The Fascinating Life of Voice Over Artist Bill Ratner

by KEITH BRUNSON

Voice actors in-training with voice coach Mike George at The Voice Shop in New York City.

In 1961, 14-year-old Bill Ratner took his first job as an errand boy in Minneapolis at an ad agency for $1.25 an hour. In 1968, he broke into theatre at 21. In 1971, he landed his first radio job at 24 years old for $175 a week.

A young Bill Ratner, during his first radio job in 1971.

Bill Ratner is now 74 years old and works as one of Hollywood’s most dependable and versatile voice-over talents and writers in the industry. He continues to educate himself with a coach frequently, but why? “To keep my vocal cords limber and to prevent them from aging uncontrollably,” says Bill. After 60 years of working in all forms of show business, Bill is still working… regularly, “and I want to hopefully discover new ways of delivering text vocally.” He voices audiobooks, animation and movie trailers. He writes essays and publishes poetry and remains relative to millions. Bill Ratner is truly living an extraordinary life. helznermanagement.com/?page_id=1222

Bill utilizes a vocal coach to keep his voice “limber” as he provides voiceovers for a wide variety of voice projects.

Bill is still booking and still impressing, as he ponders, “It never occurred to me that your voice could be such a marketable skill, and it took me years to understand how wrong I was.”

He has been the voice of Discovery ID, the voice of Robot Chicken, The Family Guy, and the voice of “Flint” in G.I. Joe. He’s been called back to voice “Flint” for 40 years. “But it was only 20 years ago that I realized a voice actor should treat their voice the way a ballerina or an NFL football player treat their body.” And from that discipline came the movie trailer business. http://bill2582.wixsite.com/billratner

Bill Ratner during a voice acting session.

Bill ventured off into the world of news voicing because he exercises control over his voice and became the voice of the Bloomberg News Network, “and there is something special to people when they hear the voice of authority.” He keeps that voice in tune by “treating it the same way that a Shakespearean actor does by investigating the possibilities of emotion, investigation and the preservation of the voice itself.” www.billratner.com

Voice acting requires control and training and to become the “voice of authority” as Bill has achieved.

Across the years, Bill would become a true renaissance man. Forty years ago, he entered stand-up comedy and has since become a nine-time winner of the Moth Storytelling Slam. Along the way, Bill became an author. One book he authored was titled “Parenting for the Digital Age,” and it remains in print today.

From radio DJ to comedian and author, Bill Ratner continues to leverage his voice and writing to build his business.

And through it all, from day one, Bill has been a student of the voice. Voice training is available no matter where you live remotely through The Voice Shop, headquartered in New York City. (www.voiceshopcoaching.com) “We all need continued instruction if we want to constantly improve,” says Bill. “I would have never been able to remain current without a voice coach.”

As a SAG-AFTRA member, Bill now collects a pension, makes residuals from past credits, and is provided health insurance. All the while still working 15 hours a week on new clients. Bill is the rare individual who takes his voice and his love of communication and turns it into not just a business but an empire. “I’ve always believed my voice would continue to improve until I was no longer able to stand up to a microphone,” says Bill.

He is a contributing voice of the Smithsonian Channel, the Discovery Channel, the Travel Channel, PBS and NPR. Commercially, you can hear him as the voice behind V-8, Sprint, Chips A-hoy, Pizza Hut and Hyundai. “And I do have a class next week with my coach, which I would not want to miss,” says Bill.

If anything can be learned from Bill’s story, it is to continue to educate yourself. Most anyone that is working in their mid-seventies has discontinued their training long ago. But Bill continues to be a student of the arts, getting constant instruction from an outside party that can benefit his life, “and it does improve mine, that’s for sure,” says Bill. This type of education is available to you remotely at The Voice Shop.

So, no matter who you are or where your aspirations lie, remember the lessons learned here the next time you contemplate a future in voice-over. Bill believes in today, and he believes in tomorrow, and because of it, Bill Ratner is truly living a fascinating life.

How To Turn Your Voice Into A Business

By Keith Brunson

Have you heard of Scooby-Doo, the cartoon character? Today, we'll learn about how the voice of that cartoon character turned his voice into a business. And he did it all, with talent, but most interestingly, his mind. Either way, "all my life, I've been chasing that dog," says Scott Innes, who served as the voice behind Scooby-Doo from 1998 to 2001, who replaced the original voice of Don Messick, who passed away in 1982.

A young Scott Innes started crafting his voice at an early age.

Scott started as a public address voice at 13 at a skating rink, "and I got fired for talking too much." He crossed the street to the bowling alley, where he got a job as the PA announcer once again. And that was when Scott was approached by a guy in radio who became his mentor into professional announcing. "You've got "the IT factor," Speck Rhodes of the Porter Waggoner show said Scott wanted it so bad, "I worked for free," he says. It was 1982, and "if I hadn't have done so, none of the doors I have walked through since would be present in my life."

Scott's mentor Speck Rhodes.

These kinds of stories are rampant. Teenagers who start a career in radio, music, or television by working for free then take it to the next level. Ambition can't be taught, but at The Voice Shop, introductory classes are available to teach someone how to begin. And this kind of skill is not taught in college, any college. Especially animation character voice work. "But we do," says Steve Tardio, a voice coach at The Voice shop who teaches that niche. Offered is a two-hour remote voice-over class on character animation.

Voice coach Steve Tardio helps students develop voice acting skills at the Voice Shop in New York City.

But back to Scott. As he was working without pay, he began to imitate the voice of Casey Kasem, "and that was when I realized I could mimic sounds of other fictitious characters." This led to doing the voice of Scooby Doo, Popeye, and Barney Rubble. "All of my life, moments of serendipity continue to happen." And so now, at 55, Scott carries a very heavy schedule. He's a songwriter and has won a CMA award. He publishes a family magazine called "Hug." He promotes concerts in Louisiana. He also works two on-air shifts on commercial radio. Mid-days on-air in New Orleans and the afternoon shift on-air on the classic rock station in Baton Rouge. But his utmost notoriety is cartoon voices, "and if you believe in yourself, it will happen, but you have got to believe." https://www.onescottshop.com

From making music to radio host and the voice of famous cartoon characters, voice actor Scott Innes has successfully turned his voice into a business.
Listen to Scott's character voices come to life:

The Voice Shop teaches voice acting classes remotely and in person. So, no matter where you're reading this from, if you want instruction, you can get it via zoom originating with instruction from their studios in Manhattan. There are nine instructors, all with a special niche to help you "find your voice." This is a reference to learning what it is about you that can make you marketable. And the school is a good way to learn what they are looking for in the voice-over market. https://voiceshopcoaching.com

And Scott Innes has a unique point of view. "Everything I have ever dreamed of has come true," says Scott, "all you have to do is speak it, and it will come into existence." You take a small kid, watching the movie "Grease," and you start thinking about what you want to become, and it becomes a reality." But having a deep desire to accomplish something is a subject that the late Mel Blanc spoke of. "It is better to take a job you love to do, and you'll be rich and emotionally happy."

Scott Innes followed his childhood ambitions and dreams to succeed as a voice actor.

Watch the video and hear Scott's voice "in action."

So, as you're reading this, If you think you might not be able to accomplish great things, think again. Turning your voice into a business is a function of turning yourself into your own business using your distinct voice. It may not sound like a voice you think would be of value, but the voice over world is full of niche voices that bring out the best in all types of voices, not just deep voices in a man or sexy voices in a woman.

No Entitlement in the Voice Over Business

By Keith Brunson

 Ever noticed how at your workplace, there is a defined hierarchy? There is the President, the Vice President, The Marketing Director, and the human resources director? Imagine if, on the other hand, you worked in a horizontal business formula. This would mean that while the hierarchy of “who’s who” is understood and respected, the concept of “you report to me” is admonished. It’s the new way that great business leaders are producing corporate results. Because if you don’t operate that way, “it produces horrible results,” says Dr. Hardy Delay, Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. This concept of having an open-door opinion policy is exactly how today’s smart business leaders are growing. Creative businesses especially realize that talented people comprise the success of the business. “If you treat people as though you are better than them, that’ll affect their productivity,” says Dr. Delay, who has graduated 1,125 MBA students. “And so nervous people in the work environment have been proven to do less,” says Hardy, “and no one is better than anyone else, but some leaders do not realize the destruction they are causing to the success of their business.”

Dr. Delay, who got his Ph.D. from Walden University in Minneapolis, teaches graduate students business administration with an emphasis on leadership. He also serves as a consultant to Chief Executives who want to improve their business climate and productivity. So, when Dr. Delay enters that business and evaluates what’s wrong. “I tell the CEO; I don’t need to meet with you; I need to speak to the people doing the work.”

Dr. Hardy Delay, Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

And so, this story is about the positive aspects of “The Horizontal Business Formula,” where everybody from the receptionist to the President walks on equal footing, and there is no entitlement. That’s the environment of no one being afraid to be open about their problems with leadership or internal methodology. This is especially effective when dealing with creative people. The people in the Voice Over Artistry business use this concept with exceptional results. From the owner to the engineer, the actual voice talent to the producer, everyone is a vital component of the success process. “And everyone’s opinion and perspective matter,” says Mike Zirinsky, Chief Executive of Creative Media Design, and its sister company, The Voice Shop. www.voiceshopcoaching.com

Mike Zirinsky, CEO of The Voice Shop, ensures that everyone is heard and participating in the voice over production process.

Dr. Delay comments, “the autocratic leader is destined for low productivity,” and in fact creates a quiet resentment among the esprit de corps of the team. “This new generation will just quit and migrate to a corporate culture that is nurturing,” adds Hardy. This concept was not true in yesteryear. “The BOSS ruled by intimidation, but that formula of business leadership no longer works.” Lead Voice Instructor for The Voice Shop Mike George agrees. To develop good talent, Mike believes in three things. 1. Hire Good People. 2. Give them purpose, and 3. Stay out of their way. Underscore item three because that’s the philosophy of the theme of this story.

Voice coach Mike George teaches voice classes at the Voice Shop in New York City.

Have you seen those corporate ads where “you’ll report to?” Right there and right away, if you are repelled, it’s because you have a talented business personality. Creative people are often Not managed but simply assigned. And this is the concept of “The Horizontal Business Formula.” It’s the format of the chief executive realizing that he is invalid without using the talents of the entire team for the best possible end goal. That type of controlling business owner we’re communicating here can get away with their behavior, but their respect will diminish. And that means that the receptionist is just as important as anyone else. That is to say, the hierarch of the arrogant President of the business probably rules by intimidation rather than positive delegation. And in the world of voice-over, every single person is just as important as everyone one else. There is an interdependence that thrives in the creative world that is absent in the highly corporate world.

  Dr. Delay’s philosophy proves that everyone in the company
must meet at “eye-level” to be successful and promote creativity.

Because if you, whoever you are, believe that you are more important than anyone else, you’ll fail. Time and time again, you’ll fail at the master plan of success. And that’s because in today’s business, especially the creative business, if a sound engineer feels he is above the voice talent, that sensitive and highly intuitive voice-over talent will pick up on it. They won’t say anything, but they won’t like you at all. And, when you feel the receptionist is “just a secretary,” you are incorrect according to this philosophy. The importance of the first person to answer the phone sets the tone for the incoming caller. So, if you consider your receptionist not important, you are probably a controlling executive who rules with a big stick rather than respect and delegated responsibility. Conversely, if you feel that you as the producer are just as vital as the production assistant, you’re on the right track.

And that’s what this story is about. In voice-over, the boss/employee relationship is somewhat admonished. It doesn’t mean the owner is not in charge, but the way they go about leading is entirely different. It means that they value the many people that are involved in this acutely creative environment. And that’s a recipe for success. It’s a new concept, but few people in leadership understand it. So, the concept of no entitlement excels while the conventional business model will create discord and a lack of harmony.

In the voice-over industry, everyone works together like in a symphony. It is understood that the conductor is leading the music, but he considers the trumpet player just as important as the first violinist. It used to be unheard of, but the Horizontal business formula is used in voice over for a reason. It’s because everyone is important, and no one is “a star.” And if they are, they are smart enough to respect the production assistant because, in truth, everyone in a voice over business respects everyone. And if this kind of work environment is for you, then this story will resonate.

The military operates with this strategy because they must. And in that scenario, people that protect America should and do employ the controlling mindset because they must. The military functions best with rank and file. And in this case, the hierarchy is vital. But in a creative business where emotions are running high and creative minds are everywhere, the smart person gives complete respect to the next person. It’s true. It’s not a myth. It’s an absolute fact.

“Education is paid for in India from kindergarten to high school,” comments Dr. Delay. “So, families experience “the empty stomach syndrome” where a family will literally eat less, to provide an education to their children.”  This creates a very academic child who is raised to respect authority, but to think for themselves, not think what they are taught to think,” says Dr. Delay. “And that’s why Asian and Indian students come to America and do so well,” says Delay. “They are taught by two teachers on two different subjects at the same time.” This means that two different subjects are taught in the same classroom at the same time. “And the result is an exceptional student who values education and respects authority, but the teachers have no problem with the student challenging their opinion,” says Hardy. So, if you’re learning this for the first time, you are not alone. “But what it does is it creates a student that grows up to think on their feet and doesn’t need to be micromanaged,” says Dr. Delay. “It makes an intelligent person become an exceptional free thinker.”

And that’s the new movement taking shape now in American business. To be someone who over-delivers without being expected to. “It makes all the difference in the world,” says Dr. Hardy Delay. “To be able to not be nervous” about their comments and suggestions “is the new formula for growing a business.”

Voice Over Resume

In a traditional line of work, when applying for a job, you develop a resume. You make sure to highlight your successes and best achievements for your potential employer. Astoundingly, many people don't know how to make a good resume in a traditional sense. This can compound even further when you look at non-traditional job applications like voice-over work.

Many budding voice actors who take our voice classes at The Voice Shop don't know where to start to show an employer their abilities. And who could blame you? When the medium is voice, it needs to be heard or, even better, seen.

 Novice voice actors working with a voice coach at the Voice Shop in New York City

We will take you through the steps of making your first demo reel or portfolio for a voice-over opportunity. If you have formal voice experience, you can optionally skip Step #1. However, we still highly recommend it as it can only help you gain online exposure.

Step One:

First of all, if you don't have any formal experience yet, this is okay. That doesn't mean you can't display your talent for employers. Many people are using TikTok to gather a large following and feature their abilities. Impressions are huge on TikTok. Spend some time to get some impressions down. Some of the most popular ones are President Trump, Robert Downey Jr, Morgan Freeman, and Gordon Ramsay. But really, any impression will do. Develop a clip of your voice impression and line it up with the movie clip, and you're golden. Once you have enough of these in your backlog, you're ready for the next step!

 Feature your voice on popular platforms like TikTok
by developing videos of your voice impressions.

 Step Two:

Choose which TikToks or clips from your experience represent the most relevant voices for the job opportunity. For example, if you're applying for an animation job, use TikTok impressions of famous cartoons and anime. This approach would not be suitable for a formal company looking to display a high level of professionalism. So, match your content to the audience. 

Step Three:

Put all the relevant clips into one longer video with your best work first. If you have a Mac, iMovie is a perfectly suited free option. There are many others as well, including apps on your phone. If you have little confidence in your video editing skills, you can also hire an editor online! 

Step Four:

After your video is ready, you'll need to make it publicly accessible. YouTube is a common medium. You can create a good thumbnail that will grab the interviewer's attention and send them a link that's easy to click on and make a good first impression. 

And that's it! You're ready to put your best foot forward and hopefully get your first or next voice over job. Pro Tip: Once you do…. make it into a TikTok, and the cycle repeats!

Why The Microphone Matters In Voice Overs

By Keith Brunson

We all know Stevie Nicks, the singer for Fleetwood Mac. We know her songs; we know her voice. But none of us know her microphone. Yet this mechanical object is the only mic she will sing through and is a small part of why she has such an amazing sound when she sings into it.

But isn’t a mic a mic? Not at all. Just like people, microphones are all different and are engineered with specifications that deliver amplification and recording for various purposes.

The microphone itself was first invented by Emile Berliner with Thomas Edison in 1876. Historians say it was Alexander Graham Bell. Before then, audio had never been recorded. In 1892, a legal squabble between all parties resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that Thomas Edison would be forever credited as the inventor of the microphone we know today.

There’s so much confusion about what the correct microphone is to use for the voice over artist. There are many choices, and they’re all microphones. So, today we will explain it and dig deep into why the microphone is such an important choice for voice talent.

But first, what exactly is the microphone, and how does it work? Here we go. A microphone or mic is a device-transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. The vibration of an object causes its surrounding air molecules to vibrate. This vibration creates a trajectory of changing air pressure that travels until it inevitably loses energy and comes to a halt. And so, due to electromagnetism, a concept of physics that involves electric conduction moving in a magnetic field to generate an electric signal.

That’s the explanation. If you understand that, you are rare. Most voice actors, musicians, and sound engineers make a calculated choice as to what kind of mic they use and why they use that mic.

There are four types of microphones: dynamic microphones, large-diaphragm condenser microphones, small diaphragm condenser microphones, and ribbon microphones. And dynamic microphones are the workhorses of the microphone world.

Which mic to choose for voice work? Out of the four types available,
dynamic microphones are used the most.

It’s highly technical and goes on and on. But today, we’re here to learn how to choose the right microphone and reveal the choices of some of America’s professional vo artists.

There are many experts, but Susan Berkley is one of the countries ultra-successful voice artists, “and I use the Bottle baby blue and the AKG 414,” says Susan. “We had a shootout among colleagues, and the baby Blue wins.”

Conversely, Tom Taylor of Austin, Texas, a cinematographer, uses “the Sennheiser 416, and it gets a really great sound for interviews and cutting television show voice tracks.” Tom is a nationally known videographer who has shot and recorded some of the nations’ most well-known television shows.

Podcaster Joe Rogan uses the Shure SM7B, as did Michael Jackson. Dr. Dre uses the Akai MPC 3000 or the Neuman U-87 TLM 193. But voiceover artist Jeff Lillicotch uses the StellarX2 by Tech Zone. “The XLR large-diaphragm made my voice sound much better,” says Jeff, who reinvented his life following a television career. “It just made my voice sound really good.” Jeff, 51, is a commercial production specialist who lives in Houston, Texas, and comments with confidence, “That mic just works for me perfectly.”

Jeff is the go-to guy for automotive advertising. “I get compliments on my voice when I use that mic,” says Jeff. “It really is a great microphone.”

Cinematographer Tom Taylor (left) uses a Sennheiser 416 microphone for TV voice tracks, while voice over artist Jeff Lillicotch (right) prefers the StellarX2. 

By now, you are probably wondering how do I get the right advice? The answer is to learn. “We teach microphone technique,” says voice coach Mike George of The Voice Shop in our class “The Fundamentals of Voice Over.” However, other classes that teach how to construct an In-Home Studio are offered and instruct the very best microphone choices based on your vocal timbre.

 Learning microphone techniques is part of The Voice Shop’s curriculum.

Now, if you think your voice is not good enough to be a VO artist, here’s why. It’s called Vocal Disparity. We’ve been listening to ourselves our whole life, “from inside our heads where the bones of our skull distort our voice,” says Susan Berkley. And that translates to the fact that you may have a voice of value to the world market. In other words, you could very possibly have a place in voice-over work but not know it. “We sound differently to ourselves than we sound on a recording,” says David Dee. David is a former magician who reinvented his life as a professional speaker in marketing.

For voiceover artists, the workhorse of the VO world is the TLM 103. And that’s the microphone Howard Stern uses. And Voice Over Artist Andy Pearson chimes in on the 103 “It’s what I used when voicing for Eaton corporation,” he says, “I know it improved my voice.”

 Former Magician-turned-professional speaker David Dee (left) and voice over artist Andy Pearson underscore the importance of getting the right microphone for your voice.

That microphone is revered by many artists of the voice who wants a good clear sound. Yet, even more, choices remain. How many? Quite a few.

So now that you’re overwhelmed, where can you find out what to buy, how to use it, and what you will learn? One place is Creative Media Design , a voice over production studio and their sister company, The Voice Shop. Here, the student can obtain one voice course or a host of voice courses that train the aspiring voice-over artist from concept to completion on all voice-over matters. “Classes there changed everything,” comments Victoria Mussalli, a graduate of The Voice Shop. “It changed everything,” she says.

And so there you have it. The microphone is quite complex but made easy to understand and used to enlighten the qualities of your voice. And as for Stevie Nicks, she uses the Sennheiser e935. Word has it from her touring sound engineer David Morgan, “Stevie won’t sing without it.”

How You Can Have Your Own Video Podcast Show

By Keith Brunson

If you're wondering how you could have your own video podcast, this story is for you. Today, Creative Media Design announces the offer for you to have your own show, and Digital Video Producer Mark Pressman is leading the charge. "The analog days are over, and with this new digital movement across the world, people from all walks of life who are not professional broadcasters can have their own TV show online," says Pressman.

The goal will be for anyone who wants to have a show can now actually have it at a Very affordable price, and this project is headed up Under the leadership of Pressman himself. And this is not Just for big business. This is for you, the reader, to be enabled under the supervision of Mark Pressman himself. "I have always been motivated by technology which allows people to have their own YouTube channel," says Mark. "we'll offer a turnkey solution for an on-going show or a one-time-only video podcast."

Mark Pressman is leading the Video Podcasting program at Creative Media Design

Lia Perretti is the Head of Production/Executive producer for Creative Media Design. She's been a content creator for twenty years, long before the world went digital. "I definitely am excited about tying audio and video together so that anybody can become the video podcaster at Any location they want," says Lia. "When people come to us, they'll identify right away, that we are the people who can make this happen" https://cmdnyc.com

Creative Media Design's Head of Production and Executive Producer, Lia Perretti.

The options are multi-fold. There are shows that can be produced from our New York studio. Or an alternative, you can do it from your location, no matter where you are in the world, says Pressman, "And under this show plan, I can ship people the equipment for the show and be their advisor on all aspects of which are technical and hard to understand," says Mark. "So, we're getting rid of the mystique of what it takes to have your own show and coach the person from concept to completion."

The choices are multi-fold. You can come to our studio here in Manhattan. Or you can do it from a studio in your hometown, or even do it from your home," says Pressman, "and that'll eliminate the smoke and mirrors of just exactly how the video podcast is done."

Video podcasting and coaching are available in the CMD studio or your own home.

Ironically, it was the pandemic that brought on this new industry. People now have learned that they like working at home, and under this value proposition, anyone can have a show on the topic they want. And then, once produced, Pressman will post-produce the show. "We can edit it for them, add graphics, videos, music, and polish their product to perfection," says Mark. "It'll look just like a broadcast-quality show." And it goes further from there. "We can create them a set, and when we edit for people and it'll be a virtual edit so they can call the shots," adds Pressman. "We don't even have to meet the client." This concept is simple, "but because it's technical, it's not easy to self-configure." And that answers the question of what people become concerned about the most. So, just how does this get on YouTube? "No question it's a technical matter, and so many people don't have an understanding of how it works," says Mark. "But they will once we teach them."

Creative Media Design will offer coaching to the interviewer and interviewee. So as Lia Perretti tells me, who has an ad agency background as a producer, "I'm in the business of KEEPING a client, and that comes from being of service to at all levels of the production process." Lia is right. Everyone who aspires to do this wants a team to talk to at all times, and that is Now available.

So, what IS the equipment that is used, and how does this all flesh out? "We believe for home use, the iPhone Pro Max is the camera of choice," comments Mark. "And simple ring lighting is supplied by us, or they can buy it themselves." A price check reveals that the lighting can be as inexpensive as 49-dollars from Walmart. Yes. Walmart, Best Buy. Public retail outlets that sell ring LED lights are all that is necessary. "Sound quality is vital, and we advise people on what microphone to use," add Pressman. "And then, we route it through Wi-Fi or the ethernet."

CMD will guide you to the best equipment to use for your video podcasting projects.

Cost starts at $1100 for your own twenty-minute show. Equipment can be leased by Creative Media Design or can be self-purchased. "But no matter what the objective or problem is, we can solve it cost-effectively here at CMD," says Mike Zirinsky, Chief Executive Officer. "Video is new here at CMD, and although we've done shows in our studio here, this proposition is timely because it allows people the freedom to learn the business with no holdbacks and get involved at the professional level."

The offer even includes a CMD crew that'll come to you. "We'll be your studio," says Mark Pressman, "and suddenly, your video podcasting on the internet." And the cost will depend "On what level of production they are looking for," adds Zirinsky. "The idea is to serve everyday people at their level of need."

Naturally, big business wants a different look than an individual starting their own show. And this new service allows multi-camera podcasts to be produced or just a simple one-camera set up for the aspiring podcaster. "We can deliver a live-stream or recorded show," says Pressman. "The options are unlimited, but it all depends on who it is and what they want."

So, if you are wanting your own podcast produced from top to bottom, now, Creative Media Design opens its doors to everyone. "We know that there are a lot of people that want to do this but just don't know how," says Mike Zirinsky. "The Idea is to be the entire production team at a Very affordable price for anyone that wants to be a content creator for the world market."

Creative Media Design's CEO, Mike Zirinsky, offers a production team
to anyone who wants to create professional video podcasts.

And that means that if you have been thinking about having your own show, you can now have a team that will help from script to screen. There was a time when the secrets of broadcasting, music, and video were knowledge of the privileged few. "But those days are gone," says Mike Zirinsky. "The door is now open to Anyone anywhere on any topic to have their own show." And now it IS possible for anyone but the elite.

So, I Tried Voice Over Acting…

Hello blog reader! A short introduction is in order; my name is Nate Myers. I am the Social Media Manager here at The Voice Shop, a voice coaching school. I am relatively new to the world of voice over, and to submerge myself in the nuances of this art, I asked to attend one of The Voice Shop’s virtual classes, The Fundamentals of Voice Over. I learned about my voice in some ways I never thought possible.

 So, I tried voice over acting for the first time, knowing absolutely nothing of the craft or the industry! What follows is a summary of the incredible value I received during the two-and-a-half-hour class.

The teacher for the class was Michael George. Mike, as he prefers to be called, has been a voice-over professional for decades. Trends, industry practice and standards have changed multiple times as he forged his path into the voice over field. I would use words like friendly, professional, genuine, frank, and uncompromising to describe Mike. The last one may be a bit of a surprise, but it was in the best way, as I’ll explain in a bit.

Voice coach, Michael George, teaching voice lessons at the Voice Shop in New York City.

 When I first joined the class, we went around the horn and introduced ourselves. It was a diverse group, both ethnically and regarding age and location. Some students had some experience in singing or other related respects, but we were all new to voice over. This “newness” made me feel very comfortable knowing that I wouldn’t be compared to someone far better than me. It can be intimidating to try something new. Luckily that wasn’t a factor at all that night.

 The first half of the class consisted of Mike teaching us various techniques to control our voice. We practiced accentuating different words in a message, using our tone and expression. He had several voice over parts from commercials and the like that we could try and use for comparison. Mike was extremely focused on what he heard from us and provided clear feedback before trying again. I noticed immediately that my voice became lighter sounding, more positive, and friendly. And I got my first epiphany of the night:

 “Wow, I could actually do this.”

 I have never in my life thought I had a voice-over-worthy voice. I thought I always sounded younger than I was and so casual that no professional voice over project would even consider me. I hadn’t thought these things specifically, but if someone had asked me, “Have you considered performing voice over?” I would have laughed at them. It wasn’t in the stars for me, or so I thought.

Mike continued to take us through the exercises and techniques, and something else started to shine through. We all had different strengths and personalities. Mike was helping draw that out of us and quite quickly. Two and a half hours felt like a very short time because I was so engaged the entire class. I watched as other students found their voice and started reading things as themselves. It was inspiring. I said earlier that Mike was uncompromising. I meant that he didn’t accept it if someone read the prompt exactly like the person before them. Imitation was not the goal. He wasn’t satisfied with unenthusiastic attempts. He had constructive feedback for every single line that was read. He was uncompromising in making sure we were all getting our money’s worth from the class.

 The Voice Shop brings out the strengths and nuances of each voice during the voice lessons.

Mike emphasized that we should try to be relatable, accessible, genuine, human throughout the night. Probably the opposite of what you would think of the voice over industry. In my mind, it’s full of talent who are actually actors, but their abilities are featured behind the scenes as voices rather than people on film. They were people pretending to be someone they were not. While this may be true in some cases, especially in animation, Mike wasn’t focused on that. He wanted us to find success in the best way for us individually. He said, “People these days don’t want to be marketed to; they want to hear from their friend or their neighbor about a product.” So, marketing departments and agencies have been looking for voice over talent that sounds just like that. REAL.

The latter portion of the class is dedicated to questions and answers. I found this section equally interesting and helpful as the first. All of us, being beginners, had a lot of questions. Some of the best ones were: 

·         How much money can you make for a gig?

·         What equipment do I have to buy to get started?

·         What facet of the industry is best to focus on? Commercial? Animation? Radio?

·         How can I better improve myself?

·         How can I leverage an agent or agency to market myself?

Mike was brutally honest in his responses, which was great for the other students and me. Again, two hours earlier, we had zero knowledge of voice over or how to do it. Here we were, completely transformed into more professional beings. Every student wanted to learn the next steps. They wanted to continue down this path they had stumbled upon.

Mike recommended we sign up for the following classes, which include Intermediate Essentials and Advanced Techniques. He also offered to do one-on-one sessions with each of us if desired. Then we could really dig into the industry and where we wanted to contribute. Which opportunities we should pursue, how to further polish our voiceovers.

The class ended, leaving me a very different person from before. I had learned of a way that I could make income as a side hustle. I knew how to do it, what to do next and where to turn to for advice.

 All in all, it was a 10-out-of-10 experience! Mike, you took a person with casual interest at best and turned them into an aspiring voice-over artist. Thank you.

Getting Started in Voice Over

For a second, let’s think about your favorite movies, kid’s favorite shows, that commercial that keeps coming on Pandora, the commercial that interrupts your binge-watching on Hulu. These all have something in common. A person is doing the voice over for each of those. That person is making money because they have learned to leverage something we’re all born with: Their VOICE.

 Next time you hear a voice over, pay less attention to the message and concentrate on the voice. Does this person have an incredibly charismatic voice? A “radio voice,” if you will? In most cases, they do not. Most companies these days are striving for authenticity. The person you’re hearing is meant to be relatable and easily understood by you, their target audience. That person could be your neighbor, your friend, your coworker. And because they are relatable to you, you are more receptive to what they have to say.

Listen to voice over samples from commercials to video games as
voice over actors play their part in the media production.

For that reason, literally, ANYONE can be a voice actor. Little did you know, but there are companies out there with voice over projects looking for someone with your exact voice. They would choose you in the voice casting process to represent their products or services, but they need to know about you for that to happen.

At this point, you’re probably wondering how much you can expect to make in the voiceover industry. It will likely start slow as you audition, apply for, and interview for various vo projects as with any artistic career. This process will pick up in speed as you become more recognized and as you create relationships with clients and companies. Typically, we see voice actors making anywhere from $35 for a small radio spot to $100k+ for a national TV ad campaign. There’s a big range in there! It’s safe to say that many possibilities open up to you if you’re willing to put in the work.

What is that work? First things first, you’ll need to polish up that beautiful, uniquely “you” voice. Most of your daily conversations take place at the same timbre, same vocal tone. When doing voice-over, you’ll need ways to mix that up and emphasize different words or phrases of the message. Enthusiasm, excitement, security, and even fear are emotions you’ll need to practice relaying as you read a script.

 The Voice Shop was founded to help you with this part of the process. Our mission is to help establish and develop all the vocal skills that you will need to succeed in the world of voice over. We’ve stacked our teaching roster with some of the most seasoned and industry-savvy voice over actors. We can elevate you from your current level to a higher plane by signing up for one of our classes. We recommend starting with “Fundamentals of Voice Over” for beginners. If you get value from that class, which we know you will, you can continue through our courses with intermediate Essentials and Advanced Techniques.

 Mike George, voice coach at The Voice Shop, trains voice actors from beginner to advanced techniques.

The beauty of taking these voice over classes is that you can improve yourself before heavily investing in the physical capability to record your voice. But that will be necessary as you take your first steps into the professional realm of voice over talent. You’ll need to cover these essentials at the very least: Microphone, Preamp (audio interface), Headphones, Mic Stand, Pop-screen/filter, and very importantly: Recording and Editing software. Depending on which tools you decide on, you can reasonably obtain all these assets for $500-$1,000. In comparison to any other artistic venture, this is extremely affordable. Imagine getting into music where you’ll likely spend $1,000-$2,000 on just your instrument, much less all the heavier equipment needed to record that instrument. In relation to other freelance efforts, voice over has what we call a “low barrier to entry,” and anyone can get their feet wet and get serious at a reasonable investment level.

Okay, so your voice is polished to a glorious shine. Your remote voice over home recording studio is waiting for action. How do you go about finding voice over work? Finding voice over projects will likely be the most challenging part of your journey; it’s what separates the wheat from the chaff. In other words, the way you approach this step is what will distinguish you above your peers who are your competition in the voice over space. Have you ever heard the phrase “It’s all about who you know” before?

Luckily, by following the steps in this guide, you’ll have made connections with Creative Media Design, the sister company for The Voice Shop. But perhaps more importantly, you’ll have made personal connections with voice over professionals who currently operate in the voice over industry. They bring home the bacon and can be your guide to breaking into the scene. They’ve done it and continue to do it. Follow in their steps, and you’ll know which path is best for you, whether through a union, personal marketing efforts, or hiring an advertising or vo agency. How involved do you want to be? How proactive are you? Choose the path that is best for you and the time you have available today. That may change down the road but START NOW!

 The Voice Shop will be happy to help you get there.