Voice Over Coaches are like roaches. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it’s just that there are so many of them and they kind of freak me out. Let me explain…I never trained to be an actor, or had any business training for that matter, yet my Dad was an accountant and I was in Radio before I got into Voice Over. That’s some preparation for being a freelance Voice Actor, but not nearly as much as my peers in the New York scene; many of whom went to Juilliard, for fucks sake. Needless to say I had a bit of an inferiority complex when I landed in the Big Apple to try and make a living in Voice Over. I’ve been pretty damn successful over the years with very little coaching, but I started on a regular coaching schedule recently and I’m a believer. Here are some tips I can offer you on the subject.
When should I get a Coach?
If you’re a newbie, a coach could certainly help, but go slow and be careful. Don’t sign up for a long or open-ended lesson plan or package deal that – god help you – includes a demo. You’re a sitting duck for shysters. Those are the roaches i was speaking of. Anyone who says after four sessions they’ll make you a killer demo and you’ll rocket to VO stardom – all for the low low price of $4,000 (or more!) is full of shit, and YOUR MONEY. They may be a great coach, but it’s too soon. Very little of their expertise will sink in to your confused mind and your demo will suffer for it. No amount of whizz-bang production will make up for a ‘green’ read.
At first, we all learn by imitating. When we’re little babies, we imitate the sounds of our mom’s and dad’s and anyone around us. We eventually connect that to a feeling, action or object. It’s a long and slow process and cannot be rushed. Some develop faster than others, but Imitation is where it all starts. When you’re new at Voice Acting, think of it as learning a new language. Sure, you’ll be working in your native tongue, but the rules are different, and you don’t know them. Yet.
The best thing you can do at first is go on YouTube or iSpot TV and listen to the voice over carefully. Transcribe it and record yourself saying those same words. Now play it back and listen. It probably won’t sound like the professional. Why? because voice over performs a function that you’re not aware of yet. It has certain forms, norms and structures that are anything but natural, everyday, conversational speech. This is the point where a coach could help speed along the process, by exposing those forms. If you’re new, find a coach who’s willing to explain it in a few sessions. And DON’T MAKE A DEMO YET. But keep recording yourself and track your progress.
How do I choose the right coach?
If you’re just starting out, taking a group class will help keep the cost down and should prepare you for your journey ahead. All you need is the basics. You need to learn the various narrative structures used in voice over; after all, it’s basically storytelling. A good group class should do the trick.
If you have more experience and maybe booked a spot here and there, it could be time for one on one coaching. Now it gets a little tougher. Don’t just jump for the first person willing to work with you. And certainly don’t fall for a ‘celebrity’ teacher trap. You’re paying a premium for their name. They may be awesome coaches, but there are awesome coaches out there that aren’t famous names. Do some digging and keep that money in your pocket.
First Ask the coach about their process. What’s their thesis, or philosophy of instruction. If you connect with it, great! If not, say thanks and move on. What is the coarse content? If they are just giving you line reads and saying “now do it that way”, that has no value; unless you’re a parrot.
The purpose of coaching is reveal to WHY you are saying the words on the page. You have to learn to speak the words on the page with intention. You need to be able to develop your own subtext to replace those words (in your mind) with ones that mean something to you in the same context of the words on the page. Confused yet? It’s not easy and there are no shortcuts or miracles.
When should I stop coaching?
A good coach will tell you it’s time to “fly free my child”. They will kick you out of the nest at the right time. After they have given you all they know and you are able to recall it and use it in practice – and you’re booking again – it’s time to stop coaching for awhile.
Some voice actors never stop coaching, even after they are making a good living. The same way some folks keep seeing a psychotherapist in perpetuity. If it makes them feel good; like a nice, soft security blanket – and they have the money – then great. But i think long term, it breeds dependency and stifles a sense of play and discovery. Think of a child in a sandbox and now imagine they had an adult showing them how to play, day after day. That child would never discover the magic of their own imagination.
Your unique perspective and life experience is the only original thing you can bring to the table. That and your unique voice print. Get the basics from a good coach, then march off into the land of your imagination and play.