Hello from a newbie who's been thrown into the industry full force!

[LindZ]

Hello there!

My name is Lindsay. I'm pretty new to the voice acting world since I just learned that I had this talent about a month ago. I went on an audition about 2 weeks into it and was immediately cast as the lead in a multimillion dollar animated series being brought over from China. (Details to follow once I get the okay.) Now I'm trying to learn as much about the industry as possible!

I just finished recording the pilot episode for this new show and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! It was such an adrenaline rush being in the booth. I've never felt anything like it!

This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, and I realize it's up to me to make the most of this opportunity.

I'd love any advice or tips or whatever you have that can help me! I've been reading so many books and am working with a vocal coach.

You can view my website: www.lindzreiss.com and listen to some of my demos. (I did the recording and post production on my own. When I get more experience and can afford it, I'll probably get a professional one done.)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to meeting many new friends and colleagues here! :)

~LindZ

[JoeActor]

Hi LindZ - Welcome!

Wow, kudos on the cartoon gig! You really were thrown in the deep end of the pool ;-) Can't wait to hear more about it.

Check out this post - it's a good overview:
Random Thoughts for Newbies

We've also got a Reviews section for books, web sites and such, plus areas where you can post your auditions (Leads and Reads), and a section for posting Demos (Hot Seat).

Folks here are very helpful, but they won't hold back on their opinions. Lots of good constructive feedback to be found, that's for sure...

Please take a look around - many questions have already been asked and answered. ... and of course, If you don't see something, feel free to ask.

Nice to meet you,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

[jsgilbert]

Reminds me of when I got my first agent and my second audition turned into a national SAG spot. It was beginners luck, but at least I had an agent and got really nicely compensated. I spent a lot of time after that trying to elarn the business. Not so many books back then and almost nobody from the actual industry, like agents, producers etc that were available for input. The most important thing I did was to really work on improv acting and tradiional stage acting skills.

I hope you had some appropriate help in negotiating this contract and that you're not just working for copy and credits - some of the anime companies are known for this.

If you don't have an agent, try and use this as a way to obtain one. Let them negotiate your deals and they'll take a cut. If you do have an agent and you trust them, then listen to their suggestions.

Your overall tone suggests that you could be highly marketable for commercial, animation and game work. Your commercial demo though is rather spotty and I can't truly sense whether you know how to act or might be able to take direction. For something self-produced it isn't bad, but "isn't bad" doesn't cut it in the voice acting world.

[LindZ]

Thanks for the advice. :)

I don't have an agent yet. I want to make sure that I have a good enough demo first before I send anything out.

I am looking for some good workshops to take and also trying to find the right coach for me. I did take an acting class back in high school, but it's just not the same. I also have a degree in animation, so I'm used to acting on paper, and now I'm learning to translate it to my voice.

I'll do a new commercial reel in a few months once I gain more experience.

[Robert Jadah]

I couldn't be happier about your boffo entrance, LindZ,
(Well, actually I could; but it would require much,much more ale.)

My only advice is to not order the Bentley just yet. Much like JS, I burst in with an un-auditioned worldwide television VO. Three weeks later, I was doing a national TV commercial tag.
One month: $8,700.

After ten years of picking at the periphery of movie and television parts, I thought this VO stuff was nirvana. What easy pickings!
Yet here I am now: competing daily with 3,214 other talents for the $275 gig at Dale's Donut Den (motto: The Hole in the Middle is Nothing Compared to Our Kitchen.)

Enjoy the moment. Bask in it. But not for too long. Oh; and warm welcomes to our playroom.

Frankly Yours,

[LindZ]

lol Thanks for the welcome! Let me say that's a niiiiice one month check. Ha ha! No Bentley for me, I'm quite happy with my Ford. I'm finding myself auditioning for Russian video games, and restaurant radio gigs from the Philippines. lol Dale's Donuts sounds pretty good right about now!

[KRMDjames]

competing daily with 3,214 other talents for the $275 gig at Dale's Donut Den so funny Robert,and so true! Congratulations LindZ!

[Scott Pollak]

Originally Posted by jsgilbert

Your overall tone suggests that you could be highly marketable for commercial, animation and game work. Your commercial demo though is rather spotty and I can't truly sense whether you know how to act or might be able to take direction. For something self-produced it isn't bad, but "isn't bad" doesn't cut it in the voice acting world.

Lindz...

I finally got a chance to jump to your site and give a look and listen.

First of all: nice site. It's a GREAT fit for your voice, age and style and I would sure suggest some of the other folks who have been around forever doing this stuff go take a look. We've been discussing 'branding' on other threads here and yours is very nicely done.

Next... no surprise, but I'm in agreement with J.S. here (as usual). Nice youthful, energetic voice with loads of personality, smile and great diction. Take some acting classes and learn how to really take direction (as J.S. mentioned) so you can really bring some life into commercial copy, because you won't be doing JUST animation and certainly won't do it all your life.

But you're better than most 'newbies' that we ever hear and I think you could have one heckuva great career doing this.

BTW, check out this extremely lovely, talented and sweet lady's site who has done a bunch of animation v/o, notably for the Dragonball Z series:

Kara Edwards Voice Over

[LindZ]

Thank you so much for the welcome! I'm still working on the site, there's a lot of content that I have to add, take away, improve, etc.

I love Kara's site! The bee is awesome. :) I will certainly take some more acting classes soon. The director for the show that I am working on says that there are vocal coaches that I would be able to use at the studio, so I will definitely take advantage of that.

I love it here!