’ve had some success finding work in this corner of the voiceover marketplace.

    One of the guys asking me for some comments was my friend Tony Craine from Chicago. In Tony’s case, he was asking specifically about the value of attending Pat Fraley’s audiobook class. I gave him my honest opinion, which is that Pat’s audiobook class was exactly what I needed to prepare to get work narrating audiobooks. Because it was. Within a few weeks of my class in July of 2006, I had been signed as a regular narrator for one audiobook company, and in the following months, I’ve signed with 2 more and I’m in conversations with 2 others.

    What’s equally important is that Pat, and his teaching partner Hillary Huber, were bluntly honest about the fact that in general audiobooks pay the least of any kind of professional narration, given the amount of work involved. So, why do them? Because there’s so much work and because it’s usually not work tied to really tight deadlines. Which means that in your otherwise down times, you can be earning some money narrating audiobooks, while still having time for the commercial (and other voiceover) work you do that pays more per hour.

    One valuable part of Pat’s audiobook class is that you record an audiobook demo as part of your classwork. Now let me be bluntly clear, if you are just getting started in voiceover work, taking Pat’s class isn’t the smartest thing for you. Because without a solid foundation in voiceover basics, (including mike technique, breathing, how to break down copy, making solid acting choices and so forth) you’re almost certainly wasting your time and your money. Get a solid foundation started. Study with a solid professional coach. (My top recommendation is Nancy Wolfson.) Then, if you’re still interested in audiobooks, take Pat’s class.

    By the way, you can hear Tony’s audiobook demo on his site, (recorded during his class with Pat) along with his other demos. Good work, Tony. May you, and all the readers of this blog post, experience much success.

    Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (6)

  4. A look through Spongebob’s porthole

    Posted April 28, 2007 by Bob

    Check out this post on YouTube, for a look at the voices behind the show.

    Category: General, People | Comments (8)

  5. SurePay

    Posted by Bob

    Stephanie and David over at Voices.com are introducing something new, and in my opinion something truly wonderful, with the latest updates to their service. It’s called SurePay. You can read Stephanie’s extensive description of the service here. And in the comment thread beneath you’ll find a number of posts from David answer questions and offering further clarifications.

    Category: General | Comments (4)

  6. Calling all North Carolina VO folk (update)

    Posted April 27, 2007 by Bob

    Check out this thread at the VO-BB.com and if you’re a member there, post your interest (or lack of same) in a get-together for all us voiceover types in North Carolina. If you’re not a member of VO-BB.com, leave a comment here and I’ll post about your interest for you.

    My thanks to Donovan Corneetz and Brian Hart for helping to organize this. I look forward to seeing you real soon now, Winston-Salem.

    UPDATE: The date and time are Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Village Tavern Restaurant in Winston-Salem. After lunch, we’ll head over the to AMF lanes for some bowling. I’m looking forward to seeing and/or meeting you there next month.

    Category: General | Comments (2)

  7. Listen to a conversation with Rodney Saulsberry

    Posted April 26, 2007 by Bob

    From the Tavis Smiley Show on NPR, you’ll find a conversation with voice actor Rodney Saulsberry, here. And you’ll find Rodney’s main site, here.

    (Note, you may have to go through a free registration process with NPR’s site to listen. But, it’s worth the trouble. You’ll see.)

    Category: General, People | Comments (0)

  8. Another excellent learning opportunity is coming

    Posted April 25, 2007 by Bob

    Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino are going to host a free Webinar through Voice123.com on Saturday, May 5, 2007. The focus will be on how to work your brand to get more voiceover work. Sign up to be one of the 1000 who get to listen in and watch live by clicking here.

    You can get more information about Nancy and Anna and their teleseminars, here.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover | Comments (4)

  9. Want to know what it will look like?

    Posted by Bob

    I noted just below that Voices.com is about to begin beta testing their new updates. And if you’d like a preview of what the new site will look like, check out Stephanie’s post on that subject at VoxDaily.

    In the interest of balance and fairness, I should note that Voice123.com announced during VOICE 2007 that they are in the process of making some significant updates to their site as well. As I learn more, I’ll post links there as well.

    Category: General | Comments (0)

  10. Voices.com is looking for beta testers

    Posted April 24, 2007 by Bob

    Voices.com is looking for folks to help beta test the new version of their website. The testing will start Friday, April 27th. Details are at Vox Daily, here.

    Update. I’ve been accepted as one of the beta testers, but have been so busy most of this week that I’ve only had a chance to look around a couple of times. I’ll update more as I dig deeper; but I must say, I really like what I see.

    Category: General | Comments (0)

  11. Another option for building a voiceover booth

    Posted April 23, 2007 by Bob

    I was reading my friend Bobbin Beam’s voiceover blog today and noticed some very interesting information about her and her husband’s efforts to build a voiceover booth. Very interesting and I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up posts with more information. I’ll try to bring you updates as things move forward.

    Category: General, Tools | Comments (0)

  12. Something you may enjoy reading

    Posted April 22, 2007 by Bob

    Don LaFontaine is interviewed by Radar. My thanks to Tim McLaughlin for posting about this one, thus letting me know about it.

    Category: General, People | Comments (0)

  13. Some words of wisdom you should read

    Posted by Bob

    My friend Mary McKitrick doesn’t write a post to her blog every day, but when she does post what she writes is always worth reading. Her comments about What You Want Versus What You Need As a Student of Voiceover is a superb example of wisdom and thoughtfulness.

    There may be reasons someone would want to attend a large conference like VOICE other than those Mary has dealt with in her post, but whatever those reasons are, they need to be based on both thought and feelings. At least, if you want to be sure that your voiceover business (you do realize it’s a business, right?) shows a consistent profit.

    Good words, Mary. Thank you for writing. Even more, thank you for making me think.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover | Comments (0)

  14. Sound Effects Library information

    Posted by Bob

    With my thanks to William Spear and his Lit Between the Ears blog about Radio and Audio Drama for posting about this, check out the sound effects library now available from Dreamseed. High quality and available for immediate download. Very nice.

    Category: General, Tools | Comments (4)

  15. DB Cooper’s brilliance

    Posted April 21, 2007 by Bob

    DB Cooper, voiceover talent and hostess of the VO-BB.com, gave a brilliant presentation at the VOICE 2007 conference on doing voiceover work for video games.

    Stephanie, over at Vox Daily, has done a superb job of summarizing Deirdre’s presentation. This completes my series of posts about the presentations at VOICE 2007. I’ll have more stories to share with you in the coming days. And, I’m indebted to Stephanie and her team for their great work documenting all that happened in Las Vegas. But, let me close this post with these thoughts.

    The experience of VOICE 2007 was amazing on at least 2 levels. On the one hand, we had a chance to learn from, meet and interact with some of the very top people in our voiceover profession. Rodney Saulsberry. Bob Bergen. MJ Lallo. Frank Frederick. James Alburger and Penny Abshire. Connie Terwilliger. Deb Monroe. Pat Fraley. Don LaFontaine. Just to name a few.

    In addition, we got to spend a week sharing time, conversation and relationships with over 200 people who are just like us, voiceover freaks. After spending years living and working in small padded rooms, modified closets and basements, converted bedrooms and the like; to be able to be with so many people who understand, well, that was nothing short of amazing. I’ll let you know about VOICE 2008 as soon as I know. And I hope you’ll be there, too. I’ll do everything I can to be there, where and when ever “there” is.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover | Comments (0)

  16. 10 rules for your small business home page

    Posted by Bob

    While I’m not a big fan of lists of rules, there are times when they can be extremely helpful. This is one of them. Excellent suggestions by Sue Polinsky for things to make sure you’re doing or not doing on your web page. This is written for small business people in general, but applies to we voiceover folk very well indeed.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Tools | Comments (0)

  17. The new podcast is available

    Posted April 20, 2007 by Bob

    For the last year, it’s been my privilege to serve as the narrator for the podcast called “bridges” from the Office of Science and Technology at the Embassy of Austria in Washington DC. The latest issue, Vol. 13, is now available both in text form and as a podcast.

    Category: General | Comments (0)

  18. Can you touch your toes with your nose?

    Posted April 19, 2007 by Bob

    Kara Edwards can. OK, I guess maybe I didn’t quite get that quote exactly right; but you really should spend a couple of minutes reading Kara’s blog today. Her post Mrs. Flexibility has some very good words for you, especially if you’re tempted to fill your day with lots of low rate jobs just to guarantee a certain amount of monthly income.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People | Comments (2)

  19. A Dream, A Pig and a young man named Bob

    Posted by Bob

    When you want something bad enough, and work hard enough, is it possible to achieve the impossible? From the time Bob Bergen was 12 years old, he wanted to grow up to be come the voice of Porky Pig. To read the story, don’t miss Stephanie’s superb review and summary of Bob Bergen’s presentation at VOICE 2007.

    One of the great highlights of that evening was learning that a tape Bob made (when he was 14!) talking with Mel Blanc on the phone, still exists. Bob has posted the conversation on his web site.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People | Comments (0)

  20. Hallelujah Nuns

    Posted April 18, 2007 by Bob

    My friend David Colburn sent me this link today. Enjoy.

    Category: General | Comments (0)

  21. Adam’s mighty fine soapbox

    Posted by Bob

    Adam Creighton is an actor who lives in Austin, TX. We’ve not yet met in person, though I’m hoping to see him when I travel to Austin in a couple of months. Along with lots of other things, Adam blogs about acting and voice acting in a place he calls Ramblings. I visit Adam’s Ramblings often, because he so frequently has things to say that I need or want to hear.

    His post called Networking for actors is a perfect example.

    Adam writes about how much time and effort he used to put into networking, and then says…

    But then I stopped doing it.

    Why?

    Because I honestly didn’t like how good I was at networking. I got into situations and saw people doing the networking thing, and they weren’t sincere. They were looking at opportunities for themselves, and didn’t give a damn about the people they were meeting. They were superficial. They were exploiters. They were users.

    I so didn’t want to be them.

    So, Adam did what most of us do. He over corrected. More recently, though he’s started networking again…but with a difference…

    Here’s how it works for me.

    I meet someone, and we talk. I find out what they do, what they’d like to do, and what makes their day worthwhile. And I talk about what I do, what I’d like to do, and what makes my day worthwhile. And we figure out if we’ve got stuff we want to do together that makes our days worthwhile together.

    That’s right, kids, we have a conversation.

    And then, independent of whether we can do something together, I try to keep that person in mind when opportunities come up for them, even if there’s no benefit to me.

    I encourage you to read the entire post, but leave you with this final quote…

    The net-net is I think networking — really effective networking — shouldn’t be exploitative “what can you do for me” usury. It should be relationship building. It should be mutually beneficial. And when it’s not mutually beneficial, it should be beneficial for the other person.

    If everyone had that mentality, what kind of cool world would this be?

    Very, Adam. Very.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People | Comments (2)

  22. MJ Lallo lit up the VOICE 2007 conference

    Posted April 17, 2007 by Bob

    With a brilliant smile and amazing energy, MJ Lallo was another superb presenter at VOICE 2007. Stephanie has done a fabulous job of summarizing MJ’s presentation over at Vox Daily. Especially if you do character and animation voices, you need to study with MJ Lallo. She’s brilliant.

    Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)

  23. Among the special guests at VOICE 2007 was…

    Posted April 16, 2007 by Bob

    Don LaFontaine! Yes, the king of the movie trailers (and GEICO commercials) was there in person. What’s more he answered questions and shook hands and demonstrated over and over again that he is an amazingly down-to-earth guy. Stephanie, over at Vox Daily, has done her usual superb job summarizing what took place. And as a bonus, you to get to see a photo of Stephanie with Don.

    Category: General, People | Comments (2)

  24. Don’t just do it, think about it

    Posted by Bob

    I always enjoy reading the blog posts of Kara Edwards, who is a mighty talented young lady who also happens to live here in the Charlotte, NC area. Recently, Kara has written about taking time to think about what we’re doing.

    I really needed this encouragement, because it’s very easy for me to just do something without being really thoughtful about what and why I’m doing what I’m doing. Take a few minutes and read Kara’s post. I think you’ll be glad you did.

    Category: General, People | Comments (2)

  25. Summit 2007 registration is open

    Posted April 15, 2007 by Bob

    The final details about registration information are now available for this year’s Dan O’Day “International Radio Creative and Production Summit.”

    I’ve attended this event every year since 1997. Some times it’s more focused on writing and production, which other years more on voiceover. This is one of the latter. Pat Fraley and Don LaFontaine are both confirmed to be there.

    This is an event intended for more than just voiceover folks. There will be a lot of radio station people there (creative services directors, production managers, writers) and it’s always a very international event. Folks from Asia, Europe, Australia and Latin America are almost always in attendance. Registration is limited to 100.

    Details are available here at Dan’s site. The lowest price for registration is available through the end of May. I’ve already registered. If you’re going, it would be a good idea to register sooner, rather than later.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People, Tools | Comments (2)

  26. Audiobook instruction from Bettye Zoller at VOICE 2007

    Posted April 14, 2007 by Bob

    Bettye Zoller’s presentation at VOICE 2007 was on audiobooks. Stephanie over at Vox Daily, has done a superb job of capturing the essentials of Bettye’s talk.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People | Comments (0)

  27. Fifteen and a half Great voice talent tips kidnapped from Portgordon

    Posted by Bob

    Philip Banks has backed up the bus and unloaded another batch of gems from his fertile brain over at the VO-BB.com. You’ll find the thread he started here. Meanwhile, for your elucidation…

    1 – Sit still you’re not an 8 year old! Decide now – Voice over or fidget!
    2 – Conducting your read will only help if the copy writer was inspired by Henry Mancini and this version is not for radio but is the full orchestral version.
    3 – Close mic is not a technique, the engineer put a pop shield in front of it to encourage you to keep your distance – Take the hint.
    4 – When traveling to an audition advise the bus driver and your journey will be free.
    5 – There’s money to be made from that movie trailer voice as Don la Fontaine has a vacancy for a pool boy.
    6 – If it says 30 seconds at the top of the script and you take longer than 30 seconds to read it, remind the agency creative that although the weather is great in LA a sundial is not the best way to time a piece of copy.
    7 – Mouth noise can be avoided by not saying anything.
    8 – Most successful Voice Actors have both essential elements, a voice and acting ability. A good “pre” replaces neither.
    9 – ISDN is a thing of the past, so is making a living. If you need the second then the first is probably a good idea.
    10 – The best voice over agent in the world is easy to spot as he commutes to work on a Unicorn.
    11- Most copy interpretation is about “mood” and repeat business results from you staying in a good one.
    12 – In a session, the director’s jokes are always funny and your anecdotes are for too long.
    13 – When someone asks your price for a job ensure he wants “your price” and is not hoping you are able to guess how much he is prepared to pay.
    14 – If you think as a Voice talent that you’ve arrived, then bear in mind that to have arrived you must have reached the end of the road.
    15 – Before every low budget session eat a bar of chocolate, drink a cup of coffee and smoke a cigarette.
    15 ½ – To make $250,000 Per Anum as a Voi.

    Category: Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover | Comments (0)

  28. Now this is a home studio!

    Posted by Bob

    As you might imagine, Don LaFontaine has a rather nice home studio. Nice enough that Mix Magazine has done a feature on the place. (My thanks to Nancy Wolfson for pointing me to this article.)

    Category: General, People | Comments (0)

  29. A great deal on some superb gear

    Posted by Bob

    My friend Brian Haymond is upgrading his studio hardware which means you have an opportunity to score some great gear for way less than you’ll pay retail. Details are on Brian’s blog, here.

    Category: General, People, Tools | Comments (0)

  30. Giving Voiceover the Once Over

    Posted April 13, 2007 by Bob

    Radio station KCRW has a regular program called The Business, hosted by Claude Brodesser-Akner.

    Their program from March 26, 2007 includes an extended interview with Jerry Ryba, Voiceover agent at CESD. You’ll need to listen through some other material first, but there is so much solid information about voiceover work, especially the big leagues. (My thanks to Nancy Wolfson for alerting me to this interview.)

    Category: Career Advice, General, People | Comments (0)

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