Dave Courvoisier's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘voiceover talent’

More and more I’ve been thinking about all the great voice-actors who are teaching:  Pat Fraley, Deb Munro, Marc Cashman, Hillary Huber, Bettye Zoller, Harlan Hogan…

Why?…

I mean, is teaching VO more lucrative than DOING VO?

If you can do both, then, of course, more power to ya!…but all I EVER wanted to do was VO…not teach VO.

Do you reach a point in your VO career where you want to teach more than voice?  Don’t you just want to put all your waking energy into getting better VO jobs?…wouldn’t that pay better than putting all your energy into teaching VO?

Do you reach a point where teaching VO is more FUN than doing VO?

I’ve been anchoring local TV news for 30 years, and I’ve never reached a point where I want to coach TV newscasters for money.  I LOVE mentoring others trying to get a leg-up in the business… but coaching people to be better broadcasters?  ‘Doesn’t appeal to me in the least.  I’d rather just anchor.

So I ask…why teach?

The only variable I keep coming back to is money.  It must be more lucrative to teach than to voice.  Maybe ego.  That would motivate some, I guess.

Of course, you can’t just set up shop and teach VO without having DONE it to the point of respect.  THEN you can legitimately hang out a shingle, and expect to get students.  Right?

Maybe the pros who are teaching are just more naturally drawn to teaching or suited for teaching rather than voicing….

This is just stream-of-consciousness thinking-out-loud, here…

I’m trying to understand this.

I’m doing a session at VOICE2010 on social networking, but it’s not because I really want to.  I was asked.  I’m not getting paid.  People say they’re interested in what I might have to say.  Maybe I can help.  I could see where ego comes into it.  It’s nice to be wanted…but I’d much rather spend that time voicing a sweet national network spot at union rates.

Could it be that picking the low-hanging fruit is too irresistible?  I mean, there’re all those eager newbies who say “…I’ve always been told I have a good voice…could I do commercials?…” Do they make it more lucrative to teach than to voice?

Anyone?

CourVO

What I know about finding VO jobs on Twitter would fit on Trish Basanyi’s hat brim.

The woman was an early adopter of Social Media, and continues to lead the pack among her VO peers.

Now, she’s got a boffo idea that she’s parlayed into something of substance….well,virtual substance anyway.

Visit VOICETWEET.COM now and sign-up.  The site is intuitive, simple, accessible, and …well….purple!

Check it out, and be sure to let Trish know if you find something wonky with the site.  She claims it’s just a little side business, but I think it’s got legs!

Thanks, Trish!

CourVO

If China gets to make EVERYTHING…maybe all that’s left for us to do is VoiceOver.

The global marketplace is glowing, and why not?  English is emerging as the language of commerce around the world.  To market a product with a wide audience, at some point, you’re gonna want to put a proper English-speaking voice along with the product/service.

Giving the Brits their due for a piece of the pie, that leaves North America as the source of an authentic English sound.

No one preaches this marketplace more than Bettye Zoller.  She’s been working this angle for years…maybe longer than anyone else.

In preparation for an upcoming Webinar on VoiceOverXtra.com, called “Foreign Job Sources for VO”, Bettye told me: “…for this webinar, I had to do serious research and even get help from foreign sources who gave me more input. It is the hardest research on a topic I’ve done for a long time and I hope as many people as possible will tune in…”

The Webinar is April 5th, the price is modest, and you get a download of the session when you’re done.

Click HERE for more details.

BTW, there’s a preview article of Bettye’s webinar on VoiceOverXtra, HERE.

CourVO

October of last year, I launched into a series of blogs about synthetic voices.  It got a lot of responses, and landed on John Florian’s VoiceOverXtra site, too.

The idea that a machine can even BEGIN to affect the subtle nuances of a human voice for interpreting copy is an outrage to many.  But those are audiophiles.  What about someone with an iPad or a Kindle, who just wants to plow through some required reading?  Would THAT take a Grover Gardner or an Alan Sklar?

Plus…synthesized voices are getting better and better.  Maybe you should refresh your memory with a listen to some of the voices I link to on that previous article ” ‘TOUCHED A (SYNTHETIC?) NERVE!”

In the last few days, a couple of emails from VO friends prompts me to obring up the subject again, ’cause, believe me folks, this is the VO Issue that won’t go away.

See my friend Chris Wagner’s blog “Computers are Stupid” for a look at not only voice, but synthetic image technology that doesn’t require you to have an intimate friend who works for PIXAR.  Chris asks a similar question:  Is this the beginning of the end for actors?

Then, not to ignore the legal/ethical issues that tend to crop-up around (but always lag far behind) these innovations…my VO friend Steve Hammill pointed me to THIS SITE where authors are crying foul on the argument of copyright violations.

Don’t even get me started on the subject of Steven Jobs STEALING the term “voice  over” for his own convenience.  It’s ruined many a Google search for me.

CourVO

….More fallout from my blogs on setting rates.

A Las Vegas friend who has a burgeoning podcasting business, but whose true genius is in marketing/selling, responded to my blog with a fine suggestion.

Scott Whitney is a big fan of Tom Freese’s series of books base on the idea of QUESTION-BASED SELLING (QBS).

You can visit Freese’s website on QBS –  HERE.

But, getting specifically at the point Whitney is making about “the Humble Disclaimer”…you may want to visit directly to THIS QBS page.

It’s a quick read, and true to Whitney’s astute observation, it fits right into the discussion of setting rates.

Thanks, Scott

CourVO

Conference-calling is a burgeoning business these days, it seems.

Many people use it for communal conversation, and voice actors are no different.

I’ve tried FreeConferencing.com many times over the past few months.  It is free, and it is a no-brainer.  No scheduling is needed, and your conference call number stays the same always.

Now, FreeConferencing is touting a new service called FreeSee.  I’ve only just signed up, and haven’t gotten my confirmation yet, but I can only imagine they’ve added video functionality to go along with their already-reliable product.

See their notice below, including the link to sign up for the FreeSee Beta.

CourVO

Read the rest of this entry »

Thinking back…I’d have to say I get the most spirited reaction to blogs about setting freelance VO rates…and I’ve done a few of those blogs, ’cause the issue keeps coming back for me.

I wasn’t overwhelmed with a response to yesterday’s blog: SETTING VO RATES, but the few who chimed in added much to the conversation.

Perhaps the best post-script to yesterday’s tale was the response from my client.  I’ll save that for last.

If you read the comments to the blog, you’ll see that VO talent Jeffrey Kafer cautioned me to NEVER share my rate sheet with clients.

The dean of VO blogging — Bob Souer — reminded me that it’s great to have a spine about these issues, but reminded me that a spine is flexible, else we would never be able to tie our shoes.

I liked the response that came from a follower on Google Buzz:  “…sounds like a tough thing to gauge, I would imagine though that your work speaks for itself (literally) and that the client would find value in your service. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to mention on your rate sheet that these are introductory prices and you are building a business so take advantage of these low rates as they are lower than industry standard. I also like the idea of asking for more but that comes with lots of experience and rock solid reputation…”

Voice actor Justin Barrett responded that, “I kinda like the approach of telling the client you’re building a business. However, could that not easily backfire if the client interprets “building a business” as “not yet a working professional”?

The female voice talent mentioned in my tale responded with a wonderfully eloquent and involved email explaining her rationale for not really HAVING a rate sheet.  The response was so reasoned and savvy that I’ve asked her permission to reprint excerpts here so we may all benefit.  If she acquiesces, I’ll post that very soon (tomorrow?).

But here’s the response from my client that I promised above: He called me today apologizing for sending the rate sheet to the female VO talent, saying as soon as he hit the “send” button, he regretted it.  I believe him.  I told him that the whole experience has sharpened my ideas about setting rates, and made me re-evaluate my worth as a developing voice actor.  The conversation ended with a much better understanding of the process for each of us.

But here’s the real kicker:  The client (God bless ‘im) told me in the course of the conversation that “…Dave, I would’ve paid you more for your services…”

Wow!  See?  I left money on the table.  I didn’t ask what I was worth.  My product is undervalued.  I’m not respecting enough myself OR my work.  I’m selling short.

Lesson learned.  A valuable lesson.  I’ve already augmented my rate sheet, and am promising myself to remember to say to future clients:  “Tell me how much you’ve budgeted for this project.”….or….”What is the most you’re willing to pay me, and still feel like you’re getting a fair deal?”

Check back here over the weekend, when I hope to have the sage advice from the seasoned female voice talent who was willing to generously share her thoughts on this issue.

CourVO

So many variables go into the setting of rates for freelance entrepreneurs.  That’s my opinion.  Others differ.

The arguments can get quite philosophical — wrapped up in value judgements of self-worth, market conditions, and even personal relationships.

I’ve heard ‘em all.  I especially love the hard ‘n’ fast rules that always seem to come from the highly successful long-time voice actors who typically will say something like:  “….I never even turn on my mic for less than $450…”

Well that’s just all fine and good.  Did you start with that?

Those of us still struggling to keep a daily flow of work…who are developing a full stable of clients…who are ever seeking the threshold of fair pay for hard work… THOSE kind of hard ‘n’ fast rules are elusive.   At least they are for me.

Let me relate a story that just happened to me:

The call came out of nowhere.  A local producer wanted to hire me to be the voice of a conference being held in Vegas…I quoted directly from my rate sheet, and he seemed happy with that, AND my work.  All good all around.

Then he asked if I could refer him to a voice actor of the female gender.  He had another project, and needed a certain type of voice.

I returned to him a couple of names and contact information.

One of the referrals — a seasoned voice actor with a sterling reputation — returned a thank you, and continued to keep me in the loop with communications back and forth.

Then came the e-mail today.   She quoted him a price for the project they were negotiating, and then he returned to her an email ATTACHING MY RATE SHEET. She then very nicely mentioned in an email to me that she hoped she hadn’t scared-off my client because her rate was “…significantly higher than mine.”

OUCH!

Reactions:

– The client faux pas’d by sharing my rate sheet in the first place (I told him so)

– I launch into a gut-wrenching rationalization of my rate sheet

– I also launch into a soul-searching re-evaluation of what I’m worth and what I charge

On the VO-BB some time ago, the notion of “SPINE” became popular.  Rightly so.  The idea being that only those Voice actors with spine will stand up and ask for the price they truly think they’re worth.  Raise the bar.  Take charge.  Have chutzpah.

Great!…but there’s just this one caveat….

CourVO

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

Read the rest of this entry »

You hear me talk about this publication every month….but have you actually flipped through it’s amazing online pages?  And by “flip” I mean it literally.  This is one of the coolest online magazine formats I’ve ever seen.

EQ mag is for musicians, studio geeks, audiophiles, engineers, and studio techs, but so much of what you’ll find on these pages is helpful to voice actors.  Tons!

For instance, an article this month entitled “Why settle for tracks that sound good when they can sound great?”  is packed with tips on audio editing, including use of plug-ins, equalization, and mixing.

And like I always say, the ads alone are worth checking out, just to keep current.

Click HERE or on the pic above.

CourVO