© Chanti Productions 2008
Our industry-leading Voice Biz Workshop is the perfect supplement to the new Voice Biz Handbook 2nd Edition, and now is available online in two 4-hour sessions that you can attend from the comfort of home or anywhere with an Internet connection. Discover everything you need to know about the voice over industry. Connect via Skype or telephone as we guide you through the essentials of demos, marketing, unions, equipment, and more ... and that’s just Session 1! Then tune in for two more weeks of training with Session 2, The Voice Mix, two 4-hour sessions that cover Hooking up your studio and Editing 101. Your coach Deb Munro guides you step by step through your studio hook, then you’ll record and edit audio live via webcam. You’ll be an audio editor in no time flat! This crash course will save you endless hours of research, trial and error, and headaches. More than $450 of value, now at a special introductory priced of only $315 per person. See our schedule on page 3 for online dates and times, or join us for an onsite workshop at a location near you.
Getting Loopy is a unique workshop devoted to the fine art of ADR, also known as Dubbing or Looping. Work with a variety of visual projects while you test your lip syncing skills. This skill is rarely taught, yet is in high demand. In the morning you’ll work with animation, narration, video games, walla (background), SFX, commercials and more. In the afternoon test your ad libbing and improv skills. Join us in a variety of challenging exercises that will stretch your abilities and get your creative juices pumping.
Take the SING Out of Your SONG is a Mic ’n’ Me advanced workshop. If you're an experienced voice talent, actor, broadcaster or returning student, then you will qualify for our most advanced class. Challenge yourself in this intense 4-hour mic session. Receive a personalized assessment, and work with challenging scripts that will hone your skills.
VoiceOver Workout caters to all levels of voice talent. We work on script analysis with on-mic practice sessions all day long. You‘ll get multiple mic sessions and tons of one on one direction. Work on commercials, narrations, dialogue and characters from a wide variety of scripts. All your sessions and director’s notes are recorded and sent home with you for review. Available online.
Editor’s Corner
By Eric Pollins page is the last thing our industry needs right now. The situation is
worse in Canada, where ironically a comparatively strong dollar has The contract between the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of negatively impacted its film and television industry, 80% of which Motion Picture & Television Producers expired on June 30, 2008. services US productions.
Some productions in the U.S. and Canada have proceeded, albeit Even if SAG approves a contract before AMPTP s current August 15th very few. Concerns that SAG may still call a strike vote have deadline, it will take months for productions to ramp up to full prompted many producers to wait it out on the sidelines. capacity. So expect the slowdown to last through this fall, or longer. A “final offer was presented by producers to SAG on June 30th, In the interim, this is a great time to enhance our training and keep but has not been acted on by the union. SAG leaders have refused our skills sharp so we’ll be ready to get to work once the dust settles.
to endorse the proposal, but may send it to the membership for a Follow these links to learn more about the SAG/AMPTP contract talks: vote by the end of July.
www.variety.com/article/VR1117988926.html?categoryid=18&cs=1 With the current economic woes facing the US economy and the
lingering after effects of last year s WGA strike, another work stop www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i5dab62 7a6e5e9f6779db3f7dc6047543
Special Promos • Stand Up Comedy Workshop at Studio on the Drive in Vancouver, B.C. One day intensive with Chris Molineux (inspector Gadget) Sunday
current work and is looking for something more exciting. If you or members will benefit from this exclusive package. Click here. anyone you know is looking for a FANTASTIC executive or personal • Don’t miss your opportunity to mingle in a room filled to the brim with assistant, starting in September she’s your gal. Click here for more. voice actors from all around the world, where at any moment you could
• Voice Talent Debbie Gratten sent out a terrific promo/e-zine that we’d meet your voice idol. All this and more awaits you at the Red Carpet
like to share with you. This is a great way to keep in touch with clients, Celebrity Reception Thursday August 7th at the Hyatt Regency Century casting, agents and more. Good work Deb. Click here. Plaza in Los Angeles, for VOICE 2008. Click here for more information .
© Chanti Productions 2008
Being a freelance voice talent could very well be the most fun a person can have while still calling it work. Still, as much fun as it is, it’s important to remember that it’s a business and to treat it that way.
I started my career over 19 years ago as a broadcaster. Then, as technology advanced to a point where I could effectively compete as a freelance voice talent, I started on my current business path. Little did I imagine then how much my business would grow. Be careful what you ask for, right? You just might get it! Back then I had little idea how big this industry could become or where it would lead me ... I just knew I wanted it. Sure, I had goals, but no idea yet of the many directions in which they would lead me.
In particular I had no idea that my path would lead to teaching. We've all heard that Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. I’ve always been a doer. But over the years I discovered the fallacy of that old expression. Especially in this business, the best teachers are those who DO the things they teach. While I struggled to grow as a voice talent I became so fascinated with learning my craft, and so frustrated with some ‘insiders’ who refused to help me break in, that once I got established teaching became a natural extension of my career. That’s how the Mic’n’Me VoiceOver Workshop Series began, and everything else that sprang from it.
Since you can never be certain where your journey may lead, it’s best to prepare for all possibilities. Once you’re running your own studio you may find yourself becoming a producer, or an engineer, foley artist, musician ... even a coach! But no matter which direction your path leads, one thing is certain: In order to continue growing you must develop the discipline to treat your career as a business. Otherwise, no matter how good you become your career will never advance beyond the hobby stage.
As with any business, this begins with good organization of your digital and paper records. Keep track of every client, every demo sent, and every contact made. Create a separate folder for each client and project, preferably in a computerized contact manager. Track the dates of everything you send out and each response you receive. Keep a current list of contact names, addresses and phone numbers. Save records of all expenditures, and keep the receipts. It will make your life much simpler at tax time. If you intend to make money in this business, the tax write-offs are crucial to your bottom line.
These articles will help you along your VO journey. Top tips from the best in the biz.
Developing a regular system for invoicing is critically impor-In our Voice Mix workshop you can quickly learn to create fully tant. Simplify this process by using a computerized book-produced tracks with voice, music and effects. And coming in keeping program such as Intuit’s popular QuickBooks. Early 2009 our new book series, The Business of the Voice Biz, will
on, when the pace of your business is likely to be slower, is the show you how get the most from your studio investment. time to get your business organized to support your growth. At Chanti Productions we’re here to promote your success. We While filled with opportunities, this industry is very competi-know exactly what you need to succeed, because we don’t just
tive. In the past year we’ve seen turnaround expectations cut teach, we do this business, every day. Remember, as a freelance to 6 hours or less with some clients. Especially if you’re new or voice talent you’re running a business. And we’ve got the tools just starting out, becoming a top voice talent now demands and experience to help you succeed. more than just good craftwork. It requires a well-oiled Until next time everyone ! business machine running at peak efficiency. Staying Deb Munro - Director / [email protected] organized will keep you at the head of the pack. Eric Pollins - Editor / [email protected]
When you're selecting equipment for your business, it's sensible to save money, but considering the low cost of equipment these days, it also pays to think ahead. If you get a one or two channel mixer it may be enough for your immediate needs, but it will limit your ability to grow. You can open up more opportunities for yourself by preparing for a business that produces more than just dry voice tracks. Consider spending the small extra increment required for the gear you’ll need to add music and sound effects to your work, so that you’ll be able to provide full-scale production services.
