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Archives for July 2020

“Intro to VO” – A Starting Point To Voiceovers

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So you’re interested in getting started in voiceovers. What is the one burning question that you would ask to help you get started in voice overs? Think of it. Do you have it? Ok, now, DON’T ask it!

That’s right – if you’re new the voiceover world, do this BEFORE you ask.

Your homework!

Questions like “How do I get started in VO?”, or “How do you get work?”, or “What is the best voiceover mic?” are very common and perfectly legit questions for those new to the trade. The answers are out there in Facebook groups, websites, podcasts, Youtube, etc. You’ll find the VO community very helpful and giving, but asking for the secret formula without doing your homework FIRST, may result in a little newbie jeering. I’m not a fan of that kind of treatment, so here are some tip to help you get started on your research

Ok, so where do you start?

When folks interested in getting started in voiceovers asked me similar questions, I started sending them some “Intro To VO” tips from my experiences to help point them in the right direction.  I wanted to share that template with you here:

So You Are Interested In Getting Into Voiceovers?

“I heard you were interested in getting started into voiceovers so I’ll help out as best as I can.  My voiceover (VO) journey started on a whim after some time as a radio meteorologist and ski reporter but it took a LOT of time – like weeks and months – researching a transition into the VO world. I can’t say whether or not you have what it takes, but I’ll pass along a few links to point you in the right direction.

Voice Over Research/Forums/Websites

Research and absorb all that you can
about the voiceover industry

Just about everything I learned about VO was from online forums so this is a great place to start. You’ll find that the voiceover community is very supportive.  Here is a real good one – http://vo-bb.com/phpBB2/  You will find a LOT of info on these forums and sites, so take the time, dig through all the threads and soak it all up – it’ll take some time. A particularly good area is the “Where To Start” section where you’ll find some very informative sites like these…

  • https://iwanttobeavoiceactor.com/
  • http://www.audioconnell.com/workshop/the-voiceover-entrance-exam-free-voice-over-e-book/
  • Todd Schick has a good site with some good FAQs
  • Voiceover Xtra
  • World-Voices Organization

Voice Training & Coaching

A voiceover coach is key to evaluating your skills and finding your voice.  Coaching takes time and commitment so be prepared to invest. Even experienced VOs use coaches on a regular basis and it’s fine – even recommended – to have more than one coach.

If you’re looking for a hands-on, in-studio learning experience in the New Hampshire area, a voiceover friend of mine hosts a class that can help.  But for online coaching, Gabrielle Nistico, Julie Williams, Marc Cashman, are a few that offer their expertise and may have some helpful online videos.  Marc Scott can help you with the marketing/business aspect of voiceovers – check out his Facebook Vopreneur page for a lot of great info. Many other coaches can be found through the Voiceover Xtra link above.  Many voiceover talents come from acting/drama backgrounds so they have those acting chops that translate well to the microphone.  Local schools/community colleges or theaters (improv) are great opportunities to develop those skills as well. 

Working with a coach will prepare you for the next step – your demo.

Voiceover Demos

In-Studio Recording Session

A demo is a sample of what you can do. This is your “business card” or “headshot” to potential clients and is the MOST critical aspect to connect you with voiceover work.  It depends, too, on what kind of work you’re going for, whether commercial, narration, e-learning, etc. Here is a site with some examples – http://www.demosthatrock.com/portfolio.html .  A professionally produced demo is not cheap!  Unless you work as a sound engineer or producer, do NOT self-produce your demo!  I tried it myself early on and it most likely cost me work.

Getting started in voiceovers with a reputable voiceover coach and demo producer is absolutely key! Working with someone local would be best for in-person coaching and recording in a professional studio. I worked with a coach and studio in the Boston area but it tooks weeks of coaching, practice before getting into the studio to record my demo. You may even work with other voiceovers for dialogue portions of your demo.

Studio/Tech/Gear

To get started in voiceovers, you’ll need to record in a home studio.  Among the previous “getting started” sites above, there are numerous other studio/gear resources.  The Voiceover Bodyshop guys (Dan Leonard and George Whitam) have a great podcast series, “Tech Talk”, and other topics.  Here’s their Youtube and Facebook pages to browse through previous episodes.  If you are focusing on a website at some point, the recent episode with Joe Davis from Voice Actor Websites is a good one – they helped me build my site and for a reasonable cost. 

If you like videos, the Booth Junkie (Mike Delgaudio) has been making VERY informative videos for a long time – he does a great job talking about the basics and goes out of his way on actual demonstrations.   Here’s one about setting up a studio. He does a lot of other studio/gear tutorials, microphone comparisons, and all sorts of other very helpful industry topics. 

VO Rates

Each VO has their own rates based on many individual factors. Here are some resources that give you an idea of voiceovers can charge. Here’s the Global Voice Acting Academy (GVAA) site that shows general rates – plus they have a lot of other great resources, such as studio tech, demos, etc. The Edge Studio is another good site with similar resources around rates, studio tech, etc.

Everyone’s circumstances are different so rates may vary widely, but please understand how offering rates well below industry (non-union) standards can impact the industry as a whole. There has been much debate about it over the years so take some time to read up on that.   

Getting Voice Over Work

After doing a LOT of homework, preparation, and a demo, you can then start marketing your voice. However, that topic is way more involved and would take more than a blog post to cover, so I am only going to touch on it briefly. The business of voiceover is 80-90% marketing and the rest is actual recording so this will be the bulk of your work going forward. You could test the waters with “pay-to-play” casting sites.  These are subscription sites where you pay an annual fee, and get access to auditions for various jobs, or “leads.”  One of them is Voice123 that I’ve had a lot of success with, but there are others like Boldago.

But you will need to go directly to the source – talent agencies, video production companies, ad agencies, and marketing companies. This means emails, calls, social media, and networking in various ways to get your voice noticed. Marc Scott offers coaching on self-marketing – plus he has many videos and podcasts that cover this topic. One of my good friends, Nikki Lu Lowe, now offers a great coaching course called “The Drive” which covers the business of voiceover and setting it up for success.

Well, these are only just a few of the many resources that have helped me but these should get you started. Like I said, it takes a LOT of time reading and researching – like weeks and months, even years. Absorb as much as possible. It’s an ongoing learning experience, too, so don’t stop after hitting just a few websites.  I’m still researching even after 15 years, because industries change and evolve.  You will eventually hear common themes and ideas about the business that will shape your approach to the world of VO so that you can start defining your path. 

I hope that this is a good start for you. I wish you luck in your voiceover journey!”

~Cameron Thomas

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A Few Ways To Make Your Voiceover Project Easier

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When you are planning your next project with a voiceover, you are hoping for a good experience. It can be hit or miss sometimes. Many factors go into making an experience positive but there are a few that really stand out for me. These are based on an experience I had with a local contractor.

Years ago, we hired a contractor for a major home project years ago.  I was nervous about selecting the right one. So many choices. So many variables. So many reviews. So much to go wrong.

After many candidates, we hired one.  He was professional – methodical – timely – and his experience was reassuring.  In the end, we were super happy with his work and we actually became friends. We lucked out!

His example is what I strive for and I pride myself on providing that same quality voiceover experience in a few “Tried & True” ways:

  • Quality Sound

    – Real, genuine, warm, and energetic voices help listeners connect.  And a pro-quality home studio with Source Connect ensures clean audio.

  • Availability

    – Schedules and deadlines are tight. Production workflow is easier having someone available full-time to fit YOUR schedule.

  • Experience

    – A voice that has been used for trusted brands like McDonald’s, the US Dept. of Energy, SAP, and Nationwide means you are working with a trusted professional for a positive experience.

CTV, has all 3!  

Not only that, but I enjoy teaming up with you to show off your work to more folks on my LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram pages. The more folks see your work, the better! And I post some light-hearted items that you may enjoy as well.

There are many other aspects that help projects run smooth, but these are a few “Tried & True” ways that CTV helps make your project easier for you.

CTV – “Tried & True”

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CTV VLOGs – Voiceover Topics & More!

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I’m not much of a writer so making videos has been the way to go for me.  While my regular fun CTVideoQuotes over the past year have added up (posted HERE), I ended up sprinkling in some more informative videos about voiceovers and other topics as the world found its way through the pandemic.

One thing I just realized?

There’s a bunch of them now!!!

It’s funny how quickly these pile up.  They are archived along with my CTVideoQuotes on my YouTube channel HERE but I thought I’d share the topics that I covered.  A few highlight some of my voiceover demo work, while many others focus on the voiceover biz and topics that may help you in your voiceover career. And there are some other random thoughts and topics mixed in as well.  Here’s the CTV VLOG archive from the past year! Enjoy!

CTV – “Tried & True”!

Voiceover Demo Videos:

  • Commercial Demo Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb57z-LRlvk&t=17s
  • Commercial Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDKz_BRokQ8&t=4s
  • E-Learning Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kc3stzOTaM

Voiceover Topics:

  • Client Collaboration – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2W96hFw5I8
  • Phone Directed Sessions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOr03WhiVeI
  • Client Support While Traveling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuVOgHcQWsI
  • Voiceover Age Range – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnUEomq8pok
  • How Being a Meteorologist Help in Voiceovers – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UHpkoPP5qY
  • After The Project – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFLIRt9mrJQ
  • New Studio Tour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q9KdAXFbXE
  • Independent Contractor/Freelancer Challenge – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE_VIpgz0pk
  • Networking – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UFRPlqiQCY
  • Audio/Video Setup – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_wajNCngYI&t=4s
  • Upgrading Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i7ayb-Otw0
  • Don’t Think Outside The Box On Auditions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPu34NqGy8
  • Having Some Fun With The Producer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yxbHKVbeBU
  • See The Job Through – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJBvYF1eE90

A Few Fun Ones:

  • Blooper Reel (*My Fav!*) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsmJ5TnQb2U
  • New VO In The Family – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhapBG7gYzs&t=5s
  • DWADEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-3zsPvtvyY
  • Tried & True Actions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlyZoLY6VgQ
  • Just Getting Through It All – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR01X0GL2DI
  • How We Get Through This – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlH6Y3-aLws&t=15s
  • Tried & True Contributions – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnAKEjlat_4
  • Tried & True Hair – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8KKktmj9QM
  • Home Office Decorations – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZBi2WsfyYk
  • Happy Nurses Day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uunWDuo9c
  • Memorial Day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPTc8F7pih8
  • Veteran’s Day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jfyvv2o9sI
  • Thanksgiving – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW51mq_TNXM
  • Wave ‘Em Over! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SVl3pKKKbY

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