SUCCESS UPDATE: I completed the Master Class shortly after retiring from 37 years in a profession that involved many public presentations. For years people have been generous with praise for the voice I have been given, and retirement seemed to be a good time to see if I could put my voice to work in a different way. An interesting opportunity came my way from our next door neighbor who works for a state government department where her job is to seek out federal government grants. Instead of merely filling in the forms she decided to create and produce a video presentation that would accompany her annual application. She asked her boss to write a song and sing it. Other co-workers provided expertise for filming and recording, she gathered dozens of photographs, and then she put it altogether. "You took some kind of a class, didn't you?" she asked one day. "Would you be willing to do the narration?" I was more than willing. I volunteered, in the same way her boss and co-workers volunteered, and together we created a mighty fine video presentation. She gave me a $49 gift certificate to a bookstore to show her appreciation because if she would have given me $50 or more the bureaucratic wheels of government might have screeched to a halt. Oh, lest I forget, the grant application accompanied by the video narrated by a Voices For All Master Class graduate earned $11,000,000 for her department!
Voices For All is staffed by capable and kind people. I've met John Pruden in the introductory class, and he is a great voice talent as well as a fine instructor. Andrea Langworthy taught the Master Level class, and she is an excellent teacher who motivated and stretched all of us. I've corresponded with Paul Benedetti via email with technical questions about computers, Pro Tools Software, and microphones. He gently took me by the hand online to teach me what I needed to know. I'm greatly impressed with these people and how they make their organization work!
SUCCESS UPDATE UPDATE: Paul, tell the gang I just nailed another VO. This time for a Nintendo video game!!!! I am the main character Margot of Margot's Word Brain. It's a hoot! I'm actually very excited about it, since the recording included narration for PC, PS2, WII, and DS systems. The folks are even going to send me a copy of the game (which will be a bit surreal, I'm thinking). As always, I appreciate your advice. Being able to tap your brain on occasion is one of the best parts of the VO Masterclass investment! Hope all is well with you. Thanks, as always, for your help! SUCCESS UPDATE: Hi guys! Wanted to let you know the latest...Todate, I've done on-hold messages for Madeira Station and the narration of flash presentations for several Glencoe/McGraw-Hill textbooks. Future ventures include more flash presentations for the educational industry (I've got about 20 more hours on the docket...ka-ching!), expanding within my hometown market, and even recording an album. Of course, I'm still trying to get in with the Big Leaguers on the national level and send my demo out to several job postings a week. Just last week, I received some very encouraging feedback from one potential client complimenting me on the demo (but alas, he opted to go with a male VO talent). VFA is AMAZING (kudos ESPECIALLY to Paul and John) and continues to be instrumental in the success of my VO career. Thanks as always, y'all! -Leah
Dear Stan, Andrea, Paul, Brett, John, Mike, Eric, & Levi... I just wanted to THANK YOU for such a great weekend of training. Because each of your backgrounds are so diverse, everyone at VFA had something a bit different to share. I really appreciate your willingness & enthusiasm in doing so. If only all my trainings could be filled with so much learning & laughter! I look forward to staying in touch with all of you as I develop my VO career. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, give me a ring! Happy to be known as a "100% Satisfied Customer".