SUCCESS UPDATE: Andrea and Paul, Just a quick update on how things are going after my Voices For All Masters Class.  It has taken about a year but persistence does pay off.

After numerous auditions and learning to listen really well to what I was submitting as an audition I finally landed my first job. It was small but it was a narration which I like.  I have been getting some small narration jobs mostly for business presentations. Recently I auditioned for 2 national and 2 worldwide distribution documentary projects and placed 2nd and 3rd in the final rankings.  That was certainly encouraging.  

Meanwhile I was hired to do a large business narration for a Canadian company ($2,000). They were very pleased and asked if I would be interested in doing 4 or 5 more of these for them and of course I said yes!  More encouragement!  Another opportunity came when I placed 1st for hire for a narration with a worldwide charity ($4,000 job). The client eventually chose one of the other auditions but the producer was pleased enough with my audition that he is keeping it for future narration possibilities. Talk about a HIGH, then a LOW, then a HIGH!

So far I can say that it takes a great deal of patience, constant learning, self evaluation and self improvement. And updating and expanding my demos has been essential too.

Thanks to Voices For All and the Masters Class and your entire team.

Paul, Andrea and the Team,

Thanks for a great experience with Voices For All. You give a great platform to "spring into action" and get started in the voice over business". I enjoyed the experience and look forward to lots of fun and challenge.

SUCCESS UPDATE: Well, I left the seminar in summer 2008 all fired up to create a recording studio and start searching for voice over work.  The economy began to unwind and the GM dealership where I worked laid me off.  I managed to find work again, but for less pay and less hours.  I put the project on hold.   In September 2009 I found out about an audition with Washington Talking Books. I missed out on the one open position they had available in their talking books department; but they asked me to work instead at their radio station, Evergreen Radio Reading Service.  Since December 2009, I have been producing, editing and recording a 30 minute program that is aired twice a week.  The position is considered volunteer; but I have hopes that after my year commitment is complete, I’ll have the experience and confidence to find voice over work that comes with a paycheck! 

I've been told for years that my voice was a great asset. But since I lived in a tiny town deep in the heart of rural Texas, there wasn't any way to pursue the idea of voiceovers until I recently moved to Washington. Thanks for offering the introduction class at a local college and staffing it with Mike Elmore. His sense of humor and knowledge of the voice over profession made it seem like an attainable goal and not just a pipe dream. The Master Class that followed in Portland was professionally conducted and full of all the details and practical advice needed to help get started. John Pruden was a well organized, top notch instructor. He supplied the information and pep talks; now it’s up to me to start my retirement years with a whole new career to look forward to. Kathy Skipper