Vo School Podcast

This week on the VO School podcast we are celebrating our 20th episode by honoring Black History Month with a show devoted to the founders of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS), which boast the longest running and most prolific voice over conference in the world. This episode is guest hosted by chief diversity officer for international advertising agency TBWA, Doug Melville. Doug brings a wealth of knowledge to this episode. He is intimately familiar with the SOVAS mission, and he matches that mission as a vocal proponent of diversity in all its forms both in his day-to-day role within TBWA, and via his personal outreach on social media and public appearances. Joining us this week on the podcast are power couple, Joan Baker (voice actor and author of Secrets of Voiceover Success) and Rudy Gaskins (Emmy Award-winning producer and creative director). Joan and Rudy are the founders of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences, a Not-for-Profit organization that brings education, job training and award

This week on the VO School Podcast we are are doing something a little different – I asked listeners of the show to submit a recording of a commercial script that would then be read out and assessed on the show. Jim Kennelly, producer and casting director of Lotas Productions with the help of engineer Sam Ufret and myself played through a selection (picked at random from a super special box). We get a behind the scenes peek at how reads are assessed and why some are chosen chosen to be forwarded to a client and why others may not be. We learn the importance of reading and understanding specs. Using your imagination when you read. How pace and energy is critical to garnering or losing attention. The importance of audio quality, and some do's and don'ts that will help you to stand out from the crowd.

The microphone is the centerpiece of any voice actors studio setup and this week on the VO School Podcast we put this piece of technology front and center. Join us as we geek out about an exalted but often misunderstood piece of technology! Do you need an expensive microphone to be a professional voice actor? How much better is a $3k mic compared to a $200 model? How do you use a microphone to get the best out of it? Do they require maintenance? And how long should a mic last? Joining me this week are Dan Friedman and Emmett Andrews. Dan is an audio engineer, producer, voice talent and author from the mountains of Asheville, NC. With nearly two decades in the voiceover industry, he has produced, directed or provided his voice to thousands of audio productions. In 2010 he published SOUND ADVICE- Voiceover From An Audio Engineer's Perspective. A first of its kind in the industry, the book covers audio engineering and studio session etiquette as it relates directly to voiceover talent. Emmett’s backgrou

In episode 11 of the VO School Podcast we spoke with Celia Siegel and Doug Melville about marketing and branding as it relates to voice actors. In today’s episode we are putting those theories to the test as we take a peek behind the curtain of a brand audit. Celia shows us her process of breaking down and distilling a voice actors personality, their voice, their demo and their aesthetic to create a marketable brand. Marisa Blake is our competition winner and the subject of Celia’s examination. Marisa restarted her voiceover career three years ago and is looking to reinvigorate her brand. We get to listen in as Celia illuminates her process, starting with a questionnaire that probes Marisa’s history, her opinion of herself, her ambitions for the future and her opinions of the world. The process is a mesmerizing stream of consciousness that is at times poetic and others incisive.

Welcome to VO School Podcast’s first interview of the year! It’s also the first of a new semi-regular series that will be examining the different genres of VO. And we begin with Audiobooks! Do you have to have a certain temperament to be an audiobook narrator? How much stamina does it take? How do you land your first book? And how can you reach out to publishers for prestige projects? We discuss all of these things and more! Joining me are two of the world’s top audiobook narrators. They are multi award winners, respected coaches and have narrated well over a thousand books between them! Sean Pratt has been a working actor in theatre, film, TV and voice-overs for over 30 years. He has been an audiobook narrator for 22 years, recording over 950 books in almost every genre and has received 8 AudioFile Magazine “Earphone” Awards, 5 “Audie” nominations and 1 SOVAS nomination. He narrates for such companies as Blackstone Audiobooks, Tantor Media, Gildan Audio, Harper Collins, Penguin Random Hous

This week’s podcast episode is the final part of our Voiceover Guide. We cover such wide ranging subjects as voiceover conferences, anxiety and motivation, branding and marketing and the business and legal practices successful voice actors employ. What will attending a voiceover conference do for your career? How can you perform your best at an audition, even if you suffer from anxiety? What is the difference between branding and marketing? What does a Madison Ave advertising executive look for when choosing a voice talent? And how should you structure your business affairs? Podcast guests this week include voiceover conference directors Gerrald Griffith (VO Atlanta) and Dave Courvoisier (WOVO Con). Psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael, author, voice actor and comedian Anna Vocino, marketing and advertising gurus Celia Siegel and Doug Melville, and business savvy brainboxes Tom Dheere and Robert Sciglimpaglia.

Today’s episode of the VO School Podcast is part two of the VO Guide. I’ve selected the most awesome highlights and important tidbits of information for the new or working voice actor. This handy guide covers… voiceover coaching in episode 5 and VO demos in episode 6. We discuss networking (on and offline) in episode 7, and we find out how you can get your first voiceover job in episode 9. With the help of nine industry professionals who are all experts in their fields, we get to the truth of these often misunderstood subjects. Joining me this week are voiceover coaches Anne Ganguzza and MaryLynn Wissner. Demo producers J. Michael Collins and Terry Daniel. Networking gurus Tim Friedlander, Jay Preston and Brad Venable, and business savvy VO entrepreneurs Rachael Naylor and Armin Hierstetter. Thank you to our sponsor J. Michael Collins. Backstage Magazine, and social media support from Kyle Marie Colucci and Chris Sharpes.

This week’s episode of the VO School Podcast is the first of three festive highlight shows. I’ve scoured episodes 1-4 for the highlights and most important tidbits of information for the new or working voice actor. Think of these episodes as a pocket guide to starting out as a voice actor, and also a quick reminder of best practice for those who are more established. We take a look at the current state of the voice industry, what qualities you as a voice actor need to develop, where you should go for advice, how you can avoid being exploited by unscrupulous coaches and demo producers, and we talk technology as we dive into microphones, audio processing and file formats. Join myself and 7 of the industries top professionals as we examine some of the most important factors to consider when starting out in voiceover.

This weeks VO School Podcast is the long awaited business episode! It’s time to get your business and legal affairs in order, and while that may sound intimidating, we are here to help you get there! How do you structure your business? Are you a Sole Proprietor? An LLC, an S Corp, or a C Corp? How do you keep track of your expenses? Can you reduce your tax liability? And how on earth do you save for a pension and maintain health coverage in this topsy turvy industry? Joining me this week are two business and legal experts who also happen to have decades of experience as voice talents! Tom Dheere is a New York-based voice actor with over 20 years of industry experience. He’s narrated thousands of projects for hundreds of clients in over a dozen countries. Tom’s experience as a corporate trainer as well as a voice talent make him uniquely qualified to help both aspiring and veteran voice talents navigate the voiceover industry. Robert Sciglimpaglia is a voice and screen actor, producer and practicing attorn

This week on the VO School Podcast we are discussing how an actor markets and brands themselves in 2017 and beyond. How you present yourself to the world can make or break your career and we discuss the various approaches that can help you to stand out in a crowded field. What is the difference between branding and marketing? How soon should you start your marketing journey? What are the gatekeepers looking for when they choose talent? And what are the major no-no’s and turn-offs that will hinder your chances? Joining me this week are two titans of the marketing world - Celia Siegel is the founder of Celia Siegel Management, widely recognized for building strong personal brands for voice talent. Before creating CSM, Celia was a respected talent agent with stints at CESD, JE and Wehmann. A brand builder, certified life and business coach, success strategist and talent manager, Celia has advanced the careers of top VO talent for more than two decades. Doug Melville is Chief Diversity Officer for TBWA\Worldw

It’s the tenth episode of the VO School Podcast and this week I wanted to do something a little different. We are taking a look at the psychology of the voice actor! How does one deal with disappointment, rejection and self doubt? What techniques can you use to combat performance anxiety and how do you deal with a person bringing negativity into a session? We also explore tactics to help you get into character, perform at your best in the audition room and the recording studio, and how to unwind after a difficult session. I’m thrilled to have been joined by two fantastic guests. Dr. Chloe Carmichael holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Her Manhattan based private practice focuses on stress management, relationship issues, self esteem, and coaching. She has worked one on one with many stars from stage and screen. and contributes her knowledge to media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Fox News, Cosmopolitan, New York Post, US News, Refinery29 and Forbes. Anna Vocino is a

This week on the VO School Podcast we are talking about voiceover conferences! Working as a voice actor can be a lonely profession, especially if you work predominantly from home. One way to get out of your booth and meet your peers, agents, producers and coaches is to go to one of the many voiceover conferences that take place around the world each year. Joining me this week are Gerald Griffith - founder and CEO of VO Atlanta, the biggest voiceover conference in the world. And Dave Courvoisier, voice actor, Emmy Award winner and President of World Voices Organization and the WOVO Conference. What exactly is a VO conference? Why should you attend? What can you leave with that you didn’t have when you arrived? How do you choose which conference to attend? And how can you make the most of the connections that you make? We also take a peek behind the curtain at the planning of a major voiceover conference and we learn how much work is involved in the preparation and overseeing of such a major event.

How do you get your first voiceover job? That is the subject of this week’s VO School Podcast! We investigate four huge tactics that will help you book not only your first gig, but regularly as a voice actor. How do you market and brand yourself? Should you reach out to an agent for representation? How do pay to play and online marketplaces fit into your career (and should they!)? And how do you reach out to marketing and advertising agencies to promote yourself. We also discuss how getting recommendations from other voiceover professionals is vital to a successful career. I’m joined by The Voiceover Network’s Rachael Naylor and Bodalgo.com’s Armin Hierstetter. Two highly respected and well known members of the voiceover industry. We have a frank and sometimes surprising discussion about booking work as a voice actor in the 21st century. And most excitingly (not really), I reveal that my favorite word in the entire world is in fact German!

Is it who you know or what you know? Well, it’s both! So this week we have devoted an entire episode of the VO School Podcast to networking! Skill, a great demo and perseverance are all crucial for a career in voiceover, but if people don’t know who you are it’s all rather irrelevant. With the help of three extremely talented voice actors who regularly tear up studios across LA - Tim Friedlander, Brad Venable and Jay Preston, we will explore how you can become a network ninja, both online and in-person. Does walking into a room full of strangers scare you? Are you bamboozled by the plethora of online groups and social media platforms? We delve into all of this and discover that the secret to effective networking is simpler and less frightening than you’d imagine! I also put Brad, Tim and Jay on the spot to see if the can put into practice what they preach (they can of course!) so that’s fun!

A voiceover demo can make or a break a career! As a voice actor, it is your shop window, your calling card and your spokesperson. So what makes a killer demo? How can yours be irresistible to casting directors? Where do you go to get one? And how much do they cost? This week on the podcast we delve into demo’s with two of the industries top demo producers. Terry Daniel is a 20+ year veteran of the voice industry, he is not only a voice talent, coach and demo producer but one of the most well respected industry commentators. J. Michael Collins is a multi-award winning demo producer, coach and voice talent with over 20 years experience voicing and casting for some of the worlds biggest companies. Join us as we discuss the dangers of self producing, how a bad demo can result in you being blackballed, how a good demo is an ambassador, and we throw in a squirrel anecdote for good measure!

This week on the VO School Podcast we are examining the intriguing and sometimes treacherous world of coaching! Who needs coaching? Where do you find reputable teachers? And what can a great coach do for your career? These are some of the questions we delve into. I’m joined by two extremely well respected coaches, who offer their services to voiceover professionals across the globe. Anne Ganguzza is an LA based voice talent, coach and business and technology expert. She utilizes her background in technology and education to help students meet the ever-changing demands of the current voiceover marketplace. MaryLynn Wissner is a legend of the voiceover industry. With 30 years as a casting director for some of the worlds biggest corporations, film and TV companies and video games studios and over 25 as a coach and mentor, MaryLynn is a highly sought after and widely known teacher at the top of her game. Join us as we take deep dive into the world of coaching, workshops, scams, plans and social media for cat

This week on the VO School Podcast we’re talking technology! More specifically, what you need to set up your own home studio for voiceover. What is the first and most important consideration? Do you have to spend a lot of money to get professional results? Do you have to be a tech expert? And what common mistakes can you avoid? We also share some insider tips to optimize your recorded sound without having to spend any money at all! Joining me this week are Amanda Rose Smith - audio engineer and producer from New York City, and Tim Tippets - voice talent, audio expert and educator from Chicago. Embrace your inner geek and join us for a chat about all things audio!

This week on the VO School Podcast we get serious! Starting out in voiceover is fraught with potential pitfalls and we dive in headfirst discussing the many banana skins a new talent faces. In this episode we explore new talents vulnerabilities and what they can do to recognize and mitigate predatorial tactics. Joining me this week are two industry veterans with over 50 years of voice industry experience between them. They are known and respected for their honesty and they do not disappoint in this episode! Paul Strikwerda is an experienced Dutch talent and writer who moved to the US in 1999 and is the author of one of the industries most popular blogs, with over 39,000 subscribers. Erik Sheppard started in VO as a talent 25 years ago, he is owner and head agent at Voice Talent Productions, president of the VO Agent Alliance and host of ‘The Outspoken’ a no-holds-barred YouTube channel devoted to the reality of a career in voiceover. Prepare yourself for an unflinching look at the reality faced by new e

If episode one was an outward look at the voiceover industry as a whole, episode two is looking inward and exploring the skills and personal traits needed to become successful. What are the skills a voice actor needs to compete? Does success require certain character traits? And can these be learned or are they innate? Presented by Jamie Muffett with special guests Jodi Krangle and Jim Kennelly. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/voschoolpro

Is the voiceover industry growing? Contracting? Has it plateaued? And where is it going next? How does a new talent break in? And is age a barrier to entry? Presented by Jamie Muffett and with special guests Amanda Rose Smith and Rudy Gaskins, this first episode takes a broad look at the VO industry.