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For Narrators
I have been too busy in the past month to post an article here on my blog. In that time, a new season of the TV show Dancing With The Stars began. Given my views on American Idol, you might think I would have no interest in this show. You might also think that dancing with the stars (DWTS) has nothing to do with a voice-over career. If so, this entry may surprise you.
Watching TV is a passive activity that does nothing toward accomplishing my goals. I prefer instead to spend the time with my husband or do things to advance my voice-over career, such as marketing tasks, auditions, etc. In order to efficiently manage my TV-viewing time, I don't necessarily watch shows during their broadcast. I prefer to record them and watch them at my convenience. I also don't spend much time chit-chatting about TV shows to anyone because those kinds of conversations are superficial and inane.
Then why am I spending precious time writing to you about a TV show, especially one considered fluff in many circles? When I first heard about this show, I confess that I thought the idea was dull and that the show would be cancelled. I never watched DWTS until Barry Manilow made a guest appearance. I admit that I quickly became hooked. The show features celebrities from other endeavors who are paired with professional dancers. The dancers teach the celebs the complicated steps for ballroom and Latin dances, and three judges rate all of the performances.
While the thrilling live music, stunning costumes and amazing dance routines are appealing in themselves, I believe the show is widely popular for another reason: We have the opportunity to watch adults in a learning curve.
Learning something new as an adult is a different process than as a child. From watching this show, we can learn 12 valuable lessons that can be applied to a voice-over career:
The comment below was left on my blog. On the surface, Carol's question might look like it requires only a quick "yes" or "no" answer. As I read each word, I realized a quick answer would be a dis-service to Carol. Furthermore, my views may be helpful to other people. Therefore, with Carol's permission, I didn't publish her remarks as a comment on another entry and am instead featuring it in this entry.
Hi Karen, Love your practical and ethical information. I am a newbie to the VO area, having just taken an Intro to VoiceOvers at local community college given by Mike Elmore. During the class he recorded each of us reading a script (just a few lines) and I got an email from him saying he was very impressed. Then I got a call from Levi Morgan of Voices For All, saying the report he got from Mike was glowing and encouraging me to take their in-person 3-day workshop.
Since I have nothing to compare it with, I hope you could comment on whether this would be a good way to break in. Bear in mind that I am a retired RN, looking for some fun and creative as well as possibly lucrative work.
Their course includes private coaching (they only accept 15 students four times a year), full narration & full commercial demos, mixing & mastering a demo for me with music, editing & sound effects, a marketing plan, home studio manual, workbook, classes on every aspect of the business, my own website with the demo (lifetime hosting), support for ProTools, lifetime coaching support, plus my airfare & lodging while in Albany. Inclusive is $3199.
I can afford this, and love the idea of being able to work out of our RV during summers which he said I could (no soundproof studio....) I'd love your honest feedback before making a decision, which I need to do quickly if I am to enroll in the May class. Thanks so much! Carol
Carol, thanks so much for your nice comments about my web site. I'm glad if anything I have written is helpful to you. You asked for my opinion, so this is it: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I would look elsewhere for my voice-over training.
Hi Karen, Love your practical and ethical information. I am a newbie to the VO area, having just taken an Intro to VoiceOvers at local community college given by Mike Elmore. During the class he recorded each of us reading a script (just a few lines) and I got an email from him saying he was very impressed. Then I got a call from Levi Morgan of Voices For All, saying the report he got from Mike was glowing and encouraging me to take their in-person 3-day workshop.
Since I have nothing to compare it with, I hope you could comment on whether this would be a good way to break in. Bear in mind that I am a retired RN, looking for some fun and creative as well as possibly lucrative work.
Their course includes private coaching (they only accept 15 students four times a year), full narration & full commercial demos, mixing & mastering a demo for me with music, editing & sound effects, a marketing plan, home studio manual, workbook, classes on every aspect of the business, my own website with the demo (lifetime hosting), support for ProTools, lifetime coaching support, plus my airfare & lodging while in Albany. Inclusive is $3199.
I can afford this, and love the idea of being able to work out of our RV during summers which he said I could (no soundproof studio....) I'd love your honest feedback before making a decision, which I need to do quickly if I am to enroll in the May class. Thanks so much! Carol
Carol, thanks so much for your nice comments about my web site. I'm glad if anything I have written is helpful to you. You asked for my opinion, so this is it: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I would look elsewhere for my voice-over training.
I could have just left it at that, but I wanted to explain my reasons for disliking this package deal.
DISCLAIMER: Everything that follows is MY OPINION since I didn't delete the names of the people involved. I know nothing about them or their company and therefore reiterate that I am only offering an OPINION.
People often send e-mails to me with questions and comments, and I endeavor to respond to everyone. The topics raised in the message below were so interesting that I wanted to answer them here rather than in e-mail. With Ken's permission, I have quoted his message.
Hi Karen. My name is Ken. I discovered your website one day when I was looking on Amazon for books on Voice Acting and I saw your recommended reading list...I must say that I found your site tremendously useful. I'm really impressed by your generosity of spirit and the fantastic information and resources you provide...Now to my questions. These have bugged me for years and I wonder if you can lend some insight.
Number one is:
If Voice Over is so competitive (and I have no doubt that it is) why are so many successful voice talents sharing their "secrets". Doesn't this just add to the competition they are facing? Do they really want MORE people in the business?
First, thanks so much for your very nice note and kind words. I am grateful for the feedback.
Coca-Cola has a closely-guarded secret formula. The US military implements secret plans that endanger lives. In my view, voice-over does not have any true secrets.
A voice-over career is like the notes in music. Only 12 possible tones can be made in music, yet you can hear them in numerous pitches. More importantly, those 12 tones can be held and combined in an infinite number of sequences to produce an endless series of rhythms, tempos and key signatures that form new music.
Our voice is our music; no two voices are exactly the same. Our interpretation of the words on the page and style in performing them is not the same. Like musical genres, some voices will appeal to one market segment and not to others. The reason the competition factor is emphasized in voice-over and all performing arts jobs is because people have a misguided viewpoint that they only need a nice-sounding voice. They think the work is easy and doesn't require any special skills.
The truth is, that like any other profession, lifelong study in voice-over is necessary to achieve and maintain your market share. How does any newcomer learn if not under the guidance of a more experienced teacher? Do top sports figures stop practicing and working with their coaches on daily basis?
"When you are hired for a
voice-over job, you don't take
anything away from me, my
accomplishments and my job
prospects."
Do musicians stop practicing and studying with a teacher once they learn a piece of music up to tempo? Do people in the IT industry stop taking classes geared at maintaining technology? Voice-over is like other business ventures in that some people will find work more easily, often and lucrative than others. voice-over job, you don't take
anything away from me, my
accomplishments and my job
prospects."
I don't view other people as my competition. (I also don't view any person who lives on this same earth as my "enemy", either, but that's another discussion for another time.) We live in an abundant world, with more than enough work for everyone. More voice-over opportunities are appearing everyday with the advent of new media and associated outlets. When you are hired for a voice-over job, you don't take anything away from me, my accomplishments and my job prospects. You would be hired because you successfully marketed yourself to someone who wanted to work with you because they liked your voice, your delivery style, your fee, etc.
If I tell you something that has brought me great success, you may or may not implement the tactic. Even implementing my tactic does not guarantee you will match my success. You will never do things exactly in the same way that I do because we are different.
In a simplified example, a coach or director can give you a line read. You interpret what you heard and reproduce the sounds and emphasis as best you can. Even when you nail the emphasis, your different vocal characteristics will guarantee that you won't sound exactly like the other person.
While watching the Ace of Cakes show on the Food Network one day, I saw a Scrabble cake designed for a person who is a tournament Scrabble player. It was the first time I ever heard of Scrabble tournaments. At that moment, I decided I would win a Scrabble championship.
I have an extensive vocabulary. I used to whip through the find-a-word puzzle magazines, and I always liked to play Boggle. Once I decide upon a goal, I achieve it. With my intrinsic love of words, I thought a Scrabble tournament win couldn't be far away.
I'm sure this same kind of thought process goes through the minds of many people who suddenly decide to get into voice-over work.
Sometimes they see a celebrity on TV who gleefully recounts how voice-over jobs allow them to dress casually, go without make-up and pick up a massive check for an extremely small amount of time. Maybe newcomers read an interview about a voice talent talking about how great it is to do work in their pajamas from their home. In any case, so many starry-eyed newcomers seem to think, "I know how to talk. I'm going to be a voice-over star making millions of dollars while still in my pajamas!" I wish I had a dollar for every time someone approached me with the line: "People always say I have a nice voice and that I should work in voice-over." I always advise that folks interested in learning any new skill start with a book because it requires a minimal investment of time and money to learn whether you want to pursue the topic. I direct people interested in voice-over to my recommended list of books and previous blog entries like this one. In my mild-mannered quest for Scrabble dominance, I didn't take my own advice about getting a book, at least at first.In mid- to late December, Drew and I took a holiday trip, which may provide musings for future blog entries. During the trip and in recent days, I have been catching up on some reading for pleasure. While I encouraged you on this day one year ago to look forward, today I want to tell you about a commercial script that was written almost 30 years ago.
The commercial in question wasn't mine, but rather one for Michael Palin, member of the hilarious Monty Python team, fantastic travel writer and charming TV documentary host. As a longtime fan of Monty Python and avid journal writer, I was excited to start reading Palin's Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years. In numerous entries, he has mentioned various voice-over roles. Palin does not indicate whether the commercial discussed in his entry transcribed below was for voice-over or on-camera work, but I certainly admire his refusal to perform it.