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Tips In the New Economy Video #2

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:00:05 +0000

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Recorded live at my recent Masters of the Microphone Event in Atlanta

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Just a few seats left!!!

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com WWW.GREATVOICE.COM/BOOTCAMP

Tips In the New Economy Video #1

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:45:34 +0000

Recorded live at my recent Masters of the Microphone Event in Atlanta

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Just a few seats left!!!

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com WWW.GREATVOICE.COM/BOOTCAMP

Great Voice Success Stories Video #4

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:53:16 +0000

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Easy 3-payment plan extended until Monday, May 3 AT 5 PM (ET)

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com WWW.GREATVOICE.COM/BOOTCAMP

VO Breakthrough Strategy Video #3

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:52:49 +0000

More “Riches in Voice-over niches”….
Recorded live at my recent Masters of the Microphone Event in Atlanta

Enter your contact info here to be placed on the priority notification list for our next Bootcamp.

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Easy 3-Payment plan ends this Friday April 30

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com

VO Breakthrough Strategy Video #2

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:01:45 +0000

“VO Niches and VO Guarantees”
Recorded live at my recent “Masters of the Microphone” event in Atlanta.

Enter your contact info here to be placed on the priority notification list for our next Bootcamp.

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Easy 3-Payment plan ends this Friday April 30

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com

Member Of The Month

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:15:16 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS to our Great Voice Inner Circle

“Member of The Month” April 2010 – David Dorris

David Dorris

How did you get started in Voice-Over?

Last Spring I was researching VO and found the Great Voice Company and Susan and was impressed so I joined the Silver Inner Circle.

Who has inspired you in Voice Over?

Susan and Moneen most definitely! I was a little leery before the bootcamp and asking myself what I had gotten into because up until that point I was still kind of “kicking the tires’ so to speak. As I’ve learned in the Army as a Leader, you the leader have to work hard to earn the respect of your subordinates. Susan and Moneen EARNED MY RESPECT! They are both people of character, down-to-earth, REAL and passionate about what they do. They both love meeting new aspiring voice actors and TEACHING THEM!

What is your favorite part of the Silver Inner Circle Program so far?

THE CDS with the interviews with VO experts and the ezines Susan sends to members monthly!!!

I also love the SERVICE Susan and her staff at the GVC provide. I love the professional, friendly, tender- loving- care packaging. The whole company is infused with CUSTOMER SERVICE. That is so important!

Can you share some of those things with readers that might just be starting out in Voice-Over?

The interviews with the experts are rich with great information, fun and interesting. I especially loved the interviews with David Rapkin, Pat Fraley and Marjorie Ocho Kouns.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the Business?

I say Gregory Peck because he narrated the BEST version of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” that I’ve heard. You see, I’ve been a narrator in Army Bands the last 15 or so years and had the priviledge and honor of narrating “Lincoln Portrait” twice last Memorial Day Weekend with our Concert Band.

It’s funny but I did not like the way James Earl Jones did it. Of course, I always loved Gregory Peck in “Twelve O’Clock High”. That is a great movie. Watch it. A lot of great leadership lessons in there. I also loved to listen to Chuck Heston’s voice. I especially loved him in the classic “Ben Hur”.

Do you have any interesting “on the job” stories?

Boy do I! My favorite story I love telling is when I ran into the Secretary of Defense.

(By the way, I am a good storyteller because I am of Celtic descent. I am Scots-Irish Mix and we historically are good at it.)

My Secretary of Defense Story:
From ‘95 to ‘99 I was in the S.H.A.P.E. International Band. (SHAPE is an acronym that stands for “SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROPE”)
The base is located in the beautiful country of Belgium about 10 miles from France outside the village of Casteau and about 5 miles from the old city of MONS.

We had 16 in the band:
8 US Army
3 US Air Force
2 Italians – 1 Navy and 1 Army
2 Germans 1 Navy and 1 Army
& 1 Norwegian

At least once a month we would play a standing honor guard ceremony in front of SHAPE Headquarters for a visiting dignitary, usually a SECRETARY OF DEFENSE from one of the NATO countries. That night, I would show up at the SACEUR’S Residence, Chateau Gendebien, a beautiful 19 Century mansion that the Belgium government provided for the SACEUR (another acronym that stands for SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE.

I would be in my dress blue uniform and would play in the piano room from about 7:30 until the SACEUR – then it was General Wesley Clark – would tap me on the shoulder and tell the guests that they were going into the dining room.

THIS PART IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. The huge dining room was to my RIGHT as I sat at the Bechstein Grand playing. After the General stopped me and the guests would mosey into the dining room TO MY RIGHT and eat.

Well….on this one occasion, when the guest of honor was Dr. William Perry, an interim U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Clinton years – about 1997? – SHAPE Protocol told me that night when I got to the chateau that dinner that night would be at the other end of the mansion in THE LIBRARY. That would NOT have been to the right of the Piano as I sat but at the other end of the house as I FACED THE PIANO.

Well, when the SHAPE Protocol lady, an obnoxious Brit named SHEILA who by the way always tried to treat me like a PEON – but that’s another story – I thought to myself, “Shoot, when the General taps my shoulder to quit playing and announces to the guests that they will go down to the library, I’ll just grab my music, HANG A RIGHT, cut through the darkened dining room, go out the back door, get in my car and head home to my hip, MACHOPAD located out in the beautiful farmland of Braine-le-Comte, Belgique!

So, about 7:30 PM I started playing. The General tapped me on the shoulder about 8:15 PM. I stopped. He announces that the guests will head down that night to THE LIBRARY. They head down slowly. I cooly, grab my music, TURN RIGHT, walk about 10 feet to the DOUBLE DOORS OF THE HUGE DARKENED DINING ROOM. I do a HALF LEFT TO ANGLE TOWARD THE BACK DOOR…..

AND I BUMP CHEST TO FACE INTO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OF THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD – DR. WILLIAM PERRY!!!!

I say “CHEST TO FACE” because the guy was only about 5′3″ and about 110 lbs….. WET!!! He is a little man. I am 5′10″ but stocky and muscular like a football player.

He says to me “Where did everybody go?” and I realized at this point the guy was WASTED. He was drunk…… AND LOST!

(What are the chances, Dave , your average piano player could run into the SECDEF.)

Anyway, I said to him, “Mr. Secretary, they went down to the library!” I walked him back into the Piano Room and pointed the way.

But I got to thinking about it. He had flown from the US on a 7 or 8 hour flight and arrived that morning. The SACEUR had traipsed his butt all over the NATO forces AO (Area of Operations) visiting NATO troops. They MAY have had lunch but at 7:30- SUPPERTIME – IN THE PIANO ROOM AT COCKTAIL HOUR, he was HUNGRY again and out of proper protocol he wasn’t going to turn down a couple of drinks….EVEN IF HE HAD AN EMPTY STOMACH!!! No wonder he was blitzed. The dude only weighed about 110 lbs I’m thinkin’.

What have you been up to lately?

After the Bootcamp, I joined the Fast Track Demo Production Program with Moneen Daley Harte. She is a great teacher. That is the next step before I get hot and heavy into the marketing. I am real excited. I use my VO Notebook as a “VO Journal” every day and I log what I do. I go to the gym about 5:00 PM. Do some Pushups, Pullups, crunches, have a Recovery Shake and from that 1 hour until I eat supper, I go home and do “TAPE AND APE”. I love the documentaries especially – history channel, NatGEO etc. I also listen and try to copy the commercials I like. The Journaling is helpful for me.

View Past Members of the Month, Click Here

New Videos from Susan Berkley! “Breakthrough Strategies for Voice-over Success”

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:13:28 +0000

Recorded live at our recent “Masters of the Microphone” event

VO Breakthrough Strategy Video #1

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
1-Day Sale this Friday, March 26

Can’t join us in June?
Enter your contact info here to be placed on the priority notification list for our next Bootcamp.

Next Voice-over Bootcamp: NYC, June 25-27, 2010
Register Friday March 26th during the 1-day sale and get a whopping $500 discount plus a chance to win a $1,000 rebate on your tuition!*

Questions?
Contact Jason Davis: 800-333-8108 x229
Jason@greatvoice.com

* Drawing for $1,000 rebate will be held on March 30. You must register on March 26 to qualify. Only one $1,000 rebate will be awarded.

March 2010 Member of The Month

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:02:25 +0000

“Do Every Step With the Next Step in Mind”

CONGRATULATIONS to our Great Voice Inner Circle

“Member of The Month” March 2010 – Roy D. Williams

Roy D. Williams

[Susan]How did you get started in voice-over?

[Roy]Actually it’s my wife’s fault! After years of her hearing people comment on my voice, she began encouraging me to do something with it, so I Googled “voice-over” one night. Needless to say the search results were overwhelming! After sifting through the endless hits, I picked a few sites and started researching the folks behind them; I tend to be very skeptical and cautious. The one in particular that always stood out from the crowd was you and The Great Voice Company. I couldn’t find a single negative anything connected with either you or your company and only kept getting more and more convinced the more I looked. So I picked you!

I joined your email list, read everything you sent, read your site and ran across the Boot Camp page. It sounded good, was right down the street from me and was starting in a couple of months. But the price… should I… so much so soon? I felt I might be jumping into the deep-end way too early. I had seen much cheaper ways to get started. I hemmed and hawed and discussed it with my wife. A couple of days later, we decided I would take the plunge.

The next morning I’m on your site, credit card in hand, ready to sign up and… SOLD OUT! What!? So soon!? We were bummed! At that point I stopped thinking about it. Just wasn’t meant to be I figured, but I do remember thinking – if it sold out that quick, it must be something good. Your emails continued and honestly I marked you as spam, -sorry. In my junk mail though, they couldn’t remind me about my procrastination.

About a year later, I was expecting an email that hadn’t shown up. Oh yeah I thought, maybe in my junk mail. I open the junk folder and there it was, right on the very top of the junk pile. Not what I was looking for, but instead an email from Jason telling me about a last minute opening to Boot Camp. It was starting in ten days. It didn’t take long at all to decide this time!

I called that very moment it seems but it was late so I had to leave Jason a voicemail. I also emailed him right then and called back the moment you opened the next day, I had to leave another voicemail, and then sent another email. Jason probably thought I was stalking him! But I wasn’t about to let Boot Camp slip by me this time! And it didn’t!

I am so glad I made it to your Boot Camp and it was so worth the investment! It was a terrific time and flared incredible comradery amongst the attendees. I learned so much and not just about voice-over, but a lot about myself as well. By the end of day 3, I knew without a doubt I was now in voice-over. I was in business right then and there.

I applied for your Ultimate Voice-Over Success Program the next day, held my breath… and got accepted! I will never look back except to reminisce great times!

[Susan]What kind of formal training have you done in voice-over?

[Roy]Boot Camp of course. Now I am currently working on my first demo with Great Voice Voice Coach Moneen Daley Harte. She is terrific! I have no doubt Moneen is leading me in the right direction to a marketable demo. It’ll be done mid April.

[Susan]Who has inspired you in voice-over?

[Roy]James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman, Mike Rowe

I guess I never knew it until I got started myself but I now realize I have always wondered, “Just who is that invisible person talking?” I have always watched the credits to pick out the narrators’ names, able at least to put a name with the voice, in lack of a face. I think they’re all inspiring because they’re doing it!

[Susan]What is your favorite part of the Silver Inner Circle Program so far?

[Roy]It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say the Q&A calls. Listening to others’ successes and struggles can be empowering and enlightening. I also get a chance to have my burning questions answered and a chance to hear questions I haven’t even thought of. The monthly CD critiques are very helpful by teaching me do’s and don’ts. I like the guest calls too though. I like hearing the people who have been there, done that, doing that. If they can (and it’s obvious they can), then I have to figure… I can too!

Recently, you sent me quite a few things you have done to get started on your own.

[Susan]Can you share some of those things with readers that might just be starting out in voice-over?

[Roy]Even before Boot Camp started, I read Susan Berkley’s book, SPEAK to INFLUENCE where I learned the true power of voice and how profoundly our voices influence all those around us. I was especially amazed by the scientific facts you cite.

After Boot Camp my immediate goal was to get my voice-over business setup and ready for its first employee, me. I wanted the business setup over with so I could move on by concentrating on learning and practicing voice-over skills.

Of course my studio gear was first! I used your Boot Camp recommendations, the internet and went to a local audio store to educate myself. There are way too many choices to research them all so I just picked. I ordered everything on-line: mic, preamp, cables, mic stand and pop filter. I am very pleased with my choices. More importantly, I passed Moneen’s home studio recording test!

One thing I was really concerned about was having my demo ready but no website to put it on. In today’s world, no matter what you’re doing, a website testifies “credibility”. If ya ain’t on the web, ya just ain’t. I used a do-it-yourself site to build my own website – roydwilliams.com. The cost was next to nothing. As you know, I started with one of their ready-made templates but have since re-designed it with artwork I created. Thanks to your suggestions on a Master Mind call, it looks so much better now. My email address: roydwilliams.vo@gmail.com , of course is free.

My 2 cents for beginners is to first and foremost be excited and see this as your new job. How do we all perform that first 90 days on a new job? Tell EVERYONE this: “I am working!”, “Don’t bug me, don’t call me, and don’t knock on my door.” Now answer this question: “Why am I doing this?” then write down your answer(s). Set a work schedule and keep it. Make your to do list, write it down, get it done, procrastinate procrastination! Do every step with purpose; see a successful result before you’re done. Do every step with the next step in mind. Maybe by doing “this” step a little differently, you can make doing the “next” step a little easier. If a step runs past schedule, too bad, keep going until it’s done. Get out of bed at 4:30 AM, shower, be working by 5:00 AM; you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you’re fresh and everything is so quiet. Work harder for yourself than you do for your current boss. After you’re home from your 9-5, dinner then straight to it, no stopping at the TV! Push through your anxieties, become empowered by them, they simply mean you’re doing the right thing. Take one day off each week to relax (okay, now the TV) and enjoy your accomplishments. Always remember this is for you and for your “why”! Be thankful and be grateful!

I really, truly and honestly cannot remember ever having more fun, ever, ever, ever.

View Past Members of the Month, Click Here

Q&A from Susan Berkley’s November 12th Tele-training

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:56:11 +0000

Answers to your questions from Susan Berkley’s November 12th Tele-training 5 Simple Secrets for Getting Started in Voice-over now: How to Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever and here’s the replay link in case you missed the call www.greatvoice.com/5secretsreplay

[Question] Is the 30 day training in December a good place to start for beginners like me???

- Trish, Minneapolis, MN

[Answer]Yes, Trish. I designed VO Step By Step: Your 30 Day Action Plan for Voiceover Success specifically for beginners, even though some experienced people are joining the program too. Let me tell you why. There are lots of moving parts to starting a voice-over career and I discovered that people are getting overwhelmed, stuck and confused when they try to do this. So I broke the entire process of getting started into 30 bite-sized chunks so you can do a little bit every day and at the end of a month you’ll make significant progress and be well on your way to success. It really demystifies things and gives you the confidence you need. And here’s the rest of the good news. When the program begins on Tuesday, December 2nd, I will personally walk you through all 30 steps in a series of 4 live teleseminars during the first two weeks of December. This will be the first and only time I will be personally facilitating this program, so you definitely want to hop on over to www.vostepbystep.com to get on board today before the three pay option ends on Friday.

- Susan

[Question]Can I still get in on the FREE VIP ticket to your Masters of the Microphone event in March in Atlanta that you were offering on the call to the first 50 people who registered for VO Step By Step? Or have you already sold all the seats?

- Pat, Dallas, TX

[Answer] Good news Pat. I decided to give a FREE VIP Ticket to Masters of The Microphone (a $995 value) to everyone who registers for VO Step by Step before the course begins on Weds. December 2nd. See www.vostepbystep.com or call my office at 800-333-8108 and speak with Jason at x29 if you have questions.

- Susan

[Question] I learned that my jewel case design was not necessary. I have a concept, an interior folded sheet and the matching label, but learned all one needs is a plastic “clam shell” case and label with your name and contact info on it. What is your opinion?

- Marlene, Chicago, IL

[Answer] In my opinion creating a beautiful case for your voice-over demo with folded sheet and matching label is a waste of time and money, will only side track your entry into the voice-over market and comes under the category of what I call GRTGR (pronounced: Grit-GRR) which stands for ?getting ready to get ready.? And you don’t even need a clam shell case. Just have someone design a nice full color label for your demo CD, include your name, email and mobile phone number, put it in a paper or plastic sleeve and send it out with a cover letter, then follow up with a solid marketing plan such as the one I?ll be teaching in our next Voice-over Bootcamp, W. Palm Beach, Florida, January 29th-31st, 2010. See www.greatvoice.com/bootcamp Besides, most people these days are requesting digital MP3 demos so you’ll find you send out very few hard copy CDs

- Susan

[Question] Please send me detailed information about “Masters of the Microphone: Great Voice, Great Life Event”, including pricing. Among all of your “products”, it seems like the one?that might be best suited for me?

- Joe

[Answer]smart guy! Masters of the Microphone is shaping up to be one of the best live events we’ve ever done.? It’s for all levels of great voices. I’m working on the web page now with all the details and it should be up by the end of the week The price will be $495 if you register before December 31st, 2009, and you get a FREE VIP ticket if you enroll in “VO Step By Step” which starts Weds December 2nd. See www.vostepbystep.com . The dates to save for Masters of The Microphone are Friday and Saturday, March 12th-13th, Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Atlanta, Ga?

- Susan

[Question] I am wheelchair bound,. My question is, will the fact that I am in a wheelchair bound have any implications in the voice-over industries?? Thanks.

– Arturo

[Answer] Not at all, Arturo. Most of our work is done from home studios so you can set yours up so it’s fully accessible. As long as your disability doesn’t affect the sound of your voice and you can use the telephone, you’ll be fine. No one will care and they don’t even need to know.

- Susan

[Question] Interest in v-o is fine, but how do I know if I even have a voice worth developing?

- Brian

[Answer] The good news is that voice-over is not a vocal beauty contest. It’s about developing and using the voice you have to make other people’s words come alive. This is voice acting and great actors come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Same thing with great voices. Marketing and networking also plays a huge part in your success. Nevertheless, there are a number of things you need to know about developing your instrument. For a voice assessment, please call my office and speak with our talent advisor Jason Davis at 800-333-8108 x229. The fee is only $95 and he?ll listen to you read some copy and let you know where you stand. Find out more about the voice assessment here www.greatvoice.com/voice-assesment-cta

- Susan

[Question] The tele-class you gave last week was great. Here’s my question or my concern. So it’s proper to use national spots with your voice on them on your website? And should you put background music with them?

- Andrea

[Answer] First of all, you shouldn’t do a demo until you get some training, nor should you attempt to produce it yourself. I suggest finding an experienced coach, such as Moneen Daley Harte, who produces our demos at Great Voice. When you?re ready, she?ll help you find the right national spots to use as copy on your demo and produce them with licensed background or production music so they sound like real spots that actually ran on the air.? Until you are skilled enough to do this, you shouldn’t attempt doing a demo, and yes, you should use short snippets of copy for real products and services. The music needs to be properly licensed or you can use royalty free music that you find online.

- Susan

[Question] Where do I find a studio that will record a demo??

- Pete

[Answer] ’see my answer above. Hopefully you?ve had some training and are ready to do a demo. Please call my office at 800-333-8108 x229 and speak with Jason who can help you with this or email jason@greatvoice.com?

- Susan

[Question] Can you repeat the brand name of your headphones please. Great call. Many thanks

- Angelique

[Answer] I use Sennheiser HD 280 Pros.

- Susan

How to Get Started in Audio Books

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:15:29 +0000

AUDIO BOOK NARRATION IS A SPECIALIZED SKILL
Different from commercial voice-over or industrial narration, the actor must voice all the characters in a work of fiction, giving each a distinctive voice and attitude. He must keep each character separate and consistent. Acting experience in theatre or movies is helpful. In fact, many big name actors enjoy recording books on tape because they are so challenging and interesting to do. Don?t worry if you don?t do characters. There are plenty of other genres such as business books to narrate.

IT REQUIRES STAMINA
Depending on whether the work is complete or abridged, finished running time can range from 2 to 6 hours or more. It takes an average of 2-3 hours to record one hour of finished narration. The typical book takes about 8 or 9 hours to record. Most producers like to do this over a day and a half. It takes a lot to maintain your voice and your energy level in a marathon session like this!

BUDGETS ARE GENERALLY TIGHT
Audio books pay by the project, not by the hour. An experienced narrator can make several thousand dollars per book. Skilled beginners make several hundred dollars per book. Audio book producers say they are very receptive to skilled beginners who are willing to gain experience in low-budget projects.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUDIO BOOKS
Fiction, non-fiction, instructional, children’s, dramatic, how-to, business. Some actors specialize in a particular genre. Not every voice is right for all types of books.

YOU NEED A SPECIAL DEMO
Your regular commercial or industrial tape will not do. First, check out a number of audio books on the market. Pay attention to style and genre. There are many different theories about how long a good audio book demo should be. Some people prefer a longer demo with 4 five minute segments and others suggest that you choose 4 – :30 second excerpts of 4 different types of books that are best for your voice, representative of current audio book styles and trends, and demonstrate your range and interpretive abilities. Make sure your demo is recorded in a professional studio.

TO MAKE INDUSTRY CONTACTS CONSIDER JOINING THE AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION OR ATTENDING THEIR CONFERENCE
Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to creating a public awareness of the audio publishing industry as well as providing industry professionals with educational opportunities to develop their businesses. To learn more about APA, visit www.audiopub.org

Meet the “godmother” of audio book narrators and publisher of Audio File Magazine, the industry bible.
Don’t miss the next Silver Inner Guest Expert Interview “How to become a working audio book narrator” with Robin Whitten, founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine on Monday, November 2nd.

Not a member? Want to join the Silver Inner Circle and get 2 free months? Click here to become a trial member.

Have you been a member before and dropped out of the program, but want to rejoin again? Click here to start your active membership again for $59.95 per month.