Voicebank.net’s VoiceRegistry Blog

Voice Registry Podcast- Tracy Pattin Talks Again to Producer Susan Baker (part 2)

Susan M. Baker has worked in entertainment for 20 years in capacities
as varied as casting associate, development executive and segment
producer. She has collaborated on projects including the Democratic
National Convention, The Emmys and The Oscars. She’s also a Creative
Career Consultant with her own business, Escape Hatcher, helping creatives
build multiple revenue branches and take control of their destiny.

Right+Click to Download Podcast (7.2 MB)

Do Voice Actors Need To Be Entrepreneurs?

The question is not so surprising. We’ve heard it for years. The Voice Over career is a small business like so many other services. But often many of us forget this depending a little too much on auditions and our agents (I’m definitely guilty of this!).

In part 2 of tomorrow’s podcast (Tuesday June 16th) producer Susan Baker says, “It’s more important than ever that we shift into an entrepreneurial mindset,  with the internet and all the available resources and ways to reach clients and distribute our work.”

Find out tomorrow about Susan’s insights and advice for the VO actor with her unique background as a producer AND a creative career counselor for the performing artist. Susan talks about the importance of “finding your own voice” and creating our own unique brand. “Don’t chase trends. If you’re true to what you bring to the table, there’s someone looking for it.”

Click here to listen to part 1.

-Tracy Pattin

Creating the Voice Over Resume- Is There a Right Way and a Wrong Way?

As voice talent, we promote ourselves mostly through auditions and the ever so important voice over demo. The demo is our calling card, our audio resume. The printed resume is a little less important, however we should have one just in case. As the old saying goes, “Success is when opportunity meets preparedness.”

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about the VO resume like:

1. Is there a right way to do a resume and a wrong way?

2. Is there an industry standard?

3. Are voice-over resumes essential to have (do producers, agents, etc. even look at resumes or is it just an actor’s audio files, demos, recently booked spots, that they care about?)

I researched various resume samples and there does seem to be a style standard; Lots of white space with categories and easy to read. Although one resume had “tape on request.” He might want to change that to be current with technology!

Click below to see some samples:

Resume 1

Resume 2

Resume 3

Voice Talent! Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Please weigh in.

-Tracy Pattin

Creating Community in the Voice Over World

With the tremendous popularity of Social Media sites, the voice over world is a much bigger world than even a few months ago. “Community” seems to be the 2009 buzz word, whether it’s in cyberspace or “meat space” (another buzz phrase referring to real life or the physical world).

Although the growth of online communities is growing by leaps and bounds, it’s that very cyber community that can connect us to each other, in person.  Judging by last weekend’s big turnout for the Voice Over Potluck/BBQ at producer/voice talent at Tori Hartman’s house (also hosted by Heather Hale) we still need to meet face to face. (click here to read  Face to Face FACE-OFF with Facebook).

The party was packed with lots of very chatty (no surprise) voice talent excitedly talking about their latest gigs or new marketing strategies. I spoke with voice actor, Mike Wood who has been in Tori’s “VO Community” for 6 months now. I asked him how being part of a voice over networking group has helped his career. “Having to be accountable to others has really made me take action with my career. Like doing a series of cold calls to radio stations across the country to get radio imaging voice over jobs.”

So, even in the very solo (and sometimes isolating) career of the voice over actor, creating community can be a real plus if not a great way to de-isolate ourselves and help each other succeed.

How do you find communities and human contact events in your area? Where else? The internet. Go to Meetup.com, join a Facebook group or other social media site groups.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Registry Podcast- Tracy Pattin Talks to Producer Susan Baker

Susan M. Baker has worked in entertainment for 20 years in capacities
as varied as casting associate, development executive and segment
producer. She has collaborated on projects including the Democratic
National Convention, The Emmys and The Oscars. She’s also a Creative
Career Consultant with her own business, Escape Hatcher, helping creatives
build multiple revenue branches and take control of their destiny.

Right+Click to Download Podcast (7.5 MB)

Taking Direction, High on Producer’s VO Wish List

In tomorrow’s podcast interview (Tuesday June 9th) producer Susan Baker talks about the audition process when searching for voice talent for her many narration and promo projects. Top on her wish list? “The ability for a voice actor to take direction is crucial and is a big factor in the decision-making process when we’re hiring talent.”

She also talks about what kinds of voices are right for narration and promo projects. “It’s important that the voice-over actor doesn’t overwhelm the piece.”

Find out tomorrow about about Susan’s hiring process, and her strategy to finding talent.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Talent, Corey Burton, Wins at Golden Trailer Awards

Jeff Jones, Marice Tobias, Anthony Mendez, John Armstrong

It was a typical industry evening at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles. First, a classy cocktail party with lots of black suits, black dresses and very cool eye glasses. The Flat screen TVs were the perfect accessory to the plentiful food and drink, playing the best trailers of the year.

Very funny host Dean Edwards (from Saturday Night Live) blamed the recession for the no-frills show, joking that these Golden Trailer Awards were “downgraded to the Copper Trailer Awards.” The nominees covered the usual and the slightly unusual. From Tropic Thunder to Star Trek, documentaries to video games, and of course there was the “Trashiest Trailer” category with One Eyed Monster nominated, starring who else? Ron Jeremy (of course he was there in the flesh).

And most importantly, there was The Don LaFontaine Award for Best Voice Over. By the way, female promo voice Vanessa Marshall (Skinned Alive) was nominated in this mostly male part of the VO industry. A montage of the late industry icon’s audio resume kicked off this portion of the show. And then the award went to… Corey Burton (Tropic Thunder “Hollywood Legend”).

I spent the evening in great VO company with the wonderful Marice Tobias, VOX On-Air Promotions and Trailers Talent Agent, Jeff Jones and a handful of top voice over promo guys.

Wouldn’t it be great if all awards shows were as quick as this one, with most of the thank yous being just that- “Thank you.”

A really enjoyable evening all around! Congrats to all the nominees.

-Tracy Pattin

Slice of Bob Wood’s VO Life…Part 2

Bob Wood, Voice Talent

In part 1 of my “Slice of VO Life” with Voice Actor, Bob Wood, he talked about how he got his recent voice over projects and his home studio set-up (He records many of his projects as well). In part 2 he talks about his marketing strategy and the opportunities for voice talent in the San Francisco Bay Area:

TJP: Will these gigs to other VO projects?

BW: Who knows? The fact that I maintain the highest professional attitude possible and keep to my quoted time line and fix problems promptly, I would expect them to recommend me if the opportunity arises. The fact that they keep calling me tells me that I am doing something right.

TJP: What is the SF market like these days?

BW: Slow, slow and slower! The days of waiting for the phone to ring and your Agent telling you that you are booked for a great paying gig are pretty much over. You have to go out and market yourself, network and schmooze (is that a legal word?). My audition opportunities have slowed immeasurably from the past several years. That is OK with me, as I have reinvented myself in another industry entirely, but for those who live for voice work, it is a wake-up call to figure out how you fit into the VO market (your specialty, expertise, known contacts, etc) and develop a continuing marketing plan to establish yourself as the “best” in your market.

TJP: How does voice talent stay competitive and successful?

BW: It should go without saying, but those who get jobs are the ones who show up on time, work as a team member on a project (no, we are not the “star”, and show up with a positive attitude). We are discovering that producers are trying to low ball Agents these days. Everyone is looking to save money and are therefore frequently trying to find voice talent without using their Agents. That’s where keeping in contact with your clients becomes so important. Internet opportunities like voices.com or voice123.com provide many audition opportunities. I have received work from them, but usually lower paying gigs and it is a must that you have the ability to record at home or own a studio.

TJP: Any other marketing strategies”

BW: From my perspective, the market now requires talent to create work for themselves. You started a blog. Does that get you into contact with people who need talent? The talent reading this: are you performing in plays to keep on top of your craft? Have you thought about investigating corporate training requirements in your area. Yes, I am a narrator. I have no idea about character voice talent. That is another genre beyond my capabilities.

If I were still making a living primarily with my voice, I would definitely be talking to marketing guru’s and attending every event in my area to get ideas of how to market myself. In this market, if you don’t love living, eating and breathing VO, you’ll never make a living at it. If you enjoy the process (versus results) it is still an exciting way to practice your craft and make a little money in the process. It’s just harder finding jobs these days, that’s all.

Hope all this helps someone with more ideas for their perfecting or continuing this exciting field!

Thanks for your insights Bob. VOICE TALENT! Want to share your story? Email me at: info@videovoicebank.net

-Tracy Pattin

Slice of Voice Over Life…What is YOUR VO Life Like?

Bob Wood

It’s always interesting and useful to hear about the day in and day out of the voice actor. As so many in my podcast interviews have said, it can be a subjective path, different for each voice talent. I think the best rule of thumb is to take bits and pieces from lots of experts to shape our voice over careers. So, I am reviving my “Slice of Voice Over Life” series. Bob Wood, is a longtime voice actor, working in both the LA and San Francisco markets. He’s also directed, taught and produced in the voice over industry. Currently, he is immersed in some great voice over gigs, voicing AND producing projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here’s his “Slice of VO Life.”

TJP:  What voice over projects are you currently working on?

BW: I work with two companies on a regular basis. One is a Hi-Tech firm in The Silicon Valley, and I voice all their tutorials for their and outside engineers learning how to program and use their operating systems. The other company is a well known phone company, and I Produce there voice messaging system worldwide in English and Spanish.

TJP: How did you get this job?

BW: The Hi-Tech company for which I record and edit on my home system, came to me through another project I had voiced through my Agent in San Francisco. It was one of those “I got your name from a colleague” referral.

The phone company Production gig came out of the blue from a phone call one day about 8 years ago. The manager of the phone system said that she had seen my website and felt that I was the most professional looking voiceover artist (based on my website and resume) that she had seen. At the time, I had not done any production, but felt that, based on my experience and contacts in the industry, I could make it happen. If it’s one thing I have learned in the 25+ years I have been in this business, I have learned that the word “No” is not in my vocabulary. I ended up auditioning voice talent, narrowing the field down to the best 5 or 6 and let the client make the final choice.

I have to honestly tell you that my eyes were opened when I started listening to auditions through the ears of a producer. I was appalled at how unprofessional many talent that call themselves “artists” really were. The quality of their recordings (many done at home), a complete disregard for my specs or lack of ability in general was in abundance. It was amazing and probably a great lead in for another discussion on professionalism in this business.

TJP: You’re doing all the recording yourself. What is your home setup?

BW: I have an iMac and use ProTools for the software. I spent about $250 on a KSM 97 mic. The feedback I get is that the sound is excellent. I set it up in my bedroom, curtains drawn and pillows as a sounding board behind my mic. Based on results, my makeshift studio works just fine.

Tomorrow Bob shares his marketing strategy, and talks about the San Francisco voice over market.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Registry Podcast-Tracy Pattin talks to Animation Great, Bob Bergen with Bill Holmes (Part 4)

Bob Bergen began his illustrious animation voice over career at age 5: When he knew he wanted to be the voice of Porky Pig. Fast forward years later, and Porky Pig became his voice-over claim to fame. His resume consists of 100s of cartoons, commercials, promos, radio imaging, live award show announcing, and interactive games. If that’s not enough, Bob has a one man show about his career called, So Here’s The Deal! (He just finished an engagement in NYC).

Bill Holmes is an award winning director and is owner of his own production company, Compost Productions. Not only has he been working very successfully in the voice over business for the past 25 years but he has been teaching commercial voice over classes for the last 15 as well.

Right+Click to Download Podcast (10.2 MB)