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Reasons why Voice Over can be hard work

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Please forgive me for such a long delay. October is my busiest month, not just for voice over but for my other careers. I am a severe workaholic, but I’ll my best to keep up with posting every 1-2 weeks.

So for today’s post, as always, please read but keep an open mind. The information here is based on my own experiences and that of some of my colleagues and friends. I don’t speak for everyone. And don’t let what I have to say discourage you from your VO journey. My only goal here is to share knowledge.

“I’m a Voice Over and I feel like I haven’t worked a day in my life.” When I first started in VO, a teacher actually said those words at the beginning of the workshop. Looking back, I would have started laughing out loud if I knew then what I know now.

To my knowledge this person is still using that phrase as she/he continues teaching waaaaayyyy more than actually performing VO. It also doesn’t help that more than too many have little to nothing good to say about the person as a talent.

Why won’t I say their name? I keep it confidential on this blog because it’s really unprofessional and quite tacky to denounce a person so publicly. It’s also slander, which is wrong. You’re going to encounter lots of people like that, though. If you do, here are signs to watch out for:

  1. A demo is guaranteed after the workshop: The majority of those working in VO frown at this, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s not recommended these days. However, I’ve seen posts now and then that pop up where a demo is offered as credit for attending a workshop. But before considering, you must do your research on the producer. Listen to audio samples if any are available. Ask opinions of fellow VO talent.
  2. They coached “big name” talent but have nothing to show for it. I knew a woman who liked to boast on her website that she coached American Idol finalists, the Dixie Chicks and others, yet she had no proof. She also claimed to be a jack-of-all-trades, yet again, where’s the proof?
  3. They put down other VO talent and producers openly then insist only they know the business while trying to sell marketing materials. Or, they say, “I normally charge this much, but for you I’ll only charge this.” If it’s too good to be true, trust me, it is. Ask questions, lots of them. If the so-called coach/demo producer gets impatient or frustrated or gives shady answers, those are major red flags. Don’t ignore them!

Voice Over isn’t easy. When you find your niche it becomes more comfortable because you develop skill and confidence. But there are still jobs that require hours of using your voice, or taking direction from others. If the latter takes too long, it won’t look good on you. Directors don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t instantly take direction. Never ever forget, time is money. You’ll be reading this a great deal in my blog because it’s brutal honesty.

People who to this day still go around teaching the idea that as a VO they feel like they’ve never worked a day in their life is a false teacher. Beware of them!

VO is wonderful and yes it’s great fun, but there is in fact work involved that quite a few people don’t realize.

Please bear with me. The list is examples of what I’ve seen and experienced. Not everyone will say the same.

Here’s why VO can be hard work:

  1. If doing video game work you might be screaming for hours which means you’ll be hoarse for days or possibly weeks.
  2. If doing animation you might be required to voice 3, 4, or 5 different characters that MUST NOT sound the same.
  3. You could be in a small booth for 3-4 hours at a time.
  4. If reading audiobooks you must have a good flow with the words, understand where and when to take breaths and make the characters stand out without sounding cartoonish (unless it’s a kids book)
  5. Recording a commercial? Do you know the product? The intended audience? The right words that make the meaning of the copy standout to listeners? How to sound natural and believable instead of like an announcer?
  6. If doing an elearning project can you sound engaged with the copy given to you without sounding bored out of your mind?
  7. Can you build a good space to record at home with? Do you have a website to showcase your demos?
  8. You’re reading a commercial that involves an energetic pace. Can you record a number of variations while keeping the energy high for multiple takes?
  9. Do you understand recording software? Audio gear? Working on both PC and Mac?
  10. Do you understand microphone technique? Editing? Adjusting the gain on your audio interface?
  11. Are you prepared to dedicate time to marketing EVERYDAY? Are you prepared to keep up with all the current events in VO?

I could keep going, seriously I could. But I’d probably wear you out. Here’s the point. VO is something you do out of passion, without expecting guarantees. If a teacher brags about living the good life because they barely have to do anything except talk into a microphone then they’re scam artists. Chances are they make more money convincing others to take their VO workshops and then telling them they’re ready to have demos made after one lesson.

Do your homework. If you find a name look up everything you can find. They’re experts at animation or video games do they have an IMDb page? If they’re known for commercials do they have a website with demos? If they’re experts at audiobooks are they listed as narrators on Audible.com? Are they on LinkedIn? Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? YouTube? Do they share connections with well known VO people?

Research and research some more! Be careful out there!

Embrace the Art of Learning Voice Over

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Patience is a virtue often underrated due to a fast-paced society we live in. People want to be famous right now so that others will grovel at their feet and pay money to see them at a convention. They want to be rich so that they never have to get a 9 to 5 job or splurge on ridiculous luxuries. The list goes on of course.

However, if everything happened quickly, how would you handle the consequences of what comes after?

Quite a few celebrities are dealing with harsh realities nowadays of getting heavily in debt due to their overspending and poor decision making. Some have turned to taking roles in B, C and D movies just to make money. Audiences used to glorify their names in movies, and now they taunt them on the internet and in Cards Against Humanity. At the same time, if the celebrity is happy to perform in poorly received films, then so be it. Let them use the sources that work to pay their debts.

Back to us, though; what’s wrong with learning? Here’s what people have shared with me so far.

It’s expensive. Think of college. A great number of people are still paying off their college tuition. Some say college is worth it, others say it isn’t. For actors, it depends on what you want out of your life. Not everyone who went to Julliard made it big. I’ve even met a few who flat out told me it wasn’t worth it. But what I found myself asking was, what did they want out of it? An immediate job in a Broadway play? An invite to audition to for Steven Spielberg? Or an education at one of the finest performing institutes in the world?

Time. Some of us are late bloomers. Including myself. Who cares? I may not make it as a romantic leading lady in a Hollywood film like Jennifer Lawrence, but I don’t care because it’s not something I want. I’d rather be a highly respected performer like Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, or Helen Mirren. They’ve been working steadily for years and age hasn’t stopped them. As I’ve grown in my career I’ve discovered that my interest in performing is also awakening my interest in being creative elsewhere: writing, producing, maybe directing, maybe even game design. These days rather than realize that the clock is ticking as an actor and a VO, I’m looking to expand my horizons. How do I do this? NETWORKING! I’m getting to know all kinds of people in other areas of entertainment like music composers, game designers, coders, writers, producers, directors, and on and on. I don’t look at who is more likely to get my foot in the door, but more of what can I learn from their experience. If I die before accomplishing any of my dreams, I can at least look back and know that I tried and hopefully inspire other generations to do the same. Morgan Freeman is a great example. He’s been acting since he was a child, but believe it or not, he didn’t get full recognition until he was in his 40s-50s. He didn’t stop learning and didn’t stop believing in himself.

 It’s hard work, all of it. Wouldn’t it be great to have a mother, father, aunt, uncle, cousin, brother or sister or grandparent working in this industry? They could open doors in a heartbeat. A lot of times they do. But even that can backfire. One actress I know of has a terrific fan base, has close to one hundred thousand followers on Twitter and worked on incredible projects. Yet her ticket in was through her brother because of how established he was in the industry. This actress has earned her place with respect due to proven talen; at the same time, it’s not surprising to see quite a few trolls on the internet blasting the fact that she got in through nepotism. But folks, that’s life. It’s not going to change, ever! Get over it! You can spend hours on the internet griping about a situation you can’t control or move on and work on YOUR potential success, if you want it. If it takes a long time, then embrace the journey. Acknowledge how far you’ve come. In the end people will admire you for it and look up to you instead of bashing your name on forums for getting in through nepotism. Read books, take Udemy courses, watch tutorials on YouTube, attend workshops, listen to podcasts, audition for plays, be an extra in movies, TV and film, get to know ALL kinds of people, even production assistants! Take criticism with a grain of salt and move forward with the promise of continuing to learn. You might surprise yourself with results.

Now, I’m blunt in my posts nowadays because this business is blunt. It’s unfair, it’s ruthless, it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s tough to break into, but also, not impossible. It depends on you. If you don’t make it on Hollywood, make it happen in hometown. YouTube is all the rage now. Even celebrities have YouTube pages just to keep up with what’s current in the world. Make a short film, sing a cover version of a well-known song, open your mind and be creative with your skills.

At the same time, expect criticism and trolls because they’re everywhere and not going away. If some people give you genuine, helpful advice, take it! If others put you down, shrug your shoulders and move on.

***This post was written last Friday which also was the day I received some devastating news in the VO community. A “Pay To Play” site known as Voices dot com bought Voicebank. I don’t want to go into the subject too much but if you need to read more about this and why it’s bad news then start by visiting these sites:

http://www.nethervoice.com/2017/08/09/a-deal-with-the-devil/

https://tomdheere.com/voiceovers-voice-bank-and-voices-dot-com-the-not-silent-blog-81517/

http://www.bryansaint.com/voices-com-reviews-major-update/

10 Reasons Why You Won’t Make It As A Voice Over part 1

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Due to this post being quite long I’ve made it into two parts. Before criticizing the negative title of this post please know that it’s not meant to discourage; it’s meant to explain what you need to be doing today to be a voice over and the reasons that MIGHT be stopping you.

More and more my colleagues and I are encountering people who ask how to get in VO. And that’s nice. It’s perfectly normal. I encourage it. Now there are times when I might get too busy to answer, but one thing I’m hearing from my friends is the lack of work people should be doing to stay active in this business. If you want to treat it as a hobby that’s great. I guarantee there’s always a need for volunteer voice over artists. You can record books, magazines, or newspapers for the blind. You can donate time to recording some free e-learning programs or PSAs. However, if you want to compete with professional talent that you hear in commercials, promos, anime, video games, cartoons, narrations, audiobooks, industrials, political ads, etc. You HAVE to do the work!

Yes, that was blunt, but for a good reason. My colleagues and I get emails and messages on social media time and time again from people wanting to enter the world of voice overs. As I said above, that’s nice, nothing wrong with that whatsoever. The downside is once they learn all that’s involved just to get started, they either quit, ask for free help at “getting in” or say they don’t need training or demos (yes some have actually said this!). The last two excuses are what irks the professionals, including myself. Working VO talent have worked really hard to get where they are and a lot of us are still working hard to stay in the game. If you’re not willing to work just as hard then you’re wasting our time, which is not free. I will gladly donate time for a letter with links or suggestions on where to start, but wanting free lessons or leads into projects I’m working on? The answer is a flat no.

If you’re truly willing to commit the time you have to training, getting a good home studio set up, networking like a boss with a solid website and auditioning hundreds or thousands of times before booking something, then you’re welcome in the VO Community. And it is definitely a wonderful community. A lot of VO talent compete for the same jobs, and a few don’t like to acknowledge those who are starting out or who are capable of eventually booking jobs they normally get. The vast majority though become like family over time. You can have a place in all of it if you’re willing to do the work. If you think you don’t need to do any work, see a list of reasons why you won’t make it as a voice over.

  1. Training: It’s a must. I know Talent who have worked for Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., major TV networks and national commercials who still attend workshops and classes to stay sharp and keep up with what’s current. If you think you’re too good for all that, see ya!
  2. Taking direction: ALWAYS leave your ego at home. ALWAYS!! (you’re going to see this word a lot). Your job is not to like how the script is written, your job is to show up at the studio prepared for feedback and sometimes long hours in a booth. If you won’t acknowledge what the director or client wants out of your read, you’ll be fired and likely not hired again or worse, blackballed.
  3. Egos: As said above, ALWAYS leave your ego at home. I know of people in the industry who think they’re God when it comes to voice over. It’s almost literal. They’re demanding when it comes to projects (lead roles only, no minor parts and no background voices) and disrespectful to those who aren’t as elite as they like to think they are. One person I hear NONSTOP horror stories about will refuse to work on shows that don’t have a high-profile presence among viewers. Nor will this person perform as a supporting or minor character, it has to be a lead. This person has been seen first-hand by working professionals as well as fans behaving like a diva with ridiculous demands, loving the attention he/she gets from others and won’t hesitate to take advantage of it. Instead honoring the opportunities he/she receives with gratitude, he/she is purely in it for the fame, and the money received for making appearances. On the internet, however, you find people posting all kinds of negative comments which in due time could stall or end your career. If you become like this person, eventually it WILL come back at you.
  4. Not having a solid space or recording equipment at home: Folks, this is the age we live in. You have to have a home studio. If you live near recording studios and are willing to pay money per hour to audition or record sessions then by all means stick to it. However, clients these days don’t want to pay a studio fee. So, consider finding a place in your house or apartment that’s really quiet. Talk with recording engineers about ways to dampen or sound proof the area (a corner, a closet, even a bathroom) so there’s no echo. You can totally have a good studio on a low budget. Do your research online. Some great people I recommend for help are George Whittam, Dan Lenard and Dan Friedman. Google their names, and email them. Be aware though, their time isn’t free. Time is money, so don’t expect free evaluations or advice.
  5. Marketing: If you assume people will find you right away on social media you’ll be waiting a LONG time. Even if you sign with an agent, you still have to do your part. Never call an agent to ask why you’re not getting any work. You can, however, ask what you can do to help your agent get you noticed. If you won’t take their advice or give them a hard time, you could be dropped and then your name would get around as someone difficult to work with. I’ve seen it happen. The internet is a goldmine of great info and assistance but also a curse. Use it only for good. Join Facebook VO groups, Twitter Chats, create a YouTube page, get a nice website (HTML is recommended, not flash), create a LinkedIn page and join groups there. Find out if there might be a meet up group in your area. Or join online VO workout groups who use Zoom to interact. Be a positive role model and not someone who belittles others.

Think about what you say…

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The other day a VO talent I’ve known for a few years asked for referrals to agents I work with and agents I know personally. I VERY rarely give referrals because 1. I must be comfortable with you as a talent and as a trustworthy source. 2. I must believe in the potential of what you’re able to do as a voice over (commercial, animation, narration, video games, radio, etc.) and 3. You must have trained or worked with people I know in voice over. [Read more…] about Think about what you say…

Respect Vs. Fame

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It’s 2017 and I’ve decided to do my very best to add VO related articles to my blog 3-4 times a month, primarily on Sundays.

I encourage readers to subscribe if what I have to share is of value. If not, no worries.

As a kid, I wanted to be famous. I won’t lie. The 1980s was just such a magical time for me when it came to movies and cartoons. I wanted to be part of it all. Then the 1990s came and the magic slowly began to fade. When the 21st Century arrived, it wasn’t about wanting to be famous as much as being part of amazing projects. And as time passed the thought of being famous sounded more like a nightmare.

Every day, the media shows what it’s like when intrusive paparazzi stalks well-known actors, YouTube stars, and even their children! Anything they say, anything they do, anywhere they go and anything they wear in public is judged. They’re on display like animals in a zoo, and why? Because they appear on a screen for the entertainment of others. That’s fame today. And the viewers who idolize and obsess over them are forgetting there’s more to life than illusions. This can happen in voice over too. Sooner or later people want to know what the person behind the voice looks like, how they talk in real life when they’re not in character, or if they can talk to them in person at a convention. The latter is what I hear about the most. And when I meet young people who tell me why they want to “get into” voice over, that’s one of the top reasons. They never talk about committing time to acting classes, performing in theatre, reading out loud every day to improve their speech, attending VO workshops or participating in improvisation workshops, or networking with experienced VO talent. They want to be the next “so-and-so”. They want fans clamoring to take their picture or asking for autographs. They want to make LOTS of money and fly all over the world attending conventions to feed their egos.

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I know more than enough voice actors who enjoy the fame that comes with the work. I however, don’t have a legion of fans, but I do have lots of friends in the entertainment industry as well as lots of colleagues, a great client list, working relationships with creative people — hardworking agents doing all they can to help me – – and a great deal of support from admirers inside and outside my family. Everything mentioned above is what I value far more than fame. It’s respect.

Fame doesn’t make you a great voice over. It doesn’t guarantee more work. It can eat away at the soul, turn people sour against you, and in the end, isolate you from all that’s been good in your life. A handful of people in the world understand how to treat fame with humility. You only need to watch YouTube, or visit celebrity gossip sites to see how the rest handle it.

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If you want to be a voice over, ask yourself why. Is it to achieve fame and fortune or respect and creative employment?

If it’s the later you must work hard at your craft, listen to professional wisdom, take criticism whether it be positive or negative, practice daily, network, keep up with changes in the industry, have patience when things don’t go your way, and appreciate others whether they help you or not.

If it’s the former, then nothing I can say in this blog will help you. Just google “How to be Famous” and see what comes up.

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