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Voiceover – New Year, New Focus

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Happy 2014!

I have to say that, for me, 2013 was an incredible year. A year of dramatic ups and downs. A year that introduced new, and some completely unexpected, opportunities. As I look ahead to 2014, I know that change is in the air. Much of the groundwork for that change was laid this past year. The beginning of the new year is a time when most of us set goals and make resolutions. So, one of my goals for the new year is to focus on performance. Not just mine, but yours as well.

If you are working as, or wanting to become, a voice talent… this year could be a great year of change for you too.

Here is some good news, the technical side of voice work is getting easier. Manufacturers are introducing products that help take the recording environment out of the equation. From microphones that attempt to eliminate or adjust for room acoustics to better portable booths and other acoustic control devices, this area of recording technology continues to develop and improve.

ISDN… I think we all can see where and how that is going. Thankfully, voiceover talent finally have some alternatives entering the market that are both cost effective and easy to use. Best of all, they don’t require additional hardware to use them. (currently SoundStreak and ipDTL).

Accessibility and acoustics matter greatly and it is clear that our industry is helping to drive the demand for cheaper, easier, more effective and more reliable solutions in these areas. As they improve, the playing field will be leveled even further and vocal quality and performance will become even more singular differentiating factors among voice actors. All of that being said… you should still buy my book Sound Advice – Voiceover From An Audio Engineer’s Perspective. 😉

I encourage everyone with the passion and drive required towork in the voiceover industry to focus on your performance and deliveries first. If you are new to the industry, focus on getting proper training. If you’re already a working pro, invite a second set of ears to offer direction on your auditions. It certainly can not hurt.

As for my personal focus and goals for this year, I am expanding my teaching focus to include performance. I have been invited to teach voiceover at the Screen Artists Co-op in Asheville, NC. So, if you have an interest in voiceover and live in Asheville, Greenville or the surrounding areas, I hope you will come check out the Co-op. I have been focusing on performance by taking acting classes there since June (I begin my third block later this month) and can tell you it has been one of the best experiences of my adult life. Of course I will never abandon my love of production, mixing and recording technology or my willingness to share the knowledge I have gained in these areas with voice actors. If you think I am the right person to help you or a friend in any of these areas of the voiceover industry, please let me know.

I wish you all the best for the new year. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and phenomenally successful 2014!

In Memory of Paul Armbruster

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When I think back on pivotal moments in my life, I can’t help but think about my teachers. I’ve been so fortunate to have great teachers and mentors throughout my life (a pattern that, thankfully, still continues today). Paul Armbruster was definitely one of those great teachers. He is responsible for building the foundation on which my career in voiceover rests. He made me the producer, director and voice talent that I am… and I am eternally grateful. He was a sweet, talented and humble man who touched many lives. More lives than he could ever know.

Paul Armbruster was my first voiceover teacher. When I took Paul’s workshop in 2000, I had very little idea of what voiceover was really all about. Rock radio hadn’t exactly been the best training ground to learn how to be a voiceover talent and back then, it didn’t even occur to me that voiceover was a career. I met Paul when I took a job working as a studio manager at GMVoices in Atlanta. Paul was one of our voice talent. I knew about recording engineering and about being on the radio, but not what it really meant to be “a communicator” or how to do it.

He taught me how to breakdown a script and how to identify the message behind the the words… to read between the lines. Like any good coach, he could be tough, but also offered plenty of encouragement. As his student, I really got the sense that he was on my side and wanted me to succeed. I appreciated his honesty… even on our last day of class when he told me I “wasn’t ready”. He was right. At the time I wasn’t ready to be a voice talent and it would be nearly five years after taking his class until I would do my first paying voiceover job. However, in my role as producer and director, the tools he gave me proved to be useful immediately.

Paul taught me the language of voiceover. Thanks to his lessons, I learned how to direct other voice talent with clarity and confidence. I learned about the different styles of copy and how to get the best read from a talent. His toolbox… became my toolbox.

The skills he taught me are the skills I teach and practice everyday. If I think about all of the voiceover sessions on which I have played a role as engineer, director or as the talent since taking Paul’s class (which is an enormous number), I can’t help but think how much better and easier so many of them were thanks to him and all that he taught me. Through those sessions, he touched more lives than he ever could have known. Even now, after passing on, he will continue to do so through my work and the work of many of his students.

A couple of years ago, at FaffCon 2 in Atlanta, I was able to thank Paul at FaffCon’s closing circle. In front of all attendees, I had the opportunity to tell him just how much he meant to me. That the education I received from him allowed me to have a place in this industry and that he was instrumental in helping me develop into who I am today. That opportunity was a gift and I will never forget it… and I will never forget Paul.

Thank you Paul Armbruster… I will miss you.

Here is a collection of just some of Paul’s voiceover work.

PaulArmbruster

FaffCon 6 – Voiceover Unconference San Antonio

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Sound4VO's Dan Friedman-097Anyone who follows Sound4VO knows that I’m a huge believer in FaffCon, the voiceover unconference that never fails to inspire, motivate and raise the bar for our industry. Here is my recap and some thoughts.

Thursday – Let the Faffing begin!

Although it hadn’t even officially begun, on Thursday night, “faffing” was already in full force. While I can’t say for sure, I would guess that at least a third of all attendees were in San Antonio and made it out to a bar across the street from the Omni Hotel. Many of us in the group are like family now and while we sometimes go months without talking or seeing each other, we effortlessly pick up as though we just hung out together yesterday. It is nothing less than beautiful.

While I love seeing familiar faces, I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to also see some new faces. In some instances these are people with whom I’ve worked, but have never met in person. This is always a thrill. Their passion is what brought them to FaffCon and I know they will leave overflowing with new ideas, tools, advice and support that will help them soar to new heights.

Beginning that very first night, I was the beneficiary of some of this advice. Specifically, about protecting my voice. I had been doing “full commitment” exercises in acting classes the prior week and I will admit it had been tough on my voice. My good friend, singer/actor/voice talent Liz Aiello gave me some herbal remedies to help get me back on track more quickly. She has also promised to give me some additional tips and tricks that will help me in the future.

Friday – Now its Official

By opening circle on Friday we were all fired up and ready to go. We began to lay out the agenda and set personal goals for what each of us hoped to get out of the event. After that, we had a festive new meet and greet opportunity with sponsors (and friends) in a trick-or-treat style game where attendees filled their event bags with swag and their heads with tricks and tips. Then it was off to dinner and back to the hotel lounge for… karaoke! Now normally, I’m not a big fan of karaoke. But in this crowd, we have some serious professionals. The singers were outstanding.

IMG_0520 San Antonio Saturday Night

Saturday we were underway with sessions on everything from SEO, performance, ISDN alternatives, marketing, union vs. non-union… truly just about everything that a working VO pro needs in an effort to remain up-to-date and to advance their career. Saturday night we had the opportunity to see the sights at the river walk in San Antonio. I had no idea it would be so spectacular. My hometown, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida has been called the “Venice of the Americas”, but I have to say that the river walk area of San Antonio resembles Venice, Italy much more closely. It was wonderful to cruise the waterway and explore. Of course you can’t go to San Antonio and not visit the Alamo… which we remembered to do. (SORRY!)

Sunday Send Off

Sunday, we were back in sessions. Home studio and recording session topics were where I spent the majority of my time. Improv sessions were also a hot ticket for the day. Business management, marketing and health and wellness were additional session topics. This is a peer lead conference where you get the information you need, simply by asking for it. The truth is, if you can’t find what you want at FaffCon… then you did not ask for it.

Closing circle always seems to arrive way too soon, but Faffers are always left with inspirational ideas and directives to work on over the next several days, weeks and months. While the event must come to a close, the true benefits take place when everyone arrives home and puts their plans into action.

My Summary

As always, the hotel lounge was packed each night until the early morning hours. Many of us did not want to waste a single minute of that time doing anything other than catching up, sharing, laughing with old friends and making new ones. Some of the strongest bonds are formed during these late hours and these are also some of the best networking opportunities.

Sometime in the last several months leading up to FaffCon, I read something that suggested (or perhaps stated… I honestly do not remember) that voiceover conferences were just a big waste of time and money. That what you have to do to succeed in the voiceover business is sit in your booth, practice and get better. Or, if you need information, just call up someone in the industry who knows what they’re talking about and get the answers you need. While this may be true for some conferences and that method may work for some people… FaffCon is not that conference and FaffCon attendees are more ambitious (and fun) people. Yes, you must practice. Yes, you should have a mentor or someone to call for advice. For me… the brain power, talents, and support of the 100 attendees at each FaffCon are the people I call. Two heads are better than one. One-hundred heads… are an unstoppable force.

I have gained so much as a result of my participation and attendance… new connections, agents and work. I’ve learned about the business and learned about myself. Best of all, I’ve made some of the best friends anyone could hope for. Thanks to all of you that I have met, worked and played with at FaffCon’s 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. You all ROCK! Be well and I’ll see you at FaffCon 7.
THE STARS AT NIGHT, ARE BIG AND BRIGHT…!

Voiceover – Opportunity and Preparation

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Sound4VO's Dan Friedman-097Its been awhile since I’ve posted here on Sound4VO. For those of you who are regular readers, I apologize for the silence. Truth is… I’ve been busy!!

Over the last several months, some remarkable opportunities unfolded before me and I owed it to myself to pursue them (and I’ll continue to pursue them). First and foremost, I had the opportunity to co-star in a television pilot… Rockin’ A Hard Place. In a nutshell, the show is similar to Taxi or 30Rock, but it takes place in a rock and roll club. This was BIG! It was fun; a chance to spread my wings and learn some new things.

Television, as an on-camera actor, wasn’t on my radar. I had never even considered it to be a possibility or a direction I would take. But I am glad this path revealed itself to me. After I was encouraged to audition, I got the part and jumped at the opportunity. Although we’ve had the live premiere of the pilot, the show is still undergoing editing, mixing and tweaking. I feel as though I performed well and the producers told me that I had. 🙂 The entire experience has been very exciting and it was a thrill to be a part of it. They’ll begin pitching the show in the next several weeks. As for the future of Rockin’ A Hard Place and my role in it, that remains to be seen. But, before moving on about the future… allow me to jump back in time for a moment.

Nearly twenty years ago, I was working as a photographer, manager and graphic designer for a few local bands. I was in rock and roll clubs that featured live music almost 4 nights a week. One night, at a gig, the house sound engineer told me he had to leave town for a couple of weeks and needed someone to fill in. He asked if I wanted to learn how to run sound and I responded by saying, “HELL YES, I want to learn how to run sound!” Five months later, I was getting complimented regularly for my work. However, I still didn’t feel confident that I really knew what I was doing. So… I went to recording school.

In 2000, I began working as a studio manager for a voiceover studio. I had just left radio and voiceover, as a career, was new to me. Voiceover seemed like fun and I was very interested in learning more about it. I took a two month long workshop and learned skills that every voice talent should know. While I had the desire to be a talent, my focus wasn’t quite there yet. At the time, the greatest benefit to me was that the workshop taught me how to speak the language and how to direct voice actors. As a result, I became a much better producer. Years later (after engineering, directing and producing hundreds of VO sessions, listening, and practicing on my own), I was finally able to put that knowledge I had gained in the workshop (coupled with years of experience as a director, producer and engineer) into practice as a voice talent myself.

While I’ve just shared some of my personal journey, this post is not about me or my history. It is really about the relationship between opportunity and preparation.

For the past several years we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people interested in getting into voiceover. I’m guessing with the release of In A World and also of I Know That Voice, interest is going to explode over the next year. Sadly, many voice demo factories are going to capitalize on this and start cranking out demos for people who aren’t ready. Additionally, many people are going to put a profile up on a P2P site and offer their services as a “voice talent” without any knowledge, training or experience. Both practices are shameful.

For those VO demo factories and so-called coaches who offer “get rich quick” promises and have plans to seize this “opportunity” by taking advantage of those wanting to pursue this career, those of us us who have been around awhile… know who you are.

If you are an individual who is inspired and truly interested in working and building a career in voiceover, here are some things you need to know. I understand that you may do a great Ronald Reagan or Fran Drescher impression or can imitate a commercial or preview you heard while watching TV or waiting for the movie to start. While imitation is flattering, it is not a truly necessary element to achieving success in voiceover. No matter what you’ve been told, this business is not right for everyone. Furthermore, it is a business. It requires time and ongoing effort applied to developing relationships, marketing, advertising, accounting and… training.

Training is by far one of the most important elements to success in nearly any career, including voiceover. If you truly want to make the most out of an opportunity and position yourself for more and possibly greater opportunities, you must seek the wisdom of reputable people and organizations who can help you achieve your goals and prepare you for that next big thing. Don’t forget about the hours, days, weeks, months and possibly years of unrelenting effort that you must also put in on your own. As I have written in past articles, a voiceover career “cooks” as though it were a meal in a crock pot, not a microwave.

For those of you who are thinking about getting into voiceover… go for it! But as the saying goes, luck favors the prepared. Prepare yourself for every step of the journey. In the beginning, find reputable people and organizations to help you and get training before offering your services. Attempting to build a sustainable and successful career on a weak foundation (or none at all) is difficult, if not impossible. Also, quality training will provide you with confidence so that you don’t feel as though you need to work for peanuts… unless of course you enjoy being paid like a monkey (I mean no offense to monkeys or peanuts… I like both). And, once you’re working, expect to continually invest in your training, your studio and your business.

For those of you who are already working in this industry, I encourage you to seize new opportunities when they present themselves. It can be terrifying at first, but ultimately, you may have some fun while learning something new. Acting on camera seemed like a reasonable extension of what I’ve already been doing as a voice actor so I thought it was well worth taking the chance and auditioning for the role. By the way, my role in the pilot… live sound engineer. Funny, you just never know how your past experience will help prepare you for your present or your future.

Which brings me back to today…

I’m “seizing the day” with this on-camera opportunity, just as I did in 1995 and again in 2000, by getting educated. I am now enrolled in acting classes and loving every minute of it. I’m certain that acting classes will not only allow me to pursue opportunities in a new arena, but will also benefit my career as a voiceover artist. Preparation leads to opportunity and seizing an opportunity, in my experience, has meant more preparation so that I am ready for the next bigger and better opportunity.

Each opportunity I’ve been offered along my career path was merely a seed. The training… growth. My career… the harvest.

What is your experience?

FaffCamp Is Just Around The Corner!

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faffcamp-patch-logo-faffcon_225x200From the creators of FaffCon… coming this May to the Omni Hotel in Charlotte. An event like no other in the voiceover industry… FAFFCAMP! Three days of what will prove to be the most educational experience available to both new and experienced voice actors and industry professionals.

You won’t have to look very far to find people who say that FaffCon has changed their life. In fact, look to some of my past blog posts and you’ll see that I have nothing but love for the event and everyone involved. I have no doubt that FaffCamp will prove to be as educational, fun and life changing as FaffCon has been. But, what is the difference between the two?

Those who have experienced FaffCon know that when you arrive for the opening circle presentation, there is an empty grid posted upon on a wall as you enter the room. That grid is then filled with session topics by the participants on the first night. With FaffCamp, that grid has been completed for you. No more tape and index cards. Session topics have already been planned, organized and scheduled. This preplanned format is essential for FaffCamp. It ensures that voice actors at all levels can gain maximum benefit from the event and not miss a single opportunity to learn or share their own experiences.

Another new feature is the Expo stage. For those familiar with the breakout sessions at FaffCon, where specific topics (as decided by the attendees) are discussed. The Expo will provide that same experience. However, and here is the best part, you won’t have to sacrifice one experience for another or be forced to choose between two equally appealing sessions. The expo will make every experience available to you, and within whatever time frame works best for you.

Each expo speaker will have a time slot on the expo stage, but they will also be available throughout the weekend to offer their time and expertise from the expo area.

Have you been looking for information on getting ongoing voiceover training? Joey Schaljo will be available to discuss opportunities with Edge Studios. Do you want to treat your recording space for better acoustics? Details about Dan Lenard’s Studio Suit will be available. Maybe you need a better way to get your demos up on your website? Voicezam to the rescue!

Speaking of demos, Cliff Zellman will have some exciting news about a great new way to create the best voiceover demo you’ve ever had. Representatives from the new organization WoVo (World Voices) will be there. I will also be there to offer assistance in all things voiceover, from studio to performance. Need a copy of “Sound Advice – Voiceover From an Audio Engineer’s Perspective”? I’ll have them. I will also be there representing Voicebank. Their Weekend Workout and Premium programs are great ways to get heard… by some very important people.

Also at the expo, audio editor Eric Souer, Rob Sciglimpaglia’s book “Voiceover Legal” and John Florian from the voiceover industry’s most popular website, Voice-OverXtra. Need a very cool timer for your studio? Of course you do! Bowman Technologies has large screen timers that are perfect for ensuring your deliveries make it in :30 or :60. Bowman Technologies will be at the expo!

There are a number of other new and exciting things planned for FaffCamp, and I don’t want to give it all away here, so you’ll have to be there to experience it all.

FaffCamp is just around the corner and it is an event you will not want to miss. Join us on May 3rd, 4th and 5th in Charlotte and discover why FaffCamp is the one event that is unlike any other in the voiceover industry.

Great time at VO2013 Atlanta!

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Last weekend I had the great pleasure of meeting and hanging out with some of the brightest stars in the voiceover business. Gerald Griffith of Voiceover City put together a top notch group of coaches, agents and talent for VO2013 and it was a thrill to be among them.

As I often like to do, I want to thank some of the people who, for me, made the event extra special.

David Goldberg and Karen of Edge Studios – It was so much fun hanging out with the both of you and working at the Edge table. I’m honored to be a part of the Edge family.

Christopher Currier of Neumann/Sennheiser – SO great to meet you and, seriously, I can’t help but like a guy who could talk microphones all day and night. The hat… is one of my most prized possessions. YOU ROCK just as much as Neumann and Sennheiser microphones.

Mara Junot – I just LOVE you Mara Junot! Thanks for being a great friend and for being you.

Julie Williams – It was fun getting to work with you. If your system ever crashes again while out on the road… I’ve got your back. 😉

Gabby Nistico – I thoroughly enjoyed sharing some laughs with you and representing the Carolinas! You are instrumental in making things happen here and I thank you for it.

Jeffrey Umberger – Atlanta’s best voice talent agent. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of the panel (We’ll have to ask Gerald for more time next time around). Thank you for all of the opportunities and thank you for being more than just an agent, but also a friend.

Sarah Carpenter – Thank you for your kind words. I’m excited about the possibilities.

Nancy Wolfson – Of course you are even more beautiful in person, but more importantly, you are quite simply one of the most brilliant people in our business. Your presentation did not disappoint. I’ve “followed” your advice 😉 and so should everyone who wants to reach greater levels of success.

Marc Cashman– What a thrill it was to be able to have dinner and spend real time with you. Thank you for being a mentor, for inviting me to be a part of your presentation and for your ongoing support and friendship.

John Taylor and Jaye Delai – I’m thanking the two of you together and individually because you are both such inspirations.

John – We’ve shared several brief quips online or “hi, how are you’s” in passing over the years, but I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to really talk. You are a funny guy and I learned so much. I’m sorry you had to leave so abruptly. Best wishes to your family.

Jaye – The insight, encouragement and wisdom you offered me will be so helpful as I embark on this new and very exciting phase of my career. Things you have been dealing with would make lesser men simply want to give up. NOT YOU! You are a super talented and amazing guy. I truly wish you the best moving forward, you deserve it.

Thank you to everyone who I met over the weekend and to all of you for making it special. Thanks also to everyone who purchased a copy of Sound Advice – Voiceover From an Audio Engineer’s Perspective. I hope to see many of you at FaffCamp in Charlotte in May and hopefully again in Atlanta next year!

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