Intro
The voiceover business is very challenging. Anyone who tells you it’s a path to easy riches is lying -- or they just want your money.
"But my mother/sister/coworker/parish priest/barista says I have a great voice!"
You do. But if that’s all you have then you’re out of luck. To make any money in the voiceover business, you have to know what you’re doing, be an astounding reader of the English language and know how to act, at least a little. If you don’t know all of that stuff, you need to learn it before making your first demo. Why? Because your first demo may not be awful. With digital audio recording, (almost) anyone can be made to sound halfway decent. But the first time you have an actual audition, you’ll be terrible, because you won’t have the experience on the microphone or know how to read different kinds of copy appropriately. You just won’t know what you’re doing! And you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
Unlike some others you and I have both seen, I will NOT take your money to produce a demo until I know you're ready for this business. You have to know what you’re doing before I’ll record a voiceover demo for you. I don't need the money that bad -- and I want to be able to sleep at night without guilt.
"But my mother/sister/coworker/parish priest/barista says I have a great voice!"
You do. But if that’s all you have then you’re out of luck. To make any money in the voiceover business, you have to know what you’re doing, be an astounding reader of the English language and know how to act, at least a little. If you don’t know all of that stuff, you need to learn it before making your first demo. Why? Because your first demo may not be awful. With digital audio recording, (almost) anyone can be made to sound halfway decent. But the first time you have an actual audition, you’ll be terrible, because you won’t have the experience on the microphone or know how to read different kinds of copy appropriately. You just won’t know what you’re doing! And you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
Unlike some others you and I have both seen, I will NOT take your money to produce a demo until I know you're ready for this business. You have to know what you’re doing before I’ll record a voiceover demo for you. I don't need the money that bad -- and I want to be able to sleep at night without guilt.
hokay.... here's the warning section
STAY AWAY! -->
Voices For All. One three-day group seminar on voiceover does not qualify you to "know what you're doing!" People! I've heard multiple stories about these guys. If you have little or no experience, don't live in or near a big city, and after a three-day seminar plan to shell out thousands of dollars for a voiceover demo, talk to me, or a shrink, or a guru or somebody! Geez!
Such A Voice. I just had a client come in who told me about this racket. That's what I have to call them. Same as above. I think she did a one-day or three-day event at a community college in a far suburb of Chicago. Yup, she's was encouraged to go forward. I was shocked to hear about what they called their Platinum package. Price? $5,000.
Voices For All. One three-day group seminar on voiceover does not qualify you to "know what you're doing!" People! I've heard multiple stories about these guys. If you have little or no experience, don't live in or near a big city, and after a three-day seminar plan to shell out thousands of dollars for a voiceover demo, talk to me, or a shrink, or a guru or somebody! Geez!
Such A Voice. I just had a client come in who told me about this racket. That's what I have to call them. Same as above. I think she did a one-day or three-day event at a community college in a far suburb of Chicago. Yup, she's was encouraged to go forward. I was shocked to hear about what they called their Platinum package. Price? $5,000.
|
Update: THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE! An email from today, 3/4/20: "Last week I took a one night voiceover class at Oakton Community College that was offered by a representative of a company called Suchavoice.com. It was a very well presented and fun class which led to the pitch of paying $5000 to be led through remote online Skype coaching."
Hello??? $5,000. For SKYPE COACHING!! hoo-boy... I think some people just have too much money... Maybe Mike Bloomberg can pay that kind of money without thinking about it, but no (smart) person I know... |
Certainly there are a lot of outfits trying to cash in on people wanting to find work in the glamorous and easy world of showbiz. (Oh, so easy... I'm writing this from my yacht, the S.S. Living Room Office.) :-D
Look, I don't believe it's a good idea to spread negativity. But my business model has always been about good value for a good price. When I see something that doesn't feel like that, I just have to speak up.
Look, I don't believe it's a good idea to spread negativity. But my business model has always been about good value for a good price. When I see something that doesn't feel like that, I just have to speak up.
SPEND YOUR MONEY IF YOU LIKE....
Big Company You See Advertising Everywhere. These are the big guys. They crank out a ton of voiceover demos. Beautiful web site, lots of videos. Yes, I've heard some good demos from them. They'd better be good, as you're paying $2.000, $3,000 (or more) for coaching and the demo. Here's a story I've heard first-hand: in October, 2015, I had a client who called Sound Advice in Chicago. He got a machine that answered with "Big House Casting and Recording and Sound Advice." (He said he only ever got the machine, left a message and had to wait for a call back.) He paid $275 to take the "Orientation:" a SKYPE consultation with a trainer in L.A., while he was in a studio in Chicago. (All of my coaching and training and production is in-person, one-on-one in Chicago. Since the start of the pandemic, I've also made coaching available via Zoom.) He received a bunch of information. He didn't get behind a microphone or receive any audio recordings to take away and learn from. He was going to sign up for six sessions leading to producing a demo, for which they would only accept his credit card. When he read the fine print, he discovered that paying with his credit card would commit him to the full amount. As he never was able to get anyone on the phone when he called, he was suspicious. What if he couldn't make it to a session and needed to call? The experience left him with a bad taste in his mouth. He looked for other training and found the Voiceover Exploration. He worked with me, and left very happy.
But they give you marketing material! You mean that printed list of people around the country you can call and ask for work? The list they give everybody? Yeah, you get that. Start with the M's when you do your emailing or calling. The people at the beginning of the list might be a little weary of hearing from new VO talent.
I learned about another "Voice Over" training site. The guy appears to have some decent information. But he's also another breathless promoter of what I call "easy voiceover riches." He puts forth the question, "How much do Voice Actors get paid?" His answer is designed for maximum enticement. He moves through various insane examples, including the very top superstar pros who make millions. Then, he actually says, "One thing I can assure you: it CAN be very lucrative!" Yes, and I CAN be a supermodel. And monkeys CAN fly out of my... ear.
One of the busiest voiceover demo producers in Chicago doesn't bat an eye when they state that they charge $3,000 for everything. And of course, you'll want to drop all those dollars at once, "to get the best deal." Blergh...
One outfit I learned of charges $175 for their two-hour 'Orientation.' Someone came to me for a Voiceover Exploration after one of those. I was shocked to hear this person was never allowed to read into a microphone! I'm sure they received some useful information. I'm also sure they received strong encouragement to continue from there, toward this company's many MUCH more expensive offerings -- including ongoing coaching for a high hourly rate, in one case $150 an hour. (For how long? Who knows?)
Big Company You See Advertising Everywhere. These are the big guys. They crank out a ton of voiceover demos. Beautiful web site, lots of videos. Yes, I've heard some good demos from them. They'd better be good, as you're paying $2.000, $3,000 (or more) for coaching and the demo. Here's a story I've heard first-hand: in October, 2015, I had a client who called Sound Advice in Chicago. He got a machine that answered with "Big House Casting and Recording and Sound Advice." (He said he only ever got the machine, left a message and had to wait for a call back.) He paid $275 to take the "Orientation:" a SKYPE consultation with a trainer in L.A., while he was in a studio in Chicago. (All of my coaching and training and production is in-person, one-on-one in Chicago. Since the start of the pandemic, I've also made coaching available via Zoom.) He received a bunch of information. He didn't get behind a microphone or receive any audio recordings to take away and learn from. He was going to sign up for six sessions leading to producing a demo, for which they would only accept his credit card. When he read the fine print, he discovered that paying with his credit card would commit him to the full amount. As he never was able to get anyone on the phone when he called, he was suspicious. What if he couldn't make it to a session and needed to call? The experience left him with a bad taste in his mouth. He looked for other training and found the Voiceover Exploration. He worked with me, and left very happy.
But they give you marketing material! You mean that printed list of people around the country you can call and ask for work? The list they give everybody? Yeah, you get that. Start with the M's when you do your emailing or calling. The people at the beginning of the list might be a little weary of hearing from new VO talent.
I learned about another "Voice Over" training site. The guy appears to have some decent information. But he's also another breathless promoter of what I call "easy voiceover riches." He puts forth the question, "How much do Voice Actors get paid?" His answer is designed for maximum enticement. He moves through various insane examples, including the very top superstar pros who make millions. Then, he actually says, "One thing I can assure you: it CAN be very lucrative!" Yes, and I CAN be a supermodel. And monkeys CAN fly out of my... ear.
One of the busiest voiceover demo producers in Chicago doesn't bat an eye when they state that they charge $3,000 for everything. And of course, you'll want to drop all those dollars at once, "to get the best deal." Blergh...
One outfit I learned of charges $175 for their two-hour 'Orientation.' Someone came to me for a Voiceover Exploration after one of those. I was shocked to hear this person was never allowed to read into a microphone! I'm sure they received some useful information. I'm also sure they received strong encouragement to continue from there, toward this company's many MUCH more expensive offerings -- including ongoing coaching for a high hourly rate, in one case $150 an hour. (For how long? Who knows?)
and here's the recommended section
THE GOOD GUYS!
There are plenty of people around here doing voiceover coaching and producing demos. Many of them are skilled and experienced friends with whom I've done voice work for years:
When looking for someone to give you advice about the voiceover business, you should ask questions, always:
"I don't know a thing. I just want to find out about the voiceover business."
Maybe right now you're not interested in taking classes. You're not ready to spend a pile of money when you don't know a thing. You're one of the people for whom I created this site, because there wasn't anyone who could give you a straight answer without it costing an arm and a leg or weeks of your time. Sometimes people just want the answer these questions:
There are plenty of people around here doing voiceover coaching and producing demos. Many of them are skilled and experienced friends with whom I've done voice work for years:
- Acting Studio Chicago is my favorite acting school in Chicago. They include voiceover among their list of offerings with great, experienced teachers like Norm Boucher and David Leffel.
- My pal Jeff Lupetin has good information at his site, UltimateVoiceover.com. He's even written a book about voiceover. I'm proud to be mentioned in his book -- thanks, Jeff!
- The folks at BAM Studios in Chicago produce voiceover demos, and do a great job. Ask for Dave Leffel.
- My friends Kathleen Puls Andrade and Deb Doetzer, teach voiceover through Second City.
- My impressive colleague Leslie Gray Robbins teaches about the voiceover business; she's based in Elmhurst, Illinois.
- I recently spoke on a panel with another person who coaches and produces voiceover demos, Donovan Weyland.
- One of the giants of our business, Harlan Hogan, has a store with lot of gear for voiceover actors. You can find his ads around this site and right here: voiceoveressentials.com. He's written a book about voiceover, relating stories from his long, successful career.
- I was in Los Angeles in March of 2019 and had a great experience with the The VO Dojo. I got great advice and took a terrific class led by an industry professional. All in all, a great resource out on the left coast.
- Another great demo producer in California is Next Level Voiceover Demos.
- Hey, there's a book called Acting In Chicago! If you're interested in not only voiceover, but acting in Chicago in general, you must buy my friend Chris Agos' book! I'm honored by the fact that he mentions me in the section on voiceover.
- Aaaaand... More from Chris Agos! He has a terrific website and book about the voiceover business. If I were just finding about voiceover, the first place I would go to learn more is https://complete-voiceover.com. (Ahem... then I might come right back here and take the Voiceover Exploration.)
- Interested in audiobooks? The go-to guy for audiobook training in Chicago is Kevin Theis, who has over 250 books available for listening. Learn more at audiobookschicago.com.
When looking for someone to give you advice about the voiceover business, you should ask questions, always:
- Do you get an in-person, one-on-one workshop with an experienced voiceover talent who does his own home recording and makes his living doing voiceover? (Not everyone requires a one-on-one experience. See above for group classes with terrifically experienced and talented friends of mine.)
- Does their site give a realistic picture of the business, or is it about "fulfilling your dreams?"
- Do they know the current voiceover business in Chicago? Even from the talent side?
- How long will you be working with them? How many others are in the class?
- If you'll be working on mic and recording, do they send you the audio afterwards to listen back to and learn from? If not, why the hell not? (A friend of mine took six weeks of classes in voiceover here in Chicago. I asked her to send me some audio from that class. She said she had NONE. After six weeks.)
- If they say they're a voiceover talent, what does their web site look like? (If they say they do audiobooks, for example, but you can't find them on Audible.com, what does that say about them?)
- Exactly how quickly are they willing to take your money? Are they willing to make you a voiceover demo, even though you have no experience? People call me often asking if I'll do a voiceover demo for them. I have a boilerplate response to them that always includes asking them to send me mp3s to get an idea of their talent. I usually don't hear from them again. I could take their money easily, but I do not. I need to be able to sleep at night.
- What do you get in an "Orientation?" Do you get time on the microphone and get audio from your session?
- Did their "free assessment" only take ten minutes -- or a half hour? (Hmm... might want to look into something that takes more time and gives MUCH more information.)
- What's their charge for THE ENTIRE PACKAGE? Training, demo(s) everything? Do they seem reluctant to tell you that price? Why? Make sure you read the fine print before handing over your credit card!
- Are their clients with top agencies in town? Many of mine are.
"I don't know a thing. I just want to find out about the voiceover business."
Maybe right now you're not interested in taking classes. You're not ready to spend a pile of money when you don't know a thing. You're one of the people for whom I created this site, because there wasn't anyone who could give you a straight answer without it costing an arm and a leg or weeks of your time. Sometimes people just want the answer these questions:
- What's the voiceover business all about?
- How do you get into it?
- Do I have what it takes?