It all starts with an evaluation. One that should be free.

I have gotten two calls in the last week that reminded me why voice over evaluations should be free. In both calls, neither one of the curious information seekers really had much of an idea of what VO work really was or how to get into it. They were at least savvy enough to know they should get an evaluation before proceeding, but why should they have to pay to find out it’s not for them?

I get calls from all walks of life looking into getting into voice over or just finding out more about it. For some, the “at length” descriptions and anecdotes that you can find on the numerous pages on this site just aren’t enough. They want to hear it from a real person, which is why I have always made myself available to anyone looking into it. I myself don’t like to take everything I read for granted and in this business it’s almost a law of survival not to.

I have tried to sum it up in so many ways in the past through the podcasts, the articles, the newsletter, but to a few I guess they just aren’t getting what I’m saying. So I will sum it up once again here:

Things to understand before calling for an evaluation:

• This business is not cheap to get into or stay in.
• If you are not prepared to spend at least $1000 dollars with no guarantee of return on your investment… stop right now.
• If you want to work for high end clients in this business you are looking at years of training, practice and the need for top notch equipment, which in turn will cost you more money.
• You will need to be prepared to set up a home studio to record in. If you lack the technical aptitude to set up audio equipment, install audio editing software and learn some basic wiring and audio editing you will need to learn these skills. If you lack the desire to learn them…stop right now.
• If you are thinking about quitting your day job to get into voice over…stop right now.
• The people who are out working and struggling in this business have had years of training, years of practice and years of expenditure - some of them with very little to show for it. If you are not willing to take these chances to become one of them… STOP RIGHT NOW…

There are no cures, no out of the box magic tricks, no quickie success to be had in voice work. Sorry to paint such a sorry picture but the above is the truth.
This is a difficult competitive business and the only way you get ahead is with some risk and expenditure.
There is one thing though that will not cost you any money…An evaluation of your skills.
For over 10 years I have welcomed voice talent into my studio and more recently talked to them via Skype and in chat rooms, to give them an honest idea of what I think their chances are, what I think it will cost them, and how long I think they will have to train. I have never charged one of them.

Many times I try to discourage people if I see things that I think will really stand in their way. What I am looking for is a person who says, “I know this is hard, and I know I might fail - But I’m not scared and I am going to push forward with it.”

If they have that type of desire then I think there are some things we might be able to do with them. But they need that desire and some talent to go along with it.

So before you venture into voice over, remember the stuff at the top of the page, ask yourself if you have the courage and desire, then call for your free evaluation that usually takes more than an hour - less than two.

It is free - It has always been free and it should be. Why should I or anyone else charge you to have you find out it’s not for you. For more on Voice Over Training and the Evaluation go HERE

 

Below is an old transcript of how we used to do our voice over evaluations at the studio. We no longer use the Chat room. Everything is now done through Skype. If you are interested in an evaluation you can enter your information at the following address and we will get back to you with a time for the evaluation.
New evaluation form can be found HERE
The following is an older article.

I had an internet session today and I wanted to share the chat transcript so people can see exactly how it goes down and what goes on during the evaluation. Most of the time a talent will get 3 pieces of copy and some very general direction on how to approach the copy.

After I hear their take, I try to modify the direction accordingly and see if the talent can respond to the direction and make some of the changes. It’s not meant to be tricky, it’s just meant to get an overveiw of what their natural reading abilities are. I also get to hear a lot of the other things that come through in the voice which helps me make a better judgement as far as how the talent is going to fair during training sessions.

With services like Skype and Google talk where we can link to people and talk in real time the need for a chat room is ending. But not everyone is set up for it just yet so we’ll keep the chat room around for a while.
This talent had gotten some work in the past but was seeking some information that would help explain the less that overwhelming response they had gotten from their demos.

Below you will find the transcript to the chat session. Though it seems short, the whole thing took near two hours - and yes - it was free..

Chat during Voice Over Evaluation 8/15/06

[minetree] Hello, sorry for being late..

[student] Hello Michael

[minetree] Ok.. It works..

[student] Whats the next step

[minetree] It will be easier for me to mail you the scripts. Would you like them as word or notepad?

[student] I would like them as notepad

[minetree] Very well. I’ll send them now.. Please hold

[minetree] Ok the first script is in the mail. While you are looking it over I will send another then come back and give you direction on the first..

[student] Okay I’m waiting for the first

[minetree] I just sent the next.. Let me know when you have the first.

[minetree] I just sent the 3rd.. Just let me know when you have them..

[student] Have not received any yet

[minetree] Ok.. There might be an issue with the attachments. We’ll give it a minute..

[minetree] I will try to enter one here and see what happens..

[student] I’ve received the first one

[minetree] Ok.. they wont post here anyway.. The mails are going through the alo virus scanner.

[minetree] AOL virus scanner

[student] Okay

[minetree] Go ahead and get the first one in your notepad and format it so you can read it..

[student] okay

[minetree] Ready?

[student] I’m ready

[minetree] Ok.

[minetree] The apple spot is called kiosk copy. It is an industrial narration that is read with excitement, confidence and love of the product.

[minetree] What I need you to do is take that simple direction and record the spot then send me the audio to listen to..

[student] I’ve just sent Demo 1

[minetree] Ok.. While I am listening to that. The CPC Hospital spot is a PSA read with compassion and understanding, but also authority.. Give it a shot and send it..

[minetree] Some redirection on Demo1 when you are ready..

[student] I just sent demo 2.

[student] Ready for redirection

[minetree] What I need with this spot is to hear a lot of smile. I need the VO to sound as if it is their company and they are really excited about the product. Give that a try..

[student] Okay

[minetree] Some redirection on Demo2 when you are ready.

[student] Just sent re-record on Apple

[student] Ready for Demo 2

[minetree] Demo 2 wasn’t that far off. What I am noticing in both of the spots is a tendency to leave out words and drop plurals. Pay very close attention to the words on the page and there are also some issues with readiness but we will go over that later..

[student] I feel rushed to get it right the first time. Shall I re-record Demo 2 now?

[minetree] The apple spot improved. It was a little fast in places, but overall sounded better. The one word you are stumbling one is peripherals. It is pronounced - per -if -fur-uls

[minetree] Lets not worry too much about Demo2

[minetree] Lets move onto Ethan Allen.. Let me know when you are ready..

[student] Okay, I’m recording it now.

[minetree] Ok..

[student] I’ve just sent Demo 3

[student] I tried to slow down on the read, however I did have a stumble with the word Building.

[minetree] Some redirection on Demo3 when you are ready..

[student] I’m ready

[minetree] The list at the beginning of the copy is time sensitive. It needs to be read slow and with spaces between each item so it can be edited into the video it was meant for. Of course I didn’t tell you it was video at first. I just wanted to see what you would do with it (more to come)

[minetree] When you ask the questions in the copy you need to actually ask the questions. Don’t read the questions like statements.. Actually have a questioning tone when you read the line. (more to come)

[minetree] Also, once again, as with any copy that is training or corporate related, you are going to have to have a big smile when you mention the company name, product, services or philosophy.. It just needs more smile..

[minetree] Go ahead and read it once again..

[student] I’ve sent Ethan Allen again. I believe this one is better.

[minetree] Ok.. I’ll let you know..

[minetree] Ok.. I listened to that one and the timing is a better.. Take 5 go get a coffee or something and I will come back with my write-up for you..

[student] Okay be right back!

[minetree] Ok.. I’ll be doing a lot of writing here.. You can respond when I am done.. I’ll let you know..

[minetree] Lets take a look at the big things and deal with the little things later.. Here goes:

[minetree] As we had already talked about, the audio setup is going to have to change. As far as practice and taking lessons it is fine, but for going after real work it is going to need to be upgraded.

[minetree] The other big thing we are going to have to work on is your regionalism, which is a big one - but it can be changed and altered, it just takes a lot of work and time, but it can be done.

[minetree] Those are the two biggest things standing in you way when it comes to having more success.

[minetree] Now lets deal with the voice….

[minetree] I think your voice is fine as far as being able to work in the field. There are a great many training issues that will have to be dealt with in order to teach you to use it more effectively. Much of that training is breathing, inflection, timing, pace and interpretation oriented. Those are elements of voice over that are taoght, not something people are born with.

[minetree] taught…

[minetree] There are some range issues that come along with a lack of proper training. Your range wont develop until some of the other skills are developed. When I say range, I am talking about the ability to take three pieces of copy and make them all sound very different, but no more different than the script calls for..

[minetree] You were able to respond to the direction you were given which is part of the test. People who cant respond to direction wont be able to excel in this field. It is a plus for you that you can.

[minetree] Overall I dont see or hear any really big issues other than the ones I have pointed out. The accent will hold you back in terms of accelerating the training, but once it is ironed out a bit you will be able to pick up the pace.

[minetree] As far as training goes - I see you needing a minimum of 20 lessons before you are a substantially different talent. You will notice improvement within the first five, but only be able to be a little independent of the training after 20 or so. What the lessons do is train you to be independent of a coach. You learn how to do things the right way in the lessons and after so many of them you learn how to retain the information and make it habit so you can work on auditions without having to have someone there telling you what to do. That kind of development takes time..

[minetree] I am ready for your questions..

[student] My biggest fear was that you would say that I do not have the skills to be a voice artist.

[minetree] Many people have that fear.. But you have already done some work so that should answer that question.

[student] I have already started looking for a microphone and my dj friend is going to loan me a mixer.

[minetree] You have taken many of the steps, the training is one of the ones you haven’t. Good deal on the equipment, you need it..

[student] Will lessons help me to get rid of the southern accent and to also be able to do other voices.

[minetree] The lessons will be the same for you as they are for everyone else. Some of the time however will be diverted to taking away the accent. Before worrying about doing other voices you should set your sites on finding and improving your own. This is also one of the many derailments people find along the way..

[student] If I do lessons with you since I am in Alabama how will that work?

[student] How would lesson work with me being in Alabama. Would face to face be better?

[minetree] The lessons take place much the way this session did today with the exception that I am recording a lot of audio and sending it to you. I record the scripts and send them to you so you have a chance to hear me read the copy and you can practice mimicking those reads. I also record my direction so you can have it on file and reflect on the lessons and the different things we are going over. Much of what was done here in the chat room takes place in the audio files and the chat room is there just so we have an open real time connection.

[minetree] It is just as effective. Maybe even more so on some levels..

[student] I need to set a budget for my lessons

[minetree] I know and fully understand.. This isn’t a thing to take lightly..

[minetree] Another thing to remember is there is no hurry.. Your voice shouldn’t be going anywhere..

[student] I’m concerned about getting rid of my accent without face to face instruction. I also need to budget funds for my training. Thank you for your evaluation and your time.

[minetree] You are welcome.. I understand your concerns.. If you have any questions I am always here..

MM

[end of session]