Why Voice Over Training?

People ask me all the time, “How do I get started in voice overs?”  Great question!  Great person to ask too as I’ve been actively involved in this industry for over 20 years as a voice talent, producer, and after significant experience, as a coach.  So they ask this question with eager anticipation, awaiting the answer they want to hear!  I am not a Magic 8 Ball!  I am a voice over professional, so I give them the honest answer, the real answer, and am mystified by their response.  I tell them to make the decision to do it and to get proper voice over training and professionally produced demos, which are essential to their success as a voice over talent.

At that point a litany of excuses pour out about how they want to make money now, they’ve been told they have a great voice and should do voice overs (mind you these comments come from people outside of the voice over industry!), they cannot afford or are unwilling to pay so much money for training, etc., …basically, they want to hear that, “I’ve never heard such an incredible voice in all my life and, of course, I will help them get started for free, and make them an overnight sensation!”

Reality check!  Ask a doctor how to become a doctor and inevitably the answer will include going to medical school; ask a pilot how to get started as a pilot and inevitably the answer will include flight school; ask any professional how to get started in the field in which they are working and training will be part of the answer.  The voice over industry is no exception!  Here’s the bottom line, as stated by best-selling author of The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary, Mark Sanborn, “Amateurs wing it; professionals prepare.”And in the field of voice overs, winging it simply doesn’t fly!

Popularity: 8%

When Business Gets Slow, Are You Covered?

What’s your game plan when business gets slow? Are you COVERED?

Compensation is the direct result of habits and stimulating it requires fostering the specific habits of Organization, Vacation, Evaluation, Relation, Education, and Dedication.

Organization is an ongoing task that is often overlooked until we are completely overwhelmed and forced to deal with the ramifications of clutter and procrastination!

Vacation or simply taking the time to relax, rest, and rejuvenate is just as necessary to productivity as long hours spent in the studio recording, editing, and auditioning.

Evaluation and introspection are imperative in honestly assessing business goals and marketing strategies, uncovering opportunities and areas for improvement.

Relation to audiences and clients is vital to building business, as is effective networking with other voice over talents and creative directors.

Education, coaching, and staying abreast of the latest trends in the industry are all critical components of a successful voice over career. No one is ever too good to keep learning!

Dedication is evident in our attitude, in how we approach our business and how we choose to invest in it through self-improvement and in giving back to others in the industry and community.

So go ahead and get your files, books, and financials in order!  Clean your studio!  The mess has been getting to you anyway.   Get that therapeutic hot stone massage that is so long overdue!  Go away for the weekend and just be! Revisit your goals and brainstorm ways to market yourself.

Update your website.  Reconnect with past clients.  Join your local chamber of commerce.  Update your Facebook Fan Page.  Take that improv class or meet some friends at a comedy club.  It’s okay to laugh and study delivery at the same time!

Subscribe to magazines like Adweek, Brandweek, and Variety.  Become an expert on topics in the industry or interview those who are and create an e-newsletter and blog!

Find a way to add value to what you already offer!  Business slowdowns will occur, but I’ve found it’s much better to be COVERED than to lower my head and feel sorry for myself!

Here’s to your success!

Popularity: 6%

George Washington’s Car Dealership Session

Check out voice talent, George Washington III in action!

Popularity: 22%

Behind the Mic – Ben Patrick Johnson

This is a short documentary look into a day in the life of voiceover talent Ben Patrick Johnson.

Popularity: 35%

Can A Voice Over Artist Improve Your Marketing?

Even though they hear them all the time, in many surprising places, many people may not be aware just how prevalent professional voice talent is in this world of ours.  There is simply a lot of need for professional speaking to make certain projects happen.  It’s just that we are so used to hearing it, we hardly even notice it.  But if you have a project that could benefit from professional voice talent, it is in your best interest to consider the many ways that voice over artists can be useful.

You may have already considered advertising jingles and TV promotions. Those are difficult to forget about.  But a lot of people don’t consider using professional vocal talent to help create a podcast to make an announcement about an event or about a great new moneymaking website.  Those are just the sorts of projects, however, for which you will want to consider hiring professional voice talent.

Other projects that voice over artist work on, include narration projects like audio books.  Corporate narration and e-learning narration are additional niches for which voice over artists are in demand.  Any kind of text you can think of can be turned into an audio project.

Voice actors even work on video games with speaking parts, like Duke Nukem and Soul Calibur. Voice actors are everywhere.  They are the voices behind voice tree prompts. They are the voices that tell you how much credit you have on your cell phone or how to reach a certain person in a corporation. And if you have a project that requires sales and packaging, like telling voters that you are the best candidate for the job and that they should vote for you and give money to your campaign, a voice actor can be an asset to that campaign.

No matter what type of project you have in mind-from commercials to announcements to audio books and video games-professional voice talent makes that project seem more professional.  Using an amateur versus using a professional is like the difference between writing a letter on lined paper torn from a child’s notebook and writing it on heavy office paper.

If you are considering saving money in the beginning by using an amateur or even doing it yourself, please rethink that.  Unless you have voice training yourself and experience speaking into sound equipment, it is not a good idea. Unless you know how to deliver your lines clearly, smoothly and confidently-in short, unless you are a professional-grade voice talent in your own right, doing it yourself can actually cost you.  Looking unprofessional can cost you customers.  After all, you wouldn’t approach customers dressed unprofessionally-why would you dress your commercial or your project unprofessionally?  Think about it.  Saving money in the short-term can cost you big in the long run.

Popularity: 6%

Keeping It Conversational

As a voice over artist, people are always asking me, what is the key to a “great” audition instead of just a “good” one?  The truth is, it’s all about “casual familiarity,” the art of talking to people as if you’ve known them your entire life. You have to do this on the microphone every time you record your audition, book on tape, or promo spot.

You can practice by recording yourself on your cell phone (with the mic) or even at home, from your computer, when you are having an actual conversation with someone.  Then really listen to the playback, and hear the inflections and tone in your voice. You should then make it your ultimate goal.   It’s not just about “picturing a friend in your head, when you are talking in the mic,” as many teachers will tell you, it’s more about bringing life to the written words as if you had created these words organically, out of your own mouth, and in a conversational tone, you are re-visiting that same dialogue.

Another way to practice this is really intently listen to radio commercials, and the narration on TV commercials.  Even when there is a famous celebrity voice blaring out of your TV speakers, voicing everything from “Applebee’s” (John Corbett) to “Lowe’s” (Gene Hackman) they still use a friendly, conversation voice when selling you the product, and you are drawn in by their words.

This is a gift that can be learned by anyone if you put in the proper time.  I am a firm believer that a great VO coach is necessary in the beginning, but even if finances don’t allow a coach or classes, you can always turn online and research demos of thousands of voice over actors online. Once you have an ear for the dialogue, you can bring any words to “life” off the page.

Also, in order to get the most out of your audition, be sure you are using the right microphone. As a voice over performer, it is critical that you choose the right microphone for your studio, room, and your budget. Before you buy one, it is vital you listen and compare for yourself.

It is common for new voice over talents to just go on advice from friends or associates, familiarity with something they’ve used previously (maybe even an electro-Voice RE20 from a radio station), or what they can afford.  These are all factors you should consider, but what worked for me was researching online different brands and then going to my local Guitar Center store and trying out the microphones for myself.  There are mics set up in stores, and the staff at these stores has always been immensely helpful in helping me choose a proper mic, even when it comes time for an upgrade.

Listen to my demos and read my bio at: www.keelyfield.com

Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/keelygirl

Popularity: 4%

Live Directed Voice Over Session

Here’s a clip of a real directed voice over session with Terry Daniel and Renegade’s Ken Hall.

Popularity: 30%

Are You Teachable?

The key to finding voice over jobs lies in how well you market yourself!  The key to landing voice over jobs is your level of preparation and execution.  The key to preparation and execution lies in teachability.   Outstanding actors and actresses are outstanding because they listen to the director!  Even coaches get coaching.  I do!

Teachability determines success, especially in the voice over business. Successful voice over talents are directable.  They are active listeners who crave to learn and improve, willing to implement the direction given, and strong enough to put their personal opinions aside for the sake of learning something new and delivering what the client wants.

Some of the greatest rewards of being teachable include learning to see the script in a different light, correcting bad habits such as rushing the script and redundancy, and maintaining a humility that keeps one approachable and a pleasure with which to work.  I’ve learned that no one is ever too good to stop learning and those who think they are too good to learn are not that good!

Do you mimic the commercials you hear on the radio or TV?  What a great opportunity to practice and learn from others who have been cast! Additionally, practice reading all kinds of scripts, listen back to the audio, and record again.  It’s amazing what one can learn by simply doing that!  Also, take an improve class!  Aside from being a ton of fun, its great practice for thinking on your feet, releasing inner creativity, and really getting out of the comfort zone. Further, practice reading scripts that aren’t comfortable for you; it will make the easier ones better!

So how vital is having a quality coach and mentor in voice over work?   It’s a must!   Like learning an instrument, it takes patience, dedication and commitment.  The right coach and a teachable attitude is the difference between playing Jingle Bells and Beethoven’s 5th!

Are you teachable?

Popularity: 14%

Terry Daniel at Voice 2010

It’s official!  I am very honored and excited to announce that I will be speaking at “Voice 2010″ in Los Angeles next summer!  I will be teaming up with my esteemed colleague, news anchor and voice talent, Dave Courvoisier.  We’ll be conducting a seminar on Profitability, Productivity and Results: Getting Voice Over Work through Social Networking!

I am thrilled to be presenting with Dave on this topic as we are good friends and have developed some awesome chemistry over the years.  This is sure to be a phenomenal event!  I’d like to thank James Alburger and Penny Abshire for inviting us to be a part of the largest voice over event in the world!  Stay tuned!

Popularity: 4%

If The Mic Isn’t Rockin’, Start Walkin’

When the mic is rockin’, don’t bother knockin’!  Okay, so what do you do if it’s just not rockin’ and you’re having a tough time getting it to come out right?  Instead of getting frustrated and stressed out, take a break and come back to it.

That’s right!  Go for a walk, turn up some music, make yourself a cup of green tea or take a power nap.  Fifteen minutes can do wonders!  While excessive napping doesn’t pay too well, either does excessive stress.  My personal favorite?  I go out and play football with my dog, Kaytee.

The point is to just break away from the studio – completely remove yourself and escape for a bit so that you can refresh!  If you force it to happen when it isn’t, your frustration will come across in the recording.  The voice is transparent and modulates to express our span of emotions.  Any frustration, anxiety, and stress will show through, stalling the flow, zapping the energy and enthusiasm from your voice.

It’s like a good major league pitcher who just doesn’t have his good stuff on a particular day.

So go ahead and break away!  You’ll come back to the studio refreshed, full of vibrance in your voice, and ready to deliver!

Popularity: 5%

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