Absolutely Overwhelmed...

[yragcom1]

OK, here's my story. I want to do VOs, obviously. I did some college radio years ago, and over the years, bought the occasional book on VO (Word Of Mouth, Sandy Thomas' book, etc). About two weeks ago, I had a epiphany, and realized that this is something I've wanted to do forever, but never thought I had access to doing or time to pursue. Then I see Voices123. Then I read about ISDN. The I look around, and realize that I'm only a decent mic and some training away from really making a go at this.

So, I get on eBay. Find a AKG Perception 120 mic bundled with Cubase ($60), a pair of Seinheisser HD280 Pros (about $80), a M-Audio USB preamp with phantom power (about $60) Windscreen coming in the next few days.

My dilemma is in the training. There's so much out there, it's mind boggling. I was looking at Don Morrow's $600 course. Then there's Edge's $149 course. I know that I probably need some diction training, as well as some voice acting (maybe). Any comments and/or suggestions greatly appreciated.

[JoeActor]

Hi yragcom1 - welcome.

I've moved this thread to the "Newbies" area, where it may get more attention.

Please post an intro when you have a chance in the "Welcome" area, and let us know a bit more about your experience and goals in VO.

Ok, down to business.

Make sure you don't put the cart before the horse.
Jumping into any new career and spending $$$ before you know what's what may be a costly experience!

Start by reading this thread:
http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/showthread.php/1342-Random-Thoughts-for-Newbies

... then I'd suggest getting involved with some Theater or Improv groups near you. Many are low or no cost, and are an absolute must to lay a good foundation. Voice Acting is Acting... No way around it. Gotta have the skill sets.

Also, if you are aware of diction issues, public speaking, or in some cases speech therapy may help.

That's my 2 cents for now, and I'm sure some other folks will chime in.

Welcome to the forum,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

[Mike Sommer]

$600 for a series of classes, is not bad at all, and one class does not make you a voice actor. This is a continuous process of learning, implementing, learning some more and putting that to work. Then once you start getting working, that does not mean the end of classes, you should still be taking classes or belong to a workout group. This is a craft and you only get good at it by continually working at it.

[Lee Gordon]

I look around, and realize that I'm only a decent mic and some training away from really making a go at this.


And I'm only a rocket ship and a space helmet away from going to the moon. :shocked:

But seriously, as Joe has pointed out, it's not quite as easy as some people would have you believe. I'm not suggesting that you don't give it a shot, just that you keep your expectations realistic.

[yragcom1]

Thanks for all the replies. I think the thing that's throwing me off is what niche I should do. Like I stated, I know I'm not a movie trailer guy, but when I look at some of the other fields (anime, narration, commercials), I feel that I could really do multiple categories, too. I'm wondering if using a course like Morrow's would do me any good when it comes to anime? Would Bob Bergen do me any good if I wanted to do narrations? Get my concern?


And I'm only a rocket ship and a space helmet away from going to the moon. :shocked:

But seriously, as Joe has pointed out, it's not quite as easy as some people would have you believe. I'm not suggesting that you don't give it a shot, just that you keep your expectations realistic.

Not belittling the training curve or the occupation, believe me. Just going into it with the confidence that if I get the right training and focus, I can be successful at this. I just don't want to be all over the map.

[Mike Sommer]

You've got to get your acting chops first.

Realistically you need work towards a commercial demo, because that's where you'll be doing most of your work.

There is the slightest chance, just the slightest, that all the planets will align and you'll have the exact character voice that someone needs. Even then, someone else will be able to do it, just as good you, and has the acting chops.

The truth is, character and promo -the big time work- is roped off the trusted pros, that have already worked in the trenches for years, or are highly skilled.

Anime my be your first venture, but a lot of that is ADR and you'll need to get around that curve too.

My best advice is to get some general VO coaching, and get your feet wet first, and get some acting classes.

[yragcom1]

You've got to get your acting chops first.

Realistically you need work towards a commercial demo, because that's where you'll be doing most of your work.

There is the slightest chance, just the slightest, that all the planets will align and you'll have the exact character voice that someone needs. Even then, someone else will be able to do it, just as good you, and has the acting chops.

The truth is, character and promo -the big time work- is roped off the trusted pros, that have already worked in the trenches for years, or are highly skilled.

Anime my be your first venture, but a lot of that is ADR and you'll need to get around that curve too.

My best advice is to get some general VO coaching, and get your feet wet first, and get some acting classes.

Thanks, Mike. I'm reading Janet Wilcox's "Voiceovers" right now, and it leans in the direction that you're suggesting. Very heavy on improv. I may have to take her VO class at UCLA the next time it comes around.

[Mike Sommer]

If you willing to come out to the valley (Burbank) area there are a ton of coaches, though as a beginner I would send you to Marc Cashman first.

You can check out the VO Resource Guide: http://www.voiceoverresourceguide.com/la/04training.html

[yragcom1]

If you willing to come out to the valley (Burbank) area there are a ton of coaches, though as a beginner I would send you to Marc Cashman first.

You can check out the VO Resource Guide: http://www.voiceoverresourceguide.com/la/04training.html

Thanks, Mike. I spoke with Marc Cashman today for about 10 minutes on the phone. Very cordial and nice. I'm going to be taking his classes starting on Oct. 30. He outlined just what I was looking for as a beginner, and how his particular curriculum addresses my particular concerns. I don't think I could have found a better fit.

I knew asking you guys would help! Thanks.

[Mike Sommer]

Marc is the Man. If he can't you to fly right, no one can.

[Gidget]

Marc is awesome. I recommend him to people as well.

[Diane Havens]

I love Marc Cashman! Great choice. Best of luck to you.

[yragcom1]

Hi everyone,

As Mike knows, I've been working with Marc Cashman for the last month or so, and I'm getting a lot out of it. Great insight into the business, and exercises and discussions about a lot of different things in VOs. I'm sooo glad I started here first, and I'm glad I found this community to bounce ideas off of! Thanks! I'm off to do my demo now!

SO KIDDING about that last part.

But Marc is a keeper. I hope to study with him for at least 8 months to a year and go through all his courses until I nail them cold, and do a lot of homework in between. Thanks for your encouragement and suggestions. You're the best!

P.S. Where can I buy some extra corks?

[Scott Pollak]

That's the beauty of it; you buy the corks in the wine bottles they come with. :-)
BTW, carrots work just as well, too.

[jsgilbert]

Watching this thread, I'm a bit curious as to the overall expectations that individuals entering the voice over profession these days might have, as well as their understanding of the marketplace.

It would be great if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions.

Do you have an expectation that at some point you will be part of a voice over "workforce", earning some sort of regular income?

If you do, at one point do you see yourself making money and what kind of income range?

How does that change over a period of months or years? And if so, what would you be comfortable earning as a voice talent?

Would you have issues paying bills or other financial issues if you had to spend $3,000 on your voice over career over the next year, but had no income from voice over?

Thanks and best of luck. If I can be of any help, I'm at jsgilbert@pacbell.net

[yragcom1]

Hi, JS, would love to answer your questions:



Do you have an expectation that at some point you will be part of a voice over "workforce", earning some sort of regular income? Yes, I do have a expectation to be part of the workforce, however I really have a love for this. I didn't want to do this for the money, although I believe that eventually, as I hone skills, I will earn income from it. I've probably visited ALL of your sites before this thread even started (you have a great voice, by the way, JS), so I know the level of quality I need to be a player in all of this, and I know that I'm not there, not even close.

As for income, I don't have a level of income set as of now. It would be silly of me to even perceive such a thing right now. I don't even know what I could do. I'd love to do anime or promo at some point, but I know that requires a great skill set. I make a decent living doing what I do now, so I'm not leaving my current employment anytime soon. But I think, at the age of 47, I need to do something that I love to do. Then the "work" required to get to these goals isn't really work.




How does that change over a period of months or years? And if so, what would you be comfortable earning as a voice talent? I can’t even tell you that, although I know what people in different fields in this business make. I’m very lucky to be in this physical location, and have teachers that I can access that are the top of their fields, Marc being one of them. As I said, I don’t know where I fit in all of this, but my goal is to be in the professional arena doing this.



Would you have issues paying bills or other financial issues if you had to spend $3,000 on your voice over career over the next year, but had no income from voice over?No, I’d have no trouble spending that kind of money, in fact, I’m expecting it. I expect to be with Marc as long as he’ll have me, and as long as I think I need the work. I have a teacher in mind after I finish with Marc’s various courses. And I don’t expect to nail them all and immediately start working.

I think that I have certain strengths from my love of this art. When I was a kid, I'd read Fantastic Four comics into a reel-to-reel recorder, and listened to the KNX drama hour every night. When I was in Jr. High, I DJ'd during lunch hour to all the students in the school, and listen to Firesign Theater and Monty Python records. When I was in college, I did college radio, and read classics on the air live (and boy did I suck at it!) . When I joined my church, I did VO's for our service videos. How many kids my age knew who Lorenzo Music was? Paul Frees? And of course, having worked at Disneyland in my younger years, I always wanted to be Jack Wagner! In other words, I've always had a predisposition and a love for this kind of work.

However, I need to get back to certain places. I’ve locked up a part of myself creatively that I’m starting to get back to, and I find that the training for this work has been almost therapeutic in that regard. I think that, correctly honed, I can do this work, and be successful at it.


That’s all I’ve got for now. Thanks for listening.

[jsgilbert]

Thank you for the nice compliments. Now, if you can just pass that on to a few advertising broadcast producers.

Hmmm, interesting that no figures whatsoever popped up. I might have thought that somewhere there would be some form of anticipation in regards to that area, especially given that you're in your 40's with a duaghter. Not that this is indicative of anything at all. I'm certainly not making any judgment values, I was just curious. I'm sure everyone's story is a bit different.

I think it is important that you have a that good job that can afford you to do this exploration.

I would feel quite dirfferently if you were attempting to finance this with unemplyment checks and savings. UNfortunately, it might seem there are quite a few people doing that at the moment.

And I'm pleased to hear that you are enjoying your training with Mr. Cashman. He seems to be a genuinely nice guy from my brief interactions with him.

I would however like to re-mention the importance and benefits of traditional acting training and improvisational training. Both of which are infinitely available to you in your locale and quite often at very reasonable cost.

At some point, you can contact me about diction issues. I was in speech pathology for several years when I was in my tweens. Sort of ironic that I make my living doing this now. I might be able to discuss how this has come into play in terms of both my working as a talent and directing/ casting other talent.

This is a much tougher racket than it ever used to be. I would suggest you contact SCORE.org, a very free resource of retired professionals. This is a good time to think about what you may need to do in order to try and transition into a career in voice over. Despite you not being ready for some time, it woudnt be a bad idea to see how working as an independant contractor may affect things, or looking at SAG and AFTRA to determine what might need to transpirte before you would consider membership or even electing to work fi-core. Developing a business plan and then a marketing plan are in my opinion as key elements as any other type of preperation or training.

I would also begin making and refining a list of all the people on the planet you know, whether your kid's school bus driver from 1993, friends high school with and no longer speak to, your corner grocer or your health insurance agent. Inevitably, while talent is important, relationships can often move a 6th choice candidate quite easily into first place. Cold calling sucks, when instead you can referral market. You'll be amazed at the number of people you know, and the people they know.

Again, if there's anything I can be of help with, feel free to send me a shot at jsgilbert@pacbell.net

I don't sell any products or services to actors.

[yragcom1]

UPDATE:

I figured I should update, for those people who are new (and old) as to what's going on with me.

I am still pursuing voice over, and I'm still working with Marc Cashman. I'm halfway through his Intermediate classes now. It's been great, slightly humbling at times,l but for the most part, I'm making good progress. Marc is a great teacher, and I'm learning a lot from him. It's good to have a professional who's working in the business who has such a good rep in the VO community as a teacher.

As I said before, I know that I'm, not ready for anything, and won't be for a while. But I'm not daunted either.

That's really all I've got for now. Hope you guys had a good holiday!

[JoeActor]

... that's good to hear. Glad you're seeing progress. If you love it, keep at it.
It's a hard road, yes, but the only way to find where it leads it to start walking...

(wearing out my shoes),
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com