VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!
Where A.I. is a four-letter word.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Advice for the Newbies
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Moe Egan
4 Large


Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Live Free or Die

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:25 am    Post subject: Advice for the Newbies Reply with quote

This sort of ties in with the amateur VO thread below.

I'm facilitating a VO group tomorrow night for mostly newbie/wannabe voice over folks at Lau Lapides' studio. I have a basic idea of what I want to talk about- but I thought it would be interesting to pick the brains of my peers for sage words of wisdom for those just starting out.

If you could give one grain of wisdom or pop a misconception about doing VO for real to a newbie, what would you it be?
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Rognog
Flight Attendant


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 807
Location: New Jersey

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shatter the misconception that a voice talent is an "artiste" whose phone rings the second they send out their demos and then they glide into the New york/LA studio booth, serenade the producers with their dulcet tones, and have money thrown at them.

Being a successful voice talent is about being a successful BUSINESS. A business that has a marketing department, an advertising budget, sales goals, etc. that busts their hump every day to find work and it is on ongoing process. And most businesses take a loss for a long time before they see a return!
_________________
Tom Dheere - The "H" is Silent, but I'm Not!
www.tomdheere.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address
Bish
3.5 kHz


Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 3738
Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's not glamorous... it's real work that will only provide financial rewards if you treat it as such.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Moe Egan
4 Large


Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Live Free or Die

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great points. Thanks!
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Scott Pollak
The Gates of Troy


Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 1903
Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moe, I'm also teaching an introductory class in my area a week from today. I have a 2 page list of info that I send out to every newbie who contacts me looking for info about the profession. If you're interested, pm me with your e-mail addy and I'll send it to you.

But overall, I think if I had to pick ONE thing to drive home, it would be the similarity to an acting career. Not only in that we call it voice acting, but that the talent and luck required are similar and the odds of success are similar.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
bobsouer
Frequent Flyer


Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 9882
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moe,

Here's my number one bit of advice for someone just starting out:

Voiceover is a wonderful way to make a living, but it's a terrible way to make a living quickly.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
ISDN, Source Connect, phone patch
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address MSN Messenger
Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi


Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11046
Location: Portgordon, Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

95% of people who set out on the road to voiceoverist heaven will not make a dime.

A VO coach may help you become a better VO whereas there isn't one who can make a VO out of someone who does not have the intuitive skill.

The internet has raised the bar NOT lowered it. People who could "sort of" do it a few years ago are falling by the wayside at an alarming pace.

"Make millions from your voice" is a myth. There are a few who manage it but they probably number less than a couple of dozen.

If you work. On a daily basis you will not be asked to lend your wonderful voice to a piece of creative genius but more likely to make a pile of auld shite sound interesting - That is the art of the voiceoverist ..Learn that.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Moe Egan
4 Large


Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Live Free or Die

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You once again speak the truth Mr. Banks. One of the analogies I am going to share is everyone wants to do VO now, or so it seems. But not everyone can. Think of the first week of American Idol and all the train wreck auditions with people sobbing in the halls "But I WANT this so badly." Wanting it and working for it are two very different things.

Very good point Bob- as someone told me recently, I'm a true overnight success story that took 25 years to happen. Wink

Scott- I would very much appreciate seeing what you've put together.And if I am actually able to compile my notes into a cohesive lesson plan I will gladly reciprocate.
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ed Gambill
Cinquecento


Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Posts: 561
Location: King, NC 35mi SE of Mayberry

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A friend of mine has a casting agency and they are hosting an introductory VO session for a reasonably well know outfit. I want to go and audit it and see what they tell the rookies.

I would have to believe that most if not all will need a recording environment and equipment in their home.

1) Tell them what to watch out for regarding a suitable recording space in their home
2) Tell them that they need to learn how to record acceptable sound and prepare it for delivery.
3) Give them some guidance on the minimal equipment to use while practicing their craft.
Now that they have a qualified service to sell….
4) Give them guidance on where to find entry level jobs only if there are ready
5) Impress on them that this is a business with Tax and license issue
6) Give them an index card with “Treat it like a business” printed on it.
7) Tell them that they have to sell themselves and that selling is like a bucket with a leak. You always have to put more into the bucket to more than compensate for the lose.
Tell them what Philip said, that he is a cheerful man willing to help, and give them his e-mail address Wink
_________________
Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bruce
Boardmeister


Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7921
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

American Idol is a fair analogy: thousands think they can do it and only a few strike gold.

One of my favorite analogies is the route to becoming a professional golfer. You can't learn by watching, you need years of training and study, and years of practice (a lifetime of practice, really), you need to enter small tournaments first and then hopefully get into bigger and bigger tournaments with bigger paychecks, and you need to learn to accept rejection and failure every step of the way and learn from those occasions. You also need to be a student of the sport your entire life, always learning about the newest trends and equipment.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Moe Egan
4 Large


Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Live Free or Die

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great stuff! I like the index card idea Ed. And I'm SURE Banksey will welcome all inquiries. Sarcastic
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
cyclometh
King's Row


Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 1051
Location: Olympia, WA

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a relative newbie myself, I will offer a few points.

Voice acting is acting. If you can't act, you can't be a voice actor. So learn to act, or have the skill already.

You're never good enough. You always have to be working to improve your chops. If that's coaching, classes, reading, practice, or a combination of those- do it.

Work does not come to you; you must go get it. You'll have to work hard to get paying jobs.

Solicit feedback and listen to it.

Most voice work is not glamorous- you won't be in an expensive studio with an entire production team reading copy promoting the latest geegaw from Microsoft or cutting a Superbowl ad. You're going to be alone in a small, hot room reading copy about the "region level strategy calculator" and how it helps manage your sell-through.
_________________
Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
melissa eX
MMD


Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Posts: 2781
Location: Lower Manhattan, New Amsterdam, the original NYC

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cyclometh wrote:
You're going to be alone in a small, hot room reading copy about the "region level strategy calculator" and how it helps manage your sell-through.


And you're going to have to sound like you know exactly what that means and why it's a good thing - even if you haven't a clue.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
roger
King's Row


Joined: 30 May 2007
Posts: 1064
Location: Central Kentucky

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moe,
This has been posted here before and you are probably aware of it,
but if not, here is a link to Peter O'Connell's brilliant
The_Voice_Over_Entrance_Exam
This might be a good resource.
_________________
Roger Tremaine
www.MyFavoriteVoice.com
http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Deirdre
Czarina Emeritus


Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 13016
Location: East Jesus, Maine

PostPosted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have to start your journey by reading aloud 10 minutes every day.
No excuses. If you can't make the time to do that, forget about being a voice actor.
THAT ONE THING will weed out 90% of the wannabes.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group