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People

Instapundit Voiceovers

Blogging, General, People

Glenn Reynolds, as you probably know, is the Instapundit and among the very elite in the blogosphere. He and his wife Helen also do a podcast from time to time, which involves recording and microphones and all that other stuff we deal with every day in the world of voiceover. (Well, OK, he doesn’t audition; but other than that!)

Now, you can peek into the Instapundit studio and media room, which has just undergone a significant upgrade. Very nice work, Glenn. And I wish you much continued success with your podcast.

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Make a small investment in your career…

Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People

Reap a potentially huge reward. Now, let me clarify, I’m promising you nothing but practical, useful and highly usable guidance. And it will cost you $49.00.
What am I talking about? There’s a new Break Into Voice Over teleseminar coming up on Saturday, March 3, 2007. Yes, just a couple of days from now (as I type this post), so you have little time to sign up. Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino are presenting this teleseminar, just like the one I took part in a few weeks ago. (Full disclosure, I’m currently studying with Nancy.)

The teleseminar starts at 10:00 AM Pacific, 1:00 PM Eastern, 6:00 PM UK time. There will be 90 minutes of presentation and then 30 minutes of Q & A. Whether you’re brand new or a working professional, I think you’ll find a lot of benefit in these 2 hours.

Sign-up details are at BreakIntoVoiceover.com. Go. Register. Learn. I think you’ll see the $49.00 as a great investment in your future. I know I do since I took part in a similar teleseminar a few weeks ago.

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She warned me

General, People

When I started working with Nancy Wolfson last week (you can read about that experience just a few posts below this one) she told me that she was going to be (as she put it) bugging me constantly, now. I believed her, of course, because you can just tell Nancy is not the kind of person to make idle promises.

So, in the last few days, she’s forwarded me another audition opportunity and written two other very encouraging notes. Both auditions, by the way, have been with The Big Fish Voice Company, an agency that really has its act together in this changing landscape of voiceover work in the 21st century. I’m very grateful that in addition to receiving my two auditions, they’ve also asked me to send them my demos. Whew!

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So far from my expectations…

General, History, People

A little earlier today I took part in my first training class with Nancy Wolfson. Part of this initial class was her evaluation of my main commercial demo. Now, first a little context.

Near the end of the teleseminar presented by Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino, a few weeks ago, Nancy was given a demo submitted by one of the participants of the teleseminar. She offered a live, no-holds-barred evaluation of the demo and it was very direct, very honest and (for the lady whose demo was featured) very tough to hear, I’m sure. Especially since the first, very direct, critique happened only 4 seconds into the demo playback.

So, I had prepared myself that I would likely have a similar experience today. We said hello and almost immediately got into the demo evaluation. I could hear over the phone line as Nancy started playing my demo. 4 seconds in and she hadn’t stopped for anything yet. 10 seconds. 20 seconds. 30 seconds. 50 seconds. 60 seconds and it had played all the way through, without stopping. Nancy’s exact words at this point?

“Wow!”

She played the demo a second time. Again, no stopping. Her exact words?

“Wow!”

So I said, “I hope that’s a good wow?”

“Yes! You have to promise me something.”

“OK.”

“Don’t spend a nickel fixing that demo.”

To say that I was amazed and stunned is a major understatement. Here I was, all keyed up for a severe time in the woodshed and instead, compliments. And from a teacher for whom I already had a huge amount of respect because of all the things that my friends Blaine Parker and Kristine Oller had told me about what an excellent teacher Nancy is. As I type this, I’m still tingling from the pleasant shock.

So that was the first 5 to 10 minutes of our 50 minutes. We then talked about some of my background and work. I told her about my excellent experiences with my current agents (The Talent Group in Pittsburgh and Cleveland) and eventually I asked Nancy about looking for additional agents as I search for more voiceover work. I told her how terrible I usually am on the phone and she said “Good, because that’s not what you want to be doing.”

She then told me that she never does this (Her words, “OK, actually I’ve done it once before.”) and then she emailed me an audition opportunity with an agency in Denver. Which I have, of course, already recorded, (carefully following the directions for slating, file naming and emailing) and have sent along to that agency. I may be a little slow at times, but I’m not stupid. When a rare opportunity pops into my pathway, I’m going to grab it and run with it. Which is just what I’ve done.

Now, does this mean I’ve arrived and I can just sit back and wait for people to pile sacks of money at my door? Of course not. But, in the last few years one of the key ingredients I’ve learned that we voiceover people need is confidence. The certainty that we can, in fact, deliver the goods when we’re called on to do so. Today’s experience with Nancy has given me a huge boost of confidence. Huge.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, I certainly can’t promise an identical experience in your first class with Nancy that I had. But, if you’re serious about pursuing voiceover work, I already believed that Nancy Wolfson is the person with whom you should study. And have written about that here before. Everything that happened today just reinforced that conviction. Here’s the single biggest reason: because Nancy isn’t just about teaching voiceover techniques, though you’ll get plenty of that. She takes an overarching approach to starting a voiceover business.

Then, it’s up to you. And yes, that means it’s up to me, too.

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Congratulations Kara! (updated)

General, People

As I type this post, I’m listening to the Voicey Awards Special episode of VOX Talk and just heard Kara Edwards get the award for best new voice. Good for you, Kara. You’re on your way!

When you listen to the podcast, you’ll hear all of the winners. (Edit: Or check out the list at the Vox Daily blog.) A hearty congratulations to one and all.

(Update: Check out the press release about Kara’s award.)

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One big pig show

Career Advice, General, People

As I’ve noted elsewhere, I grew up in the farm country of north central Minnesota. During most of my Junior and Senior High School years, I worked in the summer time for my grandfather who had a hog farm in the next county north and west of where we lived. While my grandfather didn’t enter any of his hogs in the pig shows at the county fair, I saw plenty of them. Plenty of pigs. Plenty of pig shows and pig auctions and pig…well, let’s not go there.
I mention this bit of long-ago history because Kara Edwards-Suchan draws a wonderful parallel between pig shows, life and the professional world of voiceover work, on her blog.
Kara, I couldn’t agree more. Voiceover work is not a competition. Even more than snowflakes, every person is unique. However much some of our voices may sound alike in a superficial way, the differences in age, experience, background, talent and a host of other factors guarantees that every one of us is different from everyone else. Sometimes I’m cast for a job. Sometimes one of my friends is. Sometimes none of us are. But, there’s plenty of work for everyone with the desire, persistence and talent to do this work.
Thanks for the thoughtful words, Kara.
(edited to fix typo)

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An oppotunity, right now (updated)

Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People

With my thanks to Stephanie over a Vox Daily for posting about this, there’s a 2-hour teleseminar this evening that should be of interest to anyone wishing to get serious about voiceover work. It’s hosted by Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino.
It’s taking place tonight, Wednesday, January 31, 2007 starting at 9:00 PM Eastern, 6:00 PM Pacific. Registration is $49.00 and you can sign up at BreakIntoVoiceOver.com.
(Update: I’ve signed up already, so I’m putting my money were my mouth is…uh…typing fingers are.)

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Among other things, it takes guts

Career Advice, General, Getting started in Voiceover, People

Kristine Oller is a woman with remarkable insights into how to get where you really want to go. And her blog is specifically written to help you think about where you’re going and how to get there.

Her post on January 24, 2007 is a perfect example of what I mean. Maybe you’ve been thinking and dreaming about working full-time as a voiceover talent for some time now. How long? It doesn’t matter. However long it’s been, if it seems like a long time, it is.

You’ve made some money doing voiceovers, but not enough to live on. At least not consistently. You’ve talked with people you respect. You’ve read and taken part in discussions online.

These are some of Kristine’s thoughts…

So, whose advice do you follow? Whose opinion matters most? Whose smarts can you count on?

The answer is: your own.

Ultimately, you have to learn how to trust your own gut. Success definitely involves soliciting sage advice, gathering informed opinions and educating yourself, but it also involves filtering all of that information through your gut to determine what “feels right” to you.

Kristine continues by making a distinction between your brain and your “gut.” My friend Roy Williams would probably say Kristine is actually drawing a distinction between using the left and right hemispheres of your brain.

But the point stands, regardless of the language you use. Eventually, you have to figure out what’s truly right for you.

Take a few minutes, and read Kristine’s entire post. It’s not short, and while I don’t agree with every word Kristine writes; I think it’s well worth your time.

Oh, and while you’re there, if you found benefit in what you read, why don’t you spring for a hot chocolate for Kristine? The links are just to the right of her posts.

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