Newbie-Dazed and Confused

Mark Rucker · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007, 22:55 (GMT) Post subject: Newbie-Dazed and Confused

So after only beig here for a week my learning curve has been as steep as Anna Nicole Smith's Methadone bill.

Here is what I have learned:

(1) Just because your friends and family tell you that you have a "great" voice does not mean this industry is for you, or that you can be successful in this industry;

(2) Just because you can imitate other voices of actors, cartoons, etc., does not mean that this industry is for you, or that you can be successful in this industry;

(3) That there a LOT of other people out there who are MUCH more talented;

(4) That I should not have spent money on a mic, software, and this membership until I had read and learned MUCH, MUCH more.

So where has this led me?

After reading a LOT of the posts on here (and contacting customer support to find out the "ratings" that I have been given by 2 of the potential clients that I submitted auditions for) I realize that if I want to continue in this industry and have a shot at being successful, then I have to do two things: (1) take acting/voice acting classes and (2) get some vocal coaching.

I can pursue the acting classes here locally with the Actor's Guild.

The voice coaching part is where I am stuck. I don't know of anyone in the area who focuses strictly on voice over work. I have seen the multitude of people on the internet who "coach", but I don't know who is good and who to trust. I am really at a loss here. Any suggestions from the pros? If you don't want to post feel free to PM me or e-mail me.

I really do want to pursue this. I believe that God has given me this voice for a reason and I don't want to be like the unfaithful servant in Jesus' parable of the servants and the talents. I refuse to bury my talent for fear of what might happen. I really want to use this talent and I will continue to pursue this, although I think I will take a hiatus from answering posts until I can develop my voice into what I know it can be.

I will however continue to scower the forums and read the posts and learn all I can from all of you. Thanks for your words of wisdom and insights.

John Bigl · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007, 23:22 (GMT) Post subject: keep pluggin

took a year of wasted efforts here to come to your very same conclusions..
talk about a blow to my ego...
oh well...gotta keep pluggin away...
one of the pros here suggested to focus on acting or voice lessons tailored to VO... not much of that here in the puckerbrush w/out goin to boston.. but, did find a voice teacher here who works w/ actors...
anyway, from whats been suggested, the acting lessons are a good move for you... perhaps the Guild can give you leads for voice coaches...

Be Well
______________________________________
"Look my lad, I've just about had enough of this. That voice talent is definitely deceased. And when I bought it not half an hour ago, you assured me that its lack of movement was due to it being tired and shagged out after a 500 prompt IVR"

Keith D. Milby · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007, 01:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Mark,

Getting training and all of that is fine. Go for it.

I can hear a voice in your voice that is good. It was the voice that snuck in here and there when it was not that stereotypical voice you were using.

Here is a practice test for you. Find you some copy, nothing that is a hard sell, Read it about 4 or 5 times to get used to it. Then just read it as if you were just talking it out with the boys. Hell just get the jist of the copy then ad-lib it and even put it into your own words, just use your natural speaking voice that you use when you are talking to friends. Record that and post it back on this thread and let's see how it turns out.

Their is a reason your family and friends were telling you "hey you should do commercials", it was because of that voice you were using when they told you that, not the one we just heard.

My 2 cents, I hope you don't want change.

Deborah Ribner · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007, 19:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Mark,

What is your background and area of expertise? I think what you wrote was incredibly perceptive.

Feel free to take a look/listen of me and let me know what you think. I am new to this site.

Warmly,
Deborah

Deborah Ribner · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007, 19:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Sorry Mark, the above response was for Keith.
Thanks,
Deborah

Keith D. Milby · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007, 20:32 (GMT) Post subject:

Deborah,

Thanks for the kind words. My expertise, well, I went to college for Broadcast Communications. My voice has been my hobby all of my life. I am just now getting into it professionally but that is a whole other story. But, as in Mark's case people have been telling me for a long time I should be doing this, and I agree, but had not been a possibility until this point in my life. I felt it was time for me to get off my duff and do something about it. I feel I have some work to do, some ups and downs to go through and some mistakes to be make.

My belief is, if you take a critical listen the voices you hear in radio and TV you will quickly realize, it is not the same voice heard all the time. Many different voices, style, accents, dialects and so on can be heard. It does not fit one mold. Find your niche/place in the market, even several of them and play to that. You cannot be the one voice that fits all. Just do your thing, and the rest will take care of itself.

Also please realize that this is coming from someone that has not done anything professionally. Sure I have done work as the voice on a few VM systems, but that was probably because I was the Administrator on them, you know the computers that they actually run on. I was that guy that administered them so naturally I was an obvious choice to do the voice as well.

Now as far as your demo, it was great! I love your voice. You have the chops. Don't stop doing this. You got the talent.

Lastly, make sure to take a look around the forums and you will note that the auditions to jobs landed around here are pretty low. Don't let that discourage you. Find other ways to market your talent besides this site. Their is the "other site". Plus many other things you can do, to do the thing you want to do.

Robert Jadah and many others here -- read what they have been saying on just about everything.

Just do your thing….

Deborah Ribner · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007, 20:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Keith,

I feel your positive spirit through your advice, energy, positive outlook and ability to share with others. I cannot imagine that you have not been a big success in whatever endeavors have pursued.

Best of luck and thanks for your nice words.

Warmly,
Deb

Nonie Craige · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007, 04:53 (GMT) Post subject: And slow it down

Hi Mark,

You do have a good voice....now lets just hear your voice caress those words, it's about the words not rushing through them. Feel the particular words that the writer chose and color them to match their meaning whenever possible.

I'm new too, but have a great teacher and I too started out very fast....it's three 3years and I still need to remind myself to sloooooooooow down, finish each sentence. And yes, there is loads of competition and I am beginning to look for my niches, where I feel really comfortable. You'll benefit from practice when you know what to practice.
I welcome feed back as well you all.

Good luck! Don't give up!
Nonie from New York