The Voice of Brian...
A Blog About The Voiceover Business
Voiceovers | Charlotte Voiceover Talent | Voiceover | Radio Imaging | Audio Editing
Behind the Mic of VH1's BEHIND THE MUSIC
When I was growing up in the '70's there weren't many opportunities to really get in depth stories about artists in the music business. As a matter of fact, I remember that it was difficult to find the words of a song that I liked. For me, that changed when Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album came out, because the lyrics were included in the 33rpm album – this was an absolute "value added feature". (Oh, sorry...an album was a piece of vinyl that had grooves in it and when a turntable's arm was placed on the spinning grooves, music would magically appear through the speakers. Um, darn, sorry again, a turntable is....................)
If I was able to stay up late enough in my time zone, that would have been 1:30AM, I could watch Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert" and that was the first glimpse of a music video I ever had. Of course, I became aware of American Bandstand at some point and that ushered in a whole new way to see those I listened to. Oh, and I always listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 with all those "long distance dedications". Funny thing, I get to relive that show with XM Satellite Radio nowadays.
When I moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to pursue acting and voiceover, I looked for my first place to get my feet wet in the voiceover world. When I saw M.G. "Machine Gun" Kelly was teaching a class, heck I HAD to get in. I had listened to him on the radio growing up – that made my anticipation grow even deeper to get the class started. I had hear "The Gunner" many, many times on the radio growing up. I can still hear him weekends on a local Charlotte station!
Fast forward to the late '90's, I had been in/around the entertainment business/acting/voiceover for nearly a decade when I saw the cable show: VH1's Behind the Music. To this day, I enjoy shows like this and others such as Biography etc. Why? Many reasons, however the one that stands out the most is that I'm usually wrong when it comes to thoughts or perceptions of a particular singer, or actor for that matter. Once I learn of their "story", it often shatters any foolish misconceptions I've erected. This attitude adjustment is welcomed and it's something that I have taught my daughters – I don't want them to form, so called, opinions of people without knowing the full story.
How does all this relate to voiceover?
Just days ago I saw VH1's Behind the Music on the cable guide. I didn't care, nor did I look to see who the musical artist was in the expose', I just wanted to "hear THAT guy tell the story". Yep, I'm a huge fan of that "storyteller and his voice". While I'm not forming opinions here (remember, I told you all about that stuff in the previous paragraph 
, I always felt like the narrator speaking as if he were someone who was connected with the band or artist firsthand – as if the story he was telling was his own account. Folks, THAT, is what voiceover is all about...if you can do that, tell the story like it's your own, I will promise you success.
, I always felt like the narrator speaking as if he were someone who was connected with the band or artist firsthand – as if the story he was telling was his own account. Folks, THAT, is what voiceover is all about...if you can do that, tell the story like it's your own, I will promise you success. Well, as a voiceover actor myself, I have always been impressed with this guy's storytelling ability along with his distinctive voice and wanted to let him know – to encourage him that his craft has made a positive impact on someone. I was willing to risk the chance of appearing like some dang goon for emailing "the voice of Behind the Music" and figured at best I would get a "thank you", which would have been fine.
Following is the email exchange I had with Mr. Jim Forbes, the voice of VH1's Behind The Music. I hope you can draw something from this that will positively impact your voiceover career in some way...I really do.
February 28th, 2010
Hello Mr. Forbes, I wanted to take a quick moment to encourage you on something. I've done voiceover since the late '80's and trained with Machine Gun Kelly, Weist-Barron-Hill in Burbank as well as others and was always taught that "you are uniquely you" – no one will read a script exactly like you, sound like you nor have the same life experiences that you bring to a script. That said, I had always been impressed by the guy who narrated Behind The Music.
I'm almost ashamed to say I never investigated to see who the narrator was – something I always do now. I bring all this up to encourage you that your story telling and all that you bring as a person to your narration of Behind The Music has really stuck with me. I recently saw BTM on the TV listing and I didn't even care who the artist was that was being highlighted, I wanted to hear "that guy" tell the story in "that voice".
Well, I said I would be quick, thus I'll leave you with this: I think I have learned afresh that for me to continue to be the best I can be will heavily rely on "me, being me". I've paid for a lot of voiceover classes in my day and it's good to "hear it illustrated" through your work.
Thanks for your time and continued success & blessings to you and your family. I may write up a blog post about you and point to your site as well if that's OK.
Jim Forbes response, March 10, 2010:
Hello Brian~
Many thanks for the kind and generous words and apologies for not having responded sooner.
You strike a chord, as prior to a session I've often been asked to "just do that thing you do." And I laugh as I respond, "that's convenient, because I only play me." As you were taught and no doubt adhere to, the only unique quality each of us brings to the mic is ourselves. For me, it didn't come with training as much as experience.
I didn't travel the traditional voiceover route; it evolved as a reporter starting in 1979. I pride myself as a writer, but am print-trained as a fourth generation journalist. My early broadcast copy often resembled that of print and wasn't the most conversational to deliver. That evolved through the years. And as my conversational storytelling improved as a writer, so too did my verbal storytelling.
So by the time BTM came around in '97, 18 years later, it was a comfortable fit. I was actually one of the original producers. I enjoy long-form immensely as it allows nuance and texture. And 4-500 hours of documentary programming later I still work to make the copy sound as my own. I've often said that my voice has no special quality, but the storytelling is more that of a writer than an actor. I wish I had the range of others, and could venture elsewhere, but again, I only play me.
Great fortune on the continued success of your career and my thanks for saying hello.
Regards,
Jim
(One more exchange you may find insightful)
Feel free to use anything I said. But there is a great value in being able to play others as well. The character voices are great. And the more versatility, the better. But it needs to come from an honest place. From what the agents have always said to me, advertisers are looking for a point-of-view. Unless the copy calls for it, they aren't interested in the booming broadcast voices of days past. The Gary Owens' spoofing on laugh-In, Ted Baxter etc.
Continued great fortune Brian. Your list of credits is very impressive and you get to do all that from a beautiful part of the country. Please let me know how things continue to develop
All the best,
Jim
My sincere thanks for Jim Forbes for his time in responding to my email and for graciousness in allowing me to post this exchange, which I hope you have enjoyed reading and may glean from.
Jim Forbes' web site is JimForbes.tv
PS: I told Mr. Forbes that my wife saw his picture on his site and thought he was handsome, to which he replied:
"
That's a blush. My thanks to your no doubt beautiful wife, I'm quite certain your relationship is safe. That's a stand-in I use for photos."
That's a blush. My thanks to your no doubt beautiful wife, I'm quite certain your relationship is safe. That's a stand-in I use for photos."
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Hillary Huber Can Help YOU Break Into...
From Break Into Voiceover comes this:
Break Into Audiobooks with Special Guest Hillary Huber! |
| Our Break Into Animation Part 1 Teleseminar was such a hit, we're at it again--but this time with Audiobook Superstar Hillary Huber! Join us for Break Into Audiobooks on Wed March 31, 2010 - 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST. With us, our special guest and audiobook veteran Hillary Huber gives thorough, no-BS insider answers to all of your audiobook questions. From business to craft to all the details in between, Hillary's gonna spill the beans on everything audiobook. Go to Break Into Voice Over to reserve your space on the call (includes a studio quality MP3 of the teleseminar as well). Just a few of the great questions to be answered:
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Voiceovers – More Than A Business?
Jeff Gelder of GelderHead productions has a new blog post titled "Making voice-overs more than a business!". I think you'll enjoy his "story"
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Cashman Spring Classes
From CASHMAN COMMERCIALS:
Whether youre a Beginner who wants to find out
Whether youre a Beginner who wants to find out
if youve got what it takes for voice acting,
an Intermediate student whos had a class or two
under your belt and want to get better at this craft,
or an Advanced voice actor with a lot of training,
a V-O Demo or poised to make your V-O demo,
these are the courses that people are raving about.
And these are the top voiceover classes to take.
Seats are first-come, first-served,
with eight available in each class.
And if you work during the week,
classes are conveniently scheduled
on Saturdays and Sundays.
To reserve your seat, call 661-222-9300
and leave your name and number clearly.
We'll get back to you to confirm
and give you directions to the studio in
Burbank, North Hollywood or Studio City, CA.
THE CASHMAN CACHE
SPRING CLASS SCHEDULE
BEGINNERS
Sat., March 13th April 17th
10AM - 1PM
INTERMEDIATE
Sat., March 13th April 17th
2:30-5:30PM
ADVANCED
Sun., March 14th April 18th
10AM - 1PM
READ THE ATTACHED INFORMATION AND TESTIMONIALS
TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THESE CLASSES ARE ALL ABOUT!
And you can call or email with any questions, anytime.
Hope to see you there!
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I Know a 2010 Audie Award Finalist!
I could not possibly be more happy to hear that a friend of mine, and perhaps yours as well, is a finalist for a 2010 Audie Award! This voiceover professional has narrated a book called Lord of the Ringless, by Dee Aspin. You may have heard her voice on HGTV or pitching for Pizza Hut, Sunny Delight or the US Army and untold thousands more.
The voiceover professional I'm speaking of is Julie Williams! Here's a link to the APA Press Release
CONGRATULATIONS Julie!!!!!!!
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New Teleseminar Series | Voiceover
Word of mouth and referrals are invaluable, wouldn't you agree? Well, today I want to "refer" you to a new "Teleseminar Series" which will begin this March. It's being "brought to you by", none other than Voices.com.
Here's a tease for you:
"Looking to get more insider knowledge and tips on how you can leverage today's fastest growing markets for voice overs?"
Don't wait, learn more here
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Home Studio Support
John Florian's VoiceOverXtra just sent out a note about "unique webinars" that will feature "Home Studio Master Dan Lenard". Learn more about these resourceful events and get your home studio troubleshooting questions answered – click link below:
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Making Tax Time Easier for Clients
By now, you have had more than your share of requests from production companies who have said something like these actual clients:
"Could you do me a favor and send me a W9 (attached pdf)? Either a scan or just the info will work. I'm trying to get my taxes together, ughhhhhh."
"Brian, would you please complete the W9 attached and fax or email back the 1st page? Thank you."
Question: Do you have to run over to the fax machine to send off your W9's...over and over again throughout the year – then fulfill numerous requests in January? Here is something I've found to expedite the delivery of W9s...clients seem to love it. (Perhaps you already do this.)
If you happen to have an All-In-One printer, you're set! Simply print out the first page of the W9, complete it and then scan the document in (it can be dated 1/1/10 and used all year...it's not imperative that you date the W9 with the date of service). Save the document as a .pdf using a file name that you'll easily recall – I name mine: TheVoiceofBrian_W9_2010. Now, you can either send the W9 with your initial invoice to new clients, update current clients and fulfill any requests that come in for the document throughout the year.
It's interesting, I have had some of the nicest responses to this little "value added service". My initial thought as to why this is, would be that the accounting people are usually very detailed and probably have to chase down documents, often with a good bit of delay on the part of the vendor. So when you can turn around a W9 in minutes, they see that as someone who's on the ball and professional...I think/hope!!
Hope this helps!
Terry Daniel Asks: Do You Have VIsion?
From The Voice Over Club, Terry Daniel writes today asking "Do You Have Vision". He always has good tips etc. as they relate to the voiceover industry – click for the article HERE.
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Thanks for visiting...
