Bob Michaels, a full-time voice-over professional, has been teaching Voice-Over Workshops since 1992. To accommodate busy adult schedules, there are minimal outside assignments for these classes, and no tests are given. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings at Bob’s Home Recording Studio in North Dallas near the Galleria Mall.
Syllabus for Voice-Overs, Level One (VO-1) – Tuesdays, 6-8pm, 5 weeks, $325.
This is the VO-101 of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, with referrals from every major talent agency in the southwest. Half of the time is lecture, and the other half is spent performing copy. Please bring note-taking gear…MUCH information is presented. You must also be capable of downloading .mp3 files from the provided download location, and the homework is listening carefully to (and being prepared to talk about) the recordings made during the session.
Week 1 – Introductions, what is a voice-over (VO), the VO job market, famous people who perform VO’s, getting your mind in the right place for this type of performance, what makes the world of VO unique, introduction to style in VO performance, and copy practice.
Week 2 – The relationship between sound and meaning, sound elements in A/V, fundamental voice characteristics, and copy practice.
Week 3 – All about copy and scripts, the parts of copy, copy analysis, marking copy, and copy practice.
Week 4 – The improvement process, what happens in the recording studio, studio procedure, the ways VO’s are recorded, and copy practice.
Week 5 – The business of VO; demo tapes, agents, auditions, marketing, rates, and much more.
VO-1 Podcast
Syllabus for Voice-Overs, Level Two (VO-2) – Tuesdays, 6-8pm, 5 weeks, $325.
This intermediate level workshop may accommodate up to 6 students, and is intended to focus primarily on the performance of copy and scripts. Only a small portion of each class period is spent in lecture, the remainder is spent performing copy. This class may cover slightly different subject matter than described here, because each session is individualized for the group’s particular interests and needs.
Week 1 – Microphones, microphone technique, copy practice.
Week 2 – Techniques of emphasis and inflection, copy practice.
Week 3 – Industrial and longform copy, copy practice.
Week 4 – The study of dialects and character voices, copy practice.
Week 5 – Mock audition, copy practice.
VO-2 Podcast
One Evening Copy Reading Workshop, Tuesday, 6-8pm, $80.
In this periodic one evening session a particular genre of copy or script is examined, and participants perform three pieces each during the class time. This session is a great way for someone who wants to get a taste of Bob’s teaching style to spend an evening with him, and for those who need a good copy workout to be coached and critiqued. The session varies, sometimes covering commercial, industrial, character, story oriented material, telephony, documentary, and other forms of VO.
OECR Podcast
Home Studio Workshop, Tuesday, 6-8pm, $80
It is now a fact of life that VO performers in the modern world must be able to record themselves to participate in auditions and jobs. Achieving superior recording quality at home is no simple matter, however. There are a myriad of equipment choices that must be considered. Additionally, the recording environment, i.e. the recording space, must be carefully treated in order to achieve interference free recordings.
In this one evening workshop, we wade through basic, cost effective equipment which will get the job done well, and examine several scenarios common to VO recording artists. Some basic digital audio terminology is explained. Further, studio treatments…absorption, diffusion, and other treatment options are examined. This is a very valuable course for the individual that has no clue where to begin in putting together a home VO studio.
Home Studio Podcast
Other Periodic Offerings include:
Voice Recording and Mastering – This one evening session demonstrates how to take raw audio and transform it into a fully mastered product. Through the use of plug-ins in recording software, noise is mitigated, peaks are controlled, and headroom is adjusted. Other optional processes are explained.
Clues: VO Script Analysis in Depth – The script is the framework from which the entire project emerges. Writers leave clues for us about what they envision for our performance…if we know what to look for. This one evening session is all about those clues, both large and small, that can help us make fast, accurate decisions, and achieve more dimension in the VO.
The P & E of Voice-Over – In earlier sessions, the concept of performance “layers” are introduced and explained. P & E are, arguably, the most important of these layers. Utilizing these techniques helps the performer move more away from simply reading, and more toward an expressive, nuanced performance.
Voice-Over Audition Strategy – These days, all VO performers are in charge of self-recorded, submitted auditions. How do you make sure you’re doing everything you need to do to stand out among the crowd? This session is about helping the performer maximize their uniqueness, and focus on what the audition really requires.
The World of Industrial Voice-Overs – Business, educational, and other more long form narratives make up a sizable percentage of available VO work. Many performers shy away from these forms because they lack confidence in their ability to deliver what is required. This session is meant to ease fear and build confidence, helping the performer better understand their role in this area.
NO PARTICIPANT MAY AUDIO OR VIDEO TAPE ANY OF BOB’S SESSIONS. THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IS COPYRIGHTED AND PROPRIETARY. FURTHER, THE RECORDINGS FROM SESSIONS ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THEY MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY EXTERNAL PURPOSE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DEMO PRODUCTION. ANY HANDOUTS ARE COPYRIGHTED, AND MAY NOT BE REDISTRIBUTED, POSTED, OR OTHERWISE DISSEMINATED. Bob lives with cats in his home, so allergic individuals need to be aware. The workshops are designed for adults. Students below the age of 18 must be approved in advance. In registering for and attending a workshop, you agree to these terms.