Voice Over Commercial Auditions Casting and Information

A Live Internet Reading of “A Christmas Carol” (part 2)

(Doug Welch reading “A Christmas Carol”)

On Sunday last, New Media Interchange Founder Douglas E. Welch, held his 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and the audio is now available for your holiday pleasure.

It wasn’t your typical live reading of a play. Not a radio play or a televised reading. It was an internet play distributed through the internet’s U-Stream.TV. I had the opportunity to use my voice to be part of this holiday project. Top Warner Brothers sound engineer, Michael Lawshe and New Media Expert Doug Welch team up several times a year to produce these readings. I interviewed Doug about the production. In part 1 he talked about the genesis of the project and the recording process. In part 2, he talks about the editing process and U-Stream’s internet technology for a live show.

TJP: What is your editing process?

DW: Once the show has ended, I typically only perform the lightest of editing. I removed obvious stumbles where I can and also tighten up breaks between acts and between readers. This year I had to do something for the first time, which was to re-record the opening line to the piece, “Marley was dead, to begin with!” as the mic was not at a proper level when I started. This is just part of doing something live, though, and you shouldn’t overstress about such issues.

This edited recording was then compressed as an MP3, with added MP3 ID tags such as Show Name, Title and some Comments and then uploaded to my web site where I, and others, could easily link to it from their blogs and web sites.

TJP: You use a live streaming technology, uSTREAM.TV. What is this?

DW: uStream.tv is one of many web services that provide easy and free live streaming directly to your audience. Others include Livestream.com, Stickam.com and Qik.com. Broadcasting your  audio or video using these services requires only a computer, ca camera or mic and an Internet connection. The camera or microphone can be built-in to your computer, a video camera or external web cam. Once you set up an account and a show on uStream.tv, you can then embed the video/audio player and chat room in any site you wish. For example, for this show, people could watch from my blog, the New Media Interchange Community site, a “live show” page on my web site or the uStream.tv page directly.

TJP:  Is this easy for a group of voice actors to produce?

DW: Readings like A Christmas Carol are exceedingly easy to produce. It takes a script (I usually rely on public domain works, like A Christmas Carol), a computer, a camera/microphone, and an Internet connection — most of which we already have and can use. If you want to garner as large an audience as possible for the LIVE show, you will need to do a bit of PR to get the word out. Remember, too, that the audience of the recorded podcast will be may times that of the live show, as people can listen when and where they like.

In part 3, Doug gives advice on doing your own live streaming project.

-Tracy Pattin

A Live Internet Reading of “A Christmas Carol”

(Doug Welch reading “A Christmas Carol”)

On Sunday last, New Media Interchange Founder Douglas E. Welch, held his 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and the audio is now available for your holiday pleasure.

It wasn’t your typical live reading of a play. Not a radio play or a televised reading. It was an internet play distributed through the internet’s U-Stream.TV. I had the opportunity to use my voice to be part of this holiday project. Top Warner Brothers sound engineer, Michael Lawshe and New Media Expert Doug Welch team up several times a year to produce these readings. I asked Doug about the process:

TJP: What is the genesis of this project?

DW: My annual reading of A Christmas Carol grew out of my love for the book AND my experiences with the newly created world of podcasting. I had often talked about sitting down with family and friends to read the book aloud at Christmastime and once we had the ability to “broadcast” our reading, both live and as a podcast, it only made sense to me to share it with the world. Surely there were others who might enjoy it.

TJP: Describe the recording & production process.

DW:  Music and sound effects are mixed in and performed live during the reading.  We use 1 medium-priced condenser microphone for the voices and simply switch readers as we go. This is only a reading, not a dramatization, so we don’t need multiple microphones and complicated mixing. Even then, if you needed multiple speakers, the old radio method of gathering around a single mic would probably work just fine.

In Part 2, Doug continues on about the production process and the evolution of U-Stream.TV and how it could impact the voice over industry.

-Tracy Pattin

Podcast- Chris Allport Talks about His Multi-Faceted Career

Chris Allport is voice talent, coach and director. Known for the role of ‘Tootles” in Fox’s cult classic, Peter Pan & the Pirates, “Casper the Ghost” and various Disney character voices such as Edsel the Dinosaur”, Chris has also voice-matched many celebrities in feature films including Robin Williams, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elijah Wood and Andy Dick.

 

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Voice Talent’s Multi-Faceted Career

It’s a valuable thing to be able to do many voices, characters and be able to voice everything from commercials, to documentaries to promos and trailers, but what about becoming a multimedia producer, creative director and sound engineer in addition to voice over actor? Is it helpful to a voice over career?

In tomorrow’s podcast, performance artist, multimedia producer and creative director, Chris Allport, talks about how he made his way to all of these careers. Even directing William H. Macy! Find out what happened when he met Arianna Huffington (after he did an impression of her).

-Tracy Pattin

Social Media and Voice Over. Does it make a difference?

Social Media has reached critical mass over the past year. If you have a business, product or a message to get out, seems it’s imperative to have a presence on the internet. So, the business of voice over is no exception. But does it make a difference in your voice over career?

Amber of Voicebank.net who constantly talks to voice talent posed these questions. We’d love to hear YOUR ANSWERS!

AD: What (if any) Social Media sites do YOU use for your voice-over career? Twitter?  LinkedIn?  Facebook?  And all the others.

AD: How do the different social media sites compare?

AD: Which one(s) have been most effective in helping your voice-over networking/career?

AD: In what way have any of these social media sites helped your career?

Email us and we’ll post comments (and hyperlink to your site) on an upcoming blog post.

-Tracy Pattin

Video Cast. Tracy Pattin talks to Bob Bergen & Bill Holmes about Physicalizing & Voice Over

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! You’ll hear Bob in these recent feature films; Wall-E, Up, Ponyo, and Toy Story 3.

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. If you’re in the LA area on December 16th, check out the “Margaritas Mojitos and Microphones” class, featuring Gregg Berger and Jill Kershaw. A very fun and productive evening!

Bob and Bill also teach in tandem with their BillyBob workshops.

-Tracy Pattin

Creating Multiple Characters for Animation. Bob Bergen & Bill Holmes Share VO Expertise.

In part 2 of my video cast interview, animation VO great, Bob Bergen, and top voice over teacher and demo producer, Bill Holmes continue talking about physicalizing and voice over.

Tomorrow you’ll see and hear:

•How to position yourself at the mic for animation projects

•How to create multiple characters

•How to create characters in different environments (down the street, on the phone)

•How to create “variety, energy and versatility” in your reads

PLUS Bob Bergen (voice of Porky Pig) does an amazing VO performance with his “5-way conversation” all by himself!

And much more!

Click here to view part 1 of the Bob Bergen/Bill Holmes video cast.

Be sure to check out their BillyBob voice over intensives!

-Tracy Pattin

Slice of Voice Over Life. Vanessa Hart. Part 2

They say to be successful, we must find people who are doing what we aspire to do and find out how they found their success. Our “Slice of Voice Over Life” series looks at a typical day in a voice actor’s life, their techniques and marketing strategies as they build and expand their career. In part 1, Vanessa Hart talks about how she found her way into the voice over industry and what a typical day is like in her career.

Vanessa Hart continues, sharing her Slice of Voice Over life:   

TJP: How has the voice over industry changed for you?

VH: It’s simply night and day.  When I began there wasn’t that much that was within one’s own power to control. You got your agent, your union cards and then simply did what you were told with a little marketing on the side. It was grand – at the time. One of my favorite memories was in Minneapolis when I was shooting a union commercial during the day, the agency arranged a car and a long lunch for me so I could leave the set to record a national vo and then arranged an early release for the day so I could make curtain for an Equity show that I was in across town. Easy, breezy – of course, quite a bit of that “arranging” now falls on my shoulders.

TJP: Describe your career today.

VH: I have 6 agents and run a home studio – a must these days. And keeping up with the technology, marketing, rates, schedule juggling and customer satisfaction is all on my plate. The work never lessens, the learning never stops and the business never closes. Challenging but also wonderful. It’s tremendously empowering and I am blessed.

TJP: Any advice for beginning voice actors? And the more experienced?

VH: Advice for all – never stop learning. Beginners: study from lots of different people at the start, eventually you will find your core coaches who you will work with over the lifetime of your career. With my students, I always do the first session for free so I can determine if the person has the chops and determination to succeed in this business and also if I’m the person they need at this stage. If the answers to all those questions are yes, then a course of study is determined in accordance with each student’s unique needs. I’m a fixer, a problem solver. I suggest you have at least one coach who is that for you and who knows when you need someone else’s expertise and can hook you up with that person. I have a coach like this and she is invaluable to me. Group classes are also encouraged, on a continuing basis. There is always something new to learn – always.

Remember, you are building a business. That means hard work at a steady pace with goals and benchmarks. You have to constantly market yourself and your distinctive signature, coming up with new and different marketing ideas that make you stand out from others in the industry. Be happy with others successes. You are unique and your career will be as well. If you love this business and produce excellent work, with integrity, you will be rewarded in kind. Stick to it and never be afraid to ask the questions you need answered.

Veterans – share, giveback, try something new, keep learning and stretching. Let’s keep our eyes always on raising the standards and lead by example. And let us all remember – the pie is not finite in size but constantly expands to encompass all.

Thanks Vanessa! If you want to share a slice of your  voice over life, let me know!

-Tracy Pattin

Slice of Voice Over Life. Vanessa Hart.

They say to be successful, we must find people who are doing what we aspire to do and find out how they found their success. Our “Slice of Voice Over Life” series looks at a typical day in a voice actor’s life, their techniques and marketing strategies as they build and expand their career.

-Tracy Pattin

Vanessa Hart is an accomplished actor and voice actor who has recorded over 500 commercials for such clients as McDonalds, Target, Cadillac, Lee Jeans and Dillards. Her hundreds of corporate clients include Planet Hollywood, Ballys, Liberty Mutual and Real Networks. She has also voiced promos for A&E, Lifetime and Bravo. In the audiobook arena Vanessa has done dozens of books and her publishers include McGraw-Hill, Random House, audible and Blackstone and she was an Audie finalist in 2008. Vanessa was also a Voicey finalist in 2009.

TJP: How did you get into VO?

VH: I was taking a pre graduation class at U of MN about how to be a working actor. They had pros from the Minneapolis area tell us about options other than stage work. One day an agent came in and talked about voice-overs and a light bulb went on for me. Within a year I had an agent, my first union card and first national campaign – McDonalds – which I got for the absurdly simple reason that I could get the copy in within the needed time without sounding like a legal disclaimer. I was hooked.

TJP: What is a typical voice over day like for you?

VH: The good & bad here is that I never know exactly what the day will bring. Often I will have phone patch and ISDN sessions scheduled – so those are firmed up the day before. My day starts with checking emails to see if anything changed for the day and also to check for new auditions that need to get in right away. If I’m working on an audiobook or long narration the next thing up is editing what was voiced the day before.  Then auditions, scheduled sessions and recording the pages for audiobook or narration that were prepped the evening before. Throughout the day I work in follow-ups, marketing, billing and coaching or coaching preparation. Also, there is my own continuing education: privates, seminars, research, etc. And finally, the end of day ritual . . . load up my FTP, send “your audio is up” emails & prep pages and/or scripts for the next day.

In part 2 Vanessa talks about how the voice over industry has changed since she began. And she gives advice to beginning voice actors and the more experienced.

Video Cast. Tracy Pattin talks to Bob Bergen & Bill Holmes about physicalizing & voice over

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! You’ll hear Bob in these recent feature films; Wall-E, Up, Ponyo, and Toy Story 3.

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. If you’re in the LA area on December 16th, check out the “Margaritas Mojitos and Microphones” class, featuring Gregg Berger and Jill Kershaw. A very fun and productive evening!

Bob and Bill also teach in tandem with their BillyBob workshops.

-Tracy Pattin

How often should you use body language in voice over?

In tomorrow’s video cast at Compost Productions,  Bob Bergen and Bill Holmes answer that question. The voice of Porky Pig, Bob Bergen is a big advocate of physicalizing every chance you get in the booth. Teacher, demo producer, Bill Holmes talks about how he teaches voice over students to use body language in their reads.

Some other points these voice over experts share:

•How body language builds characters

•Dealing with the microphone when physicalizing your reads

•Using body language to prepare for a voice over gig in the booth

and much more…

Audio Bible about to be released. Martin Jarvis plays “God”

Our own beloved Martin Jarvis plays “God” (I thought he really was!) in the about to be released audio book version of The Bible. In addition to the fabulous Jarvis, Michael York and a cast of other Hollywood stars lend their voices to this huge project. Check out the details of the project in this LA Times article.

Thanks Bob Souer for bringing this to my attention! You’re a great resource.

-Tracy Pattin

Bob Bergen & Bill Holmes in next week’s Video Cast!

What an amazing day it was shooting our next video cast with amazing and prolific voice talent Bob Bergen (voice of Porky Pig) and voice over teacher, producer and owner of Compost Productions Bill Holmes. They talk about physicality and voice over. Watching these two in action is quite a treat! Part 1 will be up on the VideoVoicebank.net blog next Tuesday.

-Tracy Pattin

NPR Interview with Audio Book Voice Talent, Martin Jarvis & Neil Sedaris

Check out the Bob Souer blog. Bob talks about the audio book interview on NPR with Martin Jarvis and David Sedaris. NPR’s Neil Gaiman “ponders the future of audio books.” Jarvis and Sedaris discuss the process of recording them.

-Tracy Pattin

Video Cast. Tracy Pattin talks with Tasia Valenza (Part 2)

In the early part of her career, Tasia Valenza played the role of Dottie Thornton on All My Children from 1982 to 1986, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work. She also showed up in a guest star appearance in the fifth season of The A-Team, as a Vulcan in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Coming of Age”, and a recurring role as Lt. Winslow in Space: Above & Beyond.

Tasia eventually found her way to a successful voice over career and never looked back. She works constantly (almost daily!) in voice over for commercials, video games, promos, film, animation. “Everything but Kabuki!” In Part 2 of this Video Cast, Tasia talks about using her voice to give back.

Click here for part 1 of the Tasia Valenza video cast

Click here for more info on SOS Children’s Villages

Click here for Tasia Valenza’s “Big Give” video sent Oprah

How you can give back with your voice

With Thanksgiving a few days behind us, and the holiday season upon us, giving is on many minds right now. Giving back is constantly on top voice actor, Tasia Valenza’s mind. In tomorrow’s video cast, (Part 2) Tasia talks about a very special organization she’s involved in, SOS Children’s Villages.

You’ll find out how:

•Tasia uses her voice to give back

•To create abundance by giving

•You can use your own voice to give back

•To get involved with SOS Children’s Villages

Check out this video Tasia produced and sent to Oprah:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGNWIC-gmmQ

How Important is a VO Website? Insights from VO Actors

We constantly get questions about voice over websites from voice talent. Questions like, “How important is my voice over website?” “Isn’t my demo enough?” In this world where so many have a presence on the internet, personal branding is becoming key to promoting any business, product or service. And of course that includes, voice over. First I asked, top voice talent Bob Bergen how he feels about websites. (Click here to read what he said) Then  I asked San Francisco voice talent, Margaret Lorenz about her eye catching website, Smarty PantsVO.com. Here’s what she had to say:

TJP: How has your site helped your career?

ML: It’s given me the momentum to take my career to the next level.  Having a strong brand makes it a lot easier for me to promote my services.  It gives potential clients a reason to check out my website.

TJP: How did you create the site?

ML: I worked with a branding expert to come up with the overall brand, then we came up with ideas for the graphics and worked with a website designer who created the site.  Basically, we looked at my personality, my voice-over style/what jobs I get hired for, and my overall objective (which is of course to get more work.)  I have a background in science and my voice style is kind of girl-next-door, so we combined the two for the website.

TJP:  Who has been most impacted by your site. Agent? Producers? Casting directors?

ML: Well, it’s hard to say.  I don’t really know who visits the site – although I can see that I have been getting a lot of new visitors since the site went up.  I get a great response from existing clients when I hand out my business card (which matches the website) at recording sessions.  I think the Smartypants name makes them laugh (and hopefully remember me for future jobs.)

If you have a website you’d like feature, we’d like to hear from you!

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Registry Video Cast- Tasia Valenza Talks to Tracy Pattin

In the early part of her career, Tasia Valenza played the role of Dottie Thornton on All My Children from 1982 to 1986, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work. She also showed up in a guest star appearance in the fifth season of The A-Team, as a Vulcan in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Coming of Age”, and a recurring role as Lt. Winslow in Space: Above & Beyond.

Tasia eventually found her way to a successful voice over career and never looked back. She works constantly (almost daily!) in voice over for commercials, video games, promos, film, animation. “Everything but Kabuki!”

Our first Video Cast! Tasia Valenza talks to Tracy Pattin in her closet

We’re putting faces to voices now with our new VIDEO CASTS. First up, in tomorrow’s video cast, is top voice talent, Tasia Valenza. We filmed Tasia right where she makes all of her voice over magic, in her closet. She has lots of great tips and insights to share like:

•How she uses the power of her mind to get paid for her voice.

•How she found her way to a successful voice over career.

•Specific techniques she uses at each voice over job.

and much more…

-Tracy Pattin

ADR Insights and Tips

The other day I was at The Invisible Studios in West Hollywood for an ADR session. It’s for the upcoming BBC radio drama “Goldfinger” produced and directed by Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres. (airing in 2010)

First, I have to say, working with Jarvis Ayres productions is a true joy. Being directed by Martin Jarvis is just about the best experience one can have as a voice actor. He is extremely concise, clear, and is able to get the best performance from the actor. If that isn’t enough, he is incredibly supportive and respectful. Being a marvelous actor himself rounds out his directing role. Rosalind Ayres is also a fantastic director, producer and actor herself.

I came in to be a 1950s Airport Announcer. Just a handful of lines. But here’s what I’ve discovered over the years. Always be prepared to use your improv skills and to push your creative envelope. That was what made this session such a thrill. Not only did I get to try a few different characters as the announcer, I had the opportunity to play a French woman in a crowd (luckily my French accent is intact) and a Nurse Ratched sort of character in another little scene. It was pure performing heaven!

Here are some tips and insights I took away from the experience in terms of ADR work:

•Always be prepared with the lines you’ve been given. Practice them, be comfortable with the words but don’t over rehearse.

•Have an open mind. Be prepared to give the “ABC” read (three times, three different ways).

•Be flexible, ready and willing to try other roles. In ADR sessions, like this one, there may be several small roles you can do.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Over Delivery Techniques with Ed Victor

Check out this voice over video. Voice talent Ed Victor takes you into his booth for a recording session. His advice? “Know your motivation.” Watch and listen to him change into the announcer.
-Tracy Pattin

VO Podcast-Tracy Pattin Talks To Trev Broudy about his VO comeback from hate crime (Part 3)

On September 1, 2002, Trev Broudy and friend Edward Ulett were attacked after embracing outside Broudy’s West Hollywood, California home by three assailants, Larry Walker, Torwin Sessions and Vincent Dotson. Broudy was beaten with a baseball bat and left in a coma for 10 days. Broudy has appeared in a number of guest roles in a variety of television series and has started a career as a voice actor, performing in television and radio commercials and playing Cole Yeager in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent and Captain America in Marvel Ultimate. In this podcast, Trev talks about how he is able to do voice overs in spite of having only peripheral vision.

-Tracy Pattin

 

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Voice Actor’s Career after Surviving Hate Crime (Part 3)

In tomorrow’s podcast (part 3), voice actor, Trev Broudy talks about how he got back into the voice over game after being brutally beaten over the head with a baseball bat during a hate crime, leaving him in a coma and brain damaged. Trev’s insights are truly powerful and ironically just what sighted voice actors can use to succeed in this business.

Tomorrow, Trev talks about:

•How he deals with clients in a session (find out whether or not he tells them of his visual impairment).

•The impact his injury has on his voice over career. The positive aspects as well as the negative.

•The fascinating insights he’s gained from the experience.

and more…

-Tracy Pattin

Click below to listen to:

Trev Broudy podcast part 1

Trev Broudy podcast part 2

Are Websites Important for Voice Actors? Bob Bergen Thinks So. (Part 2)

In Part 1 on websites and voice over, Top voice talent, Bob Bergen talks about why a website is important for a voice over career and who in the industry looks at them.

Here are his thoughts on the impact of a website on the voice over career:

TJP: How has your website impacted your career?

BB: I’ve been able to secure agents throughout the country by marketing my career via my website.  I’ve also booked more jobs than I can count from buyers surfing my site.  And it’s been ideal in marketing my animation voice-over workshops.

TJP: Any tips?

BB: I think it’s important that the site be as use friendly as possible.  For a voice actor, have everything VO related on the home page.  The fewer clicks for the user the better.  Demos, agent contacts, bio, resume, etc., should all be one click away from the home page.  Branding is important.  Websites aren’t nearly as expensive as they use to be.  Your website should reflect your marketing.  Your brand, be it your demo or your website, should be established immediately. Your website brand should be as unique and individual as you. Your site should load fast and look clean and obvious to navigate.

Click here to see Bob Bergen’s top notch website.

Are Voice Over Websites Important? Bob Bergen Thinks So.

Voice talent has been asking us about websites lately. What is their value for voice over careers? How elaborate do they need to be? Who in the industry looks at them?

Top animation voice actor (voice of Porky Pig) Bob Bergen thinks they’re extremely important. Here’s what he says:

TJP: Do you think a VO website is important? Why?

BBB:I think a website is essential.  It’s a one stop shop when it comes to marketing, especially for a voice actor.  Your demos, bio, resume, current projects, etc., are just a click away.  A website is like an electronic PR kit, and a voice actor has more selling tools on a website than they do with just a demo.

TJP: Who is most influenced by voice talent’s site. The agent? Producers? Casting Directors? Do they really look at the site?

BB: All the above.  I’m with CESD in Los Angeles, and they pretty much insist their clients have a website.  It makes the agent’s job of selling their clients much easier.  And being that the amount of marketing information on a website far outweighs the amount of information on a CD demo, a website is invaluable to casting directors, producers, and directors.

In part 2, Bob talks about how his website has impacted his career.

-Tracy Pattin

Bambi’s Voice Talent. How They Were Discovered.

Thanks Erik Sheppard for posting this great video on your Facebook page (you always have great voiceover info!) on the voices of the classic movie, Bambi. The interesting thing is the voices were not names in the business! You’ll see (and hear) some were discovered by accident. Gives hope to VO actors, that there are those times when you just have to be at the right place and the right time and bring your authentic self to the mic.

-Tracy Pattin

Podcast-Voice Over Actor Trev Broudy talks about his comeback after hate crime (Part 2)

Click here for Trev Broudy podcast part 1

On September 1, 2002, Trev Broudy and friend Edward Ulett were attacked after embracing outside Broudy’s West Hollywood, California home by three assailants, Larry Walker, Torwin Sessions and Vincent Dotson. Broudy was beaten with a baseball bat and left in a coma for 10 days. Broudy has appeared in a number of guest roles in a variety of television series and has started a career as a voice actor, performing in television and radio commercials and playing Cole Yeager in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent and Captain America in Marvel Ultimate. In this podcast, Trev talks about how he is able to do voice overs in spite of having only peripheral vision.

 

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Voice Actor’s Comeback from Hate Crime (part 2)

In tomorrow’s podcast (part 2), voice actor, Trev Broudy talks about how he got back into the voice over game after being brutally beaten over the head with a baseball bat during a hate crime, leaving him in a coma and brain damaged.

Find out:

•How he found an agent who would give him a chance.

•He voiced his first job after his injury with very little short term memory.

•Trained his brain to remember the words.

•What technology he first used to keep him working as a voice over talent.

and more…

Click here to listen to Trev Broudy podcast part 1

-Tracy Pattin

The Video Voice Over Demo. A Big VO Branding Opportunity?

Personal Branding is becoming vital as so many more people are throwing their voices into the recording studio for a chance at success in this fun and lucrative world. Personal branding is not logos and websites (although important!), it’s about YOU and what makes YOU different from all the others.

With the rapid changes and growth in technology, we voice actors need to to be constantly upgrading our careers, learning the latest techniques, strategies, and new ways to get ourselves noticed. Enter, The Video Voice Over Demo. Voice Over Extra wrote this about voice talent, Bryan Cox and his new marketing strategy:

Bryan Cox, a veteran voice actor, recently opened the eyes of agents and casting directors. Literally.

When they clicked on his character demo, a video surprisingly appeared on their computer screens – promoting Cox, of course, and dovetailing with his unfolding cast of audio characters.

Read more about voice over actor, Brian Cox.

-Tracy Pattin

Art & Copy- A Fascinating look at advertising

Thanks Caryn Clark for blogging about this trailer! The more we know about advertising the better equipped we will be to understand commercial copy. Check out the trailer for this fascinating look at advertising!
-Tracy Pattin