I recently completed the Voices For All workshop in Albany, New York conducted by Andrea Langworthy. I came away feeling very impressed with every aspect of the experience, and happy to know that my money had been well spent. Clearly, a great deal of thought and planning over the years has contributed to the smooth execution of this weekend course. Although I did not think it possible, I left with the knowledge that I had been given all of the tools and support that I could possibly need to enter this field. Now it is up to me to market myself and continue my education. However, I know that I can always turn to the VFA team at any point if I feel confused or stuck along the way.

SUCCESS UPDATE:  Have had one paying job, but  also did some pro bono work yesterday for a local state representative who is up for election next week. He is a friend, so was glad to do it for him.

SUCCESS UPDATE: I've had a wonderful year motivated by my experiences at Voices for All.  I have a weekly program reading selected excerpts from Worcester Magazine for Audio Journal, a radio station for the blind or visually handicapped.  By doing this volunteer work, I branched out to their Speaking Volumes program which airs each

month and is a book discussion group.  In addition, along with some others we have revived Audio Journal's Radio Active Theatre which records radio dramas for airing each month complete with sound effects and music.  We have a group of 25 mostly amateur actors who are having a great time recording in our

studio, often playing more than one role.  I have a background in teaching and directing but after retiring I probably wouldn't be doing any of this if I had not taken the class with you.  Not getting paid money, but getting rewarded in many other ways.

My experience with the Voices for All Master Class was exhilarating! It was such fun to meet so many wonderful people from a variety of places with interesting stories to tell. The instructor was talented, knowledgeable, and encouraging. She was able to skillfully put us all at ease, regardless of our expanded or limited comfort zones. Her way of extracting something new and different out of us was done with patience and cajoling by way of great examples and demonstrations. The entire program was paced well with ample regard for comfort and attention span. Participation was the key... No point in a vocal training class without many opportunities for practice alone, with a partner or in a group. Overall my experience was an A+ with an A+ to Voices for All.

VFA has been an amazing compnay to work with and I highly recommend their instructors and staff.  I just finished the Master Class and WOW, what an amazing weekend filled with fun and laughter, but detailed instruction as well.  I feel completely prepared to start up my new business, set up my home studio, market my voice and start working. Kudos to Leah and Eric for making me feel incredibly comfortable and able to really push myself to go "over the top," take a chance and enjoy myself.  To become a voiceover artist/actor you need to make the commitment mentally and financially, but it is worth it and I cannot express this enough.  Thank you to VFA for opening up a whole new exciting world of opportunity for me.  Success, here I come!

SUCCESS UPDATE UPDATE: Hi Andrea,

 I hope this message finds you doing well. I'm doing fine and very busy.  I wanted to let you know that I was selected to be the voice of the company I work for.  This is a corporate firm statewide and international.  I submitted recording sample of my voice to the script provided by the IT Manager in our San Francisco office.  I'm not sure how many tried out but I know it was a few.  Anyway I got a call this morning that the Planning Committee selected me to be the voice for all of the 25 offices.  I just wanted you to know that I am still moving forward and pressing towards being in this wonderful world of voice over.  This will be my 3rd architectural firm I've done voice over for.    I'm so excited and I wanted this position really bad. Guess what I read it in one take!

SUCCESS UPDATE: Dear Ms. Thayer,

Earlier this year I was asked to do a narration regarding a presentation for the firm I presently work for.  I've also have done some voice mail greetings for a couple of businesses out of state.

My first time doing any voice over work is when I did some narrating for 2 of the architectural firms I've worked for regarding job presentation's.  I also did a voice mail incoming and outgoing messages for a company located in Philadelphia.  My most recent narration I did is for the present architectural firm I work now.  I was asked to narrate for a job presentation which they landed the job. The narration for the presentation opened the door to my very first radio commercial which will run for a month on 3 major radio stations in Los Angeles, CA.   I'm so excited to be moving forward and doing what I really want to do. 

Andrea, thanks again for all your support and believing in me that I can do this. 

I took the intro class mostly out of curiosity. When I learned I could work from, combined with VFA's encouragement that I could succeed at this, I decided to go for it. In the Master Class Eric Hunt's knowledge was impressive and his assistance has been very helpful. The Master Class book is proving to be a thorough and practical guide directing me in developing this pursuit and find starting points as I move forward. I am excited and eager to pursue this endeavor.

I spent ten years behind a cash register hearing "That's some voice you've got there." and "You should be on the radio!" all the while thinking to myself, "What do they know? nobody wants to hear me, besides I can't do that, you've got to know someone to get into radio, and voice over work is all done in New York and Chicago." Then one night at the store while flipping through the local parks and recreation winter schedule I saw the VFA Intro class (for probably the third time in as many years) and finally decided to see what it was all about. I went in that night expecting to learn that I'd have to relocate, or spend years in training, or was wasting my time; but I got none of that, Bob was very friendly and made the whole thing fun. I learned what the business of voice over really was, how it worked and how I could become a part of it. Bob answered every question we had and laid out the financial start up cost and potential vs. probable gain in a frank realistic manner, this was no "Sign up with us and you'll soon be rich and famous!" speech as I had feared it might be. A few days later I was contacted about my voice evaluation and promptly signed up for the master class in Seattle (which turned out to be in Bellevue, but close enough). Those few days and the included recording session were probably the most fun I've ever had. Mike went through the material quickly, but always had time to clarify a point when needed; he laid down the basics and let us run with it, herding us back on track when we got too far off course. He taught me to speak with feeling, and then more feeling, even if I think it's the wrong feeling, I mean I gained the ability to listen to direction and really try to dial in on what's being asked for. Finally, most of all, I gained confidence, a belief in myself and a feeling that I really do have something to offer that other people would be interested in; and no one can put a price on that. So finally we come to the followup support, the real value of Voices for All. I know it's only been a few months and I haven't had many questions for the staff here, but when I have needed help they've been here, as I'm writing this I'm awaiting feedback on the sound quality of my new recording space and tips for improving it. In the end I suppose all there is to say is; VFA is there, and VFA cares, because my success is their success.

Initially, I only took the beginner's class to cure some boredom. It was so much fun, that I signed up for the advanced course. What a great group of instructors and students. I never imagined I would actually start thinking of voiceovers as a possible career choice! Voices For All has a passionate group of instructors for teaching about the voiceover industry, and they do it well. They really love their work and believe in the business, which is so uncommon in the typical 9-5 job.

What a great voice you have! Heard that? I DID! Got the bug to be a voiceover artist but wonder how to start & what you need... where to look & how to do it? THAT WAS ME! Can you receive what you absolutely need in one weekend from the VFA Master Class? YUP!!!!! Can you possibly retain it all once you step out the door? NOPE! But VFA knows that from experience! That's why the weekend class is optimal for anyone with a life! Andrea Langworthy covers every relevant topic and excavates from deep within you every conceivable emotion you could have about toothpaste & OK!...How about chocolate! She psychs you up, gives you practice, directs you through your studio session. Presto! Your edited tracks with music are completed and up on your very own website in no time! And you sound like a pro!!! It all comes with a takeaway workbook let's call it the "Voiceover Bible" & and a priceless promise---VFA will be there for you forever! Now, its only been 3 weeks, but I BELIEVE!!!!!!!! 

I attended a VFA Masters Class in March 2010, and was very impressed with the comprehensive education and practical application tips received to begin a voice acting career with confidence. I highly recommend the Masters Class for anyone interested in a voice acting career. It is a must do!

SUCCESS UPDATE: My first gig was offered to me just a few days after the demo's were posted and my equipment was set up.  I found a posting on craigslist asking for a female voice over for a hair salon.  I submitted a link to my demo's, and then went about my day.

I was so estatic when I got an email later that night saying that they wanted to use me for their Hair Salon Video!  I was literally jumping up and down in my seat with excitement and amazement!!! My first VO gig, and so soon!  We worked out the terms over email, he sent me a script.  It was recorded and edited it that same night, sent off as a wave file, and two days later, my salon commercial was on You Tube!  And true to their word, I received payment in the mail just a few days later.

I can't wait until my internship is over and I can devote more time to Voice Over.  I want to work on my animation/gaming/ character demo, and have been developing some distinct 'voices'.  I also want to start submitting myself for more gigs, to agents, and to studio's and companies.  

I'm certain that more success stories are sure to follow!

Voices for All (VFA) training was an outstanding experience! As a retired teacher and trainer I appreciate instruction and instructors that energize, encourage and educate. Eric Hunt, our VFA leader did all of that every moment of our sessions. The materials were easy to follow and comprehend, the guidance was professional in its demands and support, and the interactions we had with one another created a bond of trust that allowed each of us to maximize our time in class. I am grateful for my association with this outstanding company and heartily recommend them to anyone interested in exploring a new career path in the voiceover industry.

Hi my name is Jeff T. and I recently took the masters class in Seattle. It was by far the best class I could have taken for getting my foot in the door for voice overs. The class was well put together and and the professionalism was great. I also thank VFA for the great quality of my voice demos that I did with them after the class. On that note then I am very happy I took the class and to anyone who is thinking about starting voice overs I would recomend Voices For All. Thanks again for the tools and knowledge that came from the masters class.

Wow, what a wonderful opportunity and adventure this has been and continues to be for me! I had always received compliments on my voice as a trainer and presenter. When the Voices For All Introduction class came to my town, I decided to attend, just to get an idea about the voiceover field. When we had an opportunity to do a reading and I received my very encouraging and complimentary evaluation, I knew I had to continue to the Master Class. I am very fortunate to have had Mike Elmore as the instructor for the Introduction and Master Class. He has been very inspirational and so informative and what a wonderful and knowledgeble coach he was in the studio! This journey has been filled with nothing but great support, encouragement, and communication from Voices For All. My conversations with Courtney and Levi have been invaluable and so appreciated. I was definitely hooked during the studio time. With Mike's great suggestions, this exhilarating experience resulted in professional demos that have been very useful. It has been a wonderful and positive path to a new and fulfilling career. Thank you so much to Voices For All for your continued encouragement and support and welcoming me to your family! 

SUCCESS UPDATE: I am really thrilled about my budding voice over career! I spent a few weeks learning to use my Home Studio. It takes awhile to learn the fine points of editing, but I am improving all the time! One way I've honed my skills is by doing lots of auditions for jobs on voices.com. I also worked my first full day for a company called Digital Education Productions. They create a series of ESL teaching DVDs called "Easy: The ESL Series." I love the flexibility of the work, and it is very gratifying to be paddling my own canoe. I'm working on my New Yawk accent.....unearthing it from my growing up years in New Jersey.

I'm working on creating promotional materials, doing lots of networking, and donating my services to a local school auction, as well as bartering, to get my name out there! I've never had more fun while working in my whole life! Thank you for the excellent training, and the invaluable follow-up support.

 SUCCESS UPDATE UPDATE: Hi Again Wonderful Teachers! I just had to tell you the good news. After 300 or more auditions, which really honed my editing skills, I landed and completed a job for an animated healthcare video for the Los Angeles Unified School District. The job was offered through Sodium Entertainment. I worked hard on it and am really excited to be working in my new field! Thanks to all of you for nurturing me through the early stages of this satisfying new venture.

Dear VFA,  I took your Master Class in late November in San Jose, California. I was extremely excited to get started in my new career, so I ordered my equipment from Martin and started setting up my studio. I've had a few delays due to needing to upgrade my Mac operating system and my lack of computer savvy, but Courtney was right there for me every step of the way. I am thrilled to have just recorded my first test MP3. I can't wait to start doing voice over jobs. I've never had more fun (while working) in my entire life! Thanks to all of you at VFA. You are truly top notch!