The Actors' Place, Inc. online learning
Online Learning
Learn the foundations of Voice Acting for Radio and TV once a week for seven weeks.
7-week Online Voiceover Class
Voice Acting for radio and television
We are offering one-night-a-week training for voice actors in the analysis and delivery of VO copy based on Keith's training system called "Just Have the Conversation" In this class, students will learn expected delivery patterns for ad copy, text analysis, and then practice delivery of five different copy types:
- 2-Person Conversational Copy
- Solo Conversational Copy
- Soft Sell
- Hard Sell
- Narration for Dramatic Television
Each week, students work via Zoom with the instructor on copy interpretation and delivery then they spend the next week practicing and recording a copy at home for review the next week. Don't have a professional recording studio at home? No problem. This is about the delivery of the copy and not the technical tools at your disposal though we do devote one night of class on using a professional DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that you can download and use for free. As long as you can record on your phone or laptop, you are good to go for this class. The class also covers an exploration of the professional tools you will need to pursue voiceover and the multiple outlets you can use to market your voice and develop a professional strategy.
Classes are limited to 8 students and are held from 7-9 PM on Wednesday nights. Recordings of all lessons are posted to a blog that you can view on your laptop or phone so that, if you have to miss a night, you can watch and catch up before the next week. Cost is $304 for the 8 week course commitment and you are billed electronically either up front of in installments (your choice). Here is a detailed breakdown of the course:
Week 1 - Overview of voice work
vocal health and maintenance dos and don’ts
warm-ups for articulation and preparing to speak
Word coloration to communicate emotional point of view
breaking down ad copy and the core idea of “having the conversation”
Expected patterns of delivery
HOMEWORK: Your first practice spot
Week 2 - Working 2-Person Conversational Copy
How to see voiceover copy like an actor
What breaking down the copy tells you
Working with another voiceover actor
How you sound is how you feel about what you’re saying - let us hear it.
Paralinguistic cues
Physicalization - use your body
How to take direction from engineers and ad executives and the conflicts that can occur
HOMEWORK: Choose one from a selection of spots and record it with your partner using concepts learned.
Week 3 - Working solo Conversational Copy
Feedback on homework and in-class direction on corrections
Solo copy that is tangential to the product vs. connected to the product
Having a conversation with someone who isn’t there
Energy versus speed
Connecting
HOMEWORK: Choose one from a selection of Solo spots and record it applying concepts from class.
Week 4 - Working Soft Sell Copy
Feedback on homework and in-class direction on corrections
You are the product user - love it
Sell the feeling not the product
Authenticity in sales copy - addressing the need not the sales.
The three act format in soft sell
Using physicality to make things sound great or easy.
HOMEWORK: Choose one from a a selection of Soft Sell copy and record it applying concepts from class.
Week 5 - Working Hard Sell Copy
Feedback on homework and in-class direction on corrections
Remember to have the conversation
Hard sell does not mean insincere
Stakes
Creating immediacy and urgency
Energy and excitement.
Using conditionals and FOMO
HOMEWORK: Choose one from a selection of spots and record it.
Week 6 - Working Narration for dramatic TV
Feedback on homework and in-class direction on corrections
The similarities and differences between
Advertising and dramatic narration
Being the voice in someone’s head
Sensing mood/tone in the copy
Building tension
Thinking the soundtrack
HOMEWORK: Choose a piece of Narration copy from provided examples and record it applying concepts discussed in class.
Week 7 - Final class - where to pursue work
Strategies for continued practice and growth
Where to look for work
Online options - VO Houses vs. VO Agents
What to charge for your work (never work for free)
Using your networks and the ease of online advertising Marketing
Plan of action
