UPDATE:

Payment Screen for Live Voice Over Evaluations:

There have been some changes to the way we conduct our voice over evaluations. We provide, and have always provided these evaluations free of charge and will continue to do so with one major modification. We now provide two different types of voice over evaluation for prospective voice over students and voice talent; FREE EVALUATIONS via email and “fee based” evaluations which are live, in person or online and free for anyone who elects to take lessons with our studio after their evaluation.

Please read the following information carefully for a complete explanation and understanding of the new process.

Due to time constraints and the volume of evaluation requests, we have been forced to change the way we conduct our voice over evaluations.

For years we would spend hours online or in studio with prospective students, explaining every little element of the craft to them in an effort to help them better understand the business and make a decision as to whether or not they might want to participate in it. For years we provided these lengthy evaluations for free to anyone and everyone who came looking for one.

Times have changed after so many years, things are much more different now and we can no longer take the time away from the studio schedule to sit down with everyone and talk them through such a serious and highly detailed commitment. Quite simply put, the demands of the new studio are outweighing our ability to provide the service as we always have…

So it was time for a change. One that benefited the serious prospective voice over student and preserved our ability to spend time with them while clearing our schedule of the hours long meetings we were conducting with the casually interested, voice over passer by.

Our voice over evaluations are a tremendous value to any prospective voice talent and over the years we have given that value away for free because we felt it was the right way to give back to the craft. The time has come to modify our approach to the evaluations so that we can continue to offer them.

The only way to successfully accomplish this was to begin to charge for our time, which has always been valuable and is more so now than ever before. We have now implemented a $200 fee for the live, 90 to 120 minute, in person or online voice over evaluation. Even with the new fee based structure for the longer, live, personal evaluations, we have still found a way to keep them free for committed students, by deducting the fee from their coaching fees should they elect to take lessons after their voice over evaluation.

Our voice over evaluations are exactly that, an evaluation. We don’t spare words, or attempt to steer you into our coaching services or the services of anyone else.
We simply take a look at your potential and all of the other circumstances surrounding your desire to get into voice over and give you our opinion as to what it will take for you to get going in the business.
Given that free voice over evaluations are now done exclusively through email and no longer have a live component to them we can only evaluate information we are given, which is why it is so important for you to be as thorough as possible when comes to answering the questionnaire below and any questions that follow.

Any time we evaluate a talent we look at:

• your ability to read copy
• your baseline interpretive ability
• your knowledge of recording software and computers
• your current knowledge and understanding of the business
• your level of desire and commitment to training
• your functional understanding of how the craft is performed
• your level of experience and education
• how reasonable your expectations are
• whether or not you should continue your pursuit of the craft

The primary differences between free voice over evaluations and fee based evaluations are:

• Free voice over evaluations are done via email and do not have a live instructor or a Q&A component to them, whereas fee based evaluations are done in a live environment over the course of a few hours and cover a great deal of content as well as Q&A.
• For the the free evaluation we go over your audio files and review your responses from the questionnaire – given the information and audio you provide, we will try to the best of our ability to form a constructive opinion of your approach to the business thus far and supply it to you in an email.
• The Fee Based evaluation is live, one on one, intensive and usually a few hours long where we get to discuss marketing approaches, the complications of the business and the studio demands, as well as the performance aspect of commercial and narration voice over. Quite simply put, it is an exhaustive, thorough review of your potential in the business which includes suggestions and guidance as to how to pursue it.
• Free voice over evaluations are provided at our discretion and scheduling convenience. Fee based evaluations are scheduled around the talents schedule and take place in a more timely manner.
• Prospective voice talent receiving free evaluations will have to draw their own conclusions from our evaluation and suggestions, whereas fee based evaluations provide for direct, one on one guidance and advice.
• Free evaluations are limited in what they cover because there aren’t any opportunities for discussion. Fee based evaluations by their very nature cover talent concerns and issues to a much greater degree.
• With free voice over evaluations there is only one shot to try to get it right as opposed to fee based evaluations which provide a better opportunity to get to the bottom of any particular issue.
• Free evaluations give us one opportunity to assess your abilities. Fee based evaluations give us many opportunities to further refine our assessment. Ultimately benefiting the talent more, which is the purpose of these evaluations and why we conduct them in the first place.
• Free voice over evaluations are free. Fee based evaluations are free to students who elect to take lessons with our studio after their evaluation. We will deduct the evaluation fee from their voice over coaching fees.

Just understand that at no time will you be coaxed, urged or persuaded in any way to sign up for our coaching services. Your evaluation, whether it be free or paid is only an evaluation and does not serve as some underhanded platform to get you in the door. We’re not hype artists here. We don’t have the time and the fee structure is the only way to make sure we can take the time out of a very busy booking schedule to spend with serious, prospective talent.

Here are a few things to keep in mind…

• If you elect to setup a fee based evaluation your request will be expedited to the next available business day or evening that agrees with your schedule and ours. Live evaluations are pre-paid. You can use the payment link at the top of this page.
• Fee based, live voice over evaluations require you to either use Skype to communicate with the studio or come to the studio for the evaluation.
• In order to participate in the evaluation via Skype you must have at least a cheap computer microphone plugged into the sound card on your computer so you can communicate over the internet.
• We do offer some technical assistance when it comes to getting set up with Skype. Fee based evaluation clients who have paid for their evaluation are welcome to call us for help.
• Just so you know, we do not provide evaluations over the phone. Your presence in the studio or a functional Skype setup are requirements for participation in the fee based evaluation.

To set up your live evaluation please contact us to set up the time and ask any questions you may have, then secure your appointment and evaluation time by pre-paying at the linked location. Evaluations can be paid for with credit card or upon arrival at the studio in cash. Sorry, no personal checks.

If you would like to receive an email evaluation you can fill in the email evaluation form here.

Here is some recent Q&A about the changes to our voice over evaluation process.

-Should I fill out another form? (I am more than happy to, if needed).

No need to do that – as long as I have your audio files and your form you’re good.

-With the free evaluation, given the new policy, would you permit even one response to the email (not that I expect a conversation, I know time is precious)?

I understand that people are going to want to talk about things – the problem with it is that it always ends up being an exuberantly long conversation – as I am not one to give short answers or responses unless I’ve got a bee in my bonnet. I don’t think AN email is such an egregious offense – It’s just that answering everyone’s questions at length has taken it’s toll over the years. It is not my personal style to only give someone half of the answer in hopes that they’ll pay me for the rest.

I really do prefer to give people the whole picture – and that takes time – and thus costs me a great deal of lost productivity and subsequently, money. In order to ensure that people get the absolute best product I can provide – I have to impose some restrictions. – Though I don’t think answering a few questions for you is going to kill me. You have expressed that you understand the limits.

-Is there a set class package that must be taken in order to qualify for the paid evaluation to be free?

No real hoops to jump through. As long as people are taking voice coaching lessons the offer applies. For everyone the first set of lessons is 550. Those taking lessons after the evaluation would only pay 350 for those lessons. and then the regular price for the remaining classes.

-I will not be grandfathered into the old process (no judgments in that regard, I know how these things work) as I hadn’t got far enough before the switch.

I had considered this – but the sessions are too cumbersome. The weight of the sessions was causing me not to fulfill the schedule – with the new structure – things work a lot better. Sorry – but it had to be this way. Any other way and I’d just be beating myself.

This is what I received after those comments…

Knowing all of the other things you have to get to, I’d like to offer parting thoughts and some encouragement to anyone who might be looking at your website.

No response necessary, you have given me more than I needed. Thank you for that.

Again – you have my permission to use any of this conversation as you think it will help anyone trying to make a decision.

And I am polite -to a fault, sometimes- but I am honest.

I am an emerging actor, and I’ve been looking into other avenues to supplement my skill set. I know I have a lot to learn and that no matter how good I get, I will always be learning something from someone. Your evaluation has been great encouragement as an actor, not just a prospective voiceover student.

Yes, I have made a boneheaded decision or few in pursuit of my craft. I learn quickly though, and have grown more cautious and careful. I learn best by trying it, by testing it -seeing what works and what doesn’t then adjusting accordingly. After coming across your podcast on the ‘net and hearing how much you love what you do, not to mention what you didn’t like about the way things were -how you wanted it to be different- I needed to know more.

Your evaluation is a great surprise for me. I appreciate you candor and the way you have treated me through this whole process. My schedule is also not an easy one and you responded just about all hours of the day and night if you had the time. With regards for your products, thanks again! I don’t feel pressured to make a decision. I feel like you want individuals to succeed if so inclined and do so by working hard, which I value (I have my 1am sessions too…). Most importantly, I feel I have enough information to make a completely aware decision based on facts and my abilities, which is what people should be looking for.

From the evaluation, I have an honest idea of what to expect out of you as a teacher. And I imagine after going through your classes a good idea of what the next steps should be and how to get there. I may or may not have said this to you before, but I’ll say it again – I have been looking for a level-headed approach to the craft and the business. There seems to be two main approaches:

1) You’re WONDERFUL! Under the pretense of fattening you up to bleed you of money later.

OR

2) You’re HORRIBLE! Under the pretext of “breaking you down” so you “take us seriously” (and we still bleed you).

It’s great to see the third way being represented: “Here are your strengths, here are your opportunities – I’m not a guru, I’m not the only resource. I can teach you but you must be willing to learn. Here’s my product, and I can’t help you get it, I can help you get to the resources so you can get it yourself. “I already make money, so I have no need to bleed you of yours.”

Thank you so much for all the time you have spent with me. If this is what everyone can expect, I see why you are so busy with evaluations and anticipate your students are very dedicated.

Not that my encouragement is inherently or particularly important, but I believe in telling people when they do something right, too. You are. It’s nice to know that I got what you advertised, and more.

Michael, you’ve earned it. Expect me to get a paid evaluation as well as start classes with you in the near future.

It always nice to work with performers/artists who care. Thanks again, you’ll hear from me soon.

-Steven

Jacksonville, Fl