Dan Roberts' Voice

Dan Roberts

2011-10-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of talking to screen actress, voice-over artist, comedian and author Aisha Tyler. We talked about all that stuff, plus her passion for games and comic-books. Check it out on my radio blog.
Dan Roberts: Aisha Tyler gets nerdy with me.

New gig: video tutorial

2011-09-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

This week I auditioned and landed a gig for Reel World Mornings, a new service for radio morning shows. The video is already posted! Talk about quick turnaround. Sometimes that's how it happens.

There are three versions of the tutorial, depending on station format. It's the identical copy, so you may enjoying hearing each actor's take on the same material. I'm the little guy in the cowboy hat.

To hear the tutorials, click this link. Go to "overview" and then "introduction."

Incidentally, they asked for a subtle twang (not too thick or exaggerated). Then they asked for even less twang! I was starting at, I felt, a +1 on the twang scale, so how would I pull back from that? Well, I tend to drop my g's when doing this dialect, so I added them back in. Bingo! Hit the sweet spot and got the job. Hang on to that trick, it may help you in the future.

Best,

Dan

The Bob Rivers Show interviews Dan

2011-08-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'm expanding my creative horizons by doing a night-time radio show on Seattle's KJR-FM. This morning the Bob Rivers Show invited me to sit in with them to discuss cartoons, babies, geekdom, and the new gig. Seth Thompson captured the whole thing on video, which you can watch below.

Animate yourself with Dilbert and me!

2011-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Some of the most fun I have behind the microphone is voicing Dilbert and his pointy-haired-boss for Scott Adams website. It’s the last thing I ever thought I’d be doing in my life, and I’ll keep doing it for as long as they’ll have me!

In a strange twist, you can now you see yourself (or one of your friends) in one of these Dilbert cartoons… and hear my voice, or one of my cast-mate’s voices, coming out of your mouth. I told you it was strange. But it’s cheap, easy and fun as well as a good way to kill time on the computer.

image courtesy Peanuts Worldwide

Check it out at http://www.pixfusion.com/

Tell ‘em Danbert sent you.

Oh! And if you create one, shoot it my way. I’d love to see it! In fact, “You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” Ah heck, I’ll go first. Click here.

Contact Dan.

Verizon iPhone

2011-01-21T15:38:00.000-08:00

Excellent sound design punctuates this ad for the new Verizon iPhone marriage.
-Dan

The Troublesome Truth about a Voice-Over Career

2011-01-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

Spotted this on Bob Souer's blog (of course). Optimism is a great thing, but being aware of the pitfalls of voice-over is also important.

The Princess (Phone) and the Duck

2011-01-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

Listen to the story of Aflac's new, friendlier phone-system voice.

Cartoonatics: Cast Members from "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Anim...

2010-11-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Just discovered Tom Ruegger's blog. If you are a cartoon fan, like I am, this is looks to provide lots of behind-the-scenes treasures! Check out Cartoonatics: Cast Members from "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Anim...: "In the mid-90's, we made a few 'Tiny Toon Adventures' primetime specials while we were producing the 'Animaniacs' series. This photo was ..."

Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language

2010-11-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

I lifted this from Bob Souer's blog. As he would say, it's "well worth a look."

5 Early VO Influences

2010-09-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Voice-Over Appreciation Month!

I thought I’d take a moment to showcase five voices that are probably responsible for the paths I’ve taken in life, be it radio or animation. Not that I knew it when I heard them, mind you. Let’s call them ‘early influences.’

Ernie Anderson
His voice was synonymous with ABC television for as long as I can remember. He was the personality of the network, which is the whole point of imaging. He had the voice of God and he made programs like the Love Boat sound like the most exciting show ever! You didn’t hop on board the “Love Boat.” You took a ride on the “Loooooooove Boat!” He almost made it sound dirty, which he claims was his intention in this terrific interview segment.

Wolfman Jack
That deep, raspy voice first came to my attention in a film favorite of mine, George Lucas’s “American Graffiti.” Although he wasn’t onscreen for long, his voice on the radio was as much a character in the movie as any of the young stars. There was a mystery about him. He sounded like a cartoon! What did he look like? Why does he call himself the Wolfman? Was he as hairy as a Werewolf? There’s a lesson in branding for you. I still enjoy his DJ bits on the (killer) soundtrack to this classic coming of age comedy. Jump to the :50 mark in the scene below to watch Wolfman Jack’s cameo with Richard Dreyfus.

Mel Blanc
No surprise here. The Man of a Thousand Voices! He’s on everybody’s list. Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, Speed Buggy. I’m sure Mel Blanc was the first animation voice I ever heard, and I’m positive he was the first voice-actor I ever saw in front of the camera. Seeing him onscreen in that famous American Express commercial didn’t break the illusion for me. I knew they were hand-drawn cartoons. But to think all of those voices came out of one man? I just thought he had the coolest job in the world! Apparently many folks felt that way as his requests for autographs jumped significantly as a result of the ad.

James Earl Jones
Another great mystery here. Two or three, in fact. And another George Lucas movie… Star Wars. David Prowse was tall enough to fill out the Darth Vader costume, but a British tenor was not what Lucas had in mind for the voice of filmdom’s most popular villain. He chose the deep, bass tones of James Earl Jones. And when the helmet came off in Return of the Jedi? It was neither of these guys. But “Luke, I am your father” is one of the most (mis)quoted lines in film history (he actually says ‘No. I am your father.’) And then there’s his great speech in “Field of Dreams.” And of course, the ID for CNN.

Rich Little
Rich Little was always on TV when I was growing up. Seemingly able to do an impression of anyone, he even had the targets of his satire laughing (as you’ll see in the clip below). Rich Little had me doing impressions of Rich Little doing impressions of celebrities. And we can still take a lesson from his fearlessness when performing… He’s not afraid to look silly. He commits to the role. And he really becomes the character in posture, mannerisms and facial expressions.

This is by no means a definitive list of my voice-over heroes, nor are they ranked by importance. But when I stop and think about it, they really are my earliest voice-over influences. They provided the catch-phrases of my youth.

Who influenced your VO career?

A Toast for National Voice-Over Appreciation Month!

2010-09-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

September is National Voice-Over Appreciation Month. I’m lucky enough to be a part of the voice-over community, but I thought I’d take a moment to share with you the many ways that I interact with voice-over when I’m not the one on the microphone.

When I'm driving, a pleasant sounding British woman tells me where to turn. This makes for a total of two women in the car giving me directions.

When I shop, an
overhead voice tells me what’s on sale… or that I’ve spent too much time in electronics and the store is now closing.

When I call a business, I’m often prompted to choose a language: English or Spanish. Then I’m transferred to a person who is fluent in neither.

At the movies I’m asked to silence my cell-phone. Later, a God-like voice informs me that an up-coming movie will take place “in a world” that looks much more exciting than my own…with prettier people milling about. Afterwards, as I’m pulling out of the parking garage, a thoughtful voice warns pedestrians that I’m not paying attention to them…so they’d better stay sharp if they don’t want to get run over!

Even on vacation…perhaps especially on vacation…you’ll encounter voice-overs. I’ve stayed at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles twice recently. There’s an elevator there that has such a distinct way of announcing your arrival to the “lobby” that it’s become a bit of a catchphrase with guests and staff. She (the elevator) says lobby the way that you or I might say ‘chocolate’ or ‘sexy.’ It certainly makes you feel as if you’ve landed somewhere special. Forget the amusement parks-I’m staying in the lobby all day!

I love theme parks-especially Disneyland! Inside the many lands Uncle Walt created for us, you’re greeted by Star Wars characters, ghosts and goblins, and other Goofy characters whose voices are instantly recognizable to you. If you stay on the property, you can even get a wake-up call from a princess, or a mouse. Although, oddly, when they pose for pictures with you they clam up.

Speaking of characters, I’m as familiar with the pipes of Cap’n Crunch, Toucan Sam and Tony the Tiger as I am with the voices of my own parents! And I know that it’s “fun to put Snap, Crackle, Pop” into my morning because three little elves have told me that for 30 + years. I’ve gotten older, they haven’t. That’s not fair.

But voice-over isn’t just for breakfast anymore; it’s everywhere! Sure, it’s where you expect it to be: radio, film, TV, games and animation… But it’s also reading books to you on long car rides, teaching you a foreign language online, and giving dieter’s encouragement when they step on the scale (or Wii Fit balance board).

These are just a few ways that voice-overs touch our lives on a daily basis. But have you ever considered how those voices got there? Each one of the examples I’ve given you involve a specialized artist called a voice-actor. These voice talents use only their vocal range and acting abilities to create the intended theater of the mind… to share the proper mood, feeling, and sentiment with the audience.

Once upon a time, voice-actors had to live in Hollywood or the Big Apple in order to book jobs. That is rapidly changing and today many voice-actors record and upload files from their homes or private studios; in their jammies, underwear, or in the buff. How’s that for theater of the mind?

The convenience of home-recording, however, also puts the talent on an island with them-selves. Despite this, the voice-over community feels pretty friendly and tight-knit, thanks largely to online social-networking, as well as the occasional conference and other events.

This month, the voice-over community is joining forces to recognize the unseen gabbers in your midst, declaring September National Voice-Over Appreciation Month! You can learn more by visiting http://www.nationalvoiceovermonth.com/

Me? My throat is a little scratchy from growling out a ‘Monster Truck’ commercial this afternoon. So I’m heading home now to veg in front of the tube. Not sure what’s on, but I’m sure someone will tell me. Before I hit the couch, though, I’ll pop open a beer and raise a toast to my fellow voice-actors. By the way, my bottle-opener does a nifty impression of Homer Simpson. He likes beer, too. He tells me so.

Cheers, my friends! This blog’s for you!

Best,

Dan

Audio Editing 101

2010-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

In the freelance voice-over business, we all wear many hats. The acting hat, the marketing hat, the book-keeping hat… The John Deere hat, the dunce cap, and the one with the mouse ears…It’s possible that you are a voice-actor by choice, but an audio engineer by necessity. If you are new to slicing and dicing .wav files, this tutorial is for you.

The images and shortcuts provided in this article reference Pro-Tools, and are Mac-centric, but the methods can be applied to any audio-editing software that you may happen to use. Honestly, if you are strictly doing voice-work, a free program like Audacity is all that you need to record and edit a single track. If you have goals of producing your own multi-track commercials or demo songs, then I would suggest
Pro-Tools (LE is fine), Adobe Audition, Sony Vegas or comparable software.

There are many reasons why you might edit a file instead of leaving it ‘as is.’ Perhaps you let the virtual tape roll as you gave two or three takes per line. You’ll want to pick your favorites and consolidate them into one ‘take’ for your audition. But let’s say you read the script straight through in real-time, with no mistakes. You might still want to tighten up the audio or eliminate some distracting breaths or ‘p’-pops (‘plosives). Or maybe you simply forgot to slate your audition. Thanks to non-linear editing, it’s easy to accomplish all of this! It’s like moving avatars around on a board game.

Let’s assume your studio is set-up, and you’re ready to record an audition. Before you even start recording, do a microphone check. Read the copy aloud with the same volume you feel you’ll be using for your actual read. Adjust your settings so that your voice is hot, without distorting. You should be able to peak in the red a bit, as long as you don’t linger there. While it’s true that you can normalize the audio once it’s recorded, you should only do so if you have to. Your audio is only as good as the sound you and your microphone are putting into the software. If you are recording at a low level and then gaining or normalizing everything after the fact, then you are raising the level of everything-including room noise! Is there a hiss in your recording? That’s why.

Don’t compress your voice too much (unless you are doing promos or trailers). You should be happy with the product you send out, but you should also know that it’s the producer’s job to EQ your voice so that it ‘prints’ over the music they are using or matches the sound of other actors in the same project. You’re making their job more difficult if you sound like a monster truck commercial.

Time compression is another popular tool that should stay in the box until all other options have been exhausted. You should be able to record your script in the time allotted. If not, try again and pick up the pace. Hopefully the copywriter understands ninety words or so (depending on syllables) equals thirty-seconds of copy. I’ll let you do the math on :15’s and :60’s. If the script is longer than that, it’s their fault, not yours. I would give them the audio as is, perhaps with a note saying you’d be happy to re-read if they want to shorten the copy. Word that more delicately than I just did, though. Make sure it doesn’t sound like a ransom note. “If you wish to hear your words aloud ever again, you will send me the proper length script in double-spaced, 12 point fonts.”

Back to time-compression. Never time-compress anything unless you are the end-producer! Your ears may think the compression sounds fine, but the person you send it to may hear artifacts in the audio that you don’t—and scrap your audition! It’s their job to decide to cut or squish a line of dialogue, not yours. However, you can tighten the audio up by editing out unnecessary pauses and breaths. Over time you’ll become familiar with the .wav forms and visually recognize the difference between speech and breathing. To make any kind of a cut, simply right-click and drag the cursor over the audio you wish to remove.

Once highlighted, hit the delete key on your keyboard.

Presto! It’s gone! If you feel you made an error, simply go to the menu and select ‘undo.’ If the delete button doesn’t work in your software of choice, explore the drop down menus for the ‘cut’ or ‘delete’ function. You should also find a keyboard shortcut next to the description.

Use good judgment when removing breaths. Some pauses add to the drama of the read. And a few inhales and exhales simply make you sound… human. When tightening up breaths, I sometimes only cut the gap between two words in half, rather than eliminating the pause altogether. This way it saves time, but retains the intended cadence. In the end, it’s completely subjective. Trust your ear.

In Pro-Tools, editing in shuffle mode can make quick work of these edits.
Basically, every time you cut something out, the audio snaps to the remaining piece of audio. It moves from the right to the left within your session. It’s a time-saver, but it can also be frustrating if you aren’t used to working this way. Fortunately you can always ‘undo’ your mistakes.

Slip mode (also Pro-Tools) will keep the gap created by your edit. So if you delete the middle of an audio file, you are left with a gap between two audio files. This is good if you want to remove a breath but keep the space between words. Slip mode also allows you to move audio around like puzzle pieces. Left, right, up, down… They’ll stay wherever you put them (as opposed to the snapping action of shuffle mode).

Not all of your edits will be clean. You may hear a tick at the point of edit. A gasp or pop. Dry mouth. Sometimes chopping off more of the file is not the answer. Try a fade instead.

If the transition sounds sloppy between two files that have been snapped together, try a cross-fade edit. Select a small patch of audio to the left and right of the break by holding down the Shift key while dragging the cursor. Create the cross-fade by clicking Apple + F.

This usually does the trick, as it marries the two pieces of audio together. Picture your hands pressed together, with your fingers interlaced between each other; this is a good illustration of a cross-fade.

If you want to keep the space between two files, but smooth out the edges a bit, put a fade on the end of one file, and then a fade at the front of the next file, keeping the gap between them. This will give you a much cleaner sound than just leaving the edits exposed.

To make a fade at the beginning of a file, select a small portion of the audio by using the shortcut Alt + Shift + Tab. This highlights (blacklights?) to the left of the cursor. Now hit Apple + F to create the fade.

To make a fade at the end of a file, select a small portion of the audio by using the shortcut Shift + Tab. This highlights to the right of the cursor. Hit Apple + F to create the fade.

Now you’ve got your final audition piece, but it’s in several chunks. In Pro-Tools, you can go to the drop-down menu under edit and consolidate everything into one file. This way you can get it off of your screen, but easily access it from the audio bin if you need to refer to it later. It may also be necessary to save the file to a folder or desktop so that you can send the file to a client. Shift + Apple + K will do this quickly for you, keeping the consolidated audio in one piece in an environment outside of Pro-Tools.

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of my blog! I hope you found this tutorial useful. Feel free to add your own short-cuts and tips for Pro-Tools or other software in the comments section.

Oh. And hit save. Often. Like, OCD often. It prevents heartbreak. Or…heartburn. Maybe both. Ask your doctor if hitting save is right for you.

Hmm… That last sentence kinda’ rambled. I’ll have to go back and clean that up with some nice edits.

Short cuts:
Apple + F=Fade (or cross-fade, if you have two files selected)
Alt + Shift + Tab=Highlight to left of cursor
Shift + Tab=Highlight to right of cursor
Apple + S=Save

The Pat Fraley/Brad Garrett Comedy Class

2010-08-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Pat Fraley has an upcoming class in Los Angeles called ‘Crafting Comedy under the Stars.’ The stars the title refers to are “Everybody Loves Raymond” alum Brad Garrett, stand-up-comedian/voice-over artist Vanessa Marshall and, of course, the great Pat Fraley himself.

If you were at Voice 2010 this past June, you were treated to an early morning surprise visit from Brad during Mr. Fraley’s opening day comedy class. What seemed to be a loud heckler somewhere in the audience turned out to be one of the most recognizable faces-and voices-in comedy today. Audience members were invited to read scripts alongside Pat and Brad, with hilarious results!

Pat has created a promo piece for his upcoming workshop using photos and audio from the Voice 2010 session. I think it's worth your time to watch it. It’s the rare promo video that actually dares to teach you something, instead of only offering hyperbole. For instance, I like the insight of NOT playing drunk, but rather playing an intoxicated person struggling to appear sober. Brilliant! And that’s not the only tip you’ll glean from this short video. Take a look.

Great stuff! Interested in taking the class? Visit http://patfraley.com/Events/Crafting/CCUS.html

I wish I could be there. Take notes for me, huh?

Despicable Me (Celebrity Voice-acting with a Twist)

2010-08-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

The hit film “Despicable Me” follows the trend of casting celebrities in animated features, but with a twist: the actors are doing character voices, rather than just lending their familiar pipes to a version of their on-screen personas.

Steve Carell headlines the villainous comedy as Gru, and he adds a very un-Steve Carell accent. Watch the clip below to see Steve in action and hear the results.

Jason Segel also stars in the film as a young, nerdy bad guy named Vector. In this interview from HitFix, Jason explains that the character designs came before he was cast, which influenced his approach to the voice of Vector.

“Despicable Me” has met with mostly favorable reviews, and done so well at the box-office ($195,373,890 as of this writing) that, according to imdb.com, we can expect a sequel by 2013.

Stephanie Ciccarelli Guest Blog

2010-07-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

Dave Courvosier's blog just featured a great guest column from Voices.com's Stephanie Ciccarelli. It deals with understanding your brand, and how in these days of online social-networking, the face you show your friends and family is inevitably the same face you show your clients. Whether you mean to or not! Your best bet is to be careful about what you put out there, while being true to who you are.

Okay, that's the teaser. Click over to the Stephanie Ciccarelli Guest Blog for the full meal deal.

A Voice Over Historical Landmark - The Voicecaster Demo Wall

2010-07-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

The days of reel-to-reel may be gone, but this wall-of-demos is worth preserving. Check out the star-studded collage at Voicecaster studios in Burbank, California. Great blog post from Some Audio Guy!

Go, Speed Racer, Go. Godspeed.

2010-07-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Peter Fernandez, the voice of Speed Racer, has passed away. He was 83 years old. Learn more about Peter's interesting career in radio, on broadway and in the military at Animation World Network.

Demo this advice

2010-07-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where I heard this advice recently, but it makes so much sense that I had to share it with you (in an illustration no less)!

What does this mean? It means that if you're doing audio book narration, and you want to do commercial work, you should include some commercial examples on your demo! Nobody is going to listen to your genre demo and think to themselves, 'this guy (or gal) should really be doing this other genre.' No one is going to discover you that way. You have to make them see you! Find a few scripts in the genres you want to tackle, and start recording. Good luck!

Will the real Donald Duck please stand up?

2010-07-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

I was searching Twitter for other voice-actor "tweets" when I stumbled across a gentleman calling himself VActor4Disney. It caught my attention. As it turns out VActor4Disney is actually the page of an aspiring Disney voice-actor. Still intrigued, I gave one of his videos a looksee. You know what? He's good! Check out his impression of
Donald Duck, below.

While you have to give the guy credit for knowing what he wants in life, there is one slight problem... These characters are already cast! And they will likely remain in the care of their current voice-actors until they are no longer able to replicate the voices themselves. That could be a long wait! However, if the need ever arises for a next-generation Donald Duck... I think VActor4Disney has a real shot! Don't you?

Maybe this vintage commercial for Donald Duck Orange Juice will convince you.

Sounds like the same duck to me.

Quack at ya' later!

Dan

"Dice" TV commercial for Northern Quest Casino

2010-07-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a trio of commercials from Hanna & Associates for the Northern Quest Casino in Eastern Washington. I think they did a terrific job with the creative, and I'm proud to play one of the die in the second spot. I'm the guy who gets the last punchline in.

Keep an eye out for the ad during Mariner games on FSN.

By the way, if you ever find yourself near Spokane, check out the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights. Among other things, it's got a sportsbar with the games projected onto the biggest screen I've ever seen in a sportsbar!

John Wayne: Voice Actor

2010-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Is there any other actor that is more closely associated with America and her ideals? John Wayne had a great career, and an interesting voice... Often imitated, never duplicated. In honor of our Independence Day, I give you the Duke himself, reading the Pledge of Allegiance as only he can.

God bless the U.S.A!

The Real Life Story of a Disney Princess

2010-07-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Obituary: Ilene Woods dies at 81; voice of Disney's Cinderella - latimes.com

FREE! Comic Books for Actors

2010-07-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I loved book-and-records; especially those Power Records releases that included a comic book, with a fully produced drama. Music, sound effects, and voice actors told the stories of Spiderman, Superman, and other childhood heroes.

My favorite of these was an adaptation of Planet of the Apes. I had the whole thing memorized.

My dad loves to tell the story of our long car rides and how I would keep myself entertained in the back-seat by re-enacting the entire Planet of the Apes script-sound effects and all! This was pre-in car DVD, pre-iPod. We kids had to have a little more ingenuity in those days! Looking back, this was my first experience as a voice-actor.

I still enjoy reading comic books, and it was brought to my attention by one of my coaches, Bob Bergen, that comics are a great source of scripts for voice-actors to practice developing characters with. Everything you need is right there on the multi-panel, 4 color page: Heroes! Villains! Action! Drama! Plenty of dialogue, and lots of illustrations to show you what the characters look like, and how they’re behaving.

In fact, when I’m voicing Hammy from Over the Hedge-or Dilbert and his Boss-I’m reading my lines directly from the comic-strips. What’s the point in transcribing a script when you’ve got these beautiful, informative storyboards to work from?

If you want to give it a try, but you don’t know where to begin, I’ve taken the liberty of including some FREE comic book resources in this article. How cool is that? You don’t even have to leave the house or buy anything to get started!

Fans of daily newspaper comic-strips can find plenty of favorites here:
http://comics.com/

A couple of years ago DC comics published a weekly series starring just about everybody in their fictional universe, but especially the lesser known ‘fringe’ characters.
It was called “52” and you can sample pages of that epic storyline here: http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/features/52pickup/default.asp

Not into capes? How about the gentle humor of Archie Andrews and the gang from Riverdale High School? Archie Digital is a paid subscription site, but they offer a few free preview issues.
http://www.archiedigital.com/sign-up/

Fancy yourself a Vampire Slayer? Check out free issues of Buffy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/ecomics/

Vertigo is an adult comic book…er, sorry…”graphic novel” brand. Great stuff! But definitely not appropriate for all audiences. A few free pages of several titles can be downloaded as .pdf’s here: http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/graphic_novels/ Again, not kid stuff!

You can find many more resources by Googling ‘free comic book pdf.’

Practice accents with the characters. Age them. Play them over-the-top! Play them real. And if you are a producer as well, record the dialogue and add music and sound effects. Maybe you'll create something you can use on your demo! I'm no lawyer (check with one if you're concerned), but I believe using the material in this way is okay. You’re not selling anything (but your talent); and it’s purely for demonstration purposes. That said, I would change the names of familiar characters because people already know what characters like Batman and the Joker sound like, and if you don’t nail it-you could lose out on a similar gig. Best to use these magazines to create your own unique heroes and villains.

Have fun!

The 'Dark Side' of Voice Acting

2010-07-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

Something fun from the folks at TomTom GPS.

Smurf Justice Hits the Airwaves!

2010-06-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spoke to Seattle’s KOMO 1000 News about Bob Bergen’s “Smurf Justice for June Foray” campaign on Facebook. Here’s the story as it aired in drive-time yesterday afternoon…

Since the story is somewhat ‘evergreen,’ they tell me that it will probably be repeated over the 4th of July weekend. This is good news! That’s 3 or 4 days of on-air exposure for the campaign. Hopefully we’ll get a little traction and see the numbers go up on the ‘Smurf Justice’ Facebook page.
If you’d like to help us grow those numbers, here are a few suggestions:

share and re-share the Facebook page with your friends
post a fun June Foray trivia fact or video and link to the Facebook page
use your other social media sites, like Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace. Again, including some interesting content so that you are not just spamming people.
E-mail the story to your friends and family who may not be using social media. You are welcome to forward this page. Animation Magazine also did a nice piece which you can view here.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper

It's important to note that this isn't a protest of anything or anyone. We just think it would be cool for June-and for Smurf fans-if the filmmakers included the voice of the original Jokey Smurf in some capacity.

Thanks in advance for your help. Have a Smurf-tastic day!

-Dan

Branding Your Voiceover Business

2010-06-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

There isn't enough talk on the voice-over sites about branding. Branding is who you are, and how you're percieved. It's so important to your voice-over business that I am going to explore the subject from time to time on this blog. We'll start with this short slide-show I found online. Enjoy!

Creating a Brand Persona

View more webinars from Jason Levine.

Porky Pig Swearing Blooper

2010-06-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

I remember hearing this as a teen. Never saw the video before now. Not sure if this is legit or not. Sure sounds like Mel Blanc. Can't imagine this playing in theaters, though.
Nonetheless, it is quick and funny! (And Rated PG)

The A-Team of Cartoon Voices

2010-06-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

I was searching YouTube for the June Foray video that was shown at Voice 2010. I found it-and a couple of other fun voice reels! Enjoy.

JUNE FORAY

PAUL FREES

DON MESSICK

DAWS BUTLER

MEL BLANC

The embedding function of the Mel Blanc video has been disabled. Click on Mel's name and I'll take you to the video.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dan

Animation Magazine keeps Smurf Justice for June Foray moving

2010-06-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Animation Magazine picked up the story of our Facebook campaign to get June Foray a role in the upcoming Smurfs movie. You can read the story here.

Invasion of the Headphone Snatchers! (Uncut, unrated, extended edition)!

2010-06-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

Last week I was priveleged to have my blog featured in VOX Daily at Voices.com. But the kind folks there have much better taste than I do, and know their audience better than I do, so a colorful analogy from Ashton Smith was omitted. I understand and respect their decision to keep things family friendly. But I feel that Ashton's comparison is so spot on-and funny-that it may provide that "a-ha" moment of clarity for some readers. I've got a one word anaology for acting while wearing headphones that is even more abrasive. But I'll stick with Ashton's PG version to get the point across.

Along with that, I am adding in a comment from Marice Tobias that a reader shared in repsonse to the article.

Now, without further ado, I present: INVASION OF THE HEADPHONE SNATCHERS! Uncut! Unrated! Extended edition!
“A Nightmare on Headphone Street.” “The Good, the Bad, and the Headphones.” “The Unbearable Lightness of Headphones.” What do these movie titles have in common? Headphones have no business in them!

I know I’m being absurd, but think about it… The actors in our favorite movies and TV shows are not listening to themselves. They are in the moment… Acting.

“Ditch the headphones!” says Beau Weaver, who hosted a VOICE 2010 panel aimed at giving radio people acting tips. “Stop listening to yourself through processing. You are spending too much time judging yourself. Get into a performance space.”

Ashton Smith echoed this advice on the Promo panel, saying that wearing head-phones changes the read. “It’s like looking in the mirror as you’re making love, and checking yourself out.” Right. You should be concentrating on the performance. Get it?

VOX Daily reader W.L. Jenkins offers this:

"I quit using headphones a long time ago. My voice acting coach is Marice Tobias and she says that the surest way to bring out your inner critic is to wear headphones while you're working. Think about it: you're listening to yourself listen to yourself, and when that happens you'll start editing your performance. Another performance killer is wearing headphones when working with other actors in the booth. How can you listen and react to them when you're listening to yourself at the same time?"

Can you imagine Gary Cooper stopping to check his look in the mirror during the gunfight in “High Noon”? He wouldn’t have had time to fire a shot. What if, while the villain bragged about his evil schemes, James Bond was busy admiring the cut of his tux instead of planning an escape? And what if John Travolta was constantly worried about his appearance in “Saturday Night Fever”? Oh, wait. That actually happened. The point is: Stop analyzing what you’re doing and just do it.

Remember… the most important word in Voice Acting is ACTING. Not voice.

Headphones keep you tethered to your board as well, perhaps leading to an inhibited performance. I mean, you don’t want to move around too much or those Sony’s will come flying off your head, right? Yet using your whole body in a performance is very important. The microphone picks up every nuance because your voice changes with each gesture.

There are also long-term health benefits to giving your headphones a rest. I can’t tell you the number of guys I know who crank their ‘cans’ a little louder each year. They’re killing their ears. Don’t let this happen to you.

Obviously there are exceptions to the ‘no head-phones’ rule. If the director insists you wear them, you wear them. I’m a producer as well as voice-actor, so when I’m monitoring somebody else’s performance, I wear them. Promo guys punch-in live when recording copy, so they need to hear the production. Singers must hear the music or the song will turn into a train-wreck. But in general, it’s a good idea to lose the head-phones. So step away from the “Valley of the Headphones” and trust the experts. I think you’ll find that it will breathe new life into your performances!

Cheers!

Dan

Invasion of the Headphone Snatchers!

2010-06-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am honored to say that todays blog has actually been published on Voices.com.

It's about my belief, and people much smarter and more experienced than I, that headphones get in the way of the performance.

Not everyone agrees! Read the blog for yourself on Vox Daily at Voices.com.

Smurf Justice for June Foray!

2010-06-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

If you grew up watching cartoons, you grew up listening to June Foray. When I was a kid, I would get up at o’dark-thirty each weekday morning to watch Rocky & Bullwinkle before school. For the uninitiated, June was both Rocky the Flying Squirrel and femme fatale Natasha.

June was also
a big part of my Saturday mornings, playing Witch Hazel in several Bugs Bunny shorts (that laugh!) and originating the role of Jokey Smurf. Her filmography is longer than President Obama’s recent health-care bill and far more entertaining! She is 93 years old, sharp as a tac, and still landing roles in film and television animation.

On the subject of Smurfs, a new live-action feature film is being shot as I write this. It has a terrific cast, including Hank Azaria as Gargamel, and Paul ‘Pee Wee Herman’ Reubens as Jokey Smurf. What it doesn’t have is legendary voice-actress June Foray!

So on the final night of the spectacular Voice 2010 conference in Los Angeles, June’s close friend Bob Bergen made a plea to the audience: ‘let’s do a Betty White for June and get her in the new Smurfs movie!’ Bob was referring to the Facebook campaign that landed the lovable Betty White the hosting gig for an episode of Saturday Night Live. ‘Surely we can do something similar for June,’ he said. Voice-actor Dave Courvosier picked up the gauntlet, and created a page called “Smurf Justice for June Foray” which is now waiting for your vote on Facebook. Just click ‘like’ and your ballot is cast. But you can do more…

Share the page with your friends. Encourage them to share it. Blog about the campaign for June. Share YouTube clips of June’s cartoons, along with a link to the ‘Smurf Justice’ page. Keep the campaign alive! In radio, it takes at least three impressions for most people to even hear the conversation, so don’t assume that sharing it once is enough to reach all of your friends.

This is a chance to give back to the aunt you never knew you had; the one that woke you up with a smile each morning. And maybe, if you had a Rocky the Squirrel stuffed animal, she tucked you in at night too.

VOICE 2010 Photo Album

2010-06-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

My head is still reeling from information overload at VOICE 2010. I promise to filter those thoughts soon and share them with you. Until then, here are a select few photos from the event.

This is the great Bob Souer. I look forward to reading his blog each day, so it was nice to meet him in person. A genuinely nice guy who I really respect.

Mr. Joe Cipriano. A rock-star in the TV Promo business. Trust me, you know his voice. Great guy!

Connie Terwilliger plays secretary to the Pointy-haired-Boss in the Dilbert webisodes. Although our characters get plenty of face-time together, this was the first time Connie and I had met. She called VOICE 2010 "a fire-hose of information!" And it was.

Brilliant voice-actor and impressionist Maurice LaMarche (the Brains of Pinky and the Brain, also stars in Futurama). Maurice said that hearing your voice come out of an animated character is the closest thing we have to magic. I think he has something there.

Rob Paulsen (Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, Yakko Warner from Animaniacs). It was a thrill to hear him sing the 'Countries of the World' song live, and hilarious to hear he and Maurice cuss in character for a moment.

The legendary June Foray. Probably the most employed voice-actress of all time! She was Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Badinoff on the Bullwinkle show, Nell on Dudley Do-Right, Witch Hazel on Bugs Bunny, Granny on Sylvester & Tweety, Karen in the original Frosty the Snowman TV special... The list goes on and on.

I had already met this sweet woman earlier in the evening, so I wasn't prepared for the tears that fell from my eyes when she went into her Rocky the Flying Squirrel voice to tell us that she had 'just flown in from Frostbite Falls!' It was as if she had drawn a straight line from VOICE 2010 to my childhood. I won't 'out' anybody else, but I can tell you that I wasn't the only grown man in tears. What a treasure! There is a movement to get her in the new Smurfs movie (she was the voice of Jokey Smurf in the cartoons). I'll talk more about that in an upcoming blog.

As you can see, VOICE 2010 was full of star-power and high-wattage smiles. A great event that simply can't be summarized in a single blog. So tune in next time. Same Bat-time, same bat-channel. NARF!

VOICE 2010: Blog 6 (a quick testimonial)

2010-06-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

I can't stress enough what a fantastic education and inspiration VOICE 2010 has been. Entertaining, too! I liken it to an accelerated college course for voice-actors. I told this to VOICE co-founder James Alburger, who said
this was the intent. He also shared a comment from Connie Terwilliger, who calls VOICE "a fire-hose of information!"

If you have a chance to attend the next VOICE conference, do so! You'll have fun and learn so much! And thank you to all the presenters, teachers, and helpers, who all generously donated their time to give us the tools we need to succeed at voice-acting!

I'll continue to blog about the experience even after I jet back home to Seattle, so I hope you'll check back often. Or subscribe! I promise it will be good.

Best,

Dan

VOICE 2010: Blog 5 (F'ing FUN companion to f'ing NANCY WOLFSON'S f'ing CLASS!))

2010-06-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

This blog is R-rated, but very fun. You have been warned.

VOICE 2010: Blog 4 (Why you should be all over the internet)

2010-06-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

VOICE 2010: Blog 3 (Game changing voice-acting tip)

2010-06-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

VOICE 2010 is definitely proving its worth as a career investment. The instructors a dynamic, informative and generous with their time and advice. If you aren’t here this year, start saving for the next one. But if you did miss it, I have what I feel is game-changing advice. It comes, again, from Marc Cashman. I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing.

Marc reminds us that the reason film actors are so good in a role that they ‘become the character’ is memorization. Relying on the printed page is a crutch. Does that mean you need to start memorizing your scripts? No. You can use a technique called ‘lifting the copy.’ That is, read the line to yourself, then look away from the script and speak the line without reading. The difference this made with one of the volunteers was amazing! A real transformation!

One side-effect: lifting copy makes for a lot of breaks in your read. But you can edit, can’t you? If not, you should learn. But that’s a topic for another time. For now just give this a try and hear the difference!

VOICE 2010: Blog 2 (That elevator voice & the sound of words)

2010-06-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Do you find yourself repeating what the Hyatt elevator is telling you? Me too! Especially ‘lobby.’ I even caught the hotel staff doing it. I think it’s because the female voice-actor says ‘lobby’ the way you or I might say ‘delicious’ or ‘sexy!’

Those words have definite meaning and corresponding sounds.

One of the many great tips Marc Cashman shared in his session was
how to “romance copy or text to its fullest.”

Here are a list of words that you can practice with. Don’t just say them. Say them with meaning. With weight. Or levity. Feel them.

· Easy
· Delicious
· Irritated
· Weird
· Confused
· Jealous
· Sexy
· Lovely
· Fast
· Lift
· Jump
· Thrust (put your body into it)
· Tense
· Punch
· Slow down
· Sigh

When you see key words or phrases like this pop up in scripts, remember to give them the attention they deserve. Also remember that you don’t want to overdo it. Your inflections can be spot-on and subtle at the same time. Nuanced. Match your acting to the intention/style/genre of the copy.

As for the enthusiasm the elevator voice conveys for a mundane word like lobby? Maybe it’s the idea that she’s out of the hotel room. Free to enjoy a grande-caramel-machiatto from the hotel Starbucks! Ready for another day of education and inspiration at VOICE 2010!

VOICE 2010: Blog 1 (Comedy, Online career, Networking)

2010-06-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! Welcome to VOICE 2010! This is my first year in attendance at what is so far a great conference.

If you were unable to attend, I hope you’ll gain a sense of the experience here in sunny L.A., and get some valuable information as we go-along. Normally I like to give you the full story when I blog, but as I’m between classes and gobbling down a quick lunch, I’ll give you some fortune-cookie sized tid-bits with a promise to elaborate later on.

Pat Fraley’s class on comedy was amazing. Upon calling for volunteers to act out scripts, a very loud voice started heckling Mr. Fraley from the back of the room. An outgoing v.o. student? A belligerent party guest who never made it home last night? As it turns out, Pat brought along surprise guest Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond, ‘Til Death)! What a way to start the morning!

Important tips from Pat Fraley’s class on comedy:

· Read like a first grader. Get to know the twists and turns of the material before you try to make it ‘fast and funny.’
· Exaggerate. Push the character as far as you can without violating the style or genre of the script.
· Keep the intent of the writer, but don’t be a slave to the punctuation. This is something Bob Bergen talks about in his classes as well.
· A comic says things funny. A comedian says funny things.
· You can’t play anger in comedy. Only frustration. If you play anger, it becomes a drama. I thought this was great advice!
· From Brad Garrett: an on-camera tip… A good reaction to a joke will not only (practically) guarantee you more screen time, but it will ‘double-stack’ the joke and garner more laughs.

Deb Munro was unable to attend VOICE 2010 in person, but thanks to the magic of Skype, she was able to teach her class from her home in Vancouver, B.C. A perfect example of how you can work for almost anyone, from anywhere. In fact, she illustrated her short commute by wearing pajamas.

Debs class was all about the online voice-career. Her pearls of wisdom?

· Get a website. Limit the use of Flash animation. It’s cool, but it limits your audience since most mobile devices do not play well with Flash.
· Join a pay to play site and audition, audition, audition. Make it your job to audition!
· Get an agent.
· Don’t depend on your agent. Seek out work for yourself, too. Cold call. Send postcards and CDs. Market yourself!
· Yes, CDs are still relevant. Especially when your potential listener can listen to your demo in the car during a long commute.

My advice? For those that are here:

We are all cold-calling each other. Networking. For many of us, it’s not within our comfort zone to strike up a conversation with a stranger (I’m one of the quietist voice actors you’ll ever meet—until you get me going). But you’ll be glad you did and your VOICE 2010 experience will be richer for it.

Conversation starters:

· Where are you from?
· What do you do?
· Is this your first VOICE 2010?

Most importantly: LISTEN. Ask follow-up questions. And have fun!

That’s all I’ve got for now. Maybe I’ll see you on the floor. Say hi!

-Dan

Evolution of a Voice-over

2010-05-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

Todays blog will speak for itself.

Cheers!

-Dan

A Rob Paulsen/Maurice LaMarche Primer

2010-05-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, sometimes known as Pinky and the Brain, are guests of honor at the Voice 2010 Celebrity Banquet on Saturday evening, June 5th. I thought it would be fun to take a quick look at their work, as kind of a primer for the uninitiated, and a refresher for the rest of us.

Rob Paulsen has won
several Annie Awards for his work as Pinky, and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his performance as Yakko on Steven Spielberg’s Animaniacs cartoon series. The role involved plenty of singing, and some very clever tunes. Take a listen.

Paulsen has also provided voices for Danny Phantom, Justice League, Goof Troop, Powerpuff Girls and many other modern favorites.

He took over Jim Carrey’s role of Stanley Ipkiss for the animated ‘Mask’ TV series and, according to imdb.com, dubs dialogue for Jim’s movies when the star is not available.

Maurice LaMarche based Brain’s voice on one of the great radio and film voices of all time: Orson Welles. In fact, he does such a great impersonation of Welles, that he played the Hollywood legend (vocally, at least) in Tim Burton’s movie ‘Ed Wood. He also does a spot-on impression of Alec Baldwin (in Team America: World Police).

There doesn’t seem to be a voice that LaMarche can’t do. He proved this versatility on the Cartoon Network’s ‘Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law’ program, taking on famous Hanna-Barbera characters such as Fred Flintstone, Speed Buggy, Magilla Gorilla, Quick-Draw McGraw, and Tex Avery’s Droopy.

Like Paulsen, LaMarche is an Annie Award winner. Without further ado, here is the duo in action as Pinky and the Brain!

And in a rare public appearance, singing the Pinky and the Brain theme-song.

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this crash course on the work of Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche. I know I look forward to hearing them speak for themselves at Voice 2010!

Best,

Dan

p.s. To learn more about Ron Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, check out this article from Voice-over Xtra.

Mighty Mouse Silenced

2010-05-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Allen Swift passed away recently. He was the voice of Terrytoons' Mighty Mouse, Underdog villain Simon Bar Sinister, and General Patton in the film 'the Longest Day.' The New York Times wrote a nice piece about him, which you can read here.

Swift filled in as the voice of Howdy Doody,
as seen here.

More famously, Swift was the voice of rodents' answer to Superman: Mighty Mouse! Here's a vintage commercial featuring the tiny titan.

Swift switched roles from hero to villain, as Simon Bar Sinister in the Underdog television series.

Like so many voice-actors, Allen Swift was not a household name, but he was a household voice. And his characters live on through television and DVD.

A Tale of Two Bosses

2010-05-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago Larry Miller was performing stand-up at the Parlor Live, a killer comedy club in Bellevue, Washington. Bellevue is a suburb of Seattle, but they’d probably string me up by their money belts if they heard me say that.

Larry is a terrific actor-comedian. If you don’t know his name, you know his face! His on-screen highlights include the films ‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘Best in Show,’ and ‘Get Smart,’ along with appearances in TV series like ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Desperate Housewives.’ He’s also done a lot of voice-work for animated series like King of the Hill, Buzz Light-year of Star Command, and Dilbert. In fact, Larry originated the role of Dilbert’s Pointy-haired Boss.
You may or may not know that I currently play Pointy-haired Boss in the online animated shorts produced by Ring Tales (seen at www.babelgum.com/dilbert).

“Wouldn’t it be cool to get a picture of the two of us together?” I asked myself. I have to tell you, once I get an idea in my head I can’t let go. Call it positive thinking or semi-psychotic behavior, but I decided I was going to meet Larry Miller and take that picture! Plus, I was sure Mr. Miller would have some nuggets of wisdom that he could impart on this fledgling voice-actor. Or just throw at my head.

Long story short, I made some phone-calls, sent some e-mails, won tickets to the show (if you can believe it), and bam! I was on my way. It didn’t hurt that a local comedian I know happened to be coming in to voice something with me that day, and he made a call on my behalf as well. Sometimes the Universe will like a person’s crazy ideas so much that it will actually help guide them to fruition. I’m telling you! And no, I haven’t read the Secret. I prefer Playboy and comic-books (I pride myself on my maturity).

Larry was happy to meet me in the Green Room at the Parlor Live. Not happy in a 'wow! I'm thrilled to meet someone I've never heard of'' kinda' way, but agreeable nonetheless. I was escorted back before the show, which I have to admit makes a person feel rather special. I don’t care if you’re meeting the President of the United States or Carrot Top, you feel like the king of the world! There’s an entire room full of people waiting to see Larry Miller perform on-stage and I get a private, one-on-one conversation with him! I arrived just as he was finishing up dinner, and making arrangements for a ride to the airport in the morning. He made eye-contact with me. “Same character, huh?” he said, sipping his warm tea. “That’s something.”

We talked briefly about Dilbert, meeting Scott Adams (I’m still waiting, Scott), and how much he enjoyed doing the series. He thought they had a good thing going and that it was a shame it ended so soon. I know there are Dilbert fans that agree with him; but they’ve also really embraced our online shorts. Dilbert fans are pretty passionate and can’t seem to get enough of the characters!

I was hoping this veteran of 50+ film and television series would also have some tips or tricks I could use in my own acting endeavors. “I think that people who go around giving advice are usually full of b.s.,” Larry said. I nodded and laughed. In fact, I couldn’t stop laughing no matter what he said. I guess comedians have that affect on people. Or maybe I was nervous (I once laughed during an earthquake-but that’s a story for another time).

“I have the Bug,” I said, referring to the acting-bug; a different strain of the same germ that got me into radio (Larry’s favorite medium, by the way). “What are you waiting for?” Larry asked. “Life is short. You want to be 45 someday and fired from your job?” A reality these days for a great many people; a near certainty for us radio guys. He continued. “You want to talk to God at the end of your life and hear him say, ‘so…whatever happened with that acting thing?” Actually I always figured if I ever got the chance to speak with God, it would involve me apologizing for underage drinking, sex before marriage or taking his name in vain. But I digress. Mr. Miller was so direct, that I was caught a little off-guard. No Yoda-like riddles. No “wash-on, wash-off.” Just the salt-of-the-earth, common sense stuff that had been rattling around in my head for a long time now. Of course, it’s always nice to hear somebody else say it. “You’ve got to keep going!” he told me. Maybe he meant ‘keep going’ out of his dressing room, because the next thing you know I’m headed back to my seat as a group of pretty girls ask for a photo with the headliner (must be nice).

Larry killed it on stage that night. He was hilarious! Cerebral, silly, and he didn’t drop a single dirty word. Now that’s good writing! If you get a chance to see him live, I highly recommend that you do so. Meanwhile, you can read his amusing blog here.

After the show I thanked Larry again for his time and said goodbye. “Good luck,” he said. “I’ll see you in L.A.!”

Oh... And yes! I got the picture.

Voice 2010 (June 2nd thru the 5th in L.A.)

2010-04-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

VOICE 2010, an international conference for voice-over professionals, is fast approaching. The red-carpet rolls out on Wednesday, June 2nd at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. Classes begin the next day. It doesn’t matter if your niche is voicing

commercials, promos, cartoons or corporate-videos; there is something for everyone at this event.

I’m going there to learn from the masters, and hopefully make some new friends. Already on my ‘to do’ list:

Pat Fraley’s class on comedy
Kristine Oller’s presentation on organizing your time for maximum career results
Nancy Wolfson’s tutorial is called ‘The Best Booking Secret F*$#king Ever!’ A provocative teaser by one of the best known coaches I’ve encountered in my research on the web. Nancy has a stellar reputation. I look forward to learning why firsthand.
MJ Lallo’s class on ‘Kick Ass Characters.’ MJ is a respected coach who co-wrote the book ‘Voice-Over for Animation’; a helpful guide that should be a text-book for any class on the subject.
Joe Cipriano’s Promo Panel. I imagine we’ll be able to finally put a face with some very familiar voices. Deep voices. Voices that make you want to listen to Today’s Hit Music! Watch an all-new Two-and-a-Half Men! Test drive the all-new Audi! And not miss out! Not my niche, but I’m a radio guy and I wouldn’t miss this for the world.

There are many other classes and speakers that I’d like to see (or see again), including Bob Bergen and Deb Munro, but workshops overlap and I’ve focused my attention to the above list. You can find a full schedule of events here and customize your own itinerary. I hope to see you there! (seriously—say hi if you recognize my mug)

Best,

Dan

Allow me to introduce...myself.

2010-04-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hi! Thanks for checking out my blog. I figure an introduction is in order before we get started with the fuel-injected, caffeine-enriched good stuff. My name is Dan Roberts. I’m a voice-actor, writer and producer working in radio, animation and video.
Yes, I have my grubby little fingers in a lot of creative pies.

I’ve organized my posts into two different blogs:

Dan Roberts’ Creative will run the gamut of anything I find exceptionally creative and worth sharing, as well as my own experiences writing and producing content, commercials, etc. If you have anything you’d like to pass along, please do! I look forward to it.

Dan Roberts’ Voice will be a bit more focused, narrowing in on my journey as a voice-actor. Currently you can hear me as Dilbert and his Pointy-haired Boss, Hammy the Squirrel in Over the Hedge, and the Hero in the Wiiware video-game Rage of the Gladiator, as well as many radio commercials. This blog will also share stories about other people and events in the voice-over industry.

If you lose track of a blog, you can always locate them on my profile page. But if you find yourself visiting my pages more than once or twice, I’d be honored to have you as a subscriber. It’s free! And that way, you won’t miss a thing.

Best,

Dan Roberts