DB Cooper’s Advice to a VO Hopeful

Friends, this is part three of a three-part series for new folks thinking about entering the world of voice over. This time, here are the thoughts of another pro and v/o instructor, Ms. DB Cooper:
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I would be remiss if I did not try to disabuse you of the notion of considering this path. This a one helluva long row to hoe, and sometimes, in spite of a load of work , the yield is quite small. 12 years ago I set the wheels in motion, and I still have to get out and push now and then.
–and those 12 years had a life-long base of drama, improv, and other types of performance.

What I’m trying to tell you is that I still have to work my ass off– and I have been doing something like VO or Radio of some kind of performance-related thing all my life.

My advice to you is to read aloud every day.
Start with that.
Then, get a tape recorder and record yourself. Listen back. Get used to your own voice.
If you want to, you can start without the tape recorder, because some people get too nervous and then don’t practice, but you must eventually get used to frequently recording and listening.
If you want to do any kind of VO, you must first become intimate with the sound of your voice. What you hear from the tape player is what other people hear. Get used to it, embrace it.

If you can read aloud every day for a month, you’ve got the guts and determination to do something.

Also—Find an acting class. Stage acting helps you develop your voice, character and style.

There are so many resources! Get ahold of James Alburger’s The Art of Voice Acting.

Listen to and practice with Pat Fraley’s CDs:
<http://www.patfraley.com/books.htm>
The character ones are fab because they make it fun to practice.

Visit my message board:
<http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/>

Lurk a while.
Read through the archives.

All the best to you!
Deirdre
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www.DB-Cooper.com