Bob Souer

My “Slice of Voice Over Life” series continues going inside the lives of voice actors. How they do their craft, build their career and deal with the challenges of the industry. Bob Souer has been a longtime voice actor (he goes by “storyteller”) with a long resume of narrations, commercials, radio imaging, documentaries and audiobooks. Three years ago he created The Voiceover Boblog where he blogs about everything voice over, from the latest news to great insights.

In part 1 of “Bob Souer’s Voiceover Life” he talks about how he got started and his day to day VO routine.

-Tracy Pattin

Here is the rest of the interview:

TJP: What are 3 key action steps you take regularly to keep your career on track?

BS: Most important, I work at honing my skills as a performer all the time. Also, I’m working on planning more medium and long term. I’ve always been pretty good at reacting to things as they come, but with the ever increasing pace of life and higher and higher expectations, I’ve seen the need to do more advance planning. Third, I try to have something valuable to share on my blog every day. Sometimes it’s a piece I’ve written. Sometimes it’s a link to something written by someone else. But I want to be actively generous every day.

TJP: What surprises you about your career?

BS: I never cease to be amazed at the value of persistence. Simply showing up and consistently working at doing things with excellence pays great dividends in the long run.

TJP:  Why do you love your career?

BS: I grew up in the farm country of North Central Minnesota. I know what “working for a living” is all about. Voiceover is much better than working for a living. OK. Seriously, what I love about my voiceover business is that I get to tell stories for people. I love telling stories.

Bob Souer

My “Slice of Voice Over Life” series continues going inside the lives of voice actors. How they do their craft, build their career and deal with the challenges of the industry. Bob Souer has been a longtime voice actor (he goes by “storyteller”) with a long resume of narrations, commercials, radio imaging, documentaries and audiobooks. Three years ago he created The Voiceover Boblog where he blogs about everything voice over, from the latest news to great insights.

-Tracy Pattin

TJP:  How did you get started in voice over?

BS: My start happened as a total fluke. I was having a pity party for myself because the General Manager of the radio station where I was working at the time had taken the entire staff out to lunch, except me because I was on the air. Even the receptionist, so on top of being on the air and doing a bit of production between breaks, I even had to answer the phone. As it happened that was providential because one of the phone calls I answered that day was from the owner of a video production company who was looking for someone to audition for a voiceover job. I auditioned, booked that job and ended up doing hundreds of narrations for that company over the next 4 years.

TJP: Describe briefly your daily VO life/routine.

BS: My oldest son works with me in my voiceover business, so we start each day together with some conversation and prayer. We then go out together on a brisk walk around the neighborhood. After we cool off we tackle whatever projects are currently in front of us. Eric does a lot of the audio editing for me (and takes on editing projects for other voice talent, too) so if we’ve recorded some long-form narrations or a chapter of an audiobook or the like, he’ll get to work on that editing.

Meanwhile, I will prepare for any recording on my schedule. I also take time to respond to last minute requests that come in. I also do auditions that come in from my agents. Tweet when I find something of interest. Update my blog. Send invoices once a project is completed. Notify clients when their audio is uploaded.

In Part 2 (tomorrow’s blog post) of Bob Souer’s “Slice of Voice Over Life” he shares action steps and insights about his career.

Roy Samuleson & Braden Wright

Roy Samuelson has over 20 years experience as a voice actor. He’s booked national voice over ad campaigns for TV, including Jeep, Dodge, Nestle Wonka, and Intel. He has voiced the killer in “Midnight Movie,” various voices in “The Beacon” and Universal’s “The Express” and “Van Helsing,” as well as in the upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer / Disney feature “G-Force.” He has recorded many promo spots for Los Angeles’ NPR station KCRW. He is also the founder of Los Angeles workout group VOWOL (VoiceOverWorkoutLounge).

Braden Wright (Voice Actor/ Actor/Entertainment Publicist) helps fellow actors understand Publicity by combining his life-long experience as a performer & VO actor with 22 years of experience and perspective as an entertainment publicist in most every aspect of the business; on set for 24 feature films, 10 years as a studio photo editor, over 40 red carpet premieres, international film festivals, awards shows and personal client work at boutique agencies.

Right+Click to Download Podcast (9.8 MB)

“We (voice actors) are not a product. We are providing a service. It’s about getting the message out” says Braden. “The qualities within your demo are your brand. You have to unify your message and make it consistent.”

Find out tomorrow why NOT thinking of ourselves as a product is important and how branding, your unique message and networking can be a powerful combination for your voice over career.

-Tracy Pattin

Joan Baker, Author of Secrets of Voice-Over Success with the Neumann BCM 10

On July 29th at 7pm sharp, at The Times Center in New York City, JOAN BAKER and PUSH CREATIVE ADVERTISING will once again unveil A VOICEOVER EVENT — girding the industry that comprises the lucrative and highly guarded world of voiceover acting — and doing it in style. It all begins with the nationally regarded and celebrity voiceover talent that have generously contributed to the 2nd edition of Baker’s book: Secrets of Voice-Over Success.

Talents like the Tony Award-winning actor JIM DALE who is the single voice of the entire Harry Potter audio book series. And then there’s RICHARD THOMAS, famously known for his portrayal of John Walton, and who is now the voice of Mercedes-Benz. And then there’s the voice of Deal or no Deal and FOX Entertainment, JOE CIPRIANO, and the voice of Broadway on Broadway — VALERIE SMALDONE. These formidable talents mix it up with agents and ad executives to bring out the practical, fundamental skills and practices necessary to succeed as a voiceover actor.

This isn’t the first time Ms Baker’s book has set the voiceover community on fire and each time it has been to rave reviews and inspired hearts. And rightfully so; the SECRETS OF VOICE-OVER SUCCESS EVENT not only provides an extraordinary learning forum and career opportunity, but it does so in a highly generous and entertaining fashion. And if that weren’t enough value for your dollar, Ms. Baker donates 100% of the book royalties to the Alzheimer’s Association. You couldn’t ask for more.

Ms. Baker has quickly become the heart and soul of what is becoming a visible voiceover community, where before there was only anonymity and a closely guarded, almost impossible path to entry. SECRETS OF VOICE-OVER SUCCESS is the preeminent voice-over event anywhere in the world – offering a wealth of real-world information, career advice and  industry insight for newcomers and professionals alike. Writers, producers, creative directors, talent agents and advertising executives are all ultimately and wonderfully served by this unique experience.

For more information on this exciting event, click here.

The Digital Media Summit is one of those events I recommend checking out. Here’s an excerpt about it:

“Technology is transforming the entertainment business. But the basic underpinnings of the business – film, television, music, video, games – remain largely the same. The 7th annual Digital Media Summit looks at each major industry segment and asks simple but vital questions: what is the cutting edge and near future for this business? What must studios do to retain their audience? How will the new business be monetized? What is the impact on Hollywood of the greatest economic and social upheaval since the Great Depression?”read more…

-Tracy Pattin

Roy Samuelson & Braden Wright

Roy Samuelson has over 20 years experience as a voice actor. He’s booked national voice over ad campaigns for TV, including Jeep, Dodge, Nestle Wonka, and Intel. He has voiced the killer in “Midnight Movie,” various voices in “The Beacon” and Universal’s “The Express” and “Van Helsing,” as well as in the upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer / Disney feature “G-Force.” He has recorded many promo spots for Los Angeles’ NPR station KCRW. He is also the founder of Los Angeles workout group VOWOL (VoiceOverWorkoutLounge).

Braden Wright (Voice Actor/ Actor/Entertainment Publicist) helps fellow actors understand Publicity by combining his life-long experience as a performer & VO actor with 22 years of experience and perspective as an entertainment publicist in most every aspect of the business; on set for 24 feature films, 10 years as a studio photo editor, over 40 red carpet premieres, international film festivals, awards shows and personal client work at boutique agencies.

Right+Click to Download Podcast (8.8 MB)

Find out tomorrow how Roy’s voice over workout group is more than practicing reads at the mic, it’s a place to expand your career. And find out how publicity plays a role in our industry. Braden says on PR, “we are in charge of our own message. Good publicity is good messaging.”

-Tracy Pattin

Here’s an excerpt from Susan Carpenter’s piece:

“Scott Rummell has a nice speaking voice. It’s warm, friendly, clear; pleasant though not particularly striking. But it’s Rummell’s other voice, rather, his paid, professional voice, the one he turns on when he’s positioned inches from a microphone, that has earned him work…” read more.

-Tracy Pattin

-Tracy Pattin

Here’s what you said:

“I haven’t been asked for a resume since some time in the 90s (and only rarely even back then) so I don’t even both keeping one up-to-date any more.” Bob Souer

“I have one but it is very rare that anyone asks to see it. The last time was for a radio drama and the casting folks ran the audition as though it was for on-camera roles.

I don’t know if it was because they were thinking “real actors” have resumes, or if they just remember being taught in college that’s how you run an audition.

In my experience, for voice-over, good demos and audition.” Bill Pryce

“I’ve never once been asked for any printed (or on-screen) documents. Every producer, agent, CD, director, person hiring, etc asked for a VO Demo. This is your 1 minute resume and it should be up to date and be a great example of what you are able to do with your voice. If they’re looking for a voice, they want to hear it not read it. Rather, you need to have a selection of VO Demo’s - Commercial, Promo, Audiobook, eLearning, Phone Messaging, etc depending on the job requirements.” James Clamp

“I’m somewhere between Bob and your resume examples. I have a voice over resume but its in PDF form in my media center http://www.audioconnell.com/media). The “why” of it was that I saw a few others had resumes and figured I’d slap one together. The “dumb” of it is I think I’ve forgotten more spots over all these years than I remembered (and oh yes, some were truly forgettable, but that’s another blog post).

After a while the resume writing experience started to feel a bit like a name-dropping exercise so I tried to feature different kinds of work rather than all big stuff because the “sacks of cash” are under a variety of rocks, not just the big ones…and if prospects think you’re too high profile, you could miss out on some really good gigs. I don’t want people making the decision for me (”Oh Peter wouldn’t want this $3,500 job, he’s too big for it!”) Note to prospects - while I have minimum fees, the only place I’m big “is in mah bel-lee!” Peter O’Connell

Here is a differing opinion:

“I’m weighing in a little late to this discussion because just this week, I was asked for both a demo reel and a resume for an upcoming animated series. I can definitely understand the desire for a resume. With the prolification of folks who will cut you a demo for a $1000 regardless of your experience, it’s important for producers to know which candidates have actual experience. Anyone can have a demo put together with the right amount of money. But unless, they’re outright lying, they can’t buy the experience a resume details.”

Jeffrey Kafer