Dave Courvoisier's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Nancy Wolfson’

Voice-Coach/Psychiatrist/Enabler/Connector/Sage/Mentor/Branding Wizard Nancy Wolfson and partner Anna Vocino are announcing a kick-A#%^ seminar later this month on AudioBooks.  They’ve landed about the best 3rd-party for this party they could hope for:  Hillary Huber.

Hillary has not only done a ton of AudioBooks, but is a veteran of live announcing for the Emmy’s, and People’s Choice awards, among other achievements in VO. (see bio below)

I had the honor of studying with Hillary at a Pat Fraley audiobook workshop/weekend, and learned SO MUCH.

Knowing Nancy and Anna, this March 31st event will cover all the audiobook bases and more.

I’ve taken the liberty of reprinting their newsletter/annoucement below so you can see the straight story.  It has all the links you need to sign-up.

If this is where you want to go in voice-acting, you need to be on this call!

CourVO

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In 2007, 3 enterprising people took on a risky venture and launched the first open-invitation nationwide VoiceOver conference that anyone can remember.

By most accounts it was a huge success (my first and only meeting with Don LaFontaine).  Since it was in Las Vegas, I had access to the entire conference, in fact, I was its Emcee.

A year later, James Alburger and Penny Abshire – now on their own – launched the second VOICE (Voice Over International Creative Experience) in Los Angeles, and again I was lucky enough to be asked to be the host.

Which brings us to VOICE 2010.

The event has a sterling reputation, but there seems to be some lingering misconceptions, and I’d like to chime in on why they are, indeed, MYTHS.

VOICE  MYTH #1

VOICE is just for newbies.

Huh-uh…it’s for everybody, and you’ll see everybody there.  Everybody will have something to offer, and everybody will have something to gain.

It’s true that newbies may have the most to gain by attending, but then again, newbies in VO will see a steep learning curve in everything they do in this business when starting out.

Since networking is one of the three legs supporting the essence of VOICE, you will have a change to rub shoulders with people at all levels of expertise in voiceovers.  Certainly the instructors and presenters are among the more experienced, and really, you’ll find every other level of accomplishment represented…especially if YOU attend.

Forget sleep.  Go to all the mixers and all the scheduled presentations.  Mingle with people you only knew heretofore online.  It’s all about relationship.

VOICE  MYTH #2

VOICE is just a money-making venture.

Look, I haven’t seen James’ and Penny’s balance sheet, but my guess is their margin of profit is pretty thin.  No one would begrudge them returning SOMETHING on their investment… and when you think about it, THEY are the ones sticking their neck out.

In true American style, they take the risk, they reap the benefits.  They have no assurance that hundreds will register and come the many miles, and pay their dues (especially in THIS economy).  Yet there they are, spending the better part of their waking moments for at least one year, investing their own money, spending untold hours, wooing speakers, creating websites, promoting, promoting, scheduling, coaxing, arranging, calling, meeting, planning, and crossing their fingers.

Which brings us to….

VOICE  MYTH #3

VOICE costs too much.

You’ve got to be kidding!  I’m not going to force you to follow the bouncing ball here, but grab a calculator and do some elementary addition.  Sure, go ahead…add up the basic registration cost, the cost of the Hotel room (gorgeous and at a sizeable discount), travel costs, and meals/entertainment. Depending on how far you come, you may be pushing $1000.

Have you looked at how much it costs to spend an hour with the likes of Nancy Wolfson, Pat Fraley, Richard Horvitz, Peter Rofe, Deb Munro, MJ Lallo and others?  Well, they’re all there, they’re all presenting, and it’s all part of your cost of admission…all under one roof.

But here’s the big pay-off.  All those smart, experienced, talented, and approachable people just…usually….hang around.  And any enterprising passionate Voiceover talent would be crazy not to take advantage of the opportunity.  Again, networking is (to me) the biggest advantage of a hoe-down like this.  A chance to meet face-to-face the movers and shakers…the people with the pull, the aces with the answers, the jokers with the juice (OK, maybe I was trying too hard for alliteration).

HONORABLE MENTION MYTH:  Los Angeles is too far. Of course, that depends on where you are, but logically, and as a matter of practicality, it almost HAS to be in LA or NYC to get the caliber of presenters and talent close-at-hand, to be there.  Yes it’s easy on them, and perhaps hard on YOUR pocketbook, but that’s the business side of things that effects the bottom line of risk for a venture like this.  So, why LA, not NYC?  ‘Cause James and Penny are based in SoCal, have the most connections, and the best arrangements there.

(P.S. for the best answer to this question, ask Andy Boyns, who is determined to travel from Istanbul, Turkey for VOICE).
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I’ve tried to present these arguments even-handedly…but disclaimer:  I am again helping to host this event, and I’m even a presenter this time….so I have a vested interest in all this.  But really, I just bristle when I hear mention of the above 3 myths.

Myths tend to have their root in loose tongues and fast facts…but honestly, there’s not a shred of truth to any of these.

Click on the above logo today, and reserve your spot.  I swear, you will never regret it!

CourVO

NANCY WOLFSON:  HOW TO BOOK MORE VOICEOVER AUDITIONS.

If I were you, I’d find $79 dollars SOMEWHERE, and clear my schedule SOMEHOW to be on this teleseminar.

‘Course, I’m not you, BUT, Nancy Wolfson IS one of the top if not THE top consultant for voice-actors in this business.  Did I mention that she’s also one of the top, if not THE top voice coach in voice-acting?  Oh, and never mind that she’s wicked smart ALONG with being fair, challenging, funny, experienced, savvy and caring.

But you probably won’t be able to make that call….and really, $79 dollars is a lot of money these days, and after all, you’ll probably not be able to get an ROI of 5-fold in the first two months after the call just from sitting in to listen to tips from the top.

Yeah, never mind…it’s merely the best bang for your buck in the VO world today, but really, who  needs tips to be a better voice-actor?  You’re already booking more than you can handle, right?

Click HERE for details.

CourVO

…your questions, I mean…'cause that's how you learn.  And (as the thinking goes) the minute you stop learning — thinking you know it all — you stop growing in this business.

And as fast as things are changing…you can never really stop growing or you're lost.

Nancy Wolfson sets the standard for individualized coaching in this business as far as I'm concerned…but I'm biased, 'cause I'm enrolled in her program. 

There are certainly many many other absolutely qualified coaches and teachers who focus on all different niches in voice-acting.  I just chose Nancy based on vigorous and glowing recommendations from people I respect and trust. 

Tonite, Nancy will be hosting her 7th in a series titled "Acting for Advertising"  Click below to see all the details, including the VERY reasonable cost, and where you need to go to sign-up.

Oh, and take notes, 'cause I don't think I can attend.

;-}

CourVO

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Back at the University of Illinois in 1975, a curmudgeonly professor once gave us that old German proverb:  “Rast ich, so rost ich”  When I rest, I rust.

A work in progress.  Even Bob Bergen, Pat Fraley and Deirdre Cooper continue to work at their craft every day (I’ll wager).

Coaching…challenging yourself to find your faults…to push the envelope…to take a stark, fair assessment of where you are and where you want to be is just smart business.

Honestly, my pride gets in the way of that…but I swallowed some humble pie, and launched into an hour-long phone session with Nancy Wolfson Tuesday.

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