VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[DenaliDave]

Sure, I didn't care for the prima donna attitudes and egos of the other actors I encountered. I understand a certain level of ego is needed to convey confidence and competence, but the cliques/cattiness and attitudes turned me off.

Granted, just like how there is a wide variety and array of people, I won't paint people with a broad brush. I got what I felt was "useful" from the experiences, but never felt passionate about a career in film/tv/stage acting.

That was my limited experience around a few groups of people here in Alaska and at the University of Montana with formal classes and improv groups.

I have been in an independent film, but the production fell apart post-shooting. Hm. Looking at the director/producer's IMDB, it seems they don't even list it. (Probably for the best, it was a horrible movie I'm sure we'd all like to forget).

Here's a little story about me:

I don't know at what age it was, but it must I must have been around four or five when I got my first AM/FM cassette recorder. At the time, I thought it was quite magical; voices coming out of a box! Tapes with more voices, and a little hole on top that captured voices!

I grew up in a fairly secluded suburban neighborhood near a state park, with nothing but 100's of miles of wild forest behind my house. The only other kids in my cul-de-sac were all 2-4 years older than me, so I found myself having to learn to entertain myself whenever I wasn't at school.

I would sit in my room and not only tape songs off the radio, but splice in my own voice as the radio DJ. Not to sound cheesy, but honestly some of my earliest memories as a child are playing around with that two deck Magnavox "boom box" that ran off those horridly heavy C batteries.

I would make mix tapes galore, then re-record over them. My voice became a form of toy for me, endlessly figuring new ways to shape it and change it. It was one toy that I never could loose or leave behind somewhere.

And honestly, despite claiming I don't have a huge ego -- I strangely, enjoy hearing my own voice. Even 25 years later it still seems like some kind of magic to me.

I guess, I really like to to talk ... a lot, and if I can hone my voice into something people enjoy hearing -- I think it's worth trying to do!
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[Scott Pollak]

[DenaliDave]

To my knowledge, none of the people I interacted with ever went on to any kind of professional or successful career -- so what you say about egoic actors is indeed how it appears to be.

The "god's gift to acting" thing turned me off. That was especially the case in classes I was enrolled in where people from various backgrounds all felt the need to "prove" themselves to the professor/coach/director, and what they were doing was really, really hard.

The exception I found is when I was on set for that abominable indy movie I did. I think we've probably all done a gig we'd rather forget! *shivers*.

The folks on that set were are pretty nice. They didn't know who I was so they must have just assumed I was good at what I did or something. I'm actually still friends with two of them and we keep in touch regularly.

As I said, I haven't traveled the world (well, actually I have just not in a theater/acting role), or even done anything with theater people in places like LA or NYC. I do know some people in LA though, but they only work with Hollywood actors, not as actors themselves. But doesn't everyone in LA? LOL

So, that's my perspective from a very limited engagement with a very small community. I'm not stereotyping or even trying to sound like I have a chip on my shoulder. I just didn't luck out the times I tried it, and it was probably due to the amateur nature of the players.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[Eddie Eagle]

You will find grizzly and eagles here on the VO-BB!
Very much like Alaska.

[DenaliDave]

LOL! I'd be very open to trying my hand again at some acting stuff, especially now that I'm a little older. I'm not the kind of of person to forever swear something off from a few here and there experiences. I probably would have done more if my first few forays would have been more positive. For me, acting was never something I wanted to do as a career or passion. It was something I found myself reasonably good at, and found the skills valuable and translatable into many other professions and areas of life.

In one way or another, whether we acknowledge it or not -- we're all actors in one for or another. I probably play 3-4 regular roles on a daily basis between home and the office!
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[sdaeley17]

Dave, I totally feel you on not clicking with theater cliques, haha. My college theater department did exhibit some negative stereotypes (an ungodly love and memorized repertoire of musical theater, debaucherous theater parties where everyone hooked up with everyone else.) but I also realize that I may have been too harsh in my perception, and wasn't able to see the hard work and dedication that many of these people did put forth. Many of them are still doing theater in some capacity, directing, acting, children's theater, theater ed, and I count myself proud to be their friend.

I agree that community theater can't be beat. You get to work with so many people of different ages, backgrounds, and skills, and everyone's just there to tell a great story.
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

[Jen Gosnell]

Nice to see you here, Dave! Welcome.
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https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

[Bob Bergen]

There have been so many questions on this thread that I began responding to individually, but realized that was getting redundant and overwhelming. So, from Verne to Dave and everyone else, take note.

I keep hearing over and over, "How do I find the right coach??"

This is actually easier today than it was when I started out in the late 70s. My God, you have this wonderful resource called the internet. It's right there at your fingertips. There really are no excuses to not being able to find the best coaches out there.

Now, who is right for you is relative. One person may connect with a great coach where you may not. But it's always been that way!

My advice is to do what I did, and what I teach my students to do. I wanted to do voices for cartoons, so, I called Mel Blanc. Today, if Mel were still with us, I'd reach out on social media. EVERYONE, with only a few exceptions, are accessible on social media.

Start at the top and work backwards. Find those who have the ultimate career you desire and ask how they got there.

Start with Voicebank: /promoList.do?CLR=-1" target="_blank">http://www.voicebank.net/a/promoList.do?CLR=-1
Concentrate only on the top vo agencies in the industry:
- SBV
- CESD
- Atlas
- WME
- DPN
- AVO
- AAA
etc.

Surf their clients. Research their clients websites, IMDB pages, etc. Google them and find more info. Check out their Facebook pages and follow them on Twitter.

Once you have found a handful of successful vo actors who have the kind of career and level of success you desire, reach out directly to these actors.
* Who did they study with?
* Who did their website?
* What was their journey?

Now, this will give you the opportunity to also decide what you are or aren't willing to do FOR your career. And you will start to see common denominators, such as the same coaches, the same connections on social media, actors working for the same studios and networks, producers, and ad agencies.

THESE are the ones whom you want to rub elbows with, even if the rubbing is done by way of the internet.

Backwards thinking: starting at the top and working backwards to create a tangible career strategy and roadmap. What IS the top? Well, for me it was doing the voice of Porky Pig. I didn't want to just do voices for cartoons, I had a particular character in mind. (that's the extreme of specific, but I was a kid whose mind wasn't clouded with adult doubts and realities..something most adults need to revisit) So, I went to the top and called Mel Blanc. In meeting him I realized that I needed a strategy so, when the time comes that the studio will be looking for actors to voice his characters, I'd be prepared. And I began thinking backwards of what to do, starting with having the gig and how I got there.

This strategy can be done with ANY genre of VO. Let's say my goal is to be the promo voice of CBS comedies. Let's create a backwards roadmap by way of a Q&A. SO-I am the voice of CBS comedy promos!
Q: How did I get the job of CBS comedy promos?
A: I tested with the network for the job

Q: How did I get the test?
A: From the first round of auditions that my agent sent me.

Q: How did I get those auditions from my agent?
A: My agent is one of the few in the industry with a promo department so they have access to the top promo auditions.

Q: How did I land that agent?
A: Through my years of study and networking with the right people I had great referrals for an introduction to my agent.

Q: How did I find all of these people, from those to study with to my network of referrals?
A: Well, knowing my goal was to do promos, I researched online to top agents and actors involved in network promos. I reached out to these actors, researching their career paths. I studied with the coaches they still study with. I attended promo conventions like Promax and met executive producers and on air promo buyers from the networks. Over the years I connected with everyone on Linked-In, Twitter, and Facebook. When I was ready I got demo producer suggestions from the top promo actors in the business. Once I had that killer demo, I used my connections to make an introduction/referral to the top promo agents in the industry.

Etc.

And I intentionally left out many, many steps in the example above. Think about what those might be, as this will get your own wheels spinning on the process.

So, now you will tell me that you don't have such huge aspirations, or you don't live in an area where such goals are reachable. I'm telling you, if you approach your career with higher expectations and goals, if you reach out to those with the career you desire, you are miles ahead if those who are not. You want to be ahead of the herd, not amongst them. And, you just might figure out that to really do what you want to do, you will need to just do more.

[paulstefano]

That'as amazing Bob, thanks. Like a master class for any entrepreneurial business right in an internet post. Bravo
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http://www.paulstefano.com

[DenaliDave]

Wow Bob, thanks a TON!

I totally understand what you mean about finding a "voice". The whole "jack of all trades" really does amount to a master of none.

I have kind of compiled some voices that I like, and some of the projects/work that they do.

(preface)
Please don't beat me...please don't beat me... lol

I actually find Will Wheaton's voice to be one of my favorites when listening to audio books. I went in search of more books he's read than more books by the same author. To me, that's the sign of a good audio book narrator -- when you want to keep hearing that person read, trusting that they're choosing good books for themselves.

As far as voices go -- I'm still trying to figure out the best way to play around/practice with them. I *can* do character voices, but I just haven't found any real occasion to do them, and I need to way to practice them besides annoying my fiance by taking like a Russian at the grocery store.

Ideally, I'd write up some kind of situation where a bunch of them are all hanging out together and I'm forced to switch back and forth quickly.

It pretty soon begins to sound like a really bad joke..."So an Eskimo, Irishman, Russian and a Texan walk into a bar...."


_________________
"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[DenaliDave]

Anyone ever heard of these curtains over at:

https://residential-acoustics.com/

?

They don't seem to give a lot of technical detail, but I do have a window in the room I record in. Normally, it's not a problem. Every once in a while though, someone will park outside and the noise from their running car will interrupt me.

The finace might even go along with some of the colors. Normally I'm not the one allowed to make the decorating decisions!

Eventually when we move I'll have a fresh room from scratch that I can plan a more formal, well treated environment.
_________________
"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[Bob Bergen]

I don't think I said to find a voice, at least in my last entry. Find a working actor who is successful doing the genre of VO you strive to do. Don't mimic them!!!! The buyers want originity, not what they already have!

The purpose of connecting with working actors at the top of their game is to gather advice on their journey.

Does that make sense??

B

[kkuhlken]

Bob, I am printing that out and putting it in my VO homework folder to be studied ad nauseum.
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My full name is Karl Kuhlken (think Macauly Culkin...it rhymes)

Suave, debonair, a ladies man. Sophisticated, urbane, well heeled....no, wait...that's not me

[FinMac]

Hello Dave!

Greetings from another cool place, Finland!

I have been following this thread and get the impression that you are not quite catching what Bob wrote to you.

VO is not about doing voices. It is not about accents. It is about being believable! Will I believe you when I hear the message you are presenting, or are you just mouthing words.

I have been listening to a wonderfully done audio-book, and by midpoint the narrator has done at least 18 different characters. They are all believable!
Here is a link to the YT post...https://youtu.be/umlJAJUVi_U

I listened to the samples you posted. You are not ready for a demo. Save your money for coaching instead.

My previous background was in radio, and I had voiced hundreds of spots, but that experience did not prepare me for professional VO work. VO is about the naked voice. When I hear you, without any music or SFX, do you sound believable.

The production work you added to your spots did not add value to the words, but imho they detracted from the message.

You need to find some good coaches if you want to work in VO. Bob provided a list for me some time ago in a private message (Thanks Bob)!
And I have found an excellent one who is very fitting for me.

If you want some suggestions PM me and I will send them along. Coaches can work with you over Skype wherever you are located, as long as your internet is working

If this is what you want to do, do not let me, or anyone else discourage you.

All the best,

Mac
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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

[Bruce]

Hi Dave,

It's best to ask equipment questions (acoustic curtains) in the GEAR section and keep each thread as on-topic as possible. Thanks!

But to answer your question here, I bought bedroom wall size curtains at Home Depot some years ago that serve me very well. They are on opposing walls and are red velvet, like theater curtains. The fuzz on the surface I'm sure has some additional sound dampening properties. Plus I get to enter through an opening in the curtains every time I go to perform behind the mic. (I don't take that "theatricality" seriously by the way, but it is fun.)

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .