Voice Gym Review

So on Sept. 21 I attended a voice gym at The Forge audio studio.  It was a new experience for me, as I had not tried any radio ads before and that is what the focus was.

Lots of great information, such as that most radio ads are 30 seconds.  Some are now 15 seconds, and the odd flash is 10 seconds.  Most studios will record several takes, then edit them into the final ad.

It was a challenge for me to NOT go into a character for these, and the one time I did a bit and he (Paul) caught me on it!  He was great at guiding me since he knew I only had the animation workshop to go on.

There were four of us there, and by staying and watching the others I gained lots of pointers on the kind of direction and expectations involved in recording radio spots.  One of the other attendees has done radio ad work before, another has taken several training classes and the last one is in the broadcasting program at Mount Royal.  Watching the ones with experience was very interesting, and I could easily imagine hearing the finished ads on the air.

Advertising is an odd idea for me.  It is one of those zones where if the company wants your voice to be THEIR voice, you are in.  If your voice isn't the style/sound they are looking for then you are out.  No amount of training practice is going to change the basic qualities of your relaxed speaking voice, so it really is a mater of having that "something" that they want.  Maybe your take on how to emphasize the script or (maybe) put in a character they hadn't thought of.  Something to make your audition stand out.  It could just be having the confidence in yourself and projecting that through what you are putting into the recording.

I still think I would do better doing characters.......

Voice Gym

I'm going to a "Voice Gym" tonight here in Calgary.  It looks to be a get-together at the studio to practice the craft of voice, focus on commercials.  It is put on by VoiceSpot and looks like it should be interesting.  I have to pick a couple of the scripts and somehow practice what I'm going to do before I get there.

I did write the office back and ask for more details on what happens at these things, but there is no response yet.

I'll post how it went tomorrow.

Actual response.

Yay!  One of the local companies did get back to me with quite a lengthy response.

Dan Willmott over at VoiceSpot talked about several classes they offer as well as something they call "Voice Gym".  That looks interesting, as it is time in the studio where you get to practice behind the mic as we as meet up with other people involved in the industry.  Of course, most of the work is in advertising, doing commercials.  As he pointed out, animation is fun, but very limited and hard to do alone.  The next one is in October, but I don't think I'll have the cash to get in.  I should be able to catch the next one though.

Crickets.....

No real responses to my questions yet, but a couple responses from places trying to sell me more classes.  That is nice and all, but it makes it appear that the main way to make money in voice over work is to try and sell lessons on how to do voice over work!

Ummmmmm......no.

I am looking forward to a response from Chinook Animation, since they seem to be at least active in actually doing VO work.  In the mean time, I'll get a script of something together for a demo reel and get it recorded.  If no one hears me, there is a 100% chance I will never get any calls!

Gathering Info....

I've sent out some queries to a few VO companies/agent about what they see happening in the industry.  It looks to me that there are a whole lot of people who ran out and bought microphones and then hung out a shingle saying "I'm a voice actor".

Though this shows a lot of competition, it looks to me that there is likely a deficit in the talent pool that I could fill if I can identify it.  The one agent I asked thought I was looking for an agent, so I had to write him again and ask specifically for the info I would like again.

I'm going to have to start practicing my voice work at work, which should raise a few eyebrows...

Learning Curve

There is a little time before I have to start dinner, I should hook up the box and play with the sound editing.  I hope to figure out how to edit files quickly so I can get a demo of some kind put together to post on Voices.com and voice123.

I will be saving up to get premium membership on one of them, then I can audition myself for the postings.  With a couple demos others can ask me to audition, but I can't submit myself.

I also remember seeing an animation site where artists were asking for voice people.  No real pay, but certainly a good place to hone skills and get experience to put down on the CV.  :-)

The car is ready for the tow guys to come and take.  It served us well, but is so worn now that it is N.E.R.   (Non-Economically Repairable)  I've thrown the Haynes manual as well as the old radio inside since we will need neither.

OK, time to turn the oven up, and I'll have about 40 minutes to look at the software!

Weekend sound file...

OTM has sent out the file of my session!

It is just the raw recording, so it has all the mistakes etc. in it.  It also has the things that didn't work.

But, it does have the ones that did work.  I have put a link to it in the Voice Samples page.  Feel free to have a listen and skip around in it.  It is about 12 minutes long, so don't feel you have to listen to the whole thing.

I'll use it to help patch together a demo later, once I have my own software working (and once I understand more what I'm doing with it!)

Though I can see a lot of the work needed to get this going as an actual job, I do see a path of some kind.

I'll have to keep pushing ahead as I have energy.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee...........

The lost......found!

I found the Fast Track!  YAY!  I got it set up and did a little test recording.  I remember now how much I don't know about the software!  Ug!  I can't seem to make mp3s without buying another piece of software!  I will see if I can find a third-party converter that will take it from wav to mp3.

Now I need to find/make a script for a demo!

I re-read Lee's answer to my question.  I've got to try this.  I used to imagine what it must be like to do those cartoon voices, to have been there with Mel Blanc and watch it come together.  I'm not saying that I could be someone like he was, but if I get to do a voice that makes people laugh or enjoy themselves if even for a little while I'll be very happy!

Now that equipment isn't the issue, I have to push ahead.  At some point I will copy my little letter to a page here, just because it is so encouraging.

Well, for me at least.  :-)

No luck.....

I have not found my missing tech.  :-(  I've checked on kijiji for anything similar and a fellow is selling an old Presonus Firebox.  It would work well for me since it is compatible with my older computer.

But, it does mean more money.

I still hope to find my other one, but this is killing any momentum I had from the weekend....