The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over Read Online Free PDF Page B

jobs in these cities. Although the possibility for nonunion work does exist in larger cities, it may require some additional effort to find it.
    In smaller cities, the union for voiceover, AFTRA (the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), is not as powerful, and there is a much greater opportunity for freelance voiceover work than in bigger cities. You’ll find more about unions in Chapter 21 .
    OK—you’ve decided eating is still a pleasurable pastime, and you’ve made the wise decision that you would rather not quit your day job just yet. So, how about doing voiceover work on a part-time basis? Good question!
    Doing voiceover work part-time is quite possible, although you probably won’t be doing the same kind of work as you would if you devoted more time to it. You will most likely do some corporate/industrial work, telephone messages, and smaller projects for clients who have a minimal or nonexistent budget. Some of your work may be voluntary, barter, or you will do it just because you want the experience. The pay for nonunion freelance work is usually not terrific—but freelance work is a very good way of getting experience doing voiceover. You can gradually build up a client list and get copies of your work that you can use to market yourself later on when, or if, you decide to go full-time.
    The biggest problem with doing voiceover work part-time is that you may find it difficult to deal with last-minute auditions or session calls. If you have a regular full-time job, you usually will need to arrange your voiceover work around it, unless you have a very understanding employer. Part-time voiceover work can be an ideal opportunity for the homemaker or self-employed individual with a flexible schedule.
    With the advent of Internet audition services and advanced computer technology, it has become very convenient to record auditions and paid projects in a home studio and submit them as MP3 files via the Internet.
    Doing voiceover work can be very satisfying, even if you only do an occasional session. Yet, the day may come when you decide to go for the big money in L.A., Chicago, or New York. In the meantime, don’t be in a hurry. Make the best of every opportunity that comes along and create your own opportunities whenever possible. Networking is extremely important! You never know when you might be in just the right place to land that important national spot that changes your entire life!
    7 Things You Must Know about Voiceover Work
    On the surface, voiceover appears “easy,” but in reality there is a LOT to learn! Here’s a list, inspired by VO pro Michael Minetree, of some essential things you need to know about voiceover before you take the leap:
You can’t learn how to perform for voiceover on your own. You need the guidance of a qualified coach who knows the business.
You can’t learn how to perform for voiceover by reading a book. Any VO book (yes, even this one!) is only as good as the information it contains. The purpose of a book is to provide you with the information you need so you can more effectively learn the skills. You need talent, dedication, passion, and training that goes beyond the information contained in a book.
You can’t learn how to perform for voiceover from a tele-course. A tele-course will give you lots of information, but by its very nature, will be limited in the effectiveness of any performance coaching. You may get the general idea of how to use a technique, but it won’t qualify you to compete in this business. Personal coaching and experience are your best training.
You can’t learn this craft from a single workshop. Some workshops are excellent—and some are, well… not. Any workshop (yes, even ours!) will only be good enough to get you started on the path. You need to take the next steps with additional training. Professional film, stage, and television actors are constantly taking classes between projects. Continued training is essential in the voiceover