VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

gswartz · Guest

Hi everyone. I am a noob to VO, but I'm taking my first coaching lesson this week and I'm extremely excited about one day making the switch to doing VO full time. To finally say goodbye to the web programming world will be great. Anyway, I've been reading quite a bit on this board and the info is great. Everyone seems very friendly and I'm looking forward to making new friends here.

Since I haven't had any real experience doing VO before, I was wondering what some of you might suggest as my first steps toward getting some local jobs just to have something on my resume. I did read the thread about marketing yourself and I got the point to pick up the phone. But, aside from that, are there any other first steps that someone like me should take? I expect it's going to be hard to land some clients without having any real experience aside from a demo CD/mp3, so I'd appreciate any input. Thanks!

Geoff

Deirdre · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:

Read aloud every day.

Hey-- I like "Night Air".
Satriani-esque.
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gswartz · Guest

Hart · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

Well, practice practice practice. Once you think you are good enough to be on a local radio spot then practice practice practice some more. Then go buy the local radio station's production guy a beer.

Seriously, make friends with the production guy/girl at any local radio station. They are always in need of extra voices. But don't count on getting paid for it.
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Rognog · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:40 pm Post subject:

This is an excerpt of an email I sent to another aspiring VO talent just a few days ago:

"...I don't have to tell you what a challenging and sometimes frustrating industry this is. I'll tell you straight up, only you can get yourself auditions. Here is some basic advice to get some:

Take acting and VO classes (I can give you names)
Get great headshots (you can get good ones for under $500)
Produce a strong commercial demo (I know a course you can take)
Get a website (Yahoo, $8.95 a month)
Join organizations to keep you in the loop and to network
Get some networking software to keep track of all your contacts and correspondences (I recommend ACT! 2006)
Look for a good franchised agent
Learn everything you can about marketing
Make cold calls until you can't take it anymore (and learn to handle rejection with a smile!)
Followup with all your contacts regularly (probably the most important piece of advice I can give you)
Unless you're extremely attractive and/or have some very high-level contacts, this is only the way to get auditions. That's the reality of it.

If you want to talk about this in more detail, go to my website www.tomdheere.com, check out my stuff, and drop me a line.

Good luck!

Tom"

TC · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:06 pm Post subject:

Read up on the subject. Here are five books that I found particularly enlightening:

VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor, by Harlan Hogan

The Voice Actor's Guide to Home Recording, by Harlan Hogan and Jeffrey Fisher

Secrets of Voice-Over Success, by Joan Baker

The Art of Voice Acting, by James R. Alburger

You Can Bank on Your Voice, by Rodney Saulsberry

Read them aloud and you'll be killing two birds with one stone. That's what I did.

Tony

Bailey · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:38 am Post subject: Re: hi from a noob

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:40 am Post subject:

Geoff----Think of it this way:

You didn't buy a guitar and immediately ask people, "Where can I find a great gigging band?"

Right?

You need to learn how to DO IT before you can make plans on SELLING IT.

Just because you've been talking all your life doesn't mean you've been practicing VO skills all your life. Once in a while, our slogan here is "If it were as easy as reading, everyone would be doing it".
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DBCooperVO.com

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:41 am Post subject:

Welcome aboard. If you are paying a voice over coach who is unable to answer the questions you've asked here, find another coach. Not joking. Have you asked your coach? What was the answer?

Having made the above suggestion, the advice above is worth taking on board.

gswartz · Guest

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:57 am Post subject:

Plan to ask the questions, 95% of noobs never make a cent and if you fall into the 95% you're coach will not give you a refund.

Here's another important question you should ask your coach.

"From what you've heard me do so far do you believe I have the natural ability required to be a voice over". Any coach worth the money will be able to detect abilitly, say yes or no and explain why it is or isn't there.

What did you learn during your first lesson? The reason I ask I have never been coached and I would like to able to tell people what they should expect.

gswartz · Guest

gswartz · Guest

Bailey · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

gswartz · Guest

Jean Zarzour from Lakewood. It's a bit of a drive, but I wasn't able to find anyone closer. Are you familiar with this area?