The benefits of coaching/training

Gary Johnston

After 25 years in broadcasting, and 10 subsequent years in freelance voice work I finally got to go for my first training last year Smile

I attended a 2 day in the studio workshop with Deb Munro in Vancouver. I had more epiphanies than I could count in those two days. What a treat to be challenged and inspired. As I share with my fellow former broadcasters, I picked up a habit or two during those years and have to work hard to lose what Deb calls my Rod Serling read. That was one epiphany.

After the workshop I asked Deb, who is a fabulous teacher by the way (http://www.debsvoice.com, if she would help me with a new demo. We've been working on bits and pieces for the last couple of months. Deb directed me via phone through a session where I recorded 5 "demo spots", only 4 of which made the cut. They are the centerpieces of the demo as they're mixed in with some existing cuts that demonstrate a broad spectrum.

Up to this point I've always produced my own demos but I felt it important this time to release that role to the producer who works with Deb. I'm glad I made that decision. So I sent the raw files off to Deb and her crew...

Here's the result. I'm pretty happy with it. Any serious concerns I might have overlooked?

Now, I'm thirsting for more training Smile

Robert Jadah · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008, 13:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Welcome back, Gary. Pretty nice.
Serious concerns?
For me, I had to play back three times to understand the opening words (turned out to be: "As a human"). If anybody else has the same problem, I'd say that's a major, major potential hiccup.
Could just be me, though.

On the less-enhanced spots, you sound very much like a northern Colin Campbell. Could Deb be using our own Ol' Perfesser as a template?

Vancouver On!

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008, 14:39 (GMT) Post subject:

I couldn't understand the opening either -- in fact, I found it jarring. I loved the rest of it. I am so glad to hear these success stories about great voice coaches! People sometimes forget that in the learning process, it takes two to succeed -- a good teacher, yes, but a good student, too! That you are.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008, 14:46 (GMT) Post subject:

Wow. Quite nice for an old radio guy. Laughing

You've got a good range without resorting to the hear-how-many-dialects-I-can-do game. And you made me laugh...with you not at you, I mean...that's always good.

Mr. J is correct on the opening phrase. At first I thought you said "As a shoe-man" and I thought, "why do I care how fast a cobbler can run? Is this a Nike ad?" But no. You really should fix that. Otherwise, superb.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008, 16:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Hate to be redundant, but yeah, what they said.

Very, very nice stuff here, well done, nice variety, good sound. The one thing you gotta work on, as you know by now, is clarity and enunciation. Besides the "as a shoe-man" garble, I had some trouble easily grabbing onto "donate blood reg-you-lare-lee" (granted, it's a bit of a tongue-twister). And "nothing seems to be going right" seemed all jammed together.

But still, this sounds really good. Very nice demo and you could compete with anyone here on a wide variety of leads. Being a former radio guy myself (and still doing it p/t on weekends) I can empathize with the difficulty of losing all that radio shtick in our delivery. Ya done good.

Gary Johnston · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008, 02:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for taking the time to listen everyone. I appreciate and will utilize your suggestions. Since Scott, Melba and Diane all agree with you Robert, I guess I can't blame it on an Eastern vs Western Canadian dialect difference Smile

It was actually a cheap marketing ploy to get you to listen multiple times.

Now, as a human, I'm off to find a solution...