Getting started in Voiceover

My friend Mahmoud Taji has written a blog post about voiceover life in the current economic climate. Well worth a few minutes of your time to read.

Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino have been doing a superb series of teleseminars for nearly 3 years now. I’ve been there for every one of them and each has been worth way more than the price of admission. Now comes an opportunity to dig into the topic of voiceover for animation with not only Nancy and Anna, but also Richard Horvitz. This teleseminar will be held at 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. You’ll be able to sign up soon at Nancy and Anna’s site, but right now they need you to email your questions about how to break into animation to Anna ASAP.

Creative director/producer Rudy Gaskins offers some very helpful insights on what you’re expected to know if you’re going to be serious about your voiceover business, over at VoiceOverXtra. Well worth a few minutes of your time.

Bettye Zoller will be holding a live webinar in conjunction with VoiceOverXtra on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern on The Business of Voiceovers, subtitled Getting Starting and Growing Your Career. Tuition is a very reasonable $39.95. Click through for all the details including registration information.

From time to time, and with his permission, I’ve been re-publishing a series of columns from Bob Fraser for actors … concentrating on those that are of most value to those of us who are focused on voice acting. Today Bob quotes himself, sort of.

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ACTOR’S TOOL-KIT #26

BOB QUOTES HIMSELF – SORTA

by Bob Fraser

I thought I’d do another set of great quotes and I was hard at work, doing research (finding quotes that are applicable to acting is not like finding pebbles on the beach, believe me) and sweating my self-imposed deadline, when I came across this oldie but goodie:

“The immature writer suffers, the mature writer steals.”

Actually that’s not an accurate quote, but it fits with the theme, today. I’ve decided to indulge in a little unabashed plagiarism.

And so, I offer you my “rewrites” of some classic and not so classic quotations — slanted, naturally, to our narrow show biz interests.

“Pursuing success in show business is like boxing … talent is a left jab – but character, persistence, hard work and good planning are the knock-out punches. Being likable is the fancy footwork.” Bob Fraser

“Acting is not emotional. It is the ability to re-create the emotion in the audience’s heart that defines the craft.” Bob Fraser

“The most encouraging thing about show business is to see folks not as talented as yourself, who have gotten to the top through conscious endeavor.” Bob Fraser

“Happiness is not a red-carpet you are going to arrive at someday. It’s a way of making the trip.” Bob Fraser

“There is nothing new in show business — except talent.” Bob Fraser

“It’s impossible to become a movie star. Which is why so few people try it.” Bob Fraser

“The secret to popularity in show business is just this; be very nice to everyone before lunch. The rest of the day will take care of itself.” Bob Fraser

“The first a greatest law of show business is: Don’t let them scare you.” Bob Fraser

“Success in show business is not so much a matter of what cards you’ve been dealt as it is playing them like a Royal Flush.” Bob Fraser

“Happiness is doing what you like and making a fortune.” Bob Fraser

“There is nothing more irritating than a person with less talent and more success than we have.” Bob Fraser

“Fraser’s Theory – If you pay attention, you can observe a lot just by looking.”

“Stardom is all a matter of luck. Ask any extra.” Bob Fraser

“The 7 essential ingredients of success in show business are; sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity. Wait that’s only 6. Oh, right … tenacity and humor. Hmm. 8. Let’s face it, there are a lot of essential ingredients… like an innate desire to tell stories and … er … Aw, make up your own darn quote!” Bob Fraser

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PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint articles from Actor’s Tool-Kit, on your website or electronic newsletter.  However, in order to comply with my copyright, you must also include the following paragraph with your reprint:

“Reprinted from ACTOR’S TOOL KIT, the email course just for subscribers of Show Biz How-To — The Free Actor’s Monthly. Get your own free subscription by going to: showbizhowto.com Copyright © 2006 Bob Fraser Productions All Rights Reserved”

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PRIVACY STATEMENT: Bob Fraser Productions will NEVER share your personal information with anyone. Ever. Period.
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I attended both VOICE 2007 in Las Vegas and VOICE 2008 in Los Angeles. I enjoyed both a great deal. VOICE 2010 will be the 2nd through the 5th of June, 2010 and will again be in Los Angeles, CA. If you’ve been holding off registering until you knew more about the presenters, then click through on the Conference Schedule and check out the names.

Early-Bird registration savings of $150 ends the 31st of January 2010.

Nancy Wolfson shares her insider’s view (in addition to being a top VO coach, she used to be an agent) in a teleseminar she’s just announced.

She’s promised to answer at least three dozen questions collected from voiceover people worldwide.

Check out the list of questions here.

Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino will hold their next teleseminar, Acting for Advertising Part 9, tomorrow, or to be specific, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, starting at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern.

So what’s in store?

• • If Only…Know Your Buried Promise

How to ferret out the insidious & possibly unsupportable Sneaky Ad Strategy Subtext.

Learn where they bury it and how to tease it properly.

Miss it, and you miss a paycheck.

• • Behind The Agent Curtain

Managers: What are they, and what do they do? Why are people paying
so much for them? Do I need a manager for voiceover?

Be careful what you Twitter!

How to adjust rates “in this economy.” Should you be lowering yours?

• • Actor to Actor

The one piece of equipment that will keep you from losing jobs.

Give your job to a friend if you’re not available.

What to do when you are sick.

• • And as always, a Killer Q & A!

Registration is simple. Click here to visit Break Into Voice Over. All the details you need are right there on the page.

Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino have emailed with news that their next teleseminar, Acting for Advertising Part 9, is coming up on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, starting at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern.

So what’s in store?

• • If Only…Know Your Buried Promise

How to ferret out the insidious & possibly unsupportable Sneaky Ad Strategy Subtext.

Learn where they bury it and how to tease it properly.

Miss it, and you miss a paycheck.

• • Behind The Agent Curtain

Managers: What are they, and what do they do? Why are people paying
so much for them? Do I need a manager for voiceover?

Be careful what you Twitter!

How to adjust rates “in this economy.” Should you be lowering yours?

• • Actor to Actor

The one piece of equipment that will keep you from losing jobs.

Give your job to a friend if you’re not available.

What to do when you are sick.

• • And as always, a Killer Q & A!

Registration is simple. Click here to visit Break Into Voice Over. All the details you need are right there on the page.

The folks a VO Career have a post up today in their series on the Business of being a voiceover actor specifically about billing. Good thoughts and I agree. I send my invoices the day the work is delivered.
(updated to fix link)

Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino have emailed with news that their next teleseminar, Acting for Advertising Part 9, is coming up on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, starting at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern.

So what’s in store?

• If Only…Know Your Buried Promise

How to ferret out the insidious & possibly unsupportable Sneaky Ad Strategy Subtext.

Learn where they bury it and how to tease it properly.

Miss it, and you miss a paycheck.

• Behind The Agent Curtain

Managers: What are they, and what do they do? Why are people paying
so much for them? Do I need a manager for voiceover?

Be careful what you Twitter!

How to adjust rates “in this economy.” Should you be lowering yours?

• Actor to Actor

The one piece of equipment that will keep you from losing jobs.

Give your job to a friend if you’re not available.

What to do when you are sick.

• And as always, a Killer Q & A!

Registration is simple. Click here to visit Break Into Voice Over. All the details you need are right there on the page.