Living the Dream
"Recognize anyone?" , her straight-to-the-point message asked. I could actually hear her voice in my head as I read her words.
The attached photo was a snapshot of a photo which appeared to be tacked to a corkboard. The black and white photo had curling edges from the passing of time and showed a grouping of young people with fresh and eager faces, dressed in attire that was clearly from the 1970's.
Wait a minute. This photo looked very familiar. I squinted my eyes to help squeeze out the memory. Oh my! There I was, near the front row, far left. I hardly recognized my 17-year-old self with my 54 year-old eyes. How could Sarah see that the young girl in the photo was her middle-aged aunt? What was even more amazing was that this photo----taken 37 years ago-----was on display right now on the vocational school's corkboard. It... was..... just......there. No explanation. No description of who, what, when, where and why. This photo was taken from a much-earlier generation. From my youth.
Descriptions and Details about our Voiceover Workshops
New for 2009......FREE voiceover labs! This is a great opportunity to increase your level of skill behind the mic. Check the schedule for dates. We are also offering NEW advanced workshops in 2009. There's something for everyone and every skill level.
INTRODUCTORY SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
1. Step Up To The Mic! Learn everything you need to know about the recording studio and studio etiquette, the various mics you'll use in voiceovers and the importance of proper breath control. You'll also get time behind the mic to try out the microphones and record a couple pieces of copy. And, you'll be able to download what you record during the workshop off the internet to listen to at home.
2. Acting in Voiceovers: Developing your acting skills is imperative to your success as a voiceover artist. Plus, it is a lot of FUN! You'll learn how to "get out of your box" and lose your inhibitions to be able to adapt your delivery to a variety of vocal styles. We'll team you up with other voiceover artists to "voice act" in 4 dialogue commercials. And later you'll be able to download your recordings off the internet to play for your family and friends!
3. The Business of Voicevers: This workshop is designed to give you a look into the real working world of a voiceover professional. What does it take to make it? How do you find the work? How much money can you make? These questions and more will be answered in this 3-hour workshop which also give you time to read copy behind the mic along with professional analysis of your growing skills
INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
Discover Your Money Voice: In today's voiceover world there are so many different styles and types of voice work. Narrations. Long Form Technical Narrations. Radio and TV commercials. Radio and TV Image Liners and Promos. Movie Trailers. Audio Books. Video Games. Telephone IVR. The possibilites of voiceover jobs is endless! So, what are your vocal strengths? In this workshop you'll have the opportunity to record a variety of different scripts in order to analyze what your strengths are and to ultimately discover your money voice! $75.00
Develop Your Internal Time Clock: Time is money and that is especially true in voiceovers. Getting the timing correct while still adding personality and energy to your delivery is a skill that must be mastered. We'll bring out the stopwatch for this workshop as you develop your sense of time reading a variety of tags, donuts and commercials. $75.00
Nailing the Read: Taking direction is one of the most important skills a voiceover artist must develop and in this workshop you'll fine tune your voiceover skills by learning how to interpret what the director wants....and most importantly, learn how to deliver it!
$75.00
The IVR and MOH Phone Voice Industry: There are many voiceover artists that specialize just in phone recordings. Why? Because there is a LOT of work available in phone messaging including IVR (Interactive Voice Response), phone prompts, messages on-hold and recorded automated attendant are just a few of the ways in which your voice can be used on the phone. Learn the skills you need, practice recording some phone scripts and get the inside scoop on how to find the work in this lucrative voiceover niche. $75.00
How to Build Your Own Home Recording Studio including Basic Audio Editing: Today voiceover jobs can easily be found on the Internet and because of it it's feasible to develop a worldwide clientele without ever leaving the comfort of your own home! The professional recording studio of today is easy to put together and extremely affordable, too. Our audio engineer extraordinaire, Jim Naylor, will lead this informative workshop and show you how to build a quality home studio on a budget so you can start making money doing voiceovers from home. $75.00
Marketing Your Voiceover Career: It takes more than a great voice and a stellar voice demo to get work in this highly competitive business. Marketing is integral to your success as a voiceover artist and in this 3-hour workshop we'll show you how to write your marketing plan, give you tips on how to find the work and show you ways to stand out in the crowd. Be sure to take this workshop before you produce your voice demo! $75.00
ADVANCED SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
Preparing For Your First Voice Demo: When you feel you're ready to take the next step towards having your very own voice demo produced this workshop will help you prepare by pinpointing your strengths, highlighting areas to work on and pushing you to be your very best. $75.00
!!!**NEW**!!! Tightening the Nuts and Bolts in Your Vocal Delivery Part I : You'll learn the 12 Steps to Voiceover Success in this skills-intensive workshop. It's the subtle nuances in your voice that brings copy to life and makes your delivery unique. In this workshop we'll concentrate on phrasing, emphasis, energy levels, pitch, tempo and volume variances. You'll be impressed on how your vocal performance will dramatically improve when you incorporate these proven techniques into your delivery. $75.00
!!!**NEW**!! Tightening the Nuts and Bolts in Your Vocal Delivery II: Becoming a Versatile Voiceover Artist: The in-demand voiceover artists are the ones who are versatile and flexible in their vocal skills. They are the ones who can make minor changes to their delivery to please even the pickiest directors. The ones who can make boring copy sound fascinating. The ones who can read one sentence 5 different ways....and be able to do it RIGHT NOW. The ones who can read a piece of copy to appeal to a 30 year old and then read it totally different to appeal to a 50 year old. This workshop is for those of you who are ready to really challenge yourself and to be pushed out of your comfort zone. If you have at least 5 workshops under your belt.....this one is for you! $75.00
!!!**NEW**!!! The Wonderful World of Narrations: We've briefly touched on narrations in other workshops but since there is so much voiceover work in narrations we feel it's important to really dig deeper. In this workshop you'll read 2 and 3 minute narrations, whereas in other workshops we'd read 30 to 40 second narrations. We'll offer a variety of scripts for you to work with from easy-going documentaries to long-form technical narrations. Also, we limit the size of the class to 4 participants to make sure everyone has time to read at least 3 long-form pieces of work. $100.00
!!!**NEW**!!! Advanced Acting in Voiceovers: By popular demand, this advanced acting workshop focuses on in-depth character development to create believable voice acting scenarios. A great opportunity to work with other voice actors and grow your level of skill.
ALL SKILL LEVELS:
!!!**NEW**!!! Microphone Mileage Voiceover Lab: Our basic philosophy on voiceovers is that you must practice your voiceover skills.....BEHIND A MICROPHONE.......AND WITH ANALYSIS.......to grow your level of skill and to be able to compete for paying jobs. Thus, our NEW Microphone Mileage Voiceover Labs are all about YOU behing the mic recording. Bring your own copy or download copy from our website and then you'll record, record, record.....as much as we can fit in 3 hours. Plus, you'll be able to download your recordings off the internet after class to listen to at your convenience. Microphone Mileage Voiceover Labs will be offered monthly (with NEW copy available every month): . Limited to 8 participants. FREE for all who have taken the Introductory Module of workshops!Sacramento Voiceover Training Classes and Special Events
I am happy to announce that I'm teaming up with Ray Nakamoto this summer to offer a full schedule of exciting voiceover training options for you. Whether you are new to the business or have a few classes under your belt and are looking to jumpstart your voiceover career, we have something for everyone.
All events are by reservation only and seated is limited. Please call me at 916-956-2466 or email at cammie@cammiewinston.com to reserve your seat.
Here's what's coming up this summer......
Upcoming Workshops and Ongoing Voiceover Training
April 8, 2011
If being a voiceover artist is a dream of yours, a good place to start is with putting together a home recording studio. And, you'll be suprised at how affordable it can be! Jim Naylor, my colleague, KFBK news anchor and recording studio engineer extraordinaire, will be hosting a 3-hour studio class that will cover the equipment you'll need to do voiceover work from home, the various microphones used in voiceover, how to sound-proof a room and l the basics in digital audio editing. You'll learn how to put together a stellar-sounding recording studio and where to buy the equipment where you'll get the most bang for your buck! This class is limited to FOUR participants....so if you're interested, please call Jim today!
How to Put Together a Home Recording Studio
Saturday, April 23rd
9 AM to 12 noon
Naylor Audio Productions
McClellan Business Park (off Watt Avenue)
Sacramento (Jim will give directons)
Price: $100.00
Please call Jim at 916 747-7747 to reserve your seat!
More training options.......................
Individual Voiceover Coaching Sessions
90 minute sessions for $100.00 (10% discount with the purchase of 5 lessons)
Scheduled at your convenience
Intensive work behind the mic. Intensive growth! Gets you ready to compete sooner.
Taught out of Cammie's home studio. Call 916 956-2466 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 916 956-2466 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email Voiceover Training
If you already have a home recording studio AND have the Voiceover 101 class under your belt then you are a good candidate for training via email!
Great practice using your recording equipment. Great practice in editing and sending mp3 files. Sharpens your auditioning skills.
Lessons and scripts sent weekly covering a vast variety of voiceover genres. Receive coaching lessons weekly. VERY reasonably priced at $25.00 per week, per 4-week commitment.
Call Cammie at 916 956-2466 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 916 956-2466 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for info or to sign up.
Need your feedback.........
Interested in an Intermediate Voiceover Skills workshop? This would be designed to sharpen your skills, discover your "money voice" and spend considerably MORE time behind the mic. Small group workshop, 6 participants-max, and 3 hours in length.
Let me know if this is something YOU would be interested in attending. If we get enough interest we'll schedule it within the next six weeks.
Voiceover News Tidbits
Are you LinkedIn? Joining LinkedIn is free online and it can help you build your voiceover career and get paying voiceover jobs, as I discovered last week. I am now voicing a series of educational narrations for a company website. LinkedIn can help you build your business!
Another online resource that has delivered some nice paying voiceover jobs is Craigslist. Believe it or not, I voiced a series of Surfing Videos a few years back when I answered a Craigslist ad that a producer in Hawaii posted. Yes, it's crazy that a middle-aged grandma was the voice of surfer videos, but voiceover IS a crazy business. You just never know, if you don't put yourself out there!
All New Voiceover Workshops in 2009
INTRODUCTORY SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
1. Step Up To The Mic! Learn everything you need to know about the recording studio and studio etiquette, the various mics you'll use in voiceovers and the importance of proper breath control. You'll also get time behind the mic to try out the microphones and record a couple pieces of copy. And, you'll be able to download what you record during the workshop off the internet to listen to at home.
2. Acting in Voiceovers: Developing your acting skills is imperative to your success as a voiceover artist. Plus, it is a lot of FUN! You'll learn how to "get out of your box" and lose your inhibitions to be able to adapt your delivery to a variety of vocal styles. We'll team you up with other voiceover artists to "voice act" in 4 dialogue commercials. And later you'll be able to download your recordings off the internet to play for your family and friends!
3. The Business of Voicevers: This workshop is designed to give you a look into the real working world of a voiceover professional. What does it take to make it? How do you find the work? How much money can you make? These questions and more will be answered in this 3-hour workshop which also give you time to read copy behind the mic along with professional analysis of your growing skills
INTERMEDIATE SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
Discover Your Money Voice: In today's voiceover world there are so many different styles and types of voice work. Narrations. Long Form Technical Narrations. Radio and TV commercials. Radio and TV Image Liners and Promos. Movie Trailers. Audio Books. Video Games. Telephone IVR. The possibilites of voiceover jobs is endless! So, what are your vocal strengths? In this workshop you'll have the opportunity to record a variety of different scripts in order to analyze what your strengths are and to ultimately discover your money voice! $75.00
Develop Your Internal Time Clock: Time is money and that is especially true in voiceovers. Getting the timing correct while still adding personality and energy to your delivery is a skill that must be mastered. We'll bring out the stopwatch for this workshop as you develop your sense of time reading a variety of tags, donuts and commercials. $75.00
Nailing the Read: Taking direction is one of the most important skills a voiceover artist must develop and in this workshop you'll fine tune your voiceover skills by learning how to interpret what the director wants....and most importantly, learn how to deliver it!
$75.00
The IVR and MOH Phone Voice Industry: There are many voiceover artists that specialize just in phone recordings. Why? Because there is a LOT of work available in phone messaging including IVR (Interactive Voice Response), phone prompts, messages on-hold and recorded automated attendant are just a few of the ways in which your voice can be used on the phone. Learn the skills you need, practice recording some phone scripts and get the inside scoop on how to find the work in this lucrative voiceover niche. $75.00
How to Build Your Own Home Recording Studio including Basic Audio Editing: Today voiceover jobs can easily be found on the Internet and because of it it's feasible to develop a worldwide clientele without ever leaving the comfort of your own home! The professional recording studio of today is easy to put together and extremely affordable, too. Our audio engineer extraordinaire, Jim Naylor, will lead this informative workshop and show you how to build a quality home studio on a budget so you can start making money doing voiceovers from home. $75.00
Marketing Your Voiceover Career: It takes more than a great voice and a stellar voice demo to get work in this highly competitive business. Marketing is integral to your success as a voiceover artist and in this 3-hour workshop we'll show you how to write your marketing plan, give you tips on how to find the work and show you ways to stand out in the crowd. Be sure to take this workshop before you produce your voice demo! $75.00
ADVANCED SKILL LEVEL WORKSHOPS:
Preparing For Your First Voice Demo: When you feel you're ready to take the next step towards having your very own voice demo produced this workshop will help you prepare by pinpointing your strengths, highlighting areas to work on and pushing you to be your very best. $75.00
!!!**NEW**!!! Tightening the Nuts and Bolts in Your Vocal Delivery Part I : You'll learn the 12 Steps to Voiceover Success in this skills-intensive workshop. It's the subtle nuances in your voice that brings copy to life and makes your delivery unique. In this workshop we'll concentrate on phrasing, emphasis, energy levels, pitch, tempo and volume variances. You'll be impressed on how your vocal performance will dramatically improve when you incorporate these proven techniques into your delivery. $75.00
!!!**NEW**!! Tightening the Nuts and Bolts in Your Vocal Delivery II: Becoming a Versatile Voiceover Artist: The in-demand voiceover artists are the ones who are versatile and flexible in their vocal skills. They are the ones who can make minor changes to their delivery to please even the pickiest directors. The ones who can make boring copy sound fascinating. The ones who can read one sentence 5 different ways....and be able to do it RIGHT NOW. The ones who can read a piece of copy to appeal to a 30 year old and then read it totally different to appeal to a 50 year old. This workshop is for those of you who are ready to really challenge yourself and to be pushed out of your comfort zone. If you have at least 5 workshops under your belt.....this one is for you! $75.00
!!!**NEW**!!! The Wonderful World of Narrations: We've briefly touched on narrations in other workshops but since there is so much voiceover work in narrations we feel it's important to really dig deeper. In this workshop you'll read 2 and 3 minute narrations, whereas in other workshops we'd read 30 to 40 second narrations. We'll offer a variety of scripts for you to work with from easy-going documentaries to long-form technical narrations. Also, we limit the size of the class to 4 participants to make sure everyone has time to read at least 3 long-form pieces of work. $100.00
!!!**NEW**!!! Advanced Acting in Voiceovers: By popular demand, this advanced acting workshop focuses on in-depth character development to create believable voice acting scenarios. A great opportunity to work with other voice actors and grow your level of skill.
ALL SKILL LEVELS:
!!!**NEW**!!! Microphone Mileage Voiceover Lab: Our basic philosophy on voiceovers is that you must practice your voiceover skills.....BEHIND A MICROPHONE.......AND WITH ANALYSIS.......to grow your level of skill and to be able to compete for paying jobs. Thus, our NEW Microphone Mileage Voiceover Labs are all about YOU behing the mic recording. Bring your own copy or download copy from our website and then you'll record, record, record.....as much as we can fit in 3 hours. Plus, you'll be able to download your recordings off the internet after class to listen to at your convenience. Microphone Mileage Voiceover Labs will be offered monthly (with NEW copy available every month): . Limited to 8 participants. FREE for all who have taken the Introductory Module of workshops!
Voiceovers International is on Facebook
The business of voiceovers is growing and changing rapidly and our hope is that our new group will be a forum to connect, share ideas and build relationships.
We'll also post upcoming events, workshops and mixers that we hold in Sacramento studios.
Everyone is welcome to join...the more the merrier!
We'll be talking to you on Facebook.
Welcome to bigger and better!
Here is is! This is the new and improved Cammie Winston website. It's good to freshen things up after a few years and I'm excited for this brand new look. I've added links to my Facebook and LinkedIn pages, added new demos, more detailed info on voiceover classes, special events and one-on-one training and pages and pages of info that will answer your questions about the voiceover industry or about how to get a voiceover job produced. If you can't find what you're looking for you can always email or call. I'm here to help.
Voiceover Training----Summer 2012
Curious about the voiceover business?
We offer a variety of training options with something for everyone from the newbie to the seasoned pro. These training sessions are taught one-on-one, to help you grow your skills faster. My studio is conveniently located a half hour north of Sacramento and an easy drive from anywhere in the valley.
There has never been a better time to jump in!
Popular Posts
- Ready to produce your first voice demo? Here's how to start!By Cammie Winston on 12/30/2008
- The Fountain of YouthBy Cammie Winston on 1/30/2009
- The Importance of Having a Home Recording StudioBy Cammie Winston on 12/31/2008
- Testing.....testing....1-2-3....testing....is this Blog on?By Cammie Winston on 1/4/2008