Beginner? Working Pro? Somewhere in between? Click on your category below.
Finding the right classes for your skill level is EASY! Just click one of the categories below. If you have any questions about the appropriate category for your experience, we’d love to help you figure it out.
- For BEGINNERS
THE BEGINNING SEMINAR
Directors: Roni Gallimore, Aaron Miner & Vicki Baum
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
If you are ready to begin your adventure into voice-over training, THIS IS THE PLACE TO START!
Launch into a class packed full of answers to all your burning voice-over questions, performance exercises and FUN. You’ll explore basic voice acting fundamentals including detailed acting choices and script interpretation – including playback and feedback of recorded performances, making this class a unique happening in online training options. As your directors take you through commercial and character scripts, by the end of the day you’ll have a much clearer understanding of the voice acting craft, and an awareness of the particular set of skills and techniques you’ll need to succeed in the current voice-over marketplace. Whether you’ve always dreamed of being the voice behind a beloved character, a commercial that makes people smile, or a narration that pulls listeners in, this class is taught in a supportive environment that encourages discovery. And THREE DIRECTORS in one class make this an exceptional training experience. After your courageous weekend exploits, you won’t just hear the difference, you’ll feel it. Your voice is your instrument and it’s time to play!
Directors: Chuck Kourouklis, Brian Sommer
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
Think you don’t “do characters?” Think again. The truth is you already do. Remember being six years old when playing wasn’t about pretending to be someone else, but about being that someone else? When imagination ran wild and you didn’t second-guess a single choice? That instinct is still there and with the right mindset, you can tap back into it. In this high-energy weekend, a daring duo of master character teachers will reveal the insights and techniques that fuel their remarkable careers in the world of character work. You’ll discover how liberating it is, as an adult, to simply let go, play, and create with abandon. It’s inevitable that you’ll walk away with greater confidence in your ability to invent colorful, memorable and fully realized characters. With Chuck and Brian’s guidance and encouragement, you’ll unleash voices, personalities and possibilities you never knew you had, and realize that character work isn’t just something you can do. It’s something you’ve always had inside you.
INTRODUCTION TO DIRECTING
Director: Samantha Paris, Vicki Baum
Length: 8.5-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment.
There is no time like the present to start your expedition into one of the most important skills for working voice actors: self-direction. And there is literally no one better on the planet than the intrepid Voicetrax Founder, Samantha Paris, to help you take those first steps. And once you’ve started on that track, Vicki will continue your directorial path on the second day, and throw some additional scripts and directing opportunities at you all while playing a role of an industry professional herself (that shall remain a secret until class). Learning the basics of self-direction including figuring out who you are talking to, and really WHY you are saying the words on the paper (and bt-dub it’s not because you are selling a product), will not only give insight into what is ultimately going to be expected of you in those more advanced classes, but it will add value and understanding to any class you take in the meantime, as you will hopefully be silently directing your fellow students along with the instructor. A class within a class. Neat.
INTRODUCTION TO NARRATION
Director: Vicki Baum
Length: 14-hour four-week seminar
Class Notes: None
In today’s world, communication goes far beyond the written word. Products are branded through sleek videos, employees are trained through video modules, medical professionals learn about treatments through instructional videos and the list goes on and on. And what do all those videos need? You guessed it: narrators. Narration comes in countless forms: audio tours, audiobooks, tutorials, medical explainers, tech demos, television series, documentaries and more. In this class, you’ll explore a wide range of narration styles and techniques by working with scripts pulled from these diverse genres including the rapidly expanding world of narration for major tech companies. You’ll not only learn the technical craft of narration including pacing and phrasing, but also how to engage your audience, weaving stories that complement visuals rather than overpower them. By the conclusion of class, you’ll have a clear understanding of the storytelling skills that set apart strong, connected narration performances. The kind that capture attention, hold it and get noticed.
LOOSEN UP ALREADY!
Director: Vicki Baum
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: None
Voice-over intrigues you, even calls to you… But when the moment comes to perform, you clam up, your vocal cords constrict and the wonderfully inspired back story you’ve come up with for this script abruptly leaves your brain. Where did it go? Believe us when we say, you are NOT ALONE! This is a very normal response when you are diving into a creative pursuit, maybe for the first time in your life and you’re constantly worried about being “good.” Let us remind you that for the time being, you get to be a beginner, and you need to give yourself some grace. However (and that’s just a fancy but), you do need to free yourself from the shackles of expectation and just loosen up already! It’s in those moments of total freedom and passion that the “good” stuff happens. So, join in with Vicki, as she takes you through several anxiety-reducing breathing and visualization exercises while working on a variety of commercial and character scripts, to have fun, be silly and finally fly free.
THE WORLD OF VOICE-OVER: AN INTRODUCTION
Directors: Vicki Baum, Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 3.5-hour one-day lab
Class Notes: None
Ever dreamed of what it would be like to voice a commercial, a cartoon or a video game? Is it time you dipped your toe into the pool known as the voice-over industry? There is no better place to start than RIGHT HERE. The morning will start off with a hybrid format (students in-person AND online), where you’ll learn to voice actual commercial and character scripts that are simple in nature but packed with fun! Then Vicki & Chuck 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, really ready for a demo and a talent agent. You’ll get to ask all your eagerly awaited voice-over questions. What a fun and exciting way to spend a Saturday!
- For INTERMEDIATES
BEYOND BEGINNING
Director: Vicki Baum
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: None
Now that you’ve forged a foundation in the fundamental basics of voice acting (and you’re starting to understand what you don’t know YET), it’s time to level up and go above and beyond what you’ve already experienced, to start considering additional factors that deepen script analysis, unbiased self-direction and how you can use them to nuance your performance including subtext, physical environment and character intention. Explore all these elements (and more) that further the specificity and authenticity of your performance. Ultimately, you’ll be able to leverage all of this knowledge as you take a huge leap into more advanced training in the pursuit of your dream.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 10.5-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
What color is love…Orange? Trust…Blue? Excitement…Red? The revolutionary Colors method has helped thousands of actors across the country including your instructor, construct a richer, more vibrant voice-over foundation by assigning different emotions to a specific color, especially when you are working on a script and having trouble connecting to the message. 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 acting interpretations that you’ve never before considered or realized you were capable of delivering. Not to mention you’ll now possess a voice-over hack that is so darn relevant and effective, it is used every single day by busy, working voice actors who are constantly juggling a multitude of different scripts.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Round and round it goes, and where it stops only Roni knows! As she spins the wheel (we’re talking an ACTUAL wheel here, people), what will it choose for you? Joy? Anger? Heartbreak? Utter silliness? Perhaps one minute you’ll be laughing hysterically and the next you’ll be channeling tender vulnerability… on the verge of tears. Sometimes real life can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, so why not bring that experienced emotional gamut to your character creation? Join our resident emotional shoulder, Roni, as she encourages you to access ALL your feels. Over the run of the class, she will utilize improv, the Colors Of Your Voice philosophy and acting games to dig deep into your emotional luggage (not baggage), to unlock new levels of spontaneity, creativity and confidence in your voice-over work. In this game, every spin is a winner.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Kevin Cleland
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: Prerequisite: Students must understand basic computer commands such as Cut, Copy, Paste, Save, Save As, Undo/Redo, etc.
In a voice-over industry full of remote live direction and where auditions are predominantly (and by predominantly we mean, like…99.99% of the time) done at home, the opportunities to break into the voice-over business are as abundant as ever. And while being a well-trained, skilled actor will always be paramount, so is having a professional-grade home studio. Don’t fret, that does not mean spending thousands of dollars or being a genius engineer, but you do need to be educated. Join Voicetrax’s Los Angeles-based demo production master Kevin Cleland as he takes you through the basic fundamentals of home recording including recording hardware and software, editing conventions, exporting sound files along with suggestions for a basic set-up if you don’t already have one. By the end of this factually jam-packed workshop, you will know the essentials necessary including how to record, edit and submit an mp3 of sufficient quality so you can start getting in on all those super cool, intermediate and advanced Voicetrax classes that require home recording capabilities, and be several steps closer to professional grade recordings. We make this promise to you: All this tech stuff is not nearly as complicated as you might be making it in your mind. It is 100% doable. We cross our hearts, hope to die, stick a needle in our eyes. Okay, maybe don’t stick a needle in our eyes, but you get our drift.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
IMPROV FOR VOICE ACTORS
Director: Anna Mathias
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
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 in a safe environment. 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.
VOICE-OVER 411
Director: LA Agent
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: None
Ever wondered what it’s really like to work with a talent agent? Here’s your chance to find out in a fun, encouraging environment designed especially for students at your point of training. In this class, you’ll meet Agent B, one of Los Angeles’ most experienced and enthusiastically supportive talent agents. Think of it as a sneak peek behind the curtain: no pressure, just hands-on experience and honest insights. Topics such as professionalism, attitude, goals and industry do’s & don’ts will be explored. Along with the informative industry conversation with someone who knows the lay of the voice-over land, you’ll practice reading scripts, learn how agents guide and direct talent and discover what they listen for when spotting new voices. You’ll get to ask an industry veteran all the questions you’ve ever had about how the behind-the-scenes part of the voice-over business works. By the end, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of the voice-over profession, a boost of confidence and even the spark of inspiration to keep chasing your voice-over dreams.
- For EVERYONE!
Director: 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 37-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 INFORMATION!
THE POWER OF OBSERVATION
Class Notes: These opportunities are only open to Beginning and Intermediate students who are dotted for it on their guidance form. Students eligible to participate in the two classes are not eligible to audit.
Sometimes the greatest lessons in voice acting don’t come from the booth or stage, they come from the sidelines. By observing other actors at work, you gain the rare opportunity to see the process unfold from a fresh perspective. You’ll notice choices you might not have considered and recognize patterns in what makes a performance succeed or fall flat. When you’re not under the pressure of performing, your focus sharpens. You can catch the subtleties of instructor feedback, absorb the techniques being applied in real time and imagine how you would approach the same material. And don’t even get us started on the whole self-direction class within a class where you are directing the class in your head and comparing what you think versus what the instructor says.
We have two auditing opportunities this semester: Caught In The Act, a monologue and scene study class (with no voice-over copy), taught by Samantha Paris and Frank Coppola, and Radio ACTive, a return of our radio drama class without the live theater performance taught by Brian Sommer. Look for their complete class descriptions in the following catalogue pages.
Often, moments of observation illuminate blind spots in your own work and spark breakthroughs you might have missed if you were only focused on your own performance. Observing others is more than front-row, passive watching, it’s active learning, and one of the fastest ways to deepen your understanding of the craft.
- For INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
ACTOR’S BAG OF TRICKS
Director: Roni Gallimore
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Every voice actor has strengths. You know, those reads that come naturally, the styles that feel effortless and make you think I can really do this! But what about the areas that trip you up, the scripts that push you outside your comfort zone? Roni is here to help you identify both and everything in between. Through targeted exercises and personalized feedback, you’ll uncover what you do best, then use that knowledge as a launchpad to tackle the reads that challenge you most. With Roni’s guidance, you’ll learn how to stretch your skills, adapt your approach and develop the flexibility that today’s industry demands. By sharpening your natural strengths and strengthening your weaker spots, you’ll discover how to bring greater range, nuance and confidence to any script. The result? A more versatile, resilient and marketable performer ready to handle it all.
ANIMANIA
Director: LA Agent
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
Would you like to bolster your confidence, test your creativity, sharpen your technical abilities and strengthen your auditioning techniques? Of course you would! Delve into animation scripts with one of the best-known animation agents in the business whose clients have voiced some of the most famous animation characters in history including Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, The Joker, The Tick, Wakko from the Animaniacs, both Ren and Stimpy, two of the three Powerpuff Girls and half the characters from Futurama. Not to mention hundreds of characters in blockbuster video games like World of Warcraft, The Last of Us, Mass Effect and Transformers. We’re pretty sure at this point, you get our drift… And that’s just scratching the surface of her credits. With her trademark straightforward style, this unparalleled authority in the animation field will provide succinct feedback and direction, while still maintaining the fun, spontaneity and inventiveness that character work is all about.
Director: Vicki Baum
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities. Tired of spending time auditioning online with few positive results? NEWS FLASH: It may not be your performances that are holding you back. (Insert pearl-grasping gasp here). Do you need to apply your acting training and submit a creative, organic performance? Of course! But when it comes to online casting sites there is much more strategy to it, and it can be super intimidating to know where to start. But have no fear! Vicki has booked in the top 10% nationwide on Voice123 for over a decade, and this comprehensive, A-Z class reveals not only how she does that, but how she consistently books through various other audition resources as a result of her networking and hustle. Vicki will cover her entire online auditioning strategy including which auditions to choose, how to build your profile and professionally communicate with potential clients as well as how she keeps track of her finances, bills clients… basically how she acts as a CEO running her voice-over business.
Director: Dave Fennoy, Kemma FilbbyLength: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities
Once upon an unexpected Saturday morning, a cohort of voice actors found themselves before a sound booth glass. On one side of that glass, they were free to play, to chase the whimsy of characters as mischievous as the Cheshire Cat, as grand as the Queen of Hearts and as marvelously mad as the Hatter at tea. Their kindly guide Dave led them deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole where imagination had no end, tumbling into characters, working on scripts, pushing their creativity, shaping choices and stretching their acting muscles. But then… the world flipped! The sound booth glass shimmered, and suddenly the creatively empowered band of voice actors stood on the other side of the glass. Here, a sharp-eared producer named Kemma sat, listening with all the gravity of a King’s court, ready to reveal how each actor’s choices sounded from beyond the booth, giving the feedback that reveals how those choices truly land. And so, they learned what Alice herself once discovered: One side is creation. The other is perception. When you dare to step through the looking glass, you don’t just see yourself differently, you understand the whole world anew. This dual escapade is an adventure in character storytelling where you’ll experience the booth from both angles – actor and producer – and discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes. So, go ahead… drink the potion and watch yourself grow. Curiouser and curiouser…
COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIAL
Director: Dan Gilvezan
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
How does an actor continue to book and flourish after 30+ years in the business without gaining a reputation for being “old school”? Find out as you pick the brain of the incredibly versatile and prolifically successful on-screen and voice actor Dan Gilvezan, who among hundreds of other gigs was the on-camera Jack in the Box spokesman for numerous years! Work out on a variety of commercial copy (some Dan will provide, some you will bring into class, some you will have recorded ahead of time) with the master, and get Dan’s take on where you stack up against professional voice actors from Los Angeles. Spend the day with an actor who is enjoying a rich, deep career and who, after all these years, is STILL one of the most sought-after commercial actors in the industry!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
DEPTH OF CHARACTER
Directors: Samantha Paris, Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 8.5-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
What really grabs the audience and gets them invested in your characters and the stories they inhabit? Psstt… look at the title of this class… If they don’t care about your character or have seen similar character types before, they’ll disengage, and you’ll lose them. Join Samantha and Chuck as they guide you through an extensive exploration of character scripts to get to the true heart of the matter and probe the soul of your character. You’ll go beyond archetypes, reveal their motivation, understand their emotional landscape, explore their flaws and ultimately go beyond what’s on the paper to construct a dynamic, relatable and thought-provoking character that casting professionals, directors and producers won’t soon forget.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
DIALECT INTERVENTION
Director: PJ Ochlan
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment.
Your bad accents have affected us negatively in the following ways: It makes us sad that your British video game character sounds more like he’s from New York high society and it keeps us up at night thinking about the session where you’ll have to sustain your shaky Chicago accent (that regrettably sounds equal parts Irish, US Southern and just plain bad) for 100+ lines of dialogue. But don’t despair, there is hope! We’ve invited interventionist, award-winning voice actor, Dr. Dialect himself, PJ Ochlan, to rehab your inconsistent dialects. When you finish this class, you will possess the knowledge necessary to practice and polish an accent you can take to the bank. Throughout this odyssey PJ will introduce you to his tried-and-true approach to building ANY accent in the world, which translates to solid gold for a video game voice actor. The time has come for you to make a decision. Will you seek help today?
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
DON’T CALL US, WE’LL CALL YOU
Directors: LA Agent, Pacific NW Agent, Kemma Filby
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities
The further you travel down the path to becoming a competitive voice actor, the more you realize that although there are some fundamental truths to brilliant performances, subjectivity is a prevalent theme in our industry. Remember what we always say, “It’s selection, not rejection!” In this seminar, we’ve brought together three top professionals, who because they are three unique individuals, just might have three different perspectives on your work. Having recorded scripts before class at home, you’ll be afforded the opportunity to get their expert feedback in class. And don’t fret if it’s your first, second or even third time submitting mp3’s for a class. We’ve selected three of the nicest people around and they’ll know you’re newer at this and will be super supportive! You’ll also get a chance to redo some of your home recordings live in class, incorporating the suggestions from this top-notch trio. Discover how well you self-direct at home and adjust to re-direction from the best in the business.
GET IN THE ACTING GAME
Director: Dave Fennoy
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: None
Join one of the first Voicetrax students ever, Dave Fennoy, as he explores approaching video game performances from a true actor’s perspective, as if they were cinematic characters because in video games these days they are! Dave is globally known for his gaming credits (The Walking Dead, anyone?), which means his ability to create a multi-faceted, genuine character is on point! With a million-dollar voice, Dave could have rested on his laurels, but he’s studied hard to develop his acting chops and he’ll absolutely do the same for you. Spend the weekend with Dave as he shares his philosophies examining how authenticity and context always bring a starring and even a bit player video game performance to life.
HE SAID/SHE SAID: NARRATION
Director: Vicki Baum, Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 14-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Chuck and Vicki are playing both sides of the script in this workshop that explores the subjectivity that is pervasive in voice-over. Week to week you will be performing the same scripts for both Guest Directors and receive feedback from them as well as get their critiques on stuff you recorded from home. This gives you the opportunity to contrast and compare the thoughts from two professionals very knowledgeable in the world of narration. What did they agree on that was great about your performance that you should keep front and center in future performances, and what do you need to work on to bring subsequent reads to a competitive level? Are they using different words in their feedback but basically saying the same thing? Or are they at odds, but both pointing out things you should work on? Find out as this teaching twosome challenges you to bust out your best storyteller.
Director: Lauren Kelly
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Health commercials carry more weight than most. They’re about strength and the courage to face life’s toughest challenges while connecting to people at their most vulnerable moments. They call for a voice that can inspire confidence, hope and most of all humanity. With Lauren (the voice behind a huge Stanford commercial campaign), discover how to bring empathy and authenticity to scripts that deal with sensitive topics like wellness, medication or recovery. Learn how to harness empathy not as something soft, but as a force. Explore how to balance compassion with professionalism, and how to speak with sincerity without drifting into pity or overplaying the drama. You’ll learn to find the emotional core of the copy, connect with it honestly and deliver performances that feel not only believable but comforting. With Lauren’s guidance, you’ll explore how to balance compassion with authority, so your delivery feels both trustworthy and empowering. Whether it’s speaking to families, patients or caregivers, you’ll practice giving voice to resilience and reassurance. Because in health spots, your performance isn’t just about information. It’s about becoming the steady, inspiring presence people lean on when it matters most.
HPXEDCHVBSEPRIUCH
Director: Aaron Miner
Length: 7-hour one-day seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment
Tsjdokks iwynso hyytisqe nagacdi py sjneuscild jazpl datdofg! Um, excuse me? Imagination is king in the world of gibberish speaking toys and video games, and the demand for actors who have this particular set of skills is prolific. So, we’ve asked Aaron to reach into that beautiful brain of his to create a class full of fun and creative exercises to get you in the right state of mind to tell the story when there is no script at all. He’ll challenge you to communicate through emotional connection instead of English words. Learn how improv, physicality and just letting go are keys to success in the silly but serious industry of toys. Not to mention how learning to tell a story without the crutch of using actual English words will profoundly develop your overall storytelling skills. Now where could that possibly be relevant in your voice-over training? Hmmm… And hey, you’ll get to tell your parents you finally learned that second language. Tdekpjuhieqb! What the heck does that mean? We’ll leave that to your imagination. Now quit being the baby that plays with some of these toys and stop being intimidated by this character sub-genre and dive all the way in!
Director: Ned Lott
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to become a voice talent for dubbed anime films and games? These are very good days in the anime business, especially in the West. More anime shows are reaching a wider audience than ever before. Japan is really taking Western audiences and their viewership seriously and depending on revenue coming from Western fans. At the heart of these upward trends is the revolution of online streaming. What does that mean for voice actors? One very exciting word: Opportunity. And you can be sure if there is a voice-over genre where the opportunity is growing, we will bring it to our students! With Ned’s decades of expertise in this growing piece of the voice-over pie, you’ll participate in a real-world, hands-on learning experience, as you develop the skills necessary to deliver lines in a natural, “non-dubby” way. You’ll even be introduced to the concept of “lip flap”. And if that’s not enough, the newer influence of Korean animation will also be covered in this class. We just unfortunately found out about that after it was too late to change the title of the class on your guidance form which is why it doesn’t match with the catalogue. Ugh. It’s all good! No matter, you’ll still gain a better understanding of how to break into this even vaster flourishing branch in the voice-over universe.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Vicki Baum Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Have you ever looked at a long list of specs on the script and been confused as to what to focus on? Naaaahhh… that NEVER happens… Or have you been auditioning online and you’re not sure how to choose amongst the dozens of scripts you receive each day that represents your best odds on booking the job? Truly knowing yourself, what you naturally bring to the table both vocally and personality-wise is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to choosing what to add into the recipe to create an outstanding, yet uniquely YOU performance. You’ll work on quintessentially you scripts, as Vicki and the rest of the class will assist each student in ascertaining what makes you, well… YOU. If history tells us anything, we’re betting you just might be surprised at what you learn about yourself, as well as astounded and enlightened by how others perceive you on the very personal and exhilarating journey you’ll take in this workshop.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
PRIMETIME NARRATION 2.0
Director: Thom Pinto
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: None
You aren’t just a voice. You’re the guide, the storyteller, the reason viewers keep watching. In this class, taught by one of the best in the business, Thom will help you navigate primetime narration opportunities including reality competition shows, DIY makeover programs and gripping documentaries with energy and irresistible presence. Students will practice the art of transforming ordinary scripts into performances that entertain, inform and engage. You’ll learn how to pace your narration to build suspense and create clarity to make every moment compelling, whether it’s a dramatic reveal, a how-to segment or a heartfelt story. By the end of this class, you’ll know how to guide audiences effortlessly through each scene, each plot twist, each tutorial. You’ll leave with the tools to turn any script into a story worth listening to because you won’t just be reading the scripts, you’ll be inhabiting them, delivering narration that’s distinctly memorable.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Directors: Samantha Paris, Vicki Baum, Chuck Kourouklis, Sirenetta Leoni
Length: 18-hour six-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments.
Scripts are the heart of every performance and learning how to break them down is the key to bringing them to life. Simply put… if you don’t get the script, you don’t get the gig! Over six weeks, you’ll unravel the mysteries of script interpretation with this quintessential quad of instructors, each bringing their own specialty and perspective. From the quick punch of commercials to the steady flow of narration and the colorful worlds of characters, you’ll learn how to find beats, uncover subtext and make choices that set your reads apart. With multiple teaching styles and genres, this class gives you a 360° view of how to approach any script that comes your way. You’ll learn to look for hidden clues and not just the ones buried in the body of the copy, but the ones you can glean from the sound effects, visuals, directions, music, length, even the agency name. Strengthen and broaden one of the most important foundational skills necessary for voice-over success.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Vicki BaumLength: 7-hour one-day seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Oh, joy. Just what the world needs: a class for smart asses. Why sarcasm? Because, hello, commercials run on it, animation thrives on it and narration occasionally dips its toes in just to stay relevant. In other words, sarcasm books. Students who master it will stand out as witty, sharp and devastatingly funny. Those who don’t? Well, at least they tried. Adorable. Led by the undisputed Queen of Sarcasm herself because obviously no one else could possibly handle the crown, this class will teach students the delicate craft of sounding like they couldn’t care less, because sincerity is for amateurs. Expect lessons in deadpan delivery so dry they could parch the Sahara, and perfectly timed irony sharper than a switchblade that makes producers pause, smirk and quietly reconsider their life choices. Learn to weaponize your wit while turning even the most thrillingly boring script into a masterclass of understatement and eye-rolling despair. So yes, sign up. Or don’t. Honestly, it makes no difference. Although if you do, you’ll walk away slightly smarter, infinitely sassier and painfully aware that the Queen of Sarcasm is forever untouchable.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO DESCRIPTION FEATURING KAYCEE MCNEIL-ELDER
TAINTED TALES
Director: Devin Glishchinski
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Remember all those classic nursery rhymes and lullabies from your childhood? Of course you do! But have you really, really listened to them? Did you know that a significant number of them actually have a macabre story behind them? You’ll explore that juxtaposition in this one-of-a-kind script analysis class with a deviously entertaining twist. Using those iconic rhymes as your copy, you’ll be tasked with the challenge of finding the story behind the story including the tales of Hickory Dickory Dock, Humpty Dumpty and Three Blind Mice amongst others while your fellow classmates will participate in guessing games based on your performance. This incredibly unique class will focus on script analysis, acting choices, character work and fine-tuning your analytical, self-direction ear. You may never look at your childhood the same again!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
TAKING ON THE PROTOTYPES
Director: Thom Pinto
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment.
Producers frequently (what’s a word that’s more frequent than frequent? Oh yeah, always…) cast voices or write character specs using “prototypes” as a frame of reference. Whether they’re looking for someone who sounds like the hot “celebrity du jour” or a veteran voice actor who is highly regarded within the industry but not a household name, this seminar will give you a chance to immerse yourself in a wide variety of styles while listening, duplicating, and broadening your own vocal range by “borrowing” from the most sought-after spokespeople and character actors. By mimicking another actor’s syncopation, tone or attitude it will not only widen your interpretation possibilities, but it can open the door, inspire creativity and be the foundation of a whole new character for you to develop. This is a “must have” skill for any working voice actor.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Brian Sommer
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This class includes a pre-class homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
In this family, nobody works alone. After being thoughtfully paired up with another student, you’ll step into the role of director, pulling the strings for each other while the master himself, our dashing Brian Sommer, watches from the shadows. You’ll call the shots, shape the performances and feel the power – and the pressure – of guiding a fellow actor’s read. But remember even the most fearless Don needs a consigliere. If your direction strays too far, Brian will step in, offer the kind of wisdom that can’t be refused and set you back on course. This class isn’t just about performing, it’s about understanding the other side of the glass, learning how to give clear, sharp and effective feedback, and discovering how precise direction transforms a script and a performance. By trading roles of actor and director back and forth with your partner, you’ll gain new insights into your own choices as an actor, sharpening both your script analysis instincts and your versatility. Leave your nerves at the door, because in this class you’re not just an actor, you’re a boss. And in this world, those who know how to pull the strings never get played.
TO EACH THEIR OM
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 class description. That’s right… breathe in… and out… wonderful. Modern consumers have realized how important it is for them to meditate which means the meditation app industry is on pace to hit nearly 6 billion dollars revenue in 2025. 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 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 basically dominates the Calm app. 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?
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
WILD GAME HUNTING
Director: Brian Sommer
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Do competitive performances elude you like a rare sighting of the white lion in South Africa or the snow leopards of Uzbekistan? Join Brian as he guides you through this kinder, gentler safari in search of video game performances that stand out and book the job. And just to keep things challenging, Brian is going to focus on scripts that feature wild lining (See what we did there? Well, we suppose we didn’t really DO anything because reading one side of a dialogue or performing random lines IS called wild lining.) And because of his extensive background in character work, Brian can’t help but incorporate all the insight he has acquired throughout his amazing career that will make your auditions roar. Disclaimer: No animals were actually hurt in the belaboring of this metaphor, unless you consider yourself an animal and having to read through this description bruised your mental happiness by the constant stringing along of this worked-over metaphor, and now, this over-explained disclaimer. Longest. Disclaimer. Ever!
- For ADVANCED/WORKING PROFESSIONALS
AM I MISSING SOMETHING? AUDITION REVIEW… & SO MUCH MORE!
Director: Samantha Paris, SF Agent – NEW to Voicetrax!
Length: 8.5-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities. This course can and SHOULD be repeated since the scripts and actors change with each session.
Have you ever submitted an audition that you thought was fantastic, but you didn’t book it? Naaah, that’s NEVER happened… How about submitting one that felt just a bit uninspired, but you were at a loss as to how to fix it? Bring ‘em in and let the ears of your fellow auditioning ‘Traxers guide you to the answer. Your classmates can’t figure it out either? Well, guess who can and will? Yeppers… that’s riiiight! The idea for this class was based on all of you who have done “Audition Review” private lessons with our Founder, Samantha Paris. And just when you think you’ve learned all that you could learn in one weekend, a veteran San Francisco agent and former voice actor himself (who is NEW to Voicetrax, by the way), will come in to give his valuable feedback on those auditions like only an agent can. This class will be a fun, fast paced, informative, love/tough (but still supportive!) love class with the goal being to bring you one step closer to more consistently submitting stellar, competitive auditions that book the job. The “so much more”? Hmmmm… guess you’ll have to show-up to find out.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Bob Bergen
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities. In-Person Only.
Some characters aren’t built, they’re unearthed. In this world premiere seminar, you’ll dig past the crusty, surface-level choices and uncover the raw, living treasures buried underneath. Led by the one and only Bob Bergen, a legendary animation actor whose voice has brought us some of the most iconic characters in cartoon history including Porky Pig, Tweety Bird and Speedy Gonzales, this class isn’t about scratching at the topsoil. It’s about leaving no stone unturned. And by good fortune, you won’t be doing it alone. This class is being run as in-person only because Bob wants to get into the booth with you, side by side, to guide, encourage and push you further than you thought you could go. Together, you’ll break through hesitation, clear away the rubble of safe choices and strike gold: the authentic, surprising, fully realized character performance that only you can deliver. And truth be told, the road to success is always under construction.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANNA DO IS DIRECT
Director: Lee Porter
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Really? Do you really want to direct? This notorious, long-standing, Hollywood trope aside, as an auditioning voice actor the answer is moot (it’s like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter, it’s moo…thank you, Joey Tribbiani…) since you really have no choice in the matter. Continuously being left to your own devices to submit an imaginative, stand-out, yet uniquely YOU audition is a challenging (yet very doable) mountain to climb. Help has arrived in the form of director extraordinaire Lee Porter! Lee will be by your side as you direct your fellow students on animation copy. He’ll gently guide you back on track if you stray from the most precise or accurate direction, giving you your own personal, self-direction ideology to pull from when you’re at home. So, are you an actor that would rather be a director? Nope! After this weekend you’ll be an actor who is also a director… for yourself.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Director: Samantha Paris, Frank Coppola
Length: 11.5-hour four-week workshop (equivalent of)
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
The superstar duo of Voicetrax Founder Samantha Paris & Frank Coppola are prepped and ready to rock your socks off. And we’ve got a doozy of a class that’s worthy of this pairing. Some students will work on monologues and other will take on dialogues, but all the scripts will be brand new, never used in a Voicetrax scene study class before! But before you get too settled into your own bubble, getting super cozy with your assigned script, here comes that dastardly self-direction to crash the party. Not only will you work up, under and through your script, but you will be put to the test to direct your fellow ‘Traxers’ performances in class. A sensational teacher duo? Fresh scripts? Student direction? A truly vibrant experience.
Director: Chopper BernetLength: 18-hour six-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes homework assignments. Students must have home-recording capabilities.
The idea of this class burned deep in Chopper’s soul for some time, and for those of you who don’t know Chopper yet, that’s deeeeep. Yes, he has worked in the voice-over world for twenty plus years doing animation, commercial and promo, but he has also been on-camera on television shows, as well as acting in micro budgeted films as well as massively budgeted films. He is an actor through and through, and he is ready to share his hard-earned experience with you. Chopper will employ monologues and scenes from film and television, as well as some improv and visualization exercises, assisting you to keep going deeper into the motivation and behavior of your characters. Chopper’s knack of bringing out of you a depth of acting you didn’t know your soul was capable of, will certainly keep you riveted all six weeks. We’re not kidding when we tell you that students left and right have told us this class changed their acting life.
FROM “A” TO “Z”AGER: LAYIN’ DOWN THE LAWS OF NARRATION
Director: Lynnanne Zager
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This class includes a pre-class homework assignment.
True crime narration isn’t just storytelling, it’s atmosphere, tension and precision. Every pause, every emotional nuance pulls the listener deeper into the mystery. In this class, you’ll learn from a true legend of the genre. Lynnanne has set the gold standard for gripping, edge-of-your-seat true crime narration. Together, you’ll investigate how to balance authority with intrigue, when to lean into drama and when to pull back, and how to sustain intensity without tipping into kitsch (although sometimes a little bit of kitsch has its place in this world). Through script work, directed reads and insider insights, you’ll discover what it takes to make listeners feel like they’re right there, piecing together the crime, step by step. And let’s not forget that the true crime industry is a multi-billion-dollar market, with content spanning podcasts, documentaries, books and streaming series, and its value is increasing every year due to high consumer demand. Be advised that after three weeks with Lynnanne, you’ll emerge with some legit crime show skills that you can take all the way to the bank.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
GETTING (SOURCE) CONNECTED
Director: Kevin Cleland
Length: 3-hour one-night lab
Class Notes: Participants need to be prepared to download the FREE version of Source Connect. Kevin will walk you through it at the beginning of class if you need help.
Source Connect has become universally essential to anyone serious about becoming a professional voice actor, allowing you to send a studio-quality feed from your computer. In fact, the majority of agency auditions now actually require you to have Source Connect. It’s just a given if you’re auditioning. So, if you want to maximize your income potential, you will absolutely need the capabilities Source Connect gives you – and the sooner, the better. An industry technology veteran, Kevin Cleland, will take you through all the finer points of installing and calibrating the software, and he’ll show you just what to expect in a recording session, de-mystifying the whole process! And he will cover the newest version 4 of Source Connect and how to bridge to your version 3. You’ll gather all the knowledge you need to arm yourself with this crucially important tool. And just like recording your auditions and exporting an MP3 was once a scary proposition that turned out to be easy-peasy, so too will Source Connect. Promise.
IT’S DIRECTION & THEN SELECTION
Director: Samantha Paris, Lee Porter
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
This dynamic duo is ready to bring you into their world (with a little role-playing help from Samantha Paris and YOU!). It’s your lucky day as you have just been “signed” with Voices by Samantha Paris, a brand-new start up talent agency created just for this class. For your first audition, your animation chops had best be in order because the very busy and successful showrunner, Lee Porter, has a new (faux) project! The bar will be set high, as if you were actually up against professional caliber competition. Will your auditions make the cut? Will you need to be sent back to the drawing board? And how will Mr. Porter feel about your work? Are you going to book the gig? Find out in this fun, super-fast paced weekend where your auditioning and self-directing skills will be pushed and pulled, stretched and tweaked.
LEAVE NOTHING ON THE TABLE
Director: Janet Varney
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
A table read (aka read-through) is an organized reading of a script with all the actors present at one… table (see what we did there?) in which the voice-over, stage direction and scene headings are all read out loud to create context. Table reads are an essential part of the script development and writing process, as writers use them as an opportunity to fine tune their stories, sharpen their dialogue and hear what works and what doesn’t. Join the table read universe as you pre-record auditions at home for Janet to listen to and cast ahead of class. Then a true-blue table read will commence in-class with all the expectations of exploration, improv and living in the moment as the scene moves you to whatever your imagination can create. Be a part of this collaborative undertaking with one of the brilliant founders of the iconic SF SketchFest comedy festival. A woman who knows a thing or two (or three) about comedic timing.
Directors: Vicki Baum, Chuck Kourouklis, Brian Sommer, Samantha ParisLength: 24-hour six-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities. This course can and SHOULD be repeated since the scripts and actors change with each session.
It’s baaaaaack! Our Friday afternoon tradition lives on. And this time around this smorgasbord of a six-week workshop has got a four-pack of instructors that are bound to make you thirsty for learning. As always, each time we run this whopper of a class, we look at the class roster (this time as a teaching unit) and build the lesson plan to specifically address what those 12 particular students need at the moment. With Vicki, Chuck and Brian as the opening acts there is bound to be a diverse collection of copy employed. But it’s at this point that we must confess, we have buried the massive lede: Miss Samantha Paris will be returning from the Italian countryside to teach the final three weeks IN-PERSON! Huzzah! So come on down and spend six afternoons eating the best pot luck you’ll ever try, and getting your process and mindset punched up. Come for the lunch and stay for the punch!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
MIC, MOJO & MONEY
Directors: SFAgent, NEW to Voicetrax
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
In a sea of voices, the one thing that sets you apart is you. In this dynamic class, a charismatic talent agent (we’ll call him Agent G-Man) NEW to Voicetrax (but definitely not new to voice-over with 20+ years of acting experience under his belt) pulls back the curtain on what truly gets a voice actor noticed and booked. Spoiler: it’s not about some humdrum version of fitting in and sounding like everyone else. It’s about bringing your authentic self to the mic and letting your unique mojo do the heavy lifting. And just the thought of the vast array of bewitchingly exquisite and captivatingly unique personalities we have here at Voicetrax showing out in this class brings a Cheshire Cat grin to our collective Think Tank faces. Discover how authenticity builds trust, how confidence amplifies your read and how to channel your personality into a performance that feels alive, original and unforgettable. Because in this industry, your mojo isn’t just an advantage. It’s your superpower.
MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
Director: Christy Summers
Length: 6-hour two-week workshop
Class Notes: None
A successful voice-over career doesn’t just happen behind the microphone. It’s built on smart planning and solid strategy. 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 every single day. 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! A voice actor herself, Christy brings her MBA to the lesson plan as she takes you through the practical side of running your voice-over business. Create a clear, actionable business plan, set measurable goals, and track your progress. Explore marketing essentials like branding, positioning and outreach strategies. You’ll explore and set-up the business side of show business, so you can get back to the show part in no time flat.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
NO LAUGHING MATTER
Director: Frank Coppola
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments.
You’ve likely heard it said comedy is a serious business. Learning how to get the laugh is the foremost goal in this ridiculously FUN (and funny!) exploration into what makes comedy tick. Its use of language, which ranges from vernacular speech to puns and wordplay, its use of taboo subjects and its use of incongruence (go ahead and look it up, we had to) and juxtaposition. Through physicality, comedic timing, distractions and more, Frank will help you to “get over yourself” (respectfully, of course), and just let the comedy and laughter rip! Working on comedic scripts from plays, television and movies will most definitely help your overall confidence when behind the voice-over microphone.
ONE-TAKE MASTERS
Directors: Vicki Baum, Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Let’s be crystal clear, we aren’t going to drop you in the deep end of the one-take pool straight away, but you best be ready to step up to the plate knowing you have one swing at booking the job. Gone is the wiggle room of letting your first couple takes be a warm-up, lazily leaning on the director to manufacture your performance, eventually hitting on something only to be asked… why wasn’t that your first take? Time is money, people! And if you’re actively auditioning (or even home-recording for class homework), allowing yourself more than two or three takes risks working the copy to death and overthinking everything. Overthinking? We don’t know any actors who do that… We all instinctually know that the 7th, 8th or 9th take is never going to be better than the first few fresh ones. As two thirds of the Voicetrax Legen-waitforit-dary Think Tank take you through imaginative exercises and simulated auditions you’ll gain confidence in your choices to be bold from the very start. What happens when preparation meets pressure, so that you come “hot out of the gate” on your very first take? Guess you’ll find out…
Directors: Brian Sommer 
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Perhaps when we ran this class last semester (previous called Radio Drama Redux) you were compelled to participate, but the idea of live performing on a theater stage kept you on the sidelines. Perhaps you did audition, but unfortunately you were forced to face the simple fact that only one person can book each role. Perhaps you live in Michigan and the commute to attend a live performance was a bit too long. Or PERHAPS you weren’t quite ready for the level of this class, and it wasn’t dotted for you on your guidance form. No matter your circumstance, we are giddy to bring this radio drama class back, sans the live theater performance. The class curriculum will be exactly the same. You’ll go through all the same steps to prepare including table reads, microphone (or Zoom) choreography while hitting your cues in the fast-paced nature of this storied predecessor to modern voice-over. And before you think you’re getting away with no performance at all, there will be final presentations of both radio dramas on the final night of class. Once you’ve experienced the rhythm of doing radio drama, everything else you do in voice-over will seem easy in comparison. Get ready to be fearless, make a bold choice and go!
REMOTELY SPEAKING: MASTER CLASS
Directors: Samantha Paris, Thom Pinto, Chuck Kourouklis
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities. This course can and SHOULD be repeated since the scripts and actors change with each session.
Sure, we admit it. We love using this Remotely Speaking format (fun fact: this was the first ever Voicetrax class that was taught remotely through a phone patch looong before we were forced to be remote) while mixing up the Guest Directors, and boy oh boy do we have a humdinger of a teaching troupe for you this time around! With Samantha and Thom as two-thirds of the teaching tandem what else would we call this but Master Class? And yeah, we thought why not throw Chuck in there for good measure. Just kidding, Chuck… Anyhoo… As it is with this wildly effective and popular class format, each week you will have a group of scripts to choose from to record at home. Then in-class, let the feedback merriment begin! And if there’s time after receiving that oh-so-valuable critique, you’ll get a chance to incorporate said feedback into a live performance, something that happens all throughout a recording session with a producer or client, so it’s a crucial skill to develop. And to be sure this is a very “master-y” master class, let’s gambol through three different genres with commercials, narration and characters to be sure you’re challenged as only this unique combination of instructors can.
Directors: Brian Sommer, Ben Gabaldon
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: None
Let’s get ready to ruuuuuumble!!! Join Brian in this voice-over octagon of his very own making, where real-life is gonna smack you right upside your pretty face. In this video game class Brian will provide you with audition sides (that he wrote himself, by the way) which you will perform live, (so no chance to do 4,000 takes and edit the hell out of it like – ahem – perhaps you do at home). Brian will then cast the video game after giving you “the gloves are off”-type feedback on your audition. You’ll practice your assigned role with Brian, all to get ready to perform like in a real session for former video game director/producer extraordinaire, Ben Gabaldon. It’s time to get real, and this class is as real as it gets.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Sirenetta LeoniLength: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities. Duh! LoL!
This immersive class created for those of you about to embark on auditioning or working professionals that want to up the ante on their live recording session skills, will ask you to step into the “booth” like a pro as you’re dropped straight into the hot seat of a real recording session. With veteran session director Sirenetta at the helm, you’ll learn what it takes to thrive when the “red light” goes on. You’ll take sharp, specific direction regarding emotional context, pacing and phrasing and flip it instantly into performance gold. Practice riding the chaos including quick pivots, script changes, clashing direction, last-second adjustments and the curveballs producers love to throw while mastering the art of performing under pressure where skill counts. Beyond technique, you’ll get the unspoken rules of the booth: how to read the room, work seamlessly with engineers and leave as the talent they can’t wait to book again. If you’re ready to trade theory for the real thing, step up to the mic. You’ll no longer have to imagine what it feels like to work in a real session—you’ll know.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Vicki Baum 
Length: 7-hour one-day seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Medical narration has a reputation for being scary. It can understandably feel overwhelming at first. There’s tongue-twisting terms, mile-long sentences and scripts that go on forever and sound like they were written by… well… doctors. But here’s the truth: once you get past any initial hesitation, you’ll find that long medical words are just words, and medical narration is simply another kind of storytelling. Learn how to approach medical copy with clarity, confidence and flow. Pronunciation tools, pacing and how to keep complex information sounding natural and approachable will all be covered. Just as important, you’ll practice finding the right balance of clinician and humanity, so your performance builds trust without sounding robotic or dry. And before you think you don’t have the right voice for medical narration, we are here to tell you that those doors are opening wider and wider with each passing year. It’s important to remember that this niche of the narration world is very profitable because once medical narration clients and producers know that you can deliver the necessary jargon, they will hire you time and time again, creating a lucrative repeat client. We’re pretty sure that’s the dream, right? By the end of the day, you’ll see medical narration for what it really is: storytelling with a stethoscope.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Four teams. Three acting athletes each. Three nights of drills, practice and strategy to tighten your game. Then comes night four: the championship showdown. The lights come up and it’s game time. Every script is a slam dunk, every read could be the buzzer-beater that seals the win. The competition is fierce, the energy electric and only one team will rise to the top. Over the first three sessions, each team will collaborate, rehearse, and refine a range of scripts pushing each other to dig deeper, take risks and sharpen performances. The judges? Our resident Dream Team, The Voicetrax Legen-waitforit-dary Think Tank, calling the shots from courtside. The prize? Each member of the winning team scores a private lesson with all three members of The Think Tank, exclusive coaching that’s nothing short of MVP-level. This isn’t practice. This is bragging rights, and the chance to claim your place among the legends. Step onto the court, grab the mic and say night-night to your competition. You didn’t HONESTLY believe we were going to have a basketball-themed class description and NOT bring up Steph Curry?!? We are the San Francisco Bay Area after all. Prove you’ve got what it takes to be your own Dream Team.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
THE FEEDBACK FIX
Directors: Pacific NW Agent NEW to Voicetrax!
Length: 10-hour weekend seminar
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Let’s be real: most remote auditions feel like shouting into the primordial void. You hit record, pour your heart out, send it off, and then… crickets. Unless you book the job, you have no idea if you nailed it, missed the mark completely or were just one tiny tweak away from landing the gig. In this class, you finally get the truth. A sharp, straight-shooting talent agent we shall call Agent R will coach you through commercial scripts and give you the feedback actors wish they got every time they audition. You’ll hear exactly what grabs attention, what gets skipped and what makes casting professionals say YES. No sugarcoating, no guessing games, just the inside scoop from a person who actually listens to auditions for a living. Think of it as the remote-audition feedback fix you’ve always wanted (translate=yearned for), served up with honesty, clarity and everything you need to fix and up your booking game.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
THE MAKING OF A 3.0
Directors: Vicki Baum
Length: 9-hour three-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class and weekly homework assignments. Students must have home recording capabilities.
Jump in to four weeks of sharpening your critical ear by explaining what you would do to make a performance better, the fundamental skill of successful self-direction. Sounds simple, right? Sure… You should know by now that with Vicki there is always a twist meant to propel your comprehension forward. The twist this time around? You won’t be rating yourself and deciding what to do to make your performance better; you’ll be breaking down the performances submitted by all of your fellow students and telling each of them what to do to make their performances better. Learn to achieve that elusive, yet majestically perfect 3.0 score on our Founder Samantha Paris’ infamous performance rating scale, by bringing a colleague’s good performance to a beautiful, bookable masterpiece.
VIDEO GAME GRUNT WORK
Director: Erik Braa
Length: 7-hour one-day seminar
Class Notes: None
Join The Viking himself as you breathe life into a video game character until you eventually help them shuffle off this mortal coil. In the morning, with Erik’s expert tutelage, you will develop a character and run through scripts living and feeling as that creation. Then in the afternoon, things will take a turn to the darker side of video games, as Erik will expose you to all the levels of carnage and different ways that a video game character can die, by teaching you how to perform “efforts” and “impacts”: the sounds of dying. How does it sound to expire from the stab of a small dagger versus the swinging force of a spiked battle flail? What’s the difference between falling off a 30-foot cliff versus a 300-foot cliff? And while all this havoc and destruction is super fun, it’s also super lucrative. Actors that have an inventory of battle and death sounds in their repertoire are the ones that get the jobs. Sometimes it all comes down to making an effort.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Director: Vicki Baum 
Length: 12-hour four-week workshop
Class Notes: This course includes a pre-class homework assignment. Students must have home recording capabilities.
No retakes. No edits. No safety net. Live announcing is voice-over at its most thrilling, where your voice becomes the heartbeat of the moment. From awards shows to sporting events to high-profile broadcasts, this is where energy, timing and personality collide. In this class, you’ll step right into the spotlight, practicing the fast-paced, think-on-your-feet style that keeps audiences hooked and shows running smoothly. You’ll sharpen your timing, boost your confidence and learn how to command attention when it matters most. And before you ask, “what does this class have to do with the regular voice-over I plan on doing?”, think about having to perform in a live recording session you booked in front of an engineer, director, copywriter, miscellaneous advertising agency professionals and… oh yeah… THE CLIENT! Uh huh. That’s what we thought. If you’re ready to feel the rush of being live and handling it like a professional, then this class will give you the skills to not just survive, but shine.
THE BEGINNING SEMINAR
THE WORLD OF VOICE-OVER: AN INTRODUCTION
Director: 
Director: YOU and your fellow students (and perhaps a Guest Director will pop in!)
Director: 
Director: 
Director: 
Director: 
Directors: 
Directors: 
Director: 
Director: 
Directors: 
Director: