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

Break Into Audiobooks with Special Guest Hillary Huber!

Our Break Into Animation Part 1 Teleseminar was such a hit, we’re at it again–but this time with Audiobook Superstar Hillary Huber!

Join us for Break Into Audiobooks on Wed March 31, 2010 - 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST.

With us, our special guest and audiobook veteran Hillary Huber gives thorough, no-BS insider answers to all of your audiobook questions.

From business to craft to all the details in between, Hillary’s gonna spill the beans on everything audiobook.

Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your space on the call (includes a studio quality MP3 of the teleseminar as well).

Just a few of the great questions to be answered:

• Do you read the whole book?  Do different people read different parts and characters?
• How do you get into audiobooks?  It seems so mysterious…do I need to know book publishers and authors?
• Do I need a specific audiobook demo? Are there audiobook agents?
• How could I even keep track of recording a whole book by myself in my home studio?
• I’ve been listening to a ton of audiobooks, and I KNOW I’m ready to break in, so tell me the action steps I can take NOW to get the audiobook gigs coming my way!

Go to Break Into Voice Over–$49 buys you a seat on the call and a studio quality MP3 copy as well.

More About Special Guest Hillary Huber

Hillary Huber has been working steadily as a voice over talent for 15 years.  She has done hundreds of commercials for clients such as Toyota, McDonalds, Tylenol, Coffeemate, Boeing, Subaru, Ford, Taco Bell, Walmart and countless others; promos for WE, CBS and the E! Network; and live announcing for The People’s Choice Awards, The Family Television Awards, and The Emmys. She discovered audiobooks in 2006, when her research, perseverance, and creative thinking resulted in a flourishing and profitable career in audiobooks. She now records books on a regular basis for major publishers such as Harper, Macmillan, Random House and Scribner. Some titles include Skinny Bastard and Light in the Piazze.  Her next project is Tell-All by best selling author Chuck Palahniuk.  Her narration consistently garners both critical acclaim and industry awards, including several Audie Award nominations.

“Hillary Huber’s narration is lyrical enough to be set to music.”
-Audiofile Magazine

Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your seat!

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).
___________________________________________________

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

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

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

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.

Can I say “intimidating”? 

I mean… I’m no youngster.  I’ve been around the block…had my share of competition.  I’m seasoned.  But Nancy just seems to have this mystique in the minds of many voice actors.  I AM a relative voice-acting newbie.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  She might just crush my frail male ego…laugh at my demo, or belittle my pipes.

S’all good.  An hour never went so fast.  She’s engaging, perceptive, aware, fun – yet business-like, and challenging. 

Will doing more sessions with her change my voice acting career?  Unsure…but that’s the hope, and so far I have no reason to think otherwise.

Does she make me want to be better?  Without a doubt.

Is she the real deal?…or just another Hollywood hype-meister?  OK, maybe there’s a little valley-girl in there somewhere.  I used to live in SoCal.  I understand you need someone who’s been in the mix to help you with some juice.  If she can open a portal for me to some of that culture…I’m all for it.

Is it money well-spent?  Ah…now…there’s the biggie!  That question is so burdened with subjective and perceived value that it’s impossible to answer for anyone else but you…me…uh…the person paying the bucks.  For me, I’m gonna say YES.

I will say I’m not that big on phone sessions, yet it’s probably appropriate to get some basics out of the way at first.  Luckily, I live close enough to LA, that I can and will have some one-on-one time with Wolfson, and that’s important at some point.

So, it turns out that July/August will be a training period in my VO career.  A full 5-day weekend at VOICE, and a one-on-one with Wolfson.  Life is good! 

I’m not getting a lot of rest….so I KNOW I’m not gonna rust.

CourVO