Random Thoughts for Newbies

Scott Pollak · 08-07-2008, 01:04 PM

This was posted over on the "General Chit Chat" forum, but it seems appropriate to bring it over here, too. Julie... maybe you could make this a sticky?

Random thoughts. …
Feel free to add your own.

I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now to compose a sort of general, all-encompassing, J.S. Gilbert-esque pontification on this business that may provide some eye-opening clarification for the many newcomers to this business who happen onto this forum.

We often see many of the same remarks on these threads over and over from first-timers:
“I’ve been told I have a nice voice…”
“I’ve always wanted to do this…”
“My customers tell me I have the most pleasant voice…”
“I’ve been told I should be on the radio…”
“I’ve never really done this before…”

Now, before I get into this, please understand that everyone in this business had to start out at the beginning, so my goal here is NOT to discourage newcomers. It’s to provide stark honesty and clarification from someone who has been knocking around in professional broadcasting and voiceovers for over 30 years.

1) Being told you have a ‘nice voice’ or you ‘should be in radio’ doesn’t qualify anyone to do voiceovers for a living. There are, quite literally, tens of millions of ‘nice voices’ in the world and, quite literally, WAY too many radio voices (that most clients do NOT want any more). There are tens of millions of super nice looking people out there, too, but only about 1/1000 of 1% of them are models.

2) If you have absolutely no experience, know nothing about the technical or business side of voice work and/or voice production, have had no training in acting or delivering copy, then you need to get some. You may ultimately be able to make a dent in this business, but not without experience and training.

3) If you post a read or a demo here and ask for a critique, be prepared to receive it. Everyone here, and I mean EVERYONE, pulls for everyone else. This is the most supportive group of professionals you’ll ever meet in any profession, bar none. Heartfelt and QUALIFIED feedback will come to you from folks who know, from professionals who make their entire living doing this stuff. If you really DON’T want to hear it and learn how to get better, then please don’t ask for the feedback.

4) This is a business. It requires hard work, skill, the right equipment, training, business acumen, savvy, and relentless determination. If you lack any single one of those elements, the odds are heavily stacked against you.

5) While this is a tremendously fun career to be in, it’s not something to be taken lightly. If you happen to mess around on your home computer and make funny sounds or a great impersonation of George Bush or Sylvester Stallone, we’ll all smile with you as we listen. But please don’t think that it will gain you entry into this business. It won’t. Just because it can be fun doesn’t mean it’s not serious. You would never, EVER, walk into the offices of Smith-Barney and expect them to hire you as a stockbroker simply because you can balance your checkbook. Like it or not, the same is true in voiceovers (and pretty much any other legitimate business out there).

6) Most people will fail at this business. Here is where I acknowledge the many excellent posts by my friend J.S. Gilbert who has – time and again – shared the stats of the cruel realities of this business. The vast, VAST majority of people will make no money doing voiceovers. Most will, at best, make a few thousand dollars. As in other ‘entertainment’ types of fields (e.g.: acting, singing, dancing), a tiny, tiny few will make a career at this… some making just enough to pay the bills, and even less making a very comfortable living. The sad truth is that this is an extremely hard business to make a living at.

All newcomers are welcomed with open arms. We love to hear from you, talk to you, listen to what you have and provide feedback and suggestions, but you have a responsibility, too. You must be honest with yourself as to whether you should be attempting this. Aunt Sally and Mister Pipkin and your regular customers telling you what a nice voice you have means nothing. Ask those in the business who know… those you’ll find trolling these forums… and they’ll tell you whether they think you have the chops or not. You’d be smart to listen to them.

Do everything you possibly can to learn about the business. Buy books and read them! Take classes: voice classes, voice acting classes, acting classes. When the time is right and the budget allows, get the right equipment (it doesn’t have to cost a fortune… you can have a GREAT set up for under $1000). Learn how to use the equipment and software properly. Be humble and really know and believe that none of us – NONE OF US - ever knows it all or ever reaches the top or ever hits a place where we can’t get better or learn more.

From the bottom of my heart, if you’ve read this far, I hope this helps clarify where you are and what you need to think about and do (or NOT do!). Welcome to the wonderful world of voiceovers and best of luck.

JoeActor · 08-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Good post, Scott - it is now a "sticky" in the forum...

Cheers,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

chrisslone · 08-28-2008, 03:44 PM

Scott,

I'm new to this site. I've been in radio for quite a while, doing voice work and production. There's not a single thing you've said on here that I don't agree with. I'm new to voice acting, and I've spent quite a bit setting up a home studio and receiving voice acting lessons. I certainly can tell you, there's a difference. A BIG difference. I'm here to learn, and hopefully to help. All the best to everyone for success and learning.

ranalanricard · 10-21-2008, 11:37 AM

Well said indeed.

I'm new to this business also and have assumed the mindset of vacuum cleaner. Upon completion of my professional VO courses, if I haven't learned anything else, I've learned to "shut up and learn --- so I can speak up and earn" (Oh how I scare myself when I begin to wax poetic

)

Though I've been blessed (stress the blessed part) ... and am getting a real start with a three audio book deal (that is if the first is accepted well) ... that contract will ultimately be filled and I'll still be a rookie. So it's practice, practice, practice ..... listen, listen, listen .... learn, learn, learn ... until you turn off your mic for good.

Well there you have it ... all the 'sage' advice this rookie can muster.

Ran Alan Ricard

08-07-2008, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scott Pollak User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 497	Random Thoughts for Newbies *This was posted over on the "General Chit Chat" forum, but it seems appropriate to bring it over here, too. Julie... maybe you could make this a sticky?* Random thoughts. … Feel free to add your own. I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now to compose a sort of general, all-encompassing, J.S. Gilbert-esque pontification on this business that may provide some eye-opening clarification for the many newcomers to this business who happen onto this forum. We often see many of the same remarks on these threads over and over from first-timers: “I’ve been told I have a nice voice…” “I’ve always wanted to do this…” “My customers tell me I have the most pleasant voice…” “I’ve been told I should be on the radio…” “I’ve never really done this before…” Now, before I get into this, please understand that everyone in this business had to start out at the beginning, so my goal here is NOT to discourage newcomers. It’s to provide stark honesty and clarification from someone who has been knocking around in professional broadcasting and voiceovers for over 30 years. 1) Being told you have a ‘nice voice’ or you ‘should be in radio’ doesn’t qualify anyone to do voiceovers for a living. There are, quite literally, tens of millions of ‘nice voices’ in the world and, quite literally, WAY too many radio voices (that most clients do NOT want any more). There are tens of millions of super nice looking people out there, too, but only about 1/1000 of 1% of them are models. 2) If you have absolutely no experience, know nothing about the technical or business side of voice work and/or voice production, have had no training in acting or delivering copy, then you need to get some. You may ultimately be able to make a dent in this business, but not without experience and training. 3) If you post a read or a demo here and ask for a critique, be prepared to receive it. Everyone here, and I mean EVERYONE, pulls for everyone else. This is the most supportive group of professionals you’ll ever meet in any profession, bar none. Heartfelt and QUALIFIED feedback will come to you from folks who know, from professionals who make their entire living doing this stuff. If you really DON’T want to hear it and learn how to get better, then please don’t ask for the feedback. 4) This is a business. It requires hard work, skill, the right equipment, training, business acumen, savvy, and relentless determination. If you lack any single one of those elements, the odds are heavily stacked against you. 5) While this is a tremendously fun career to be in, it’s not something to be taken lightly. If you happen to mess around on your home computer and make funny sounds or a great impersonation of George Bush or Sylvester Stallone, we’ll all smile with you as we listen. But please don’t think that it will gain you entry into this business. It won’t. Just because it can be fun doesn’t mean it’s not serious. You would never, EVER, walk into the offices of Smith-Barney and expect them to hire you as a stockbroker simply because you can balance your checkbook. Like it or not, the same is true in voiceovers (and pretty much any other legitimate business out there). 6) Most people will fail at this business. Here is where I acknowledge the many excellent posts by my friend J.S. Gilbert who has – time and again – shared the stats of the cruel realities of this business. The vast, VAST majority of people will make no money doing voiceovers. Most will, at best, make a few thousand dollars. As in other ‘entertainment’ types of fields (e.g.: acting, singing, dancing), a tiny, tiny few will make a career at this… some making just enough to pay the bills, and even less making a very comfortable living. The sad truth is that this is an extremely hard business to make a living at. All newcomers are welcomed with open arms. We love to hear from you, talk to you, listen to what you have and provide feedback and suggestions, but you have a responsibility, too. You must be honest with yourself as to whether you should be attempting this. Aunt Sally and Mister Pipkin and your regular customers telling you what a nice voice you have means nothing. Ask those in the business who know… those you’ll find trolling these forums… and they’ll tell you whether they think you have the chops or not. You’d be smart to listen to them. Do everything you possibly can to learn about the business. Buy books and read them! Take classes: voice classes, voice acting classes, acting classes. When the time is right and the budget allows, get the right equipment (it doesn’t have to cost a fortune… you can have a GREAT set up for under $1000). Learn how to use the equipment and software properly. Be humble and really know and believe that none of us – NONE OF US - ever knows it all or ever reaches the top or ever hits a place where we can’t get better or learn more. From the bottom of my heart, if you’ve read this far, I hope this helps clarify where you are and what you need to think about and do (or NOT do!). Welcome to the wonderful world of voiceovers and best of luck. __________________ Scott R. Pollak Warm, rich, real... The Voice of NPR Atlanta and NurseTV.com www.voicebyscott.com

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08-12-2008, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
JoeActor Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,530	Good post, Scott - it is now a "sticky" in the forum... Cheers, Joe J Thomas www.JoeActor.com

08-28-2008, 03:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
chrisslone Chris Slone Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Near Louisville Kentucky Posts: 1	Scott, I'm new to this site. I've been in radio for quite a while, doing voice work and production. There's not a single thing you've said on here that I don't agree with. I'm new to voice acting, and I've spent quite a bit setting up a home studio and receiving voice acting lessons. I certainly can tell you, there's a difference. A BIG difference. I'm here to learn, and hopefully to help. All the best to everyone for success and learning.

10-21-2008, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
ranalanricard User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: North Port, Florida Posts: 26	Well said indeed. I'm new to this business also and have assumed the mindset of vacuum cleaner. Upon completion of my professional VO courses, if I haven't learned anything else, I've learned to "shut up and learn --- so I can speak up and earn" (Oh how I scare myself when I begin to wax poetic ) Though I've been blessed (stress the blessed part) ... and am getting a real start with a three audio book deal (that is if the first is accepted well) ... that contract will ultimately be filled and I'll still be a rookie. So it's practice, practice, practice ..... listen, listen, listen .... learn, learn, learn ... until you turn off your mic for good. Well there you have it ... all the 'sage' advice this rookie can muster. Ran Alan Ricard