The voice of Monk

"How do I find Voice Over Work?"

2012-01-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick aside. I was just at an on-camera video shoot for a medical training film. While there and chatting up the crew and director I mention that I do voice work as well.

"Really? We're always looking for good voice talent." Was the response.

Personal connections. Getting out there and telling people about you skills IN PERSON.

Look, people are busy. Producers and directors don't want to work hard to find a voice. The reality of listening to 50 auditions on V123 or any other site.. well, who has time? I'm now a face and a friendly personality to this studio. I dropped them my business card and followed up with an email with a direct link to my site and demo's.

Will it result in work? It might. Bottom line, the work is out there. It won't come knocking on your door necessarily, but if you knock on its door, you just might be invited in. Go find the people that are hiring and GO VISIT! Let them know you exist and want to help them out on a project.

Ok, back to working on the studio.

Studio Build 4

2012-01-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, an update.

Heavy duty hinges from McMaster Carr have arrived. I'm using a salvaged 36" fire door for my initial door blank. To that I will add a layer of wood veneer on the outside for looks and a layer of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood to the inside with a layer of GreenGlue between the firedoor and the plywood.

The Plywood will be stepped in 1" from the edge of the firedoor, and will be attached with a metal strip running around it's edge. So we will end up with a seal on the fire door, then a step to a seal to the plywood, with another magnetic seal to the metal strip on the plywood.

3 seals with a drop seal on the bottom when the door is closed with a seal on the threshold as well.

I'm following the design of Rod Gervais's "Super Door", he used a wooden door with lead sheet between the plywood, so I am taking his design and modifying it a little. The idea is mass mass mass and air air air. No airflow, heavy mass.

Also on order are 60 Sheets of Owens Corning 703 rigid fiberglass. They will be put into wooden frames and covered in a burlap type of fabric to be room treatment on the walls. We'll get there!

Studio Build 3

2012-01-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Onward!

After the walls were patched, I used up a couple of large tubes of SilenSeal. Primarily around the edges of the wall and floor. I'll add more around the window and door once they are ready.

and this is a shot of how I've applied the GreenGlue to the back of the next layer of Drywall.

It's gooped on, then troweled out with a floor mastic spreader.

All of the drywall is up, and I'm feeling kind of buff. Next is a scratch coat of drywall compound and while that dries for a day or so, we'll start building up the "Super Door"

More pic's to follow.

Studio build 2

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, update time!

Cleaned things out, and time to patch up some of the existing drywall.

The plan is to add another layer of drywall with GreenGlue in between. I discovered that this room already had two layers of drywall already! A full inch of gypsum board. So adding another layer would just increase the mass to where I wanted it.

Patched a bad part of the ceiling...

and framed out for the studio door.

One interesting thing was how they had installed the forced hot water system for heating. The attached the backing plate to the raw studs, then put up the drywall. So the house has been converted to GeoThermal with a air system. All of the ductwork is silent fiberglass, so we can pull the old copper heating pipes. BUT, that gave me one more area to patch...

a lot of crawling around on the floor!

Studio Build!

2012-01-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, time to step up the game.

A few months ago I hired Mike Sommer to design me a studio. I was thinking it would be a booth with a control room type of setup. Mike advised me to keep the microphone in a large space. I've read that the BBC recommends that a sound booth be no smaller than 1500 cubic feet. The room I had available was aprox 12x15x8 for a total cubic volume of 1440.. that will have to do.

Here's Mike's design for the space.

and here is how the space looked when I started. It was FILLED with junk as the room was a catch all for all sorts of projects.

So first we had to hoe it out. It took two utility trailer loads to the dump!

Passion

2011-12-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

My friend Peter O'Connell had a great post over on his blog. It had to do with doing things with passion.

He refers to a couple of guys collecting money for the Salvation army, and these guys are totally into it. They are leaving their fear of embarrassment behind and just going for it.

Anybody in the voice over world will hear the question, "How did you get into voice over work" or the variation, "I've always wanted to get into voice over work" And I tell people it's simple, you need to get out there, learn to read copy, create a killer demo reel and market yourself to people that hire talent.That's usually enough to put them off the idea.

Voice work is about tenacity. You're not going to find work in the paper, it's not on Monster.com or anything like that. It's out there, and there is a lot of it, but you have to get a boat, fix your net and go fishing yourself.

The passion of your work has to be in everything you do to get you there. A good microphone. A good room to record in. Editing skills and the ability to interpret copy, (not EASY with some copy!) then there is the whole marketing end of things.

It's a business much like any other, but different in that you are selling you. Most everyone has a voice, but what is it about your voice that makes people want to hire you.The one thing that VO work isn't, is that it isn't a "job". This isn't the 9-5 kind of world. It can be a career for sure! But it sure ain't sitting behind the counter at the local HomeDepot waiting to mix paint.

Passion. Believe in yourself, dig in to the game. Learn the ropes, polish your craft. Just as there is a difference between a "Guitar Player" and a "Guitarist" or a carpenter and a craftsman, it's the same in the VO world.

At this stage of the game, I'm a little fish in a little pond. And I get steady work. (couple of national commercials, lots of eLearning..) I'm learning, improving and learning more from those around me. Check out Peter's Blog, and Bob's over on the left and absorb as much as you can and never stop.

You can succeed in voice work and acting, if you have the passion.

Another quick note about Mike Joly...

2011-09-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

So the microphone developed a weird sound. A random hiss.I emailed Mike Joly and he paid to have it sent back to him. He tested it, checked it over, didn't find any issues. Sent it back to me on his nickle.It was ok for a day then started hissing again. I emailed Mike again.Here's what he did. He sent me another microphone. He wanted me to be happy. I was floored. The first microphone I bought off of Ebay, so it could of had issues. Since I didn't know the history, I was prepared to just eat it and buy another microphone new and have him mod it. I am very VERY happy with the sound of the mic and the gigs that it has landed me. In fact I bought another.So now I have a matched set for recording piano as well as my voice work.Mike Joly is my hero.

My Joly mic

2011-05-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, first off. I don't have kids, the car is paid for, and I needed a decent microphone to add to the mic closet.

I was surfing the web one night and found Michael Joly over at OktavaMod.com, and I listened to his sound samples.

A quick search of Ebay and I found a used Rode NT1a for a song and had it shipped to Michael.

I've had it now for about a month and have been using it daily for various scripts and I have to say... I freakin' love it. It's everything the stock NT1a isn't. Lush and full, clear and warm. My new clients in California have been gushing about how great my stuff is. (it's embarrassing and bordering on flirtatious!)

I'm the first to admit, I like gear. I read the Sweetwater catalog cover to cover and check out musican's friends stupid deal of the day every morning, (I'll let you know about the MXL V900 in a few weeks) but my new Joly modded mic is amazing and I can't think of any reason to spend more. It's paid for itself already with landed auditions. (I'm the new national voice of the hawk for Identity Hawk)

So ya, I'm hooked. I'm going to go tell Michael right now that I'm a huge fan and I'm spreading the word of his outstanding work.

Monk

Do good work, get more work...

2011-05-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Work comes from all sorts of places. My ex-brother-in-law, hell of a nice guy, asked me for some character voice work for a friend of his last year. It was spec work, gratus. No problem. Who knows right?

This year, that guy calls me, would I be willing to do some scripts for him for an educational sight? Yup, and this time with pay.

Would he have called me or found me on Voice123? or some other way by chance? Maybe, but he's out in San Diego, why would he be looking for a guy in New York?

You never know where that next gig will come from or where it would lead. Do you really think that the people who voiced the Simpsons were expecting the gig to last this long?

Do good work, get more work. Repeat.

Thumbtack post

2011-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

I never stop looking for ways to get my name out there!

Voice over Artist

Microphone contest

2011-02-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

Recordinghacks.com is having a monthly microphone giveaway. They wanted me to add the mention to the blog, so I figured, "Why not!"

Hey, if ya don't enter and play, yah can't win.

Plus there's great information about a microphone that you've been wanting to add to your closet.

So go look.

Good behavior and it's rewards

2011-01-27T09:39:00.001-08:00

So I was stuck in the studio waiting for client approval for a Smith and Wesson trade show VO that I had done. The clients were gathering to discuss the text, the tempo, etc.

I waited 3.5 hours. Spinning my wheels, trapped.

I looked up the AFTRA rates for studio time, 112.oo per half hour! WOW. So I wrote up an invoice for half that, then thought about it, and charged $40.oo per hour to sit.

The studio was grateful, the client was happy.

The studio was so happy with how I handled it, they handed off my demo to a new client. The new client, Pittsfield Co-op Bank like me. I'm now their guy.

Be a nice person, treat people well, and you get paid back in kind. Go figure!

Totally off topic

2011-01-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, most of this has been about my career and stuff. (by the way, in rehearsal for Fantasticks as El Gallo.. )

Some of you may know that my old dog Henry died a few weeks ago. Cancer got to his kidneys and that was that. He was a great soul and I'm sure I'll meet him again.

We have a new pup. Bumbles. He's a Staffordshire Terrier. Full on meatball of a dog. And smarter than some people I know. (no offense)(you may not not know who you are)

He's a rescue from the Columbia Green Animal Rescue, and he's an absolute snuggle bunny.

Here's the reason for the post. If you're in need of a pet. Rescue one. Seriously. You will not find a better friend.

Welcome Bumbles to the fray. (recording session on Monday, rehearsal on Sunday, VO gig coming up on Tuesday...) Back to our normal broadcasting.

Actually P.S. Caught up with an old friend J.R. worked with him at WSBS in Great Barrington... He will either drag me back into radio, or I'll drag him up onto the stage. (they sometime pay just the same...)

Sometimes it's just so cool!

2010-12-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Walked into the studio and the engineer Steve told me that I was there to try to fix a problem commercial.

Ok. The commercial is for a local ski area and they're trying to recreate a call center with various operators answering calls about a "hidden mountain"

No big deal, read the copy, made sure they were happy and was heading out the door. Steve tells me that my read and tag will be used on 4 different commercials.

4.

:)

That means I can bill for 4! WOOOOOO! Sometimes it's just so cool!

Animal Planet "Fatal Attractions"

2010-12-10T06:52:00.001-08:00

I just wrapped up a shoot with a crew from London as they filmed a segment for Animal Planet's show "Fatal Attraction"

I play Ronnie, a decent guy, worked as a prison guard during the day and raised deer on his small farm for fun and profit. One afternoon when he went out to feed his deer, which he had raised from birth and had bottle fed, he was killed by a young buck. The deer was caught up in the rut and saw Ronnie as another deer and a threat.

The episode will air in February!

Connections come from the wildest places

2010-07-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Having lunch with a friend and he mentions he's working on some animation stuff, and he stops, looks at me and asks, "would you be willing do to some voices?"

Well, um. YA!

A friend in L.A. is pitching things to Cartoon Network, blah blah blah... Who knows?

To the studio!

First and formost, an Actor.

2010-04-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is my opinion. It works for me. Your results may vary.

If you're going to be a Voice Actor, how about getting out there once in awhile and act?

Get on stage! Hit the community theater! Sharpen those acting skills!

I've landed the roll as "Mel" in "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" the Neil Simon play being produced at the Ghent Playhouse in May. I've also just confirmed that I'll be playing "Joe Boyd" in "Damn Yankees" at the MacHaydn Theater in July.

Go hit those boards! Wooooo!

Angry dad

2010-02-28T06:07:00.001-08:00

There's a commercial starting in New York on March 6th that will feature me as an abusive dad. I did the voiceover with a young actor as my "victim"

It's weird to dig down and find an angry character, one so angry that it would hurt a little girl. I also used a phone book to amp up the sfx of the spot as I slammed it down on a table.

It is a commercial that's going to get some notice as it's protesting NY budget cuts that could effect child services.

I'll get it posted once it's up and on air.

Winner of a Telly Award!

2010-02-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

I just found out that one of the Educational Documentaries that I worked on has won a bronze in the 2010 Telly Awards!

"Riders Mills Schoolhouse" a short film on the history of rural schools edited by Steve Schwarz of Sound Seller productions and voice by ME!

Roll out the red carpet, alert the paparazzi, I am ready for my closeup!

:)

Reason to have a good website

2010-02-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

I recently did an on-camera commercial, the producer wanted to hear what I sounded like... fortunately I was able to direct them to my website which has several examples of my work.

That for me was so much better than being put on the spot while on the cell phone.

Now to get those video clips done. Enough goofin' around already!

Ok, I need a clone!

2010-02-16T06:01:00.001-08:00

To me it's an early sign of the economy on an upswing. Let me give you an example. A textbook project that I was teased about two years ago has been given the greenlight. Our A Capella group is booking more and more gigs, I landed a small film role in an independent film and just did another on camera commercial yesterday afternoon in Troy NY.

The A Capella group performed Friday and Saturday, the film shoot was Sunday and the commercial was Monday.

What is going on that people are spending money?! I like it, I like it alot!

Lets see what today brings!

I'm a PantoLOON!

2010-01-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

The PantoLoons, a theater troupe that plays out a panto at the Ghent Playhouse in Ghent New York has asked me to join their company! I played the part of Yolanda Ghentry in last the production of "Puss in Boots" last Fall, and they've made it official, they want me on the team for next years production.

Woo! and it's a payin gig!

who knew that acting could be so much fun...

Another film roll!

2010-01-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm getting spoiled. I audition, I get the part. Sometimes I don't even have to audition.

Last Friday night I auditioned for the roll of Martin, the innkeeper in an independent film being shot around Albany. On Saturday they call me and offer me the roll.

How cool is that. I'll know more details after rehearsal on Thursday and let ya know.

Your Service Manager Tony Fiske

2009-11-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Sunday) I was playing the part of Tony Fiske, the service adviser for Hometown Volvo!

Several of us from Albany Talent were hired to work on an instructional video for Volvo North America. Bedard Brothers Volvo in Cheshire MA was used as a set and the new Volvo XC60 was the star.

9 O'clock call, and didn't get on camera till after 3. It was a small part but we had teleprompters and the director Paul Zimmerman kept the crew moving through shot after shot.

I'll see if I can score a copy of the final product and add it to my list of things to post.

Now, back to focusing on the Panto version of Puss in Boots as Yolanda Gentry, the hot Latina wife of the mayor of Ghent. Yes, I'm playing a woman again... serious theater.

New work, on stage and settling in...

2009-09-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, So I step off of one speeding train onto another... cool we've settled into work at Bard College at Simon's Rock, or "The Rock". Two weeks ago a director for a musical called "I know I came in here for something" called me and said that the show over the summer was a raging success and it's up for a revival for a couple of weekends. He had approached me in the spring, but with the National Guitar workshop happening, I was booked solid. Anyway, I said yes.

I had to learn the whole show in a week and a half. "Hey, ya need some stress, here's MORE!"

MMMMM boy good!

Got it done, the opening night had my mother in the audience as I sing a song about erectile disfunction. If I can handle that crowd, I'm good for the rest of the show. This weekend of September 25th, 26th and 27th is the final weekend until some time in November where the show is going up again as a fundraiser. Get yer tickets now!

On another note, listen for my voice on College guide .com so far I've done Nashville College Guide.com, Detroit College Guide.com, Cleveland and Charolette. With hopefully more to come.

WOO!

Ok, What happened to SUMMER?!?

2009-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

I was the Front of House Engineer for the National Guitar Workshop this year down at SUNY Purchase, load in happened on July 12th, and we were loaded out by August 16th...

In between those dates were concerts every night, guest artists like Steve Vai, Pat Metheny, Paul Gilbert, Robbin Ford... sheesh. And then, during this fun and frivolity, I applied for a position at Bard College at Simon's Rock.

Phone interview, two on site interviews... I GOT THE GIG! WOOT!

I'm the new Instructional Technology Specialist for the Art Department. From welders to projectors, computers to the stage. I work for the IT department, yet anything that plugs in, turns on or fires up is now my charge. CNC milling table? yup.

The bonus... A VOICE BOOTH! Nice Wenger booth for me to use when needed.

as a complete aside, the Presonus Audiobox performed perfectly as a travel VO tool. Never dropped the ball for any of my clients while on the road. Sweet.

YAY FILM WORK!

2009-06-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, it was my first film where I was on the OTHER side of the camera, like, in front of it and not behind the scene somewhere.

The film is a documentary about Phineaus Gage, a guy who survived having a steel rod race through his skull during a freak quarry accident in 1830. He lived for years afterward however his personality changed, I think technically he was the first lobotomy.

So I play the guy who caused the whole thing. I put powder in the hole he's working on and fail to tell him. He goes to work on the drilled rock and BLAMO! In another scene I find the steel pike and pick it up, only to discover it's covered in "matter"... red matter and junk.

ew.

I don't know what the release date is going to be, but I'll keep you posted!

New radio commercial for Wahconah Park

2009-06-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

Here it is! Should be on air this afternoon!

It is a :50second spot with room for a :10 second tag.

Pittsfield Defenders!

I love this work.

Great week!

2009-06-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

I get back from a TV commercial shoot, and in the ol' email box is a possible voice gig!

man, sometimes it pays to live right. I'll write more once the contract is signed.

:)

Marini builders!

2009-06-02T11:13:00.001-07:00

The shoot on Monday went great! There were 6 of us from Albany Talent, and I was teamed up with Lisa Munter, we played husband and wife and they gave us two kids.

I tell ya, that's the way to have kids. They were about 6 and 9, well fed, well behaved and when I was done, they went back to where they came from. No muss no fuss.

Lisa and I are in several scenes, outdoors looking at our new home, looking at the computer and bringing the kids in from the amusement park. The happy family in their new home!

I'll work on getting a link to the final product when it airs.

WOOT!

Got the gig!

2009-05-29T06:17:00.001-07:00

Another on camera commercial!

This time for a home building company. Shooting is Monday starting at 10.

BooYAH! now, where's my makeup......

Make the call

2009-05-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

It was raining today. Cold, damp, pleh.

With Memorial Day weekend last weekend and all of our a'cappalla singers crashing at The Lodge, I didn't have time to chase work or do my round of updates.

And man it doesn't take long to fall behind! But we're back on track with today's work. Got the monkey drawing done and made that the background of my NEW WEBSITE!

www.monksvoice.com is my new voice only site. No CGI to confuse people, straightforward and clean. Here's me, here's what I sound like. Hire me.

Oh and my agent called before dinner, he may have a gig for me Monday playing a construction guy on camera.

Let it rain.

Lunch meeting with the famous Mary McKitrick

2009-05-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to hear positive things from other people before you believe it. Friends will tell me, "You sound great, you'll get work." or my agent will tell me, "I can market you."

But sitting down and having lunch with someone in the business and realizing that I'm on the right path and I have to be persistent and patient...and I'll get there. That can make your day.

Mary of MCMvoices.com met up with me in Northampton for lunch, I talked too much, blathered on and on and she offered advice and support.

I love acting. I'm going to start calling it a passion.

Tagging Westwood College

2009-05-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

National ads tagged. Westwood college ads will have me on the end with the phone number... operators are standing by!

The new North American voice of Grundfos!

2009-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Me. Recorded in NYC at Headroom studios, as soon as post production is done, you'll hear it here.

woot!