VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[vowannabe]

Not sure if this is where I should post this but I need as much input as possible for a decision.

My name is Elton Root. I'm from the small Midwest town of Winterset, Iowa. I have a full time job as an environmental health officer which requires me to enforce regulations. I do not enjoy this job at all and decided quite some time ago that if another opportunity presented itself I would take it. Since beginning the environmental job 8 years ago I've tried several things to get out of it. I love woodworking and built some beautiful furniture but couldn't compete with the stores (my overhead was much too high). I tried handyman work on the side and couldn't generate enough business. I bought and ran an orchard and ran short on capital before I even got started (lost my but on that one). I tried starting a winery and again not enough capital to build my business to meet regulations. Well around Thanksgiving 2006 I was at my brother in-laws house and discovered that he was setting up a home studio to record out of print un copyrighted motivational books and place them on the Internet. This was to promote a motivational type business. I was intrigued by his set up and did a short read on his system. Several members of my family were listening in and were really impressed with the reading. Now I know that family is less likely to be critical or even want to be negative but these were in-laws and I do believe they were sincere. The icing on the cake though, was when I approached my wife who has been skeptical of just about every venture I have undertaken. Her comment was "This is the first time that you have proposed doing something that I really feel good about." Needless to say I decided to pursue a voice acting career.

First off let me tell you what I have done in the last 2 months in the pursuit of a Voice Over Career. I have purchased The Art of Voice Acting second edition and read the book and listened to the CD. I have purchased the VoiceActing.com Guide to Your Home Studio and used it to purchase and set up my studio. I have been researching and enjoying many tips and suggestions from the voice over industry through VO-BB. I have spent hours recording and listening to my voice on different scripts. I'm signed up for various newsletters and have gained a lot of useful information from many web sites. In addition to these recent endeavors to prepare myself for a VO career I am not completely inexperienced in public speaking. A number of years ago I made my living as an instructor for a company that employed over a thousand people. I taught everything from fork lift operation to principals of management. Of course with their wide variety of backgrounds it was necessary to reach each of these people/groups on their own level.

Now for the decision. I have a limited budget and must decide between Voice 2007 and taking a VO course. Which do you think would benefit me most a tele-course or Voice 2007? I cannot do both.

[bobsouer]

Elton,

I think much of the answer to this question connects to the question: who are you going to study with? There's a very short list of people I'd be willing to spend money with to study over the phone. Very short.

Additionally, you need to know whether you respond better to an intense blast of motivation and information or to a slower and more long-term learning process?

I hope these questions help you clarify your own answers.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[vowannabe]

the tele-course is with James Alburger and Penny Abshire

[Frank F]

Although I would (of course) enjoy you coming to VOICE 2007, Bob Souer answered quite well. I also would not hesitate a Telecourse with Penny and James, they are great.

There is yet a third option, and maybe the better one for you... If you are struggling to decide, don't. You really have your answer already.

Practice, practice, practice. The "motivational book" audio idea is a great start. Keep working in that direction. Another aspect of the the audiobook idea is: marketing. By combining the two you will be on your way to having the funds to get instruction and education.

Marketing is the practice of getting your name in front of the people that hire folks in your line of work. Making contacts with agents, clients, listeners and anyone who may help you get a gig, is marketing. It is NOT advertising. Advertising is selling, marketing is the dissemination of information about your craft or business - without selling.
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

[jrodriguez315]

I've been pondering this question myself. On the one hand, Voice 2007 costs about the same as many other classes I've looked into that only last a couple of hours. Also, the roster of presenters at Voice 2007 is extremely impressive. A veritable who's who in the world of voiceovers.

On the other hand, local classes won't require me to book airfare and hotel, and and the learning experience may be more focused to my specific needs.

I have to admit, I'm still on the fence but the wind is blowing in the direction of Nevada at the moment.

Question, if I attended VOICE, would it be legitimate to list the presenters on the training portion of my resume?
_________________
Joe Rodriguez, Bilingual Voice Actor | The Voiceover Thespian Blog

[Jeffers]

The Voice 2007 event has an astounding group of presenters and people that will just be there all in one place.

I must say that I have fallen from the fence, but unfortunately I have landed into a rushing river that has taken my checkbook with it, and my wallet, so I will not be attending as I would LOVE to meet and greet with all and learn way to much stuff for my little head!

So I guess my NooBee advice would be this, If you think you have learned enough from the books and have taken classes that you are content with, then try the V2007 event. It certainly could not hurt, except in the checkbook!
Hopefully the stars will align in the future so this event can happen again! Voice 2008??

Good luck with your choice!!
Jeffers
Anyone have a towel?

[glittlefield]

I'm looking into the telecourses with Jim and Penny myself. As much as I'd love to go to VOICE this year, it's not in the cards for me right now. I'm also looking around in my area for acting classes, Toastmaster clubs, etc. to sharpen my tools and gain skills.
_________________
Greg Littlefield
VO-BB Member #59

[TC]

[Frank F]

[bobsouer]

[Donovan]

If I can go (it's about 75% as of now) I will definitely put it on my resume.
_________________
Donovan

www.DonovanVO.com

[anthonyVO]

Turn down the "noise" and you will have your answer. The "noise" includes your family and friends' opinions, this bulletin board (with all due respect to my fellow vo-bbers). Then ask yourself how does setting the intention to attend one or the other make you feel? If intending to attend one or the other doesn't make you feel good, then don't do either. If one makes you feel good (and you can only hear that internal voice when in silence) then that's the one you should intend to attend or participate in.

It's actually quite simple, but we can be lead astray when we give to much weight to other's feelings and opinions of OUR intentions. Look back on all of your decisions and try to see if you've done that. Even your statement that this is the "first time that you have proposed doing something that [your wife] really feel[s] good about" should be given some thought, because your wife's feelings will guide her, but YOUR feelings will guide YOU.

I studied Architecture for 5 years, because my intention to become a comic book artist didn't make anyone else in my family feel good. I quit my day job in October of 2002 after having anxiety attacks every morning upon entering my job's parking lot for 5 days straight! Quitting my job didn't make anyone in my family (or friends) feel good at all, "Man, that was a big mistake! You were getting paid good money and benefits there. That was stupid!" But it sure as hell made ME feel good. I took out money from my 401K to build a professional studio and it didn't make anyone feel good, but ME.

Finally, I left the music business and transformed my music recoreding studio into a voice-over studio and it sure as heck didn't make any of the clients I used to engineer for feel good. But today, I feel fantastic!!!

I wonder where I would've been if I allowed other's "feelings" about MY intentions to guide me.

PEACE.
-Anthony

[Donovan]

Well said. I've contemplated the same thing...the 401K/studio thing. A couple of things have to fall into place for that to be possible, but it has crossed my mind.
_________________
Donovan

www.DonovanVO.com

[jrodriguez315]

[Frank F]

yes, the lower price is good until March 1, 2007.

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com