Questions - Introspective, Retrospective, Prospective

Craig Weiss

After deciding to go into voice acting, how long did it take you to get your first project?

Did you attend any workshop or classes?

Did you come into the industry with an acting background, ala a graduate in theater or acting classes?

In a retrospect, would you recommend that someone takes voice acting classes or could you be successful learning about the craft via the net, practicing with various types of scripts, buying audio software and creating your own demo?

Lastly, can you crack into this business without an agent? If yes, can you find projects to submit a voice audition, via the Internet?

Thank you in advance.

Craig

Scott Pollak

Craig... great questions and a good topic. Something I really haven't seen much posted about here.

I, of course, can only offer my perspective and everyone's will be different, based in large part on their own experience.

I had the advantage of having been on stage and in front of cameras, doing semi-professional acting since the age of 12 (I'm now in my early 50s). I had the DISADVANTAGE of having been in radio for about 30 years. It's a disadvantage because most of how you present yourself on the air doesn't work as a voice actor. As a DJ you're mostly an 'announcer'. But as a voice actor you are... an actor.

Let me answer your queries in order:

After deciding to go into voice acting, how long did it take you to get your first project?
- I probably landed my first job within weeks of deciding to test the waters of freelance v/o because of the many connections I had. I THINK the first real, paying, non-radio voice job I can recall getting was to narrate a dvd for a local resort. This came about because I had also created the website for the place and they knew I had a good voice and worked in radio and they asked if I'd be interested. Of course I said yes.

Did you attend any workshop or classes?
- As far as workshops and classes, the ONLY formal voice training I've had is from Nancy Wolfson in L.A. I did attend a copywriter's workshop hosted by Dan O'Day and Dick Orkin in L.A., which helped me tremendously as a copywriter, but not as a voice talent. But for me, 40 years of acting has been my springboard. I continue to study acting locally by working with talented directors and other great actors in my community and by learning thru them. This most definitely carries over into my voiceover work. For MOST people going into v/o, they WILL need good coaching and some acting and voice acting classes and I'd highly recommend it. It's essential to success.

Did you come into the industry with an acting background, ala a graduate in theater or acting classes?
- By now you know I DID come into the industry with a very strong acting background.

In a retrospect, would you recommend that someone takes voice acting classes or could you be successful learning about the craft via the net, practicing with various types of scripts, buying audio software and creating your own demo?
- Yes to much of this. But you MUST extend your reach beyond the 'net, both in terms of your training AND marketing yourself. The net is a good tool and will help somewhat, but if you rely exclusively on it to become better and to get clients, you won't make enough to buy a loaf of bread. And most people aren't really qualified to make their own demos. You can almost always tell the homemade ones from the pros. Most people aren't adept enough with the software to created a well-crafted piece, but more important, most aren't able to stand back and listen to what they have from an non-biased perspective to decide what should or shouldn't be on their demo(s) and in what order and quantity. This is where a top-notch coach AND audio engineer are crucial. There are exceptions of course, but they are the exceptions, not the rule.

Lastly, can you crack into this business without an agent? If yes, can you find projects to submit a voice audition, via the Internet?
- Yes you can. I have. I don't have an agent, and many people don't. I think if you're going to compete in the major markets against the big boys and girls then you'll need an agent to get your foot into the door of the top-tier auditions. But if you don't have an agent, you'll need good marketing savvy, good connections, great talent, relentless determination and street smarts. I've heard mixed stories about agents and hope some of those on these forums will chime in here with their own accounts. I've heard of people having one or several agents and almost NEVER getting any leads or jobs thru them. I DID have 3 agents for years and while I got tons of leads to audition for on-camera, I got almost NOTHING for voiceover. I've actually been more successful via the net than I was with the agencies. But again, that's my own story. Others will differ.

Hope this helps. I'm interested in seeing what others have to chime in on this subject.

Bob Bergen

Colin Campbell · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007, 15:14 (GMT) Post subject:

It seems that there are as many perspectives as there are people trying.

I really like Bob's "never give up" advice though.

Kara Edwards · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007, 20:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Wow- can we make this a *sticky*? Bob is as generous as he is wise...we are all fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from him!

I'll see if I can answer your questions (though I won't be nearly as inspiring as Bob!).

After deciding to go into voice acting, how long did it take you to get your first project?

Here's the long answer:

I never 'decided' to go into voice acting, it found me. I was teaching in-line skating classes in Dallas right out of high school, and a man in the class asked if I had ever considered radio. "Not with this Minnie Mouse voice", was my actual response. He offered me an internship with ABC Radio Networks. (He also walked me down the aisle at my wedding...many years later!)

While standing in the hall one day, a very kind woman asked if I had considered continuing on in radio. She explained there was a new station being developed called Radio Disney, I was hired full-time several months later as an on-air personality. I was never taught to do voice over, I just did it. I used my voice for features, commercials, and promos as well as on the show...I just talked like I normally did- it never occured to me to do different.

After a couple of years, Disney hired Pat Fraley to teach a series of seminars on character voice over. They wanted us to expand our VO abilities. Up to that point, I never knew I had that talent- Pat literally changed my life. Soon after, I also became a writer for Radio Disney, I wrote and voiced my own features and commercials for the station. It was the best job I ever had (prior to going full-time freelance).

I got my first agent in a funny way. She was listening to the station and called in. She told me she would sign me on the spot, if I would drive downtown that day. I explained that I was busy, and said thanks anyway. I casually mentioned this to a few of the folks in the building- who each wanted to kill me! Feeling like a fool, I canceled my plans and drove downtown...that wonderful woman made me a lot of money over the next 5 years! (I left the agency when I moved to NC- they still don't represent out of town talent)

Not long after, my on-air partner, Kyle Hebert, dared me one day to go on an open-call audition for a popular anime. I went, and we were both cast (I ended up voicing his little brother AND his girlfriend on the show..hah!). Thus began my career in anime.

Fast forward to nearly 12 years later...and I now work full-time in Charlotte, NC from home. I moved here to pursue a career as a morning show co-host, and realized I was happiest when doing voice over. I still love to write, change my voice, and tell stories...thank goodness I can make a decent living with it! Honestly, I would do this job even if I didn't make a decent living...I would do it because I know I should...I know this is my calling.

Bob is right, living in LA or NY or any other large market greatly increases you chances of success. However, it is my personal mission to prove I can also voice an animated series, or a national commercial from right here in the Queen City of NC! Will it take time? Yes. Do I have time? Yup!

Which leads me to my answer to your next several questions:

VO classes are essential to your career. I am currently studying with Nancy Wolfson, and recommend her highly! Whichever coach you choose, look for one that not only teaches a strong curriculum, but also takes an active interest in your career. voice over has nothing to do with your voice, and everything to do with your acting abilities, training, and business savvy.

Treat your VO business the same as you would any business. If you decided to open a bakery...what steps would you take? Learn to bake? Take a business course? Consult a lawyer, a CPA? Hire a marketing firm? Build a website? Think in BIG terms, and you will have a better chance of overall success!

I personally believe the single most vital aspect of being a successful voice actor is having confidence. Setting the proper groundwork to your business will help with your confidence. If you are not confident in you abilities, or your business- it WILL show!

Your chest will tighten on your first paying gig, causing your voice to quiver. Your hands will sweat, you might say something stupid. You get one shot with each client- and one shot only. Show them you KNOW what you are doing, be humble, be friendly...and they will continue to use you. This is the best way to build a business...word of mouth and repeat clients.

OK, I've gone on long enough Smile

I look forward to reading more stories! Thanks for posting these questions!

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007, 21:54 (GMT) Post subject: My 2 cents

I was lucky that being located in the San Francisco Bay Area, I had the advantage of plying my trade when the boutique ad agency explosion in the Bay Area happened, followed by the dot com boom and in and around it, the brith and proliferation of multimedia audio based projects, especially games.

I did make a very slow transistion to acting from being an event producer and also working in business management and tangentially in advertising. I had always heard the word "starving" precede the word actor.

I have been luckier than most of the people I came into the industry with. Of the several hundred people I came into the business with in acting classes, improv and so forth that tried to make a living in voiceover, perhaps less than 1 in 300 are still around working in v.o. and of that group, quite a few require regular jobs still.

Depending upon how I want to chronicle my experiences, I'm around 20 years into this business. This past year was one of my best since 9/11 and it has a lot to do with global marketing. My jobs come from all over the country and the world. I am still geographically located in San Francisco, but less than 25% of gross billings were accountable to my local market.

It is a constant guessing game as to what the market may want tomorrow and there is a strong need to continually reinvent yourself. Once I did a large bulk of work as the booming deep voiced guy, now I am just as likely to be cast as the voice of a puppy, elf or harried husband. AS trends in advertising change and new markets open up, one needs to asses what requirements there are to be competitive (stay competitive) in those markets. Sometimes the correct decision is to ignore a potential market in order to pursue work you are more suited to do.

There is also something to be said for location. Being in San Francisco I have performed voices for over 300 video games. Had I physically moved to Los Angeles years ago, I might assume that a considerable amount of my work would have been for the cartoon market. For the past ferw years, cartoon voices have also been cast in New York, but it would seem unless you are already established in this part of the business, geography still plays a big part of whether you work in the cartoon industry.

Being in San Francisco also means a mixed bag of opportunity; not too much books on tape, but telephony, web audio, advertising, radio and tv announcer opportunities and even live presenter and tradeshow work are all available to SF based talent.

Also, living in right to work states and participation within the performing unions will have significant bearing on what type of work a person might do.

The only thing that I will argue with some of the pros about is regards to education. Improvisational training and straight scene study or acting workshops are paramount. voice-over classes may or may not work well. The way these classes are taught can influence the education you receive. I am actually working on a white paper with representatives of several educational institutions.

I am hoping that our white paper will stimulate positive change within the industry.

I'm happy to speak to anyone privately in detail about any aspects of my career or offer specific advice.

Deby Cedars · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008, 22:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Well I'm not as experienced as the others here.....but I will say that at least some specific VO classes are a must. If you look at my V123 page you will see lot of theater classes and film classes. None of the excellent instructors in those classes ever told me that my S's had a slight whistle or that I had a plosive on a few words that start with P. Come to think of it none of my VO coaches told me about the S's. I did years of acting and never noticed it. It took me 2 months to conquer that problem once I started doing VO. None of my theater coaches took a stop watch to my auditions either.

Bob says you should take the acting classes first. I agree, but be wary of taking 7 years of Theater, before studying improv or film or VO. It took me 2 years to totally lose my "stage voice" when I started doing film. Even Commerical VO classes are very different from Character classes. I mean they just don't teach you the differences between a traditional lisp and a lateral lisp in a commerical class...but you might need it for a cartoon or charater voice.

As for agents, locations, making the big bucks in VO.....I'm afraid I haven't really figured that stuff out completely either.

I did get my first 2 jobs on V123 rather quickly after joining, but my first jobs were in jingles as a singer and music writer. I've gotten 3 pure VO jobs on here. Two of which required really good acting skills. I've also gotten radio VO skits that I would not have gotten if it weren't for my ability to write and sing wacky "weird all like" ditties. I would have to say that my voice didn't get much....but my acting skills and more importantly my creativity and personality have garnered me some success in the 4 months that I have been a premium member.
Everyone's niche is different! Find yours!

The oddest classes and experiences can help you....I know it may sound really weird, but I think even my Mime classes have helped me in VO...now try to rap your mind around that one. strichauge

Deby Cedars

Robert Jadah · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008, 02:55 (GMT) Post subject:

The words on this thread are among the wisest and most helpful ever posted at Savvy.

Since Craig hasn't as of yet, let me extend global thanks to the pros who have taken such time and care to articulate such all-encompassing answers to his questions.

Wonderful stuff!

Proxy On!

Kara Edwards · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008, 03:28 (GMT) Post subject:

I, too am enjoying these stories...please keep 'em coming!

Craig, Nancy Wolfson generously gave me permission to use part of her coursework in a recent blog I wrote about the importance of really looking at your voice over career. I was focusing on the math of the biz, but her words ring true with all aspects of where you place your focus...and money. This might also help answer a few of your questions.

In the interest of saving space...you can check it out here if you are interested...

http://karaedwardsvo.blogspot.com/2007/12/looking-back.html

Scroll about halfway down the page for her wise words. (or you can read the whole blog if you choose Wink

)

Connie Terwilliger · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008, 04:02 (GMT) Post subject:

I never decided to go into voice acting (until about 5 years ago). However, I've been doing it since 1978. I ended up as a TV staff announcer and the door kept opening with people shoving in commercial copy on the TV side and asking me to come down to the radio side to do spots. Voice acting sort of found me. Through 20 plus years as a part-time radio DJ, TV staff announcer, as well as a producer and writer, I muddled through as a voice talent for commercials, corporate communications and TV documentaries.

Classes didn't start until I discovered that I had plateaued. I could hear that my reads were good, but not great. I also started to do theater which helped develop the acting skills (although projection is an issue that needs to be addressed when using a mic). Working copy with a voice coach and other voice actors is now ongoing several times a year. (I should do more actually!)

The very first thing to learn in your quest to voiceover greatness is self evaluation. You must be able to critically understand your own voice, the business and where you might fit.

Each person learns in a different way, but certainly spend $20 and get one of the great introduction to VO books out there and read and record the whole book. Elaine Clark's book or James Alburger's book are both great books to help you understand more about the business. But you MUST record and critically listen to what you are doing.

Do not try to do your own demo unless you have a very very specific and narrow niche that doesn't require full production. You are competing with the world and you must measure up. Listen listen listen to pro demos to get a feel for what makes a good demo.

The business is undergoing a huge change right now and there are talent across the world who are making it without agents. So, yes, you can crack the business without an agent, but to make it "big" or if you are in one of the major markets, you most likely need an agent. But to get an agent you have to bring something special to the table.

My biggest beef with the online casting services is the new paradigm of the talent bidding for the job. That's why I love it when one of my agent's (or representatives) is involved. They negotiate the rates. They do the billing. They do the collection if necessary.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008, 22:45 (GMT) Post subject:

so many great responses ... so great, in fact, i hesitate to post my own ... but here goes.

after having spent 20 years in radio, i quit. right after spring book, '95 - i was #1 across the board and the month before i had won the illinois broadcasters assc. "personality of the year" award. i didn't figure it got much better than that - so i went out on top.

i was offered a job in publishing by an old friend and worked for him in marketing for a few years learning a lot about business and p.r. and traveling all over the country. when the travel got old i respectfully quit and went to work selling voice & data networks. when the boss found out i used to be in radio he asked if i would contract to do the company's MOH & IVR work ... for a contractors fee, of course. sure - why not, right? i went to conferences & conventions in the interconnect world and picked up first one company, then another, then another doing MOH & IVR. it soon became obvious that i could make more money doing this than selling hardware. after screwing up my courage i planted both feet in the freelance world and never looked back.

i grew into medical/educational/institutional narrations and that is still where i am most comfortable. i love the dry stuff ... but there is still a large amount of acting involved ... just try to make the inner workings of auto CAD software interesting for 65 minutes ... THAT'S acting.

bottom line is - i get to work at home, spend more time with my kids and i can't wait to settle in behind the mic in the morning. it doesn't matter how you get there ... the only reason to go into this business is that you love it - like life - it's the journey that matters.

Robert Jadah · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008, 02:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Connie Terwilliger · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008, 03:02 (GMT) Post subject:

Right now the routine is to check Peter's blog every hour to see if people are voting for me in the unofficial NBC News voice off. I wants to win me that USB mic!

And Todd is upper case all the way - even if he has forgotten where the shift key is - me thinks he and Diane have a secret code thing going on... Wink

Deby Cedars · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008, 05:42 (GMT) Post subject:

Todd....I have a question. When you were on top in radio, what where you doing? A morning show? I'm actually very surprised you mostly do the dry stuff, because you have one of the most funny, witty, extraordinary senses of humor of anyone on these boards. If I still did stand up I would hire you as a writer! Very Happy

That jester hat is perfect for you!

Todd Ellis · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008, 12:36 (GMT) Post subject:

i know how to use the shift key - i simply choose to not place certain characters above others. those "capital" letters think they're so great! hrumph!

btw: yes - morning show.