SAV:

Macphee: I’m excited to be a part of the Such A Voice team! I got my real start in the voice-over industry five years ago, but funnily enough my first VO audition ever was when I was a teenager for the babysitter role in The Incredibles movie! No pressure, haha! I then went on to pursue musical theater in undergrad and found my way back into the voice-over world afterwards. I truly love it!

SAV: What kind of voice-over projects have you done so far?

Macphee: I have a lot of experience in commercial voice-over. Right now, you may hear my voice in a television commercial for Lay’s Poppables, or if you stream TV – Smirnoff. Other clients include Fisher-Price, Birchbox, Nina Ricci Fragrance, Our Health California, and others. I am excited to be working on my first animated television series on Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains as Emma/Ghost Gal which is recording now.

SAV: Tell us more about your role here as a voice-over coach at Such A Voice. How would you describe your voice-over coaching techniques?

Macphee: Such A Voice has such a wonderful curriculum which reflects back to a lot of the training I have had as an actor. Like many of the talented coaches here, I like to also bring my training and style to the curriculum as well. At Such A Voice, we discuss the importance of warming up your body as well as your voice to prepare yourself for the work. I love this  technique that involves reading through the script as flat as possible with no inflection to get the words in your muscle memory and not getting attached to any particular read or inflection. I have tips and tricks to using my body in a way that changes the sound of my read (ie. shrug of the shoulders for a more conversational read, actually pointing to emphasize something in a copy, etc.) We discuss script analysis and ask questions like, “Who am I talking to? What am I really saying? What am I reacting to?” This makes a read sound much more authentic and conversational which is absolutely desired in the industry right now.

SAV: As a coach, what advice do you have for newcomers to the voice-over industry?

Macphee: Persistence and authenticity. I think those are my two words of advice. As with any industry, the work you put in is what you are going to get out of it and you need to be at the top of your game. Even as a professional, you always have to be practicing and keeping your tools sharp, taking classes and coaching sessions, practicing copy, and consistently getting in the booth. I’m having so much fun exploring other aspects of this industry that I am not as familiar with and I’m constantly seeking out growth opportunities. It’s also important to be authentic and find your true voice and niche of where you fit into the industry. I really believe success finds people when they are being true to themselves and allowing their unique light to shine. Clients want to work with the person who knows who they are and what amazing quality they can bring to their project.

SAV: Who is your role model in the voice-over industry?

Macphee: Gosh, so many! My coach Doriane Elliott is an amazing strong lady whom I’ve learned so much from. Darren Dunstan, the director of Yu-Gi-Oh, is also a voice actor. He is a genuine, wonderful person and a great director. As I get to know the wonderful women on staff at Such A Voice, they become great mentors. The list grows throughout your lifetime!

SAV: Who is your favorite superhero?

Macphee: Wonder Woman. That movie was so great and to finally see a strong woman saving the world – nothing beats that!

SAV: What are some of your favorite summer activities?

Macphee: I love eating at a great Mexican restaurant with a margarita in hand. I also love catching up on books to read on a beach or by a lake. In NYC, I like catching up on theatre, maybe seeing Shakespeare in the Park, heading to Central Park or the High Line to hang.

SAV: Which one is better: watching a movie or reading a book?

Macphee: I really love both, depends on my mood!

SAV: Oceans or lakes?

MacPhee: I prefer lakes, I grew up going to the Adirondacks and relaxing by the lake.

SAV: What do you enjoy the most about being a voice talent?

Macphee: I literally love lending my voice and energy to someone’s project and being of service in that way! I also love the community. I find the voice-over community one of the most collaborative and supportive communities in the entertainment industry and I am proud to be a part of it.

We want to thank Megan for taking the time to catch up with us and to thank you for tuning in each week to our blog. We always enjoy hearing your feedback, so be sure to join in on the conversation and see what’s trending about Such A Voice!

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to one of our live class instructors, Bridget Renshaw!

Such A Voice: Hi Bridget, thanks for joining us today! We’re excited to have you on the SAV team. What inspired you to become a voice-over instructor?

Renshaw: I love what I do and teaching people about it. I think that learning to use your voice is so powerful and I’ve always loved helping and encouraging others.

Such A Voice: What do you consider your niche in VO to be?

Renshaw: I have a youthful voice, so my sweet spot in commercials is a teenage girl. I also do a lot of millennial driven commercials, kid voices, and characters.

Such A Voice: What character has been your favorite to voice?

Renshaw: The voices for Guan Yinping and Dong Bai in Dynasty Warriors 9. Video games are always fun because there is so much expression and play involved. Always a good time.

Such A Voice: What part of the voice-over industry do you enjoy talking about the most in your classes? Why?

Renshaw: I enjoy working with the students on voice-over techniques. It’s fun to play around with everyone’s unique voices and personalities when they are reading through the scripts.

Such A Voice: Out of all the places you’ve traveled to for classes, which has been your favorite state to visit?

Renshaw: I loved Savannah, Georgia. Such a cool area with good people.

Such A Voice: What songs/type of music do you listen to on the road?

Renshaw: Anything I can belt out at the top of my lungs or really jam to. If it’s a longer drive, I listen to non-fiction audiobooks and podcasts. I’m always trying to learn something new.

Such A Voice: Would you rather have unlimited sushi for life or unlimited tacos for life?  

Renshaw: Tacos.

Such A Voice: How would you explain your basic life philosophy?

Renshaw: I believe that your thoughts and dreams create your reality and if you believe in yourself, the world will believe in you too. Follow the things that set your soul on fire, chase joy, and not fear. You can create whatever life you imagine and set forth to create. And don’t rely on the opinions or thoughts of others too much, nobody knows what they’re doing anyways. Do you.

Such A Voice: What exciting gigs/trips do you have coming up?

Renshaw: I’m excited to voice the main character on an animated cartoon pilot and do the dubbing voice for a teenage girl on a Russian short film that’s being converted to English. Never a dull day.

Had a positive experience with Bridget as a voice-over coach? Write about it here.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to our Home Studio Advisory Coach, Ben Marney!

SAV: Hi Ben! We wanted to congratulate you on your new gig at Sirius XM! Can you tell us more about what you’re doing for the station?

Marney: I was originally hired to do about ten pages of Channel ID’s, intros for the Skynyrd band members shows, and promotion spots for the new Free Bird: Lynyrd Skynyrd Southern Rock Channel, Sirius XM channel 30 Those responsibilities were quickly expanded. So far, I’ve done 18 pages with more coming. They have also asked me to do an audition to be the voice of another existing Sirius XM channel, but I can’t talk about that one yet.

SAV: What’s your favorite part about working in voice-over?

Marney: Without question, it’s being able to jump out of bed and walk 50 feet to my business– my home studio. I don’t even have to comb my hair or put on pants to go to work! Ha. It’s also the long-term friendships I’ve developed with my clients. For example, I’ve been the brand voice for Home Federal Bank for ten years now. The producer and I have become great friends over the years. And I have several other long-term clients/friends.

SAV: What does your role of Home Studio Support Specialist consist of on a day-to-day basis?

Marney: I believe what I do for SAV is a critical part of a student’s success. Without a quality home studio and a good understanding of the recording software, they will not be able compete in this industry, even if they have a golden voice. I have sessions in the evening from 5:00PM To 10:30PM EST, Monday through Thursday. In my sessions, I make sure their equipment is hooked up and working properly. I suggest ways in which they can create a “sound bounce proof” studio with a low noise floor and I teach them how to use the Audacity software to create quality auditions.

SAV: What kind of equipment do you use for your own home studio?

Marney: I also produce music, so I have a little more equipment than is really necessary to just produce voice-over. I work with on a 27” iMac with a second 30” Vizio video monitor, about five feet of screens in front of me.  

I have several studio microphones, but my prefered recording chain for voice-over is my Blue (baby bottle) microphone, going through a Focusrite ISA one processor, on to my Scarlett 2i2 interface.

I use ProTools recording software, mixed through a small Mackie board connected to two Advent Tuned Reference 10” studio monitors. In my vocal booth, I record with Sony MDR 7506 headphones.

I actually own several much more expensive microphones, but I like my voice the best on my Blue baby bottle.

SAV: Do you have any tips for someone who wants to soundproof their studio?

Marney: First of all, unless you bury a concrete bunker in your backyard, you’ll never get a “soundproof” home studio. All you need is a “bounce” proof studio and that’s easy to accomplish. My first recommendation is to always put the microphone in a closet, if possible. It doesn’t have to be a walk-in closet, just a closet big enough so they can put their microphone and head in. I know a lot of very successful VO talents in New York City that only have a small coat closet to work with in their tiny apartments. They cover the back wall with either Auralex foam or blankets, quilts, carpet, really anything non reflective and dense enough to absorb sound. They then spread their coats apart a foot or so, stick the microphone and mic stand in as far back as possible, put their head in between the coats, and there you have it. It’s just that simple.  

When I’m on the road working out of a hotel, I make a pillow fort around my microphone and stick my head in. I actually did three episodes of Hillbilly Blood for the Discovery Channel that way.

This is what we talk about in my sessions. Everyone has a different situation to work with. I also stress the importance of having a comfortable desk and chair for their computer. They’ll spend much more time there editing than they will in the booth recording.

SAV: What has been your favorite niche to work in so far?

Marney: I’m definitely Americana. I’m from Texas and I have a southern accent, so I concentrate on that kind of work. I don’t do many auditions for New York or Chicago. I’m more of an Alabama, Mississippi, Texas kind of guy.

SAV: What is your favorite song to listen to on the radio nowadays?

Marney: Of course I have to say Free Bird. By the way, you can hear that song on Sirius XM channel 30, Free Bird: Lynyrd Skynyrd Southern Rock Channel. Again, sorry I just can’t stop myself.

SAV: Who do you look up to in the voice-over industry?

Marney: I’d have to say Sam Elliott. I love his voice and delivery. I’ve met him a few times and he’s a great guy. Very down to earth for a big star. And of course, our own Heather Costa. She’s amazing!

SAV: If you could be a member of any TV-sitcom family, which would it be?

Marney: No question about that one! Modern Family. I’d work for free to be able to see Sofía Vergara every day.

SAV: Do you have a quote that you live by?

Marney: It’s something my father said to me the day I left for college. He said, “Son, there are a lot of stupid people out there in the world… try not to be one of them.”

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you one of our voice-over class instructors, Will Kamp.

SAV: Hi Will! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. We’re so happy to have you on the SAV team! What appealed to you in the voice-over industry?

Kamp: I love the flexibility this industry allows for. Working from my place in Chicago, or my hometown San Diego, or a couple weeks in Costa Rica, makes me a pretty happy fella! I also enjoy that it allows one to be creative and a little goofy. Getting paid to play around is awesome!

SAV: Tell us more about the live classes you teach. What can students expect to learn in these classes?

Kamp: I like to have the students walk away feeling inspired, and hopefully they learn a lot that surprised them about this industry. The voice-over industry is always changing, and there are so many opportunities for new people to begin their own journey. It’s exciting to see people get pumped up about pursuing their dreams and goals in this field of work!

SAV: What advice do you have to offer to those who are just getting started in voice-overs?

Kamp: Think about WHY you want to do it. Be clear on what your big picture goals are because that will always continue to push you through the beginning stages of this business. Remember, it’s about having fun and pursuing your passion. Success won’t come overnight, but if you’re clear on your WHY, it all adds up for a very fun and exciting journey.

SAV:  What do you like the most about your hometown?

Kamp: San Diego is the best city! I love everything about it (except not having a winning sports team). The weather is great and I love the fact that you can literally do ANYTHING you want within a two-hour drive. You can ski, surf, dirtbike, go to another country, hike, root for the Dodgers to lose! Anything you want to do is right there for ya. Oh, and California burritos from hole-in-the-wall taco shops. That’s a must.

SAV: If someone narrated your life, who would you want to be the narrator?

Kamp: Tom Hanks or Paul Newman, if we could get a time machine up in here.

SAV: What odd food combinations do you really enjoy?

Kamp: Peanut butter and jelly on a hamburger. Yup. I’m serious.

SAV: What’s something that will always be in fashion to you, no matter how much time passes?

Kamp: Third Eye Blind and/or any 90’s alternative rock.

SAV:  What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Kamp: I lived in Madrid, Spain for a little while tutoring English to Spanish families, and on my off time, I traveled through Europe on my own. Traveling solo is a must for everybody in my opinion.

SAV: Would you rather watch Star Wars or Star Trek?

Kamp: Neither. Not a fan of anything sci-fi. I know, I know…many people hate me for it.

SAV: What’s the funniest joke you know by heart?

Kamp: I love comedy and I adore doing comedy improv but the only standard jokes I know by heart are cheesy dad jokes. How do hockey players kiss? – They PUCKer up.  *high five*. Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all week. Tip your waitress.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you one of our newest team members, Evan Lacon!

SAV: Hi Evan, welcome to the Such A Voice team! We’re happy to have you here. We’d love to get to know more about you – what are some fun facts about yourself?

Lacon: I just wrote a book called Finishing: 21 Tools Guaranteed To Help You Reach Your Goals, Even When Things Get Tough. I wrote it for people who want to make a change, but aren’t avid readers. It’s great bathroom reading as each chapter is only three to five pages.

SAV: Walk us through your everyday responsibilities here at Such A Voice.

Lacon: I work closely with Ben Werlin, who is the CEO for the company, and help support our beloved and amazing live class instructors.

SAV: What is your favorite voice-over phrase?

Lacon: “Stand clear of the closing doors.” It’s so obscure, but it’s so very important to do!

SAV: What do you like the most about living in the state of New York?

Lacon: The mountains, streams, and waterfalls. Plus the myriads of historical towns with their unique charms.

SAV: If you could book a trip anywhere outside of the US, where would you decide to go and why?

Lacon: Costa Rica because my husband is from there.

SAV: What kind of music do you like listening to on a long drive?

Lacon: On long drives, I listen to Business Radio channel 111 on Sirius XM. This channel is sponsored by the Wharton School of Business and the content is excellent. The greatest thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and scholars of the world can be heard there. (I swear I don’t own stock with them, haha!) Other than that, I like singer-songwriter, classical, and techno/house music.

SAV: If you were home on a rainy Sunday afternoon, what would you want to see the most on television?

Lacon: Don’t judge, but Star Trek Voyager, Schitt’s Creek, Law and Order SVU, any PBS nature, cooking, or travel show. And if I’m feeling particularly degenerated, The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

SAV: If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve seen before, what would you paint?

Lacon: So many to choose from, perhaps the early morning sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean.

SAV: If you could learn any language fluently, what would it be?

Lacon: Spanish, so I could talk to my husband’s family and friends from Costa Rica.

SAV: What are you looking forward to the most this year?

Lacon: Being able to make a meaningful contribution to SAV and losing 30 pounds. Oh, and my book hitting the NY Times Best Seller list for bathroom reading.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to Ted Tomlinson!

SAV: Hi Ted! Thanks for taking the time to chat. Tell us about your role here at Such A Voice.

Tomlinson:  Logistics. I try to be the grease that keeps a few of the gears moving. I coordinate processes for the home studio fulfillment and the student demo files.

SAV: When I think of Ted, I think of Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother. Do you resemble any other Teds that you may know, in real life or in TV/movie//music/arts land?

Tomlinson: Haaaaaaaaave you met my friend Ted? I’m glad for Ted Mosby, because until him, the ratio of Bundys and Kaczynskis to Roosevelts tilted the name Ted in the wrong direction.  The jury is out on the Ted from the movie.

SAV: What’s your favorite color?

Tomlinson: Blue, but recently I’ve been obsessed with orange. You don’t really see it a lot and when you do see it, it’s always doing something cool like going to the moon or running very fast.

SAV: What’s your favorite music genre?

Tomlinson: A mix between 80s pop hits, jam bands, and 60s music with the ratio embarrassingly tilted towards the 80s.

SAV: If you were in a band, what would you want to do?

Tomlinson: Sound tech. If I had to, keys. I’m definitely an offstage sort of guy.

SAV: We’d love to hear more about your background in radio. What got you started in that?

Tomlinson: Garrison Keillor and the Prairie Home Companion. I used to tape record everything on the radio for hours a day and listen to them. Radio always has fascinated me with the different worlds you can create in the mind. I went to visit the CBS TV affiliate here in sixth grade, and it was love at first sight. I’ve been involved one way or another since then. The industry never really changes; it just moves mediums, like from radio to podcasts.

SAV: What do you like the most about your hometown?

Tomlinson: You never know what you have until it’s gone. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in an old farmhouse in Huntington, Vermont with family close by. I had a great childhood experience that I couldn’t wait to get out of and now I can’t wait to go back to.

SAV: What’s your favorite day of the week?

Tomlinson: It’s a toss up between Friday and Sunday. There is nothing better than when that 5:30PM feeling sinks in that you’re finished work, especially in the summer. Sunday is a great day because it’s the most relaxing day of the week. I get to hit brunch on Sunday just in time for a nap after, and toss in some TV time before getting ready for Monday.

SAV: Choose a song title to describe your life.

Tomlinson: Hopefully one that hasn’t been written yet, because nobody has ever sung of such greatness… hopefully.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to Adam Michael Rose, our dialect and accent reduction coach.

SAV: Hi Adam! Thanks for taking the time to chat. It’s great to have you on the team as a dialect and accent reduction coach! Can you explain what your day-to-day responsibilities are in this position?

Rose: I have the pleasure and honor of being SAV’s all around speech consultant. My job is to provide coaching and guidance to anyone who is looking to acquire an accent. This also frequently refers to learning a general American accent, otherwise known as accent reduction. I also provide resources and training for anyone looking to address any speech disorders or problems.

SAV: What inspired you to get into voice-over?

Rose: The voice-over world has always been a big draw for me. Our voices are capable of so many things, including transforming in chameleon-like ways into completely different moods, sounds, and feelings. The fact that there’s opportunity for us as actors to use our incredibly capable voices every day is unbelievable.

SAV: Who is someone that you look up to in the voice-over industry?

Rose: The late, great Mel Blanc. I think we all grew up watching Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tweety, and the rest of the Merrie Melodies gang. I was probably around seven or eight years old when I started paying attention to how these cartoons were made. I would watch the names that rolled by during the credits. I remember ALWAYS seeing Mel Blanc’s name. I quickly learned that he was the voice of just about ALL of my favorite cartoon characters!

SAV: What’s the greatest thing that you’ve learned from the students you work with?

Rose: Hard work and unfaltering dedication really pay off. I’ve had the absolute pleasure of watching students completely transform their skill sets, mostly because of their own dedication to learning and practicing.

SAV: If you had two free hours each day, how would you use it?

Rose: I’d put myself on a structured, yet fun and flexible learning schedule. I’d start with learning as many new languages that I possibly could, and then I’d move onto cooking and baking.

SAV: How would your friends describe you?

Rose: The nice guy, enthusiast of all things 80’s, and a human encyclopedia of Golden Girls quotes.

SAV: What’s the greatest bit of advice anyone has given you?

Rose: The strongest nugget for me right now comes from Hamilton: talk less. This is actually kind of ironic given what we do, but I love the idea of listening. Listening to people’s thoughts, feelings, information, problems, questions, and concerns. It really does seem that by doing more listening, we can avoid conflicts and tension.

SAV: If you had a time machine, what point in the past or future would you visit?

Rose: I’m still waiting for our world to become like the Jetsons — flying cars that fold up into briefcases, living in the sky, robot friends… Wait, I think we might be on the way there.

SAV: What are three things still left on your bucket list?

Rose: Skydiving, scuba-diving in the Great Barrier Reef, and making the family Thanksgiving turkey.

SAV: What was the best thing that has happened to you this year so far?

Rose: Going to Disneyland — no joke!

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to Bekka Burton, our copywriter, copy editor, and scriptwriter.

SAV: Hi Bekka! Thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to tell everyone a bit about your background and how it applies to what you do at Such A Voice.

Burton: Hello, thanks for the opportunity! My background is the English language really. I studied creative writing at Champlain College (many moons ago), I’ve been an English language teacher for the past five years (teaching in Costa Rica, Panama, and now Spain), I’m currently studying a Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and I’ll be starting my Master’s program in Linguistics next Fall  at the University of Buffalo. Here at SAV, I write copy for the website as well as scripts for our students, and I also edit everything that goes “live” on the website. I speak Spanish and sometimes get the opportunity to either translate or write scripts for Spanish speaking students too, which is a really fun challenge for me!

SAV: What kind of content do you like to write the most?

Burton: What I really love is nature writing. I am not a city person; I need nature and I love hiking and observing what’s happening around me and then writing about it. Sadly, I haven’t written anything like that for quite some time. Life and work get in the way. Check out the short story, Living Like Weasels, by Annie Dillard. I like writing stuff like that.

SAV: What is a funny tidbit of information about you that not a lot of people know?

Burton: I collect Mexican “calacas,” the ornately painted Mexican skulls that are really common during their holiday El Día de los Muertos. Whenever a friend goes to Mexico, I always request they bring one back for my collection!

SAV: What is a recent book that you have enjoyed? What did you like about it?

Burton: Because of the all-consuming Diploma course I’m taking at the moment, the books I’m reading are all textbooks on English grammar (dryly written, but I actually totally geek out on it and love learning what exactly an adverbial phrase is as opposed to an adverbial clause!) or how to teach English, how languages are acquired, etc. But, you’re probably a bit bored by that so a book that I read pre-Diploma course that I loved was, All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. The story takes place during WWII and one of the characters is blind. The way Doerr uses all that character’s other senses to describe how she “saw” was just spell binding. I couldn’t put the book down.

SAV: If you could live in any period of history, when would it be?

Burton: During the reign of King Henry VIII! I love reading books that take place during this period in history. I find the way they lived very fascinating. I once visited Hampton Court Palace outside of London and thought it was the coolest place!

SAV: What fictional place would you like to visit?

Burton: The Castle at Winterfell ruled by House Stark (but only if Jon Snow were in residence, haha) but I would never go beyond the wall. If you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, you have no idea what I’m referring to.

SAV: If you could host a talk show, who would be your first guest?

Burton: Beyonce, hands down. Although I’d probably be so starstruck, I wouldn’t be able to function. I’ve seen her twice in concert (Toronto and Barcelona). Her shows were mind blowing.

SAV: Out of all the places you’ve traveled to, where has been your favorite?

Burton: This is a very difficult question to answer because traveling is my passion (apart from English grammar). I have to narrow it down to three categories: mountains,cities, and towns.

Mountains: The Dolomites (the mountain range in Northern Italy that forms part of the Southern Alps). I’ve been there twice to go hiking and snowshoeing.The mountains there are just wild and breathtaking.

Town: Innsbruck, Austria. I’ve been there countless times because I have a very dear friend from there. It’s so charming and beautiful. It’s surrounded by 360 degrees of mountains.

City: Amsterdam. The history, the canals, and the bikes!

SAV: If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be?

Burton: It’s not a slogan, it’s one of my all time favorite poems which is a haiku by Mizuta Masahide.

Barn’s burnt down

Now

I can see the moon.

This resonates for me on many levels. One, I used to be an organic farmer in Vermont for eight years, so I know the importance of a barn and how it basically represents your livelihood. So if that barn burns down, you’re screwed. However, to me the moon is sacred so if you feel you’ve lost everything (your “barn” has burnt down), there is still something good that you can find within that loss and that’s your moon.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to Immanuel Gebhardt, one of the members of our post-production team.

SAV: Hi Immanuel! We’re excited to have this time to talk. Tell us some fun facts about yourself.

Gebhardt: Hi, thanks for the opportunity! I’m 18 years old. In my free time, I snowboard and skateboard. I’m also a producer, engineer, and the studio manager at Soundloom in Burlington VT.

SAV: Can you explain more about your role here at SAV on the post-production team?

Gebhardt: When I get a client’s ProTools session, the audio is completely raw. I edit out the background noise, any mouth and breath noise, adjust the pacing, add music and sound effects, and create tight transitions from spot to spot.

SAV: What got you interested in the work that you do now?

Gebhardt: I’ve always been interested in music/production/engineering and after becoming fluent in Pro Tools, I realized working for SAV would be a perfect opportunity —  it combines many of my passions and it’s a job in the audio industry.

SAV: What do you like to do to relax after a hard day of work?

Gebhardt: Sit down on the couch and watch The Office with my roommates.

SAV: What’s the best single day on your calendar?

Gebhardt: FIRST DAY OF WINTER

SAV: What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?

Gebhardt: I think everyone should go camping at least once. People need more of a connection with nature, especially if we actually plan on saving this planet!

SAV: What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it?

Gebhardt: Brussel Sprouts! “YUCK,” just kidding. I’d love to try snowboarding in Japan, just haven’t gotten around to it yet!

SAV: What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

Gebhardt: MYSPACE

SAV: What song or artist do you like but rarely admit to liking?

Gebhardt: My roommates listen to Kenny Chesney and it’s starting to grow on me.

SAV: What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

Gebhardt: I’m looking forward to a trip to Bozeman, MT to see family and snowboard.

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For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to Craig Spear, the Vice President of Coaching for Such A Voice.

SAV: Hey Craig! Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

Spear: My cousin was the oldest living American. She was 114 and half years old when she died. She had a fondness for sweets and fatty foods. Because she was born in 1890, she was positioned to take in the whole 20th century —  she could remember it from beginning to end!   

SAV: How did you find your way into the voice-over industry?

Spear:  It started with college radio. I learned every jot and tittle of the broadcasting business—from spinning records to editing news. As the station manager, I originated Kaleidoquiz, the largest and longest running—STILL running—college radio trivia contest. Our maiden broadcast crashed the campus phone system and shut down the university.  

During the summer months, I worked as a top-forty DJ in my hometown of Cedar Rapids. Our broadcasts were heard over the loudspeaker system by sun bathers at Lake McBride—still one of my fondest memories of life in the Midwest.  
 
Before long, I ended up in San Francisco producing talk shows for KGO—the preeminent ABC news and talk station of its day. By dint of luck, I met Dr. Dean Edell and produced his first nationally syndicated radio show. Within a few years, we landed a daytime network television show on NBC. We went up against Donahue on CBS and an up-and-coming new host on ABC named Oprah. We had a 26-week run.  

SAV: Run us through a typical work day and an off day. Interests outside of VO?

Spear: I read, write, ride my bike, and try to swim three or four times a week. After a long career in broadcast journalism, I still follow the news. As a writer, I most admire talented editorial writers and skilled political commentary.  

SAV: As Vice President of Coaching for Such A Voice, what advice do you offer to other voice-over coaches about how to work with students?

Spear: Every student is a special case. A good coach has an ear for what sets them apart.  And the patience to bring that quality out. A good coach instills confidence, but is also relentless about teaching necessary skills. Natural ability is only realized through mastery of one’s craft.          

SAV: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from someone in the voice-over industry?

Spear: I’ve worked with hundreds of talented people over my career. Performers are nothing if not opinionated. I suspect I’ve heard every theory there is on how to succeed in show business. The simple answer is still the most enduring: “Be yourself.” Whatever qualities you have that make you interesting as a performer—personality, talent, wit—find what’s authentic in it. Calculation is the enemy of truth. Audiences detect pretense. All good performances come from the heart.      

SAV: Describe your idea of a getaway vacation – the weather, the place, the activities, etc.

Spear:  I never plan ahead. I explore as I go. The best travel experiences are the ones you stumble into. In general, I prefer destinations that are quiet enough to soothe the soul but interesting enough to stir the mind.

SAV: What’s your favorite hot beverage?

Spear:  Hot toddy. Don’t know what it tastes like, but I like the way it sounds.   

SAV: Would you rather go on a long walk or a long drive?

Spear:  Driving is for getting somewhere. Walking is for deciding where you want to go.

SAV:  What opportunities exist for voice actors entering the VO field today?

Spear: In my experience, the voice-over industry has never been more accommodating to such a wide range of voices, styles and personalities.  Thanks to the Internet–and the digital media revolution–opportunities for actors and spokes-voices is continually expanding. The business is competitive.  No question.  But the secret to gaining a foothold is finding your own strengths, and focusing on what sets you apart.  Add determination and persistence to that mix and you’re on the road to voice work that’s satisfying and financially rewarding.

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