I Was a Car Dealer – Now I’m A Voiceover Artist

By Keith Brunson

Imagine life as a car dealer. From sales to finance, all the jobs within it. All the customer deception. All the “noise” of daily operations. Now imagine you’re in that environment, and you’re a woman. Now imagine you’re a woman in the car business, and you stay in it for twenty years. Such was the case of Angela Ohlfest. “I love cars,” says Angela. “I do, but selling cars to people, well, that’s another thing.”

Angela pictured a red sports car in the high-pressure car dealership environment.

It was only a couple of years ago that Angela inhabited that world. Pressure to sell. Pressure to sell up. Pressure that yesterday’s success was null and void by the dawn of the next day. “You’re only as good as the day before, making Any day possibly your last without Any warning,” Angela comments, and “all of the signs were there that it was time to leave, so…I did.”

 Angela was unhappy with the pressures of working at a car dealership.

Now 45 and living in Scottsdale, Angela has completely reinvented her life as a voiceover artist, and it’s an entirely new world. There IS no pressure because there is no team. There is no supervision, and there is no boss. What’s there IS you. You and your creativity. That resonated for Angela, and so she reinvented her life in the world of voiceover artistry. Her specialty is in long-form delivery of content, emphasizing audiobooks. So, in the last two years, Angela has recorded over (90) titles. And this is unheard of. https://www.voiceoverangela.com

Her operation is a simple remote voice over home studio, using the Sennheiser 416 and computer recording software for editing and equalization. “I don’t know why things are working so well because I don’t think of myself as special,” she says. But tell that to almost a hundred authors, and you might get a different reaction. “I like being their voice and helping that self-publishing author get heard.”

Angela also teaches and mentors on-coming talent “because I wanted to provide the help that I couldn’t get when I started.”  This teaching mechanism covers everything a beginner needs to learn to become a voiceover artist. And that interest began because I love to read.

Angela enjoys reading and taking time to learn.

Oddly or not, Angela is very inward. “I’m a complete introvert,” she says, “and here in this little studio, it’s just me and the words,” and in that environment, Angela feels confident and happy.

Her T-shirt merchandise says it all. “I talk to myself in a padded room all day and get paid for it.”  Voiceover gives her a sense of security that the dealership business never did. And it provides her with a sanctuary. “Absolutely an introvert. I work alone. I think alone, and I am alone.”

Angela is happy in her “sanctuary,” the in-home voice-over studio.

When you work in a car dealership, every day is about selling more cars. So how did she do it? “I don’t really know,” she says, “but when the signs appear to you that it’s time to leave, you leave…and I did, and no one seemed to care

However, In her New life, everyone cares, and she teaches and mentors others to become who they want to be. She is, in fact, a voice talent that is in demand. She’s found a place where people express themselves, and your emotions matter to everyone. Because it is That emotion that drives the effort behind the people in the audiobook industry. “I do love cars, but I have found a way to keep that love without working in it.”

Angela Ohlfest found her way into a successful voice over career.

So, whether you work in retail or molecular biology, if your life experience in the working world isn’t offering you that big emotional payoff, look at Angela’s life, and maybe you can find Your way out.

The Voice Shop can help prepare you for a lucrative career in Voice Over, a rapidly growing 15 Billion Dollar industry. The Voice Shop is a voice-over coaching and education initiative. The Voice Shop’s mission is to establish and develop the skills necessary for you to succeed as a voice over professional. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, a wide range of voiceover classes, workshops, and private lessons are taught by esteemed industry veterans, both online and in person. The Voice Shop gives you the skills and industry-savvy knowledge of VO to take your career to the next level.
http://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/

The Story of Lia Perretti

By Keith Brunson

The leadership behind the workflow at Creative Media Design (CMD) is Lia Perretti. When you hire CMD, you're hiring Lia Perretti. And you're hiring a lifelong journey in the field of creative media that Lia decided upon early on.

Lia Perretti, Head of Production at Creative Media Design in New York City. https://www.cmdnyc.com/

Lia was born into the business. Her Father, Jim Perretti, was an award-winning creative director in the advertising agency business, and this translated to Lia following in her Father's footsteps. "He made my eyes open up to the world of creativity as a child, and it stuck," says Lia. While watching her Father lead and direct national commercials, Lia got the bug and still has it.

"I worked as Dad's stylist and production coordinator in the beginning, and I just loved the atmosphere and creativity that was all around me," she says. Lia was a natural in this business, and without hesitation, enrolled in the visual arts program at The School of Visual Arts https://www.sva.edu and then went on to graduate from Lynn University in Boca Raton. https://www.lynn.edu

Creative Media Design delivers voice-over work in (80) different languages and advertising services for Target, USTA, Schneider Electric, and GSK, to name a few. So, when you need a media organization to help you market your company, be it translations or production, marketing services, or what have you, Lia is your first point of contact. She's the Director of Production.

But Lia didn't just walk into CMD. Lia spent years in the ad agency business, learning how to put voice productions together. Starting in 1996, she was a production assistant at Pubicis Kaplan Thaler. So, Lia began at the bottom of the totem pole in production. She did not get special treatment because of her Father. For the uninitiated, the production coordinator is the person that is asked to do everything that others do not want to do. And that includes getting coffee and buying office supplies. Translation? Lia started at the bottom and literally "worked" her way up. That's a unique distinction for an advertising legacy. She sidestepped no job. She spent her early years devoted to the jobs that came along the way.

 In 1998, Lia went to work as an assistant producer Lowe Bozell McAdams. She spent three years developing radio and television for Bank of America, The New York Times, Bausch & Lomb, and Jergens. Her contribution to the agency is hallmarked by becoming instrumental in winning the account of Jergen's skin lotion. If you are unaware, getting that skincare product as a client got Lia noticed.

Lia moved into a career at Havas worldwide, the fifth-largest agency globally, and oversaw the production of a 500-person organization. It was here that Lia got heavily involved in large-scale campaigns in film production from script to screen. From Volvo to Intel, Lia was involved in the explosion of the Blue Man Group and its contribution to pop culture.

Lia Perretti with The Blue Man Group

"That was a career highlight and serves to this day as a memorable experience that still remains a very fond memory," says Lia. "I knew this was a defining moment in my career, and we filmed in London." The commercial would air internationally and become a true hit with the television viewing public globally. "I'll never forget it."

In 2004, Lia would migrate to yet another famous ad agency, McCann Erickson. Many ad agencies in New York determine a person's production standard in advertising, and this shop is at the very top. It was there that she'd oversee major client accounts of Exxon, Kohl's, and the highly notable account of Verizon Wireless. During this period, Lia was the centerpiece of the entire production department. Practically every piece of communication that involved making the advertising product passed through Lia. This would set her up for a self-assured career, unlike any of her experience beforehand. She traveled to Australia to shoot the Kohl's account. She interfaced with the client and the technicians to bring the product to screen and set the stage for a lifetime of constant achievements.

In 2010, Lia would venture into freelance producing. Freelancing is where you invent every job you do. There is no supervision, no one to report to. You INVENT your jobs from one to the other. It's a unique period for the producer because what you create is what you become. And that's when Lia got involved with the cause of Breast Cancer and the philanthropy surrounding the disease. During this phase, Lia would get involved in the Avon Foundation for Women Breast Cancer Walk. Once again, Lia was the person that put the project together and made what the writers wrote an actual on-screen reality.

In 2019, Lia joined Creative Media Design. And as has always been the case, Lia serves as the glue to hold the entire production together. If you like the work, it's Lia's credit. Because although we often think of the life of a producer as strictly executive work, the opposite is true for Lia. She casts, oversees, communicates with the client, and delivers the end product. And all of this began because of her Father's influence. Her Dad led her into the field, and she remained in the field. It brings to the forefront the title of the popular television series from 1954 on CBS starring Robert Young, "Father Knows Best." And if you asked Lia right now, she'd affirm that show title to ring true.

Can I Do Voice Over?

In this article, we want to address whether you (yes, you, the one reading) could make money doing voice-over! But first, let's set the stage:

Voice over is an over 15-billion-dollar industry. It's huge! Commercials, Radio Ads, Podcasts, you name it. The demand from companies for voice talent has never been greater. Before the pandemic, many of the best voice actors rented or owned a professional recording studio. They could go into the studio and record their voice with the highest quality equipment. This process had long been the industry practice. However, as with most things, March 2020 changed all that.

These days, most if not all voiceovers are recorded from home. The equipment and recording quality you get from Amazon or Sweetwater products like microphones, soundproofing, audio interfaces, etc., is professional grade. Existing and new voice talent alike have purchased the necessary equipment to make a living from home. Using their voice. We have several relevant blogs if you are interested in this process or the specific equipment needed:

Getting Started in Voice Over

 You Can Do This Voice Over Job from Anywhere

Long story short: You can get excellent quality recordings from your own home from a small investment of $500-$1,000, depending on which equipment you choose. This investment may seem like a steep cost to enter the industry, but it's relatively affordable compared to starting your own business, getting patents, physical location rental, etc. And with that small investment, you're set to start making money with your voice!

But can YOU do this? Yes! Absolutely! You can! When most people think of the "ideal voice-over voice," you probably think of someone with a deep voice like Morgan Freeman, or an attractive voice or a radio voice. This common perception is totally wrong. Companies these days aren't trying to impress you with a fantastic voice. They want someone that sounds relatable, real, human. Can you be those things? Of course, you can!

 Voice actors (from left to right), Kelly Wilson, Mike McGonegal, and Mary Catherine, create voiceovers from their home studios in locations across the USA.

Mike George is one of our Industry Expert Coaches who teaches in-person and remote classes for The Voice Shop. His overall focus is "Be Authentic." During his classes, he helps identify the characteristics that make you unique and helps enhance those bits of you. It's a thoroughly enjoyable process that also prepares you to take steps into the Voice Over Industry! We have class offerings for everyone, advanced, intermediate, or even beginners. Our Fundamentals of Voiceover class is a popular favorite, and we highly recommend giving it a try!

Voice coach Mike George provides voice acting instruction at The Voice Shop in New York City.

We have students from all walks of life, all age groups, and all demographics. Voice acting at this point is like the great equalizer. Everyone has a chance to succeed and begin making money, regardless of how your voice sounds. Isn't that a novel concept? It's true, though!

If you have any questions such as "How do I know which class to take?" "How can I connect with talent agencies?" or "How can I improve from where I am now?" you should schedule a free consultation with us! Send an email to: info@voiceshopcoaching.com and ask to set up a time with Jessica, our Director of Education.

Jessica can help you identify where you stand and what steps to take next in your journey to redefining "work."

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.”