Toon Zone Talkback - Toon Zone Top 5 Things I Learned in Bob Bergen's Voice-Over Class

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Roxxymiller

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This is the talkback thread for Toon Zone Top 5 Things I Learned in Bob Bergen's Voice-Over Class.
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Sounds like you had a blast--well, actually you admitted to having one so...er...FAILED ATTEMPT on my part there...hah...

Wish I could have been there. I've always been interested in this stuff not to mention voice direction.
 
I never realized that some people think voice acting is easy. Knowing about Mel Blanc since I was a young lad, I was amazed that he did the voices of at least 75% of the Looney Tunes characters and have different sounds for each one of them (with few exceptions).

I'm not even good at doing more than three different voices.
 
For some odd reason, I was always under the impression that Voice Acting was harder than Stage Acting, mostly due to the fact that most VA is just one guy in the booth being yelled at the ADR or something, compared to Stage Acting where you can bounce off someone and if you screw up you get yelled at your Director as a crew.
 
Mainly because it sounds (pun, yohohohoho!!!) like a fun job and it's really a team sport so it'd involve bringing characters to life via a collected effort.

Even though I don't act like a team player I like giving leaders total cooperation to make their jobs easier.
 
Technology is changing the way the business works. 5 years ago, you had to be in Los Angeles or (to a much lesser extent) New York City to do cartoons, and Texas to do anime. Today, it is possible to do more stuff remotely. Zach Tyler Eisen lived in Connecticut while he was Aang in Avatar, and the lead character in Ni Hao, Kai-lan lives in Minnesota, I think. It's not common yet, but technology is making it easier to do as time goes on.

You can also take acting classes anywhere. There's lots of good teachers in the usual spots (NYC and LA), but there are lots of good acting programs across the country.

-- Ed
 
As an amateur VA myself let me tell you that it is hard just to get into amateur production, much less pro. The amateur productions, where you can get experience and practice for "the real thing", is full of hacks and jackasses for producers, especially when it comes to flash. When you're trying out for something that is being handled by a producer who knows what he or she is doing, you're surrounded by people who are much closer to becoming pros (or even have done pro work) than you are, and the producers will inevitably pick them over you unless you really stand out.

Now multiply THAT difficulty by a hundred and you get professional voice acting.

Yeah. It's hard, and doesn't make a lot of money. The benefit is that you don't need to look the part, you only need to sound it. Wendee Lee is an (in)famous example, playing sultry Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop when she was in her mid-forties.
 
Yes I can't imagine why people would assume voice acting is easy. It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of concentration and you often learn the voice you thought you were doing was nothing like you were actually sounding. But yes you dont' have to look the part nor do you have to get dressed up to act or anything of the major physical elements of stage acting but sometimes it's even harder to convey the right emotion with just your voice.

I've got to say Ed, I'm very jealous of the chance to work with Mr. Bergan. That would have been a joy. A lot of work but a joy.

In the case of all performance types directors meet people and get to know them and their past work and then just assume pick them over someone new. This is not always the best idea but you should always work with reliable people (that's about as much as I've learned from my ammature directing). Sometimes it's just the way the cookie crumbles. Don't expect to get everything you try out for but at the same time never sell your short. Have confidence and reliability and directors might just notice you in the crowd.

But what do I know? I'm just an ammature and I'm not looking for a career. It'd be a great job though. Just as hard as any but if you're having fun doing it then it wont feel like a job and I believe everyone wants to end up in a job that they love enough to often forget it's even a job... I know I do.
 
As an inspiring voice actor myself, I find any information about the field very interesting. I've met many voice actors at conventions, and a lot of them right off the bat repeat the same things. Often they'll say "you'll need acting experience and training", "voice actors don't make a lot of money, unless you are a highly demanded voice actor or are on the cast for The Simpsons", and that "it is a very tough business to break into." What's sad is that even the celebrities that have been voice acting for movies even believe the misconceptions of voice acting. Chris Rock once stated "voice acting is the best and easiest job! All you do is read lines!" I actually wanted to act onstage too, so I don't mind trying to get the actual acting experience. I am also taking classes in college, both theatre and media based.
 
*Listening to audio clips*

Oh snap, bit o' a basso profundo, aren't ye?

Yeah, it's a bit more assurring that Bergen wouldn't expect a imitation of the official actor. I would prefer more room to play the character as my own, as I typically do when walking 'round the house or...in the show (the best place the practice!)

On the second file I think you did a pretty good job, although I felt some hesitation in the voice when it felt as if you were attempting to have more confidence. Alas, I think it was a straight read through. A few more readings and I think you could've had something really great going.

If I remember correctly you paid your way in (something like $350?) but I'd say you got your money's worth.

I should check to see if this is a traveling program.

Hmmm....
 
Bob's 2-day seminar is generally $500, but a 10% discount is often available if you register by a certain deadline. You can also audit the workshop for $75 per day, but you don't get to participate.

And yes, it's worth every penny. Bob brought his workshop to Atlanta twice in 2008. I audited the first one and learned a great deal even though I wasn't able to participate. I learned so much more the second time around -- especially getting in the booth with Bob coaching one-on-one. My first read (a comedic character) took like 30 minutes and changed dramatically between the first read and the last (as Ed mentioned in his review). By the time I was up for my second read (a dramatic villain role), I had learned so much from the first experience that Bob didn't take nearly as much time making adjustments with me, and actually said my first take was excellent. What was funny was that I told him my instinct was to do a more comedic take on the villain but decided against it, and after he heard me perform a bit of it he said he liked that character even better than the one I'd done in the booth.

It is... sorta. Check Bob's schedule on his website:

http://bobbergen.com/appearances.htm

If I were you, I'd go ahead and make plans and get your deposit in to attend the August workshop in Portland, OR. It's likely to be the closest Bob will ever bring his workshop to where you live in WA.

Even if you aren't interested in pursuing voice acting as a possible career, if you are an animation fan at all, I guarantee you it's an entertaining, informative, and rewarding experience. Actors generally get more benefit out of it, naturally, but cartoon fans would enjoy it too. Bob's not just an actor -- he's a great instructor, and a showman as well. The combination of those characteristics makes for a really great experience.

I was also rather surprised at some of the other known talents in attendance at the same workshop I took here in Atlanta: Steve Stone (a very successful promo announcer), Kara Edwards (VA from Dragonball and other anime titles), and Marsha Crenshaw (The Brak Show, Frisky Dingo).

The best advice I ever got from one of the first voice actors I ever met was that you never stop learning. This is true for aspiring voice actors as well as professionals who've been in the industry for decades. And when these VO veterans showed up at this workshop, I thought to myself, "If these pros are still taking classes, I have so much to learn and a long way to go."

Bob's one-man show is very entertaining as well. I have a review and some photos from one of his performances I will try to get around to publishing here at TZ before the end of this month.
 
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