VO CEO
6:30pm – 9:30pm Tuesdays, September 5 – 19
Director: Christy Summers
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: None
As independent contractors, voice actors not only need to be “the talent”, but they also need to be the CEO of their voice-over “company”. Invoices, goal setting and self-promotion, oh my! The idea of all this “paperwork” can be understandably overwhelming if you’ve never had to do it before. Worry no more! We are so excited to welcome Christy Summers to the Voicetrax family! And why you ask? A voice actor herself, Christy brings her MBA to the lesson plan as she takes you through Business Planning, Marketing and Website Development (and by development we mean the actual building of a website!) all with the total understanding of what it’s like to be in your exact shoes. You’ll explore the business side of show business, so you can get back to the show part in no time flat.
CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE!
Teaming With Talent
6:30pm – 9:30pm Wednesdays, September 6 – 27
Directors: Vicki Baum, Aaron Miner
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This class will include weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
We stopped short of calling this Vicki vs. Aaron (who would you bet on?), but it’s true that each week the roster will be divided between two teams who will duke it out for serious bragging rights. But don’t get too cozy on the team you’re on initially because each week the teams will be rearranged based on a very specific genre and style including commercial girl/guy next door, accented video game and cartoon characters, villains and villainesses, wise storytellers and authoritative but approachable narrators. This class hits on self-direction, script analysis, script choice, performing without much time for preparation, and includes a wide variety of genres and roles that are asked for often in auditioning. Super relevant and taught by two working voice actors. And if this jam-packed workshop isn’t enough, at the end of the four weeks, both Aaron and Vicki will each pick an overall “winner” and whomever they pick will win a free private lesson from them. C’mon, we needed to have some kind of contest, it is called Teaming With Talent.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
T. G. I. F.
T. G. I. F.1:00pm – 5:00pm Friday, September 8 – 29
Director: Samantha Paris
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
In this cornucopia of a workshop Samantha is locked and loaded to bring the FUN back to Friday and give you exactly what you need. How is that possible? Because before this class happens, Samantha will look at the class roster and custom build her lesson plan to specifically address what those 12 particular students need at the moment. Could it be commercials or characters? Maybe a dramatic monologue? Might it be exploring famous prototypes? Perhaps a name draw where you will secretly observe your fellow ‘Traxer over the duration of the 4 weeks and perform as that person on the last Friday? We know it will be self-direction, oh and a contest! Well, of course, a contest… And, well, whatever it is, it will have you saying, “FUN abounds on TGIF” once again!
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Finding Your Voice
9:30am – 1:00pm Saturday, September 9
Director: Samantha Paris
Length: 3.5-hour overview
Class Notes: None
Join Voicetrax founder, Samantha Paris, for an enlightening overview that’s half “everything you ever wanted to know about voice-over” and half interactive exercises where volunteers who are game get to jump right in and actually record a character or a radio commercial! After decades in the industry, Samantha is thrilled to be able to pay it forward by offering this information in a fun, loving, tell-it-like-it-is way. Samantha will offer a straightforward outlook regarding the financial realities of the business, the commitment and training required to become a successful, working voice actor, the advantages and pitfalls of online casting, and how you’ll know when you’re really ready for a demo and a talent agent. What a fun way to spend a Saturday!
ENROLL NOW!
Improv For Voice Actors
10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday, September 9; 10:00am – 1:00pm Saturday, September 10
Ever wonder what a bowling butterfly would giggle like? How would a rhino with low self-esteem approach a confrontation with a co-worker? Get ready to find out as you open your mind to all the endless possibilities that live in the universe within you while getting rid of that pesky fear that oppresses your true creative self! In this energetic and fun workout, Anna will jolt you out of your predictable everyday choices, freeing you to take chances and find new and unusual characters, voices and approaches to copy that even you didn’t know you had. Using a variety of tried and true theater games and improv techniques that she’s perfected over decades of experience, you’ll gain confidence as you learn to relax. Not to mention that well-placed improv is an effective way to shake up an audition and get you noticed by casting professionals, a true secret weapon for working voice actors.
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It Remains To Be Scene
11:00am – 4:00pm Saturday, September 9; 11:00am – 4:00pm Saturday, September 10
Director: Jeannie Elias
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. This course has a one month drop deadline.
It does your acting good to take a break, every once in a while, from voice-over scripts, lest you think the whole world speaks in nothing but thirty and sixty second clips. And Jeannie wanted us to tell you that “there will in no way, shape or form be ANYTHING voice-over” in her world premiere, jam-packed, scene study seminar. She will however be partnering you with a dialogue partner and providing you a scene from a film or play (don’t fret there is no memorizing required… whew!). You will explore, analyze and disappear into your scene throughout the weekend. And because we know that voice-over is acting for the microphone, any time spent strengthening your acting skills in a different medium will inevitably make you a better voice actor.
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Inside The Voice Actor’s Studio
Inside The Voice Actor’s Studio10:00am – 1:00pm Saturday, September 16
Moderator: Vicki Baum
Special Guest: Matt Moy
Length: 3-hour interview
Class Notes: None
We cannot contain ourselves in anticipation of the next special guest we’ve invited to our ongoing lecture series. We are so fortunate to welcome our homegrown hero, Matt Moy! As a very successful ‘Traxer alum, Matt is prepped and ready to lay down the wisdom he’s earned from his already active career including animation series Steven Universe and on-camera in the hit shows 2 Broke Girls and American Auto. Of course, we’ll delve into his process of creating a character and analyzing a script (remember this is still a class with lots to learn!), but we’ll also dig into the emotional and philosophical approaches of an acting career. We are looking forward to seeing you there to help us digitally welcome Matt home!
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The Moy Wonder
2:00pm – 5:00pm Saturday, September 16
Director: Matt Moy
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Length: 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: Attendance at the Inside The Voice Actor’s studio morning session.
Lo and Behold! Our beloved son has returned, and boy oh boy does he have a tale to tell. From his time on prime-time television or his character credits, Matt is stoked to guide you through a variety of animation scripts. After attending the morning’s Inside The Voice Actor’s Studio session and learning all about Matt’s story, it’ll be time for you to work with this very special Voicetrax rock star! From home recording performances that will receive feedback in class, to fun and exciting animated characters performed live in class, you’ll get an opportunity to pick his brain and learn how Matt’s experienced, comedic timing applies to dissecting scripts. And with Matt at the helm, a wondrous time is sure to be had by all.
CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE!
The Pay It Forward Parlour
The Pay It Forward Parlour6:30pm – 9:30pm Thursday, September 21
Directors: YOU and your fellow students (and perhaps a Guest Director will pop in!)
Length: 3-hour lab, monthly
Class Notes: None
There’s seriously never been something so “for everyone” in the 35-year history of Voicetrax. We really mean it: Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced/Working Professional students, even Alumni! E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. is invited. This special lab was born from our desire to give back to our Voicetrax family and provides the virtual “bricks-and-mortar” for a FREE monthly workout group. For one day each month we are opening one of our Zoom channels for you to remotely drop in and work on whatever kind of script you choose including dialogues as we utilize breakout rooms for partners to practice in private. You’ll get the opportunity to receive performance feedback from your fellow students as well as providing constructive critiques of your own, which we all know very specifically helps with the ever-important self-direction skills necessary for success. Learn and have fun in a casual environment. And did we mention there could just maaaybe be a surprise pop-in by an elite Voicetrax Guest Director? Guess you’ll just have to show up to find out!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO!
Direct Thyself
9:30am – 3:30pm Saturday, September 23; 9:30am – 12:30pm Sunday, September 24
Director: Samantha Paris
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
By now you’ve had a touch of the self-direction ideology of voice-over, and you’ve likely (and by likely we mean absolutely, 100%, for sure) heard from multiple teachers and working professional students that self-direction is the name of the game when it comes to auditioning, and they’d be exactly right. These days you are on your own to create an attention-grabbing, competitive audition. This seminar presents your chance to sit in the actual director’s chair, and you’ll soon realize that by having to articulate a clear analysis of a script as a director for one of your other classmates, you will gain confidence in your ability to break it down for yourself when you have to. Spend a weekend in the director’s chair channeling your “inner Samantha”.
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The Beginning Seminar
10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday, September 23; 10:00am – 1:00pm Sunday, September 24
Directors: Vicki Baum, Aaron Miner
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
If you are ready to begin your adventure into voice-over THIS IS THE PLACE TO START! Launch into a weekend packed full of information, performance exercises and FUN! You’ll explore basic voice acting fundamentals including detailed acting choices, script interpretation, microphone technique, monologues, dialogues, improv and video game characters – including playback and feedback of recorded performances, making this class a unique experience in online/hybrid (both in-person and online students in same class) training choices. Get ready to jump in from the very beginning experimenting with partner improv exercises and audience participation guessing games that revolve around making specific acting choices. By the end of the weekend, you’ll have a solid understanding of the voice acting craft, and an awareness of the particular skills and techniques you’ll need to succeed in the current marketplace, and perhaps even a different perspective of who you are and what stories and characters you can create!
ENROLL NOW!
Character Discomfort Zone
Character Discomfort Zone6:30pm – 9:30pm Tuesday, September 26 – October 17
Director: Roni Gallimore
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course has weekly homework assignments.
There you sit all snuggly and oh so comfortable… aaaahhhhh… (insert annoying air horn here) Now get the “H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks” up!!! Are you ready for a challenge? Of course you are because you know very well that nothing ever grows in your comfort zone. But don’t fret! Roni, the kindest member of the Voicetrax Think Tank, will guide you through character scripts that are quite intentionally outside of your wheelhouse to make these specific roles, well… part of your wheelhouse. Each week Roni will come at this incredibly relevant exercise from a different approach. One night she might give you a dialogue and plenty of time to practice with your partner, or maybe you’ll have a monologue with little to no time to prepare and only your instincts to guide you. As you stretch and grow in a safe environment, you will be amazed at the sizable menagerie of characters you are capable of bringing to life.
ENROLL NOW!
Colors Of Your Voice
10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday, September 23; 10:00am – 1:00pm
Directors: Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
What color is love…Orange? Trust…Blue? Excitement…Red? The Colors method, originally developed by one of the nation’s most sought-after coaches and veteran Voicetrax Guest Director Thom Pinto, has helped thousands of actors including your instructor, construct a richer, more vibrant voice-over foundation by assigning different emotions to a specific color. As Chuck leads you through an exploration of your full vocal and emotional spectrum and associates it with colors, you’ll uncover a multitude of voices and interpretations that you’ve never before considered or realized you were capable of delivering. Not to mention you’ll now possess a tool that is so relevant and effective, it is used every single day by busy, working voice actors.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
To Each His Om
10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday, September 30
Director: Erik Braa
Length: 7-hour one-day seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment.
Take a moment to get into an extra comfortable position, preferably lying down if that’s possible, as you take in the information of this world premiere class description. That’s right… breath in… and out…wonderful. The meditation app industry is set to hit a billion dollars revenue in 2023. Keep that breathing slow and steady, but yes, we did say billion with a B. That kind of snuck up on all of us, didn’t it? We have manifested the unlikeliest of instructors to take you on this “guided” tour (see what we did there?) of what it takes to be a competitive meditation narrator. Erik Braa, more famously known for his burly, Viking-like characters in a zillion video games, just happens to have the delicate touch for meditation. He’ll let you in on the techniques necessary for this burgeoning slice of the voice-over pie. And hey, at the end of the day, who else will be able to say they’ve been taught how to narrate a meditation app by a Viking?
