VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:53 pm Post subject: Coaching - How Long?

Strange…As a pilot, back in the days when I was learning to fly both helicopters and airplanes, I could not wait till the first solo, and GET the instructor to exit the aircraft. Solo was the initial objective, as well as “How fast can this be done?” looking back, it was a bit crazy, 30 years and a few thousand hours later later…that was insane!

Today, I am coaching with someone who I would guess is the best in the industry, after 3 weeks, I never want to stop. My initial plan was to go 26 weeks every week, or until I was told I was ready for a demo, but after 3 weeks, I plan to extend the coaching sessions to 52 weeks. My question is how long is the average coaching relationship? I know it’s all relative to the talent from the get-go, but would anybody offer comments on how long they spent, till they decided it was time to go solo and produce a demo.
cool

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heyguido · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:15 pm Post subject:

Go ahead. Produce a demo. You'll learn something along the way. And it won't be your last. Wink

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Don Brookshire
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Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject:

Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject:

I am by no means authoritative in this, but my last coach and I worked together for a little over a year before I felt like we had gotten to a place where I knew what he was going to say everytime he opened his mouth. It was at that point that I decided to move on to a new coach. But, I definitely plan on getting coached as long as I have something to learn (which is hopefully forever)

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Bill,

I started working with Nancy Wolfson about 3 years ago, maybe 4. Something like that. Ran through her whole coursework, cut a new demo, etc.

And I still work with her today. I don't talk to her a often as before, maybe once every couple months, but it's like a refresher course. And I don't really see an end-date for it, whether it's with Nancy or somebody else. I'm not as good as I can be, not even close, so I'm going to keep learning.
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Bob Ransom
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Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject:

Jayson & Bob,

Wow, I do like the responses and amount of time so far, it's good to know that my projected year is not too long.
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:59 pm Post subject:

Bill,

I started studying with Nancy Wolfson in February 2007. I've stayed in touch with her all of this time and am now making my second trip through her course work. It's remarkable how much more I'm picking up this time through than 5 years ago when I started with her.

When I finish this round of Nancy's course work, I'm going to go back and spend a year or two studying again with Marice Tobias. Those two ladies between them have given me the tools to completely remake myself into something approaching the voice talent I want to be. Or at least take some steps in the right direction.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
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melissa eX · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:26 pm Post subject:

I agree with the Bobs. I think there's always something to learn. And I don't think we learn something and then that thing is learned and done. I find we approach things that we've gone over earlier from a different place as we learn more - and are better able to integrate it than we may have been earlier. I started working with Marice a few years ago. Not on a regular schedule. Seminars here and there - some privates. But as I work with her now - even if we focus on something we may have done a couple of years ago I find I understand it at a different level now than I did then.

Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:41 pm Post subject:

What an awesome endorsement for those stellar coaches, Nancy’s influence was apparent in your new demo compared to the old one from a few yeas back. Like you stated, I as well would like to completely remake myself, and intend to continue training till the changes become tangible and beyond. From today’s session I’m still mentally task to the edge, feeling like I just ran a marathon, oh it’s going to be a great year getting into VO shape!
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Philip Banks · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:23 am Post subject:

All you really need to do is master the Iranian Double Pause, everything else is just pure twaddle.

Bish · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:33 am Post subject:

I just read that post out loud... and inserting the Iranian-Double between "pure" and "twaddle" really brings it to life!

Education and coaching is an on-going process... even "on the job". I'm really starting to look forward to directed session (especially Skype with video) where the client has a vision, and I have to learn to interpret their requests. It teaches me to listen. Some clients are very experienced and adept at describing what they want... some, not so... but that can be educational as well.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:54 am Post subject:

What I - and probably many others - hated about school and made us want to get through it as quickly as possible was that most of the teachers were boring.

Now, I love learning new things and being reminded of things I've forgotten.

Anyone - in any occupation or profession - who wants to be the best they can be should never, ever decide that they've learned enough.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Bruce · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:17 am Post subject:

I guess the only caveat to think about on how many lessons you take is, will this become a crutch? Just thinking of the people who have years long (life long) relationships with a psychiatrist when a limited number of sessions might have been just right.

B
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Pam · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:43 am Post subject:

Bruce brings up a good point. Coaching is wonderful but it shouldn't be a substitute for the actual doing. Some people take classes, workshops and coaching and never get on stage, record an audition, put themselves out there. They fool themselves into thinking they are actually working but they aren't.

I also agree that you can come to the end of a coaches usefulness sometimes. I remember a talent I knew who was in LA for a week or so and scheduled some time with a coach for some work on animation. The coach basically had nothing to new to add to what this working pro already knew. She was getting to the point in her career, after years of sponging in everything she possibly could, where those who could affect her career and take her to the next level were getting fewer and further apart. Those coaches (Nancy and Marice are absolutely 2 I believe in and Kristine Oller for career coaching) who can adjust what they do to the level of the person they are working with are those that will stand the test of time. As a talent, VO, On camera and stage, I plan on getting coaching and taking classes for the rest of my life. BUT I am getting very picky about who I think can really push me to the next level.

And finally (you can tell I'm trying to avoid working as I'm being so vociferous!) a demo, or a headshot, is not an end. It is a means to an end, a snapshot of you or your voice at that point in time. You will change in 6 months, your life will bring new perspective you didn't have and that will need to be reflected in your demo and your photo. Budgeting for demo updates should be done on a regular basis. Trends change, styles change and you change. Heaven forbid you are caught wearing last years styles, much less sounding "so last year"! This is from the chick who finally updated her haircut after 4 years.
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Now what did I come in here for?

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

My journey was 4 solid years of vo classes, studying with every vo teacher in LA. I was in 1-2 classes a week and all day Saturday workout groups. Many who were in one or more of these classes with me are also fellow working actors.

I also went to a 2 year acting conservatory and 3 years of improv.

And, I still work with coaches from time to time.

Now, all that said, I also believe people can become workshop-aholics. Some fear taking the plunge. Some just never connect/improve. Some just don't want to leave the fun.

But the majority I see out there are people making demos prematurely, or just not being patient, specific, or strategic with their business plan. Then they wonder why their career is stagnant.

I rarely allow anyone to take my class more than twice. And because my LA class has about a 2 year waiting list, there's plenty of time between repeating. And I can count on one hand the people I've allowed to take it again. But I still recommend actors in LA study with everyone. Bank the nuggets of wisdom and disregard
what doesn't work for you.