The demand for voice over (VO) talent has boomed over the last decade, driven by more demand for content online, an increased demand for audiobooks, and much easier production requirements than ever before. The demand for that talent continues to grow. All you need is a plan. Getting started in voice over identifies every tool and skill you need to acquire to take advantage of this swelling need for voice over artists. When completed, this course will leave you with exactly the plan you need to get going.
 
One month course; David Lawrence, instructor
 
Agenda
 
Unit 1
The Roadmap And The Tools
  • Create your VO career development roadmap and stick to it
  • Get the right tools and training, both in voiceover skills and VO career management
  • Dive in, then assess and enhance your tools and skills
  • Expand your portfolio of opportunity
  • Start your VO demo portfolio with commercial and audiobook demos
  • Install inexpensive home equipment for auditioning and recording
  • Join casting sites: ACX, Voice123
Unit 2
Train Well In VO Skills       
  • Begin with commercial VO, then proceed to others
  • Fiction Audiobooks
  • IVR/Phone Prompts
  • Documentary Narration
  • Animation and Videogames
  • Specialty Narration
  • Non-Fiction Audiobooks
  • Children’s Audiobooks
  • Training and Industrials
  • Trailers and Promos
  • News and Information
  • Digital VO: apps, web sites and help files
Unit 3
Train Well in Career Skills
  • Recording and editing with Audacity
  • Computer and Internet proficiency
  • Auditioning and studio etiquette
  • Cold reading
  • Script analysis
  • Self-direction
  • Mastering your presence on ACX and Voice123
  • Demo construction and demo portfolio building
  • The special requirements of recording audiobooks for ACX
  • Excelling at storytelling and acting
  • Client and project management
  • Union membership, contracts and signatory functions
  • Social Networking as a VO professional
  • Creating your own content

Unit 4
Enhance and Manage Your New VO Career
  • Expand demo portfolio with audiobooks, IVR, narration, animation and others
  • Upgrade your web and social media presence
  • Get involved with online and IRL VO groups
  • Practice, practice, practice – get great at VO
  • Manage your VO career well
  • Make getting an agent a goal, but shake your own trees
  • Market yourself locally and globally
  • Monitor your systems and tweak as needed
Question MarkAbout online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun. 

GearsHow the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

CalendarParticipate when you want

You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

ChecklistWhat you will do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
  • Have the option of accessing the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DiscussionDiscussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.


It’s easy. It’s fun.

Next offering(s):
-Next session coming soon-

$ USD
 
Ave. hours 16; 1.6 CEUs/ILUs



About Your Instructor
 
 
David H. Lawrence XVII has had a career in radio and TV, including ABC's epic series LOST, CBS' legendary CSI and military thriller The Unit, NBC's spy comedy Chuck, Good Luck Charlie and ANT Farm on Disney, Touch and The Finder on FOX, and is best known as the creepy evil puppet master Eric Doyle on NBC's smash hit Heroes. His film career includes on-camera and VO work on Men in Black III, Pizza Man, The Changeling, The Hulk, Iron Man, Percy Jackson, Unstoppable, Too Big to Fail, A Special Relationship and countless others.
 
Directional ArrowsCourse Objectives
  • Getting the right tools in place to audition for and produce VO content
  • Identify the categories of voice over that one can pursue
  • Become familiar with the technology needed to create final audio product
  • Embrace the business skills needed to survive and thrive in the world of VO
  • Finalize a plan that will lay out the steps to take begin working in VO

 

 
Puzzle PiecesCourse Outcomes 
At the end of the course, you will:
  • Understand the relationship between the VO artist and the producer
  • Know what demos you’ll need to create to get booked
  • Have a complete list of the equipment and software you need to produce finished audio
  • Understand which web sites are open to you that provide audition and production opportunities
  • Approach producers with your new skills and tools, and seek work
Completion Requirements