My voiceover story
This is an email I sent to someone tonight, adapted for public consumption on this blog.
How did I get started in voiceovers? Well, I saw a posting in a Teaneck adult ed booklet for a course entitled "Using your voice to make money." It was given in the school near the library by a fellow named John Gallogly from Creative Voice Development Group, based in Albany. The course (1 + 1/2 hour lesson, actually) was fascinating and at the end they did a little practice session where we actually recorded some audio. I was hooked, and when John called me to evaluate my voice the next day ("A little fast, but nice and clear"), we talked price. It was not cheap to do a full voiceover training, but I was able to talk him down into a discount rate for me. We then had 4 one-on-one hour training sessions and then recorded my demo. After that I had a marketing seminar ("How to shamelessly promote yourself") with Bill Chaput. You can Google all these names to see what they are about, by the way.
After that, I designed my own CD label and website (cheapest option, but probably not the smartest) and started getting ahold of lists of agents and casting directors. You can buy a magazine called Ross Reports, once a year they have a voiceover and cartoons issue. Also, you can buy labels of casting directors and agents- these are all sold at the drama book store on 40th st, up the block from Port Authority in Manhattan.
I got nowhere with sending my CD to these folks however, and so far my paying gigs have come from looking on CraigsList.com and signing up for various voiceover job boards - voice123.com , interactivevoices.com, indieflavor.com and others. I also belong to about 10 voiceover, acting and audio drama groups. These all keep me in practice and confident for any time I need to step behind the mic.
Something I have not done, but should, is attend a seminar hosted by Dan Duckworth ( of AAA Casting ) because he gets casting directors and agents to speak and you get to meet and interview with them and this apparently lands jobs for some people.
I hope this was some help, and I recommend looking for the adult ed series from John Gallogly or David Bourgeois. There is also one by Dan Levine in Bergenfield, I think, which should be the same thing, but i have not met him.
All the best, good luck, and pleae check back with me if you have any questions (or work for me!)
How did I get started in voiceovers? Well, I saw a posting in a Teaneck adult ed booklet for a course entitled "Using your voice to make money." It was given in the school near the library by a fellow named John Gallogly from Creative Voice Development Group, based in Albany. The course (1 + 1/2 hour lesson, actually) was fascinating and at the end they did a little practice session where we actually recorded some audio. I was hooked, and when John called me to evaluate my voice the next day ("A little fast, but nice and clear"), we talked price. It was not cheap to do a full voiceover training, but I was able to talk him down into a discount rate for me. We then had 4 one-on-one hour training sessions and then recorded my demo. After that I had a marketing seminar ("How to shamelessly promote yourself") with Bill Chaput. You can Google all these names to see what they are about, by the way.
After that, I designed my own CD label and website (cheapest option, but probably not the smartest) and started getting ahold of lists of agents and casting directors. You can buy a magazine called Ross Reports, once a year they have a voiceover and cartoons issue. Also, you can buy labels of casting directors and agents- these are all sold at the drama book store on 40th st, up the block from Port Authority in Manhattan.
I got nowhere with sending my CD to these folks however, and so far my paying gigs have come from looking on CraigsList.com and signing up for various voiceover job boards - voice123.com , interactivevoices.com, indieflavor.com and others. I also belong to about 10 voiceover, acting and audio drama groups. These all keep me in practice and confident for any time I need to step behind the mic.
Something I have not done, but should, is attend a seminar hosted by Dan Duckworth ( of AAA Casting ) because he gets casting directors and agents to speak and you get to meet and interview with them and this apparently lands jobs for some people.
I hope this was some help, and I recommend looking for the adult ed series from John Gallogly or David Bourgeois. There is also one by Dan Levine in Bergenfield, I think, which should be the same thing, but i have not met him.
All the best, good luck, and pleae check back with me if you have any questions (or work for me!)
1 Comments:
At 12:09 AM , Alan said...
Hi Elie,
I followed here from the Darker Projects list about your basement mural.
I'm surprised actually to read this entry because I live right in Paramus NJ! I've given Eric a script that he wanted a specific voice for the main part and as of right now, it's coming together but I don't know if he's told anyone about it yet. When it works out, I think everyone will be pleased.
Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and say Hello Neighbor and I hope I get to contribute to DP a lot more in the future.
-Alan
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