Last week, I was honored to be a guest on "Voice Over Experts".  This is a popular podcast on Voices.com.  Check it out! 

Getting Voice Over Work Through Social Networking

 This is GOLDEN material for all Voice Over Actors!

Here's a very cool listen into a "Directed Session" with me, another voice actor, the producer and the client - all working together over the internet!

The voices are being recorded live by the producer - and you're hearing my recording that was made over Skype. Notice how the producer and client are directing us (the voice talent) - and how we provide them with multiple takes - each one sounding a little different than the last...

This is a perfect example of how voice overs get done it the 21st century!

PLEASE NOTE: This is an adult session with real-pros, so you'll have to pardon us on some of the language - I give this a PG-13 rating.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

http://amazingvoicetalent.com/2009/05/live-directed-voice-over-session/  

Over the past few months, my team and I have laid the foundation for the "Voice Over Club". Our goal is to provide an exclusive membership training website that will deliver education and rich content about the process of becoming a professional voice actor. We are working hard and plan to launch the Voice Over Club this Summer.

In all honesty, the experience has been both challenging and a lot of fun. It's like putting together a huge puzzle in that there are several key pieces that need to fit in order for this to work.

Unlike other training programs, the "Voice Over Club" will offer E-learning modules about the ins and outs of becoming a voice actor. Additionally, we will include expert interviews, blogs, articles and studio tours. For up-to-date information on what will be the ultimate educational tool for aspiring voice actors, sign up at www.VoiceOverClub.com.

I welcome your ideas, so let's start with this question; What would you like to see on a voice over training site that would truly inspire you in your path to becoming a professional voice talent?

Whether you're a professional voice talent, or someone who is just breaking in to this wacky business, it's important to develop and maintain your performing skills. You've no doubt heard stories about concert pianists who practice 8 hours a day - every day - in order to stay in top form. As voice-over artists, we need to do the same thing.

Ours is a performing craft, and we must be diligent about learning new skills and staying on top of the skills we have mastered. We need to constantly improve our talents for creating character voices, script interpretation, listening, responding believably, and expanding our marketing skills. Most voice coaches will recommend at least one to two hours of reading out loud each day to maintain your skills.

This means setting aside a specific period of time each day during which you will focus exclusively on developing your voice-over skills. This is in addition to your regular study of what other voice-artists are doing by listening to commercials, watching TV or animation, and taking classes. Most professionals constantly practice their technique by experimenting with new interpretation ideas and attitudes, and with every script they will explore different angles for interpreting the copy.

Practice is the process of learning and refining the skills you use as a performer - and it's a process that never ends. For voice-over, practice requires working with a script to understand its message and develop an interpretation. The goal is to build an arsenal of performing tools and techniques that become automatic to the point where you don't have to think about what you are doing.

To reach that goal, you must deliver the copy out loud - not silently in your head. Practicing out loud is the only way you can really find an interpretation that works. If you develop an interpretation by reading a script silently, it's almost guaranteed that when you deliver the lines out loud for the first time - it will sound completely different from what you thought it would sound like.

You'll save a lot of time and effort by working the copy out loud from the very start. Constant practice develops the habit of exploring new ways of interpreting a script, finding the techniques that work for you, and building on that experience to become a more excellent voice-actor. Be excellent! Keep practicing!

These days, it seems as though everyone wants to start their own business. Seems easy enough doesn't it? Come up with a good idea, and the dollars roll right in! ...Or do they?

Most people understand that running a business requires business know-how, but most successful business owners also possess some additional skills and qualities that help make running a business easier.

Before you decide to start a business, you might want to think about the qualities you possess, what makes you tick and how that might help you be a more successful business owner. But before you make that big decision, ask yourself these questions:

Am I a self starter? When you have your own business, there's no boss or manager to tell you what to do and when to do it. To get your business off and running you'll have to motivate yourself to get things started.

Do I enjoy challenges? Businesses provide constant challenges. If you enjoy a good challenge, it will energize you. If you don't, you may end up feeling as though you're engaged in a constant uphill battle.

Am I a creative problem solver? Creative problem solving is a key skill for business owners to possess. One way to hone your creative problem solving skills is to challenge yourself to think "out of the box". Don't go for the obvious, think in a different direction than you're used to, and inhibit standard responses.

What are my strengths and weaknesses? The ability to do this is also invaluable for the business owner. Recognizing what you're good at and what you're not will help you decide how to use your time, when to delegate, and when to call in experts or outside professionals for help when needed.

What interests, talents, and skills do I have that will assist me in running my new business? Business owners often have to juggle lots of hats. Inventory the abilities you already possess, and think about all the ways you can use them to grow your business will make the juggling easier.

What skills do I need to learn or brush up on to run my business effectively? Recognize which skills you need to develop in order to run your business most effectively. Identify the ones that are worth investing time into learning, and which ones you might be better off finding outside sources to perform.

Will I be doing work that is meaningful and really interests and excites me? Running a business is a lot of work and effort, and it's often a long term commitment. It will be more fun and rewarding if it speaks to who you are and the things you hold dear. When we're engaged in doing something rewarding it helps to motivate you to keep going even when things get tough. Start by getting back in touch with your values and see if there is a synergy between them and the things you'll be doing in your business. If not, see how you can spin things so that there is.

Who is my competition? Learn everything you can about the others in your field who provide similar products or services to the same ideal customer. This information will be invaluable in learning how to "position" your own business.

What do I offer that the competition doesn't - what makes my services or product unique? This is the basic premise of any USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and the case you'll make to your prospective customers to buy your product or service. It's essential to a compelling marketing plan.

Who are my ideal target customers? Every business needs customers. And the most successful businesses know exactly how to describe who their best customers are, what "pain" they're feeling and what they need and desire. And don't forget: one of the most important qualities of an ideal customer is whether they can afford your product or service.

Do I have effective marketing and sales plans? No business can survive without a constant supply of new customers. Develop a compelling USP, values proposition, sound-bite and marketing message; set-up a marketing schedule to get your message out there consistently; and learn how to close deals without using pressure to ensure you'll have all the customers you need.

Have I established business goals? Setting goals is an important part of any business plan. But setting a goal is only part of the picture. Achieving them is even more important. Learn how to identify which goals are important enough to commit to, and systematically work towards them by breaking them down into steps, establishing timelines, identifying resources needed, and benchmarks for success.

Will I need capital to startup my business? If so, how much? Not all businesses require a lot of start-up money, but don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't need any. Be realistic about how much money you'll need, and how much time it will take until you can draw a salary; so that you give your business idea enough time to grow and flourish.

Have I written a business plan? If I need to raise startup capital, is my plan powerful enough to attract investors? Not all business plans are created equal. Make sure you include all of the sections that investors will look for. Also, make sure that the type of plan you've written is appropriate for the amount of money you're looking for.

What are the things that my business will require that I cannot do myself? Will I have funds to pay for them? Don't forget to add these important line items to your start-up cost spread sheet.