Looking to dive in

Matt Gardner · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

I really am in a point where I want to dive in and start taking this voice acting thing seriously.

I've done some cartoons online and have gotten comments on the good sound of the voices, (although that's probably partly thanks to my roommate's soundproofed office and $500 microphone) but after being told for the third time this week by a customer on my phone support job that I should be doing voice over work instead of being a phone-jokey I really need to turn my little whimsy into something tangable.

Unfortunately, it's a big place, and where to start? Being that I work on the phone 9 hours a day I'm always afraid that doing more extensive voice stuff after I get home will wear out my throat and potentially damage my voice, but the attitude of 'well, I start it later' has gotten me absolutely nowhere and that's no good.

Anyway, to my point. I live in Phoenix, AZ and while there's a few options for vocal training here, they're usually either far out of my budget or reek of too by-the-books-to-be-useful assembly line seminars that sound more like something to send your kids off to during the summer months to get them out of the house than any real training. If any one is familiar with the area, I'm looking for suggestions on where to study and hone my voice. I've got the equipment at home to make a killer demo, but I don't think I'm prepared as far as confidence and experience goes to actually lay anything down that would get me hired anywhere.

In digging around online, I've also seen some online courses and heard word of vocal trainers who work with people outside of their area over the internet. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on this matter?

Tom Pagnotti · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 220

Hey Matt:

Being told "you have a nice voice" probably isn't the best reason to go into voice-overs.

And... you don't need to "hone your voice" you need to develop acting skills.

Wanna know why? Read Scott Pollak's sticky for newbies:

http://voiceoversavvy.com/ftopic4098.html

Then go out and get James Albuger's book The Art Of Voice Acting - it contains invaluable information for newbies and pros.

Both Scott's posting and the book will help answer a lot of questions for you.

Good luck, Matt.

Best,

Tom Pagnotti
choicevoicepro.com