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Professional Male Voice Over

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Archives for April 2022

Say What You Mean

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Welcome, Friends to another edition of Facebook VO Group say wha?

You’ll have to forgive me, because when I read this post, I did a quick eye roll and scrolled on by. I’ve seen it so many times, that I can’t even anymore. Is that still a saying? I think probably not, but leave me alone, I’m old.

At any rate, in SOME voice over online group a talent asked, “Hey Guys, wondering what good agents you recommend…”

Ugh.

There are 2 things wrong here. Whichever motivation is actually the case, both are gross.

Firstly. Let’s assume the question is innocent enough. Someone really just wants to know what makes up a good agent. What is a good agent? How does one decide? Is there a list of criteria somewhere? Some qualification set listed online or in a professional organization’s by laws? Sorry, no.

Even if there were such a list of qualifications, the criteria is still VERY subjective. Some actors want an agent to hold their hand. Walk them through auditions, tell them they are doing a good job and communicate constantly. By the way, those agents are harder and harder to find. The world is so fast paced that in most cases agents don’t have time for that level of personal attention. Then there are those voice overs that just want to be left alone. Send me the audition, and don’t contact me unless I book something.  I fall somewhere in between, leaning more toward, don’t call me, I’ll call you. Not because I don’t like my agents, I DO! More, because I know they are busy and I know that if they are still sending me auditions, we’re good.

Don’t get me wrong. There certainly are things an agent MUST and more importantly MUST NOT do, but that requires another post, I’m really not in the mood to write at the moment.

Now, my issue with this original post of which I spoke is that it could be (and you may argue probably is) a thinly veiled attempt to glean information from the acting community. It’s like the poster is saying “Hey, Can you refer me to your agent”. They are hoping that someone will shout out, “Oh, My agent XYZ is great, I’ll send them your demo” It’s like when you are watching Netflix with your significant other and they say “boy, it sure would be nice if we had some popcorn”. What they mean is “Hey, make me some popcorn!”

Curiously, talent DO refer each other to agents. I do it all the time. In fact, I did it yesterday! What’s great about the voice over community is that we really look out for each other. It doesn’t hurt that no two voices are exactly the same. Even my friends who are middle aged (okay old) white dudes, don’t exactly sound like me, and I have no problem referring them to agents or businesses if I’m not a fit.

The trick is, these things only happen after establishing a RELATIONSHIP. I have been referred business and to agents by many colleagues. I have done the same. It has only been, however, after establishing trust and rapport with someone. We met at a conference, or industry event. We were in a class together, and the like. I’ll note it doesn’t have to be someone I see all the time. With events of the past few years, there are some people I’ve never even met in person, who have still become trusted friends, entirely virtually!

The point is, this business (and all business) is still about people, and relationships. Don’t be that person who walks into a room (real or virtual) and shouts, “Okay…Where’s all the business at!”

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Have You Noticed Hitting or Passing Your Career Mileposts?

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This past weekend was the last Voice Over Atlanta conference…except, it wasn’t. On the last day it was announced that J. Michael Collins and his wife Anna are taking over! The future looks bright for the biggest VO conference in the world, after all.

Still, up until Sunday, the whole voice over world thought this was the swan song for VO Atlanta. I didn’t go. I had been to the conference the last 5 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I have talked on The VO Meter podcast, a lot, about how that and other conferences changed my career and life. I was a little sad I could not make it this year. On Sunday, I always get a little nostalgic at the conference, and this weekend was no different. Though I wasn’t there physically, I still was into all the posts and pictures I saw on social media of my good friends who were. I also chimed in on a few.

As I was driving to the University of Maryland to announce a softball game, the closing ceremonies of VO Atlanta were going on. So I thought to myself,  wait a minute? You are actually going to do one of the DREAM jobs you aspired to do when you started in voice over and went to your FIRST conference. Isn’t that crazy? Here I am, sad that I can’t attend an event, whose entire purpose is to train you to work in the voice over field, WHILE on my way to voice over job I never thought I would have. I’m announcing at the biggest school in my state, that is a member of The BIG 10, one of the largest athletic conferences in NCAA Division 1

So it got me to thinking, what other mileposts have I reached, or blown right by and never taken the time to appreciate? Sean Daeley, my podcast co-host and I did an episode about this, but it’s always fun to put down on paper, your accomplishments and achievements. So, here is a list of a few milestones or career goals, I had when I first started thinking about voice over.

  1. Book a paid job! This sounds simple but I’m sure there are people who think voice over will be an easy “side hustle” try their best and never get paid before giving up.
  2. Getting an Agent! I thought this was the end game when I first started. I think a lot of voice actors do. Get an agent, book a national commercial, move to Hollywood, right? Well, it doesn’t quite work out that way. I am represented by several great agents now and I love working with each of them! They get me opportunities I never could get on my own.
  3. Book a job in a certain genre. When I first started, my dream was to be on radio or TV. Check and Check. Over the years I think I have booked jobs in just about every genre you can think of. Commercial, e-learning, IVR, TV, Radio, podcasts, live announcing, dubbing. I’m sure there are more. The only one I can think of, that I have not worked is audio description.
  4. Hear my voice on TV or Radio. This has happed as well. It’s totally just an ego trip, but like the Wonders (or is it Oneders?) in the film That Thing You Do, the first time I heard my voice on the radio I was like a kid in a candy store. I turned it way up, and smiled from ear to ear. It didn’t hurt that some friends texted/emailed me and said, “hey I just heard you on the radio!”
  5. “See” my voice on TV. Last year I did some dubbing for Netflix. Being able to first of all, say that, then witness it on my own television with my wife and kids around me, was pretty darn magical! I’ve also been on CBS’s The Amazing Race.
  6. Announce in a large building or venue. My voice has now been heard in 12,000 seat stadiums and arenas and this weekend will bellow out in the 54,000 seat Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
  7. Aspirational gear. When you are just starting out in voice over there are certain pieces of equipment that everybody needs. Then there are certain “must have” brands that everybody aspires to have.
    1. Booths. Whisper Room or Studiobricks booths, specifically. Voice Actors dream of having one of these so that they can record in peace, whenever they want without having to worry about interruptions from outside noise. I am proud to say I have, or currently have owned both!
    2. Microphones. Sennheiser or Neumann. As you may know, I have owned dozens of mics. Maybe over 50 by now. There are 2 particular mics that people aspire to own, however. They are the Sennheiser MKH 416 and the Neumann TLM 103. I have owned both!
    3. Audio interfaces. Not as sexy, but believe me, there are aspirational audio interfaces as well. One that comes to mind is the Apollo Twin, which allows on-board real-time effects. I owned one of these as well.
  8. Finally, industry recognition. I didn’t set out looking for this, because I’m a pretty humble guy. Still, when a few certain accolades were thrown upon me it was pretty neat. I have been asked to present at 5 industry events. My podcast has been a partner for another 5-6. And, just this past year I was a finalist for an award at the One Voice Awards, USA in Dallas.

Even as I read this list again, I’m a bit blown away. I don’t say this to brag, but because I am so genuinely surprised I have made it here. When I first decided to pursue voice acting, I would have been happy with any one of these milestones. It’s only, in taking some time to be introspective, that I even realize I have hit these mileposts and in most cases, blown right by them. Sometimes it nice to stop and reflect.

So, what mileposts have YOU reached or passed without even realizing it?

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Sean Daeley www.dailyvo.com
Easy-going yet clear and professional delivery
Co-Host on The VO Meter

Marisha Tapera www.marishavoice.com
Neutral, North American female VO

John N Gully www.johhnyvot.com
Audiobook Narrator. Soothing and Learned but Informal

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Paul Schmidt ∙ Link
Jeffrey N Baker ∙ Link
Jon Gardner ∙ Link
Billie Jo Konze ∙ Link
Craig C Williams ∙ Link
Ian Russell ∙ Link
Sumara Meers ∙ Link
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Resources

Trusted Voice Talent:

Will M. Watt www.willmwatt.com
Young British VO Artist

Stephen George www.stephengeorgevo.com
Southern American VO

Sean Daeley www.dailyvo.com
Easy-going yet clear and professional delivery
Co-Host on The VO Meter

Marisha Tapera www.marishavoice.com
Neutral, North American female VO

John N Gully www.johhnyvot.com
Audiobook Narrator. Soothing and Learned but Informal

And...Other Great VO Blogs

Paul Strikwerda ∙ Link
Joshua Alexander ∙ Link
J. Michael Collins ∙ Link
Michael Apollo Lira ∙ Link
Natasha Marchewka ∙ Link
Carrie Olsen ∙ Link
Kim Handysides ∙ Link
Paul Schmidt ∙ Link
Jeffrey N Baker ∙ Link
Jon Gardner ∙ Link
Billie Jo Konze ∙ Link
Craig C Williams ∙ Link
Ian Russell ∙ Link
Sumara Meers ∙ Link
Jessica Matthison ∙ Link
Tyler Robbert ∙ Link
Laura Doman ∙ Link
Theresa Ho ∙ Link
Mike Christensen ∙ Link

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