From Bucket List to Dream Come True

CONGRATULATIONS to our Great Voice Inner Circle

“Member of The Month” July 2009 – Bill Brewer

Bill Brewer

[Susan] When did you become interested in voice-over?

[Bill]? My introduction to the voice-over business perhaps came as a teenager, many years ago; my dream was to become a booth announcer. I spent lots of time in my room with my hand over my ear saying “the following program is being brought to you in living color on NBC”. I still catch myself doing that occasionally. My parents insisted, against my will, to give me voice lessons and elocution lessons. That is public speaking for all you young folks. Thank God my parents insisted. How could I possibly know that this initial training was the beginning of my voice-over business? As a sophomore in college I hosted a weekly campus news and interview radio show on a small radio station in Eastern Oklahoma. That really gave me the bug.

After a short stint in Professional baseball, I returned to get my degree in Speech and Drama. I graduated in 1960 and as a result of appearing as an actor in a local theater group, I was employed to do radio commercials and a few on camera non-speaking parts. The pay was next to nothing, but the fun of being in front of the microphone again stuck in my craw. 4 1/2 years of teaching in Public School convinced me that I could never support my family in that profession.

My life took a different turn toward dentistry. I spent 4 years at the University Of Tennessee College Of Dentistry and set up my practice in Oklahoma City in the spring of 1968. During my 41 year practice, I acted occasionally in the local theater and college groups, but no voice-overs.

[Susan] What made you take that final leap into voice-over?

[Bill]? On January 10, 2006 I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I sat down and wrote a “Bucket List”. I did not know it was a bucket list until the movie came out. There were 10 things to do on that list. The first thing on the list was to get into the voice-over business. Surgery and 6 months of chemo every Monday did not dull my enthusiasm. I am now a 3 1/2 year survivor. A small ad in a local magazine led me to a voice-over company one year ago at about this time. I recorded my demo and began to equip my home studio. There was still something lacking and I continued to search the VO ads on the internet and thru a “Divine Accident” I found The Great Voice Company and Susan. After attending her Bootcamp my fire was lit. Susan has an air about her that exudes confidence and professionalism and Moneen compliments as a cheerleader and coach. I vowed to come home and do exactly what they said. Acceptance into the Ultimate Voice-Over Success Training program was so exciting. With Moneen’s help and guidance we recorded a new demo. I am as proud as a new father. Things have moved pretty fast since then. While reading Jon Spoelstra’s book, “MARKETING OUTRAGEOUSLY” I remembered our Silver Inner Silver group?s conversation with Travis Lee and the interview Susan did with him about 3D Mailing.

[Susan] What have you done to market yourself?

[Bill]? I had been invited to participate in Fox25 and CW34’s annual golf tournament. Since the Bootcamp I had done 2 thirty second voice-over commercials and a 3 minute on camera MedTV gig for them. The commercials area scheduled to play 14 times each day for the next 6 months. I called Travis and together we concocted a “Voice in a Bottle” project. I ordered 100 of the bottles that have my message inserted and they will be in each of the 100 golfers goodie bags. Then comes follow up time. The Silver Inner Circle group also helped me address my deathly fear of cold calling. I still get the shakes and heart palpitations, but I just take a deep breath and plow on. At 72 I don’t have time to fiddle while Rome Burns. I must make hay while the sun shines and it is shining NOW.

My official retirement from dentistry was May 1st and I have been a full time voice- over actor since that day. What fun! What friends!

Come on New York! I can’t wait.

By the way: I have been married to the same woman, Harriet, for 50 years. We have 2 children and 4 Grandchildren. One is a senior baseball player in College, and the other 3 are turning 16 in July.

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