I WORK IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY AS A(N)
Voice Actor, Copy Writer, Studio Engineer, Voiceover Coach, Vocal Coach, Dialect Coach
HERE'S A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND MY VOICE OVER EXPERIENCE
My first "claim to fame" as a vo talent (one of many nationals) was the famous Chiffon Margerine spot "It's not NICE to FOOL Mother Nature." I'm still introduced as "Mother Nature'" I am a professional singer with a long performance history, major credits including RCA and opening act for the great Tony Bennett, TV, supper clubs, resort headliner, more. Then, I began singing studio work...jingles, record backgrounds, shows. After that came voice overs. I was on staff at PAMS and TM Communications and sang for movie producers in LA, top producers in NYC, Disney film scores, and so many more. Voiceovers have continued to be a staple in my career.
They are always a wonderful income source and I love doing them. I own my recording studio in Dallas and am audio engineer and audio producer. I love editing and post-production. It's so creative and fun. I've been Creative Director of worldwide production creative houses three times which gave the training I now use in my own company, VOICESVOICES LLC. I've taught at several universities including Univ. of Texas, SMU, but my career was too busy and I resigned my last university position in 2004. However, over the years, my career job has been my work in the recording studios as a voice. I also love narrating audio books. I am a published writer and audio book author too. My audio book "Speaking Effective English" is a Simon and Schuster two CD set with Foreword by Edward Asner.My audio book "Commercial$peak" was recognized with an Audie nomination in the "best educational" field. I have written and published fifteen audio titles to date. This is the greatest job in the whole world. I adore teaching and present workshops worldwide. Hope you can enroll with me sometime. And invite me to your city. I love travel. I also phone coach and coach privately in my Dallas studio. All best wishes to you all. You can hear me on The Weather Channel, NBC, BRAVO, in the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, Smithsonian Museum American History Museum, and so much more. Keep on keepin' on.
RECENTLY BOOKED PROJECTS
Mattel Toys, Lionel Trains, Simon and Schuster audio, government and corporate training projects, video games, commercials for Burger King, Banquet Foods, Sally Beauty Supply, Bonanza Restaurants, Pepsi, PSA's, Air Force, Microsoft, National Public Radio, Bravo TV Channel, BBC America, many many hundreds more!
LANGUAGES
English, German, Italian, French (Read scripts, no improv or translations)
VOICE DESCRIPTION
Specializing in voice acting---characters, dialects, also known for my narrations. I am a trained actor using my voice to portray various attitudes and types of people. I tell my students that "voice acting is the most pure form of acting...no costumes or makeup or visual cues...only the voice!" and I believe all actors and singers would be well-served to become skilled as a voice actor! As a singer, my specialty is jazz. I was a studio singer about twenty five years before voiceover work kind of "took over." I've performed worldwide including a stint as opening act for Tony Bennett and with Lionel Hampton and many other greats. I've been a studio singer more than two decades and my voice is heard on zillions of projects from backgrounds on Willie Nelson Albums to the pre-recorded tracks for Ice Capades and Disney on Ice. We studio singers are "anonymous" so you hear me all the time but never know it's me singing! I still love performing, but only in concerts, not in nightclubs, and no longer want to do the "every night" thing singers must do. My days are too busy!
DIALECTS, Character voices and vocal impressions
New York, Jewish Mother, French, German, Russian, Asian, Swedish, Spanish, British, and many "voice attitudes" from 'real people' to you name it!
VOICES I AM ABLE TO PERFORM
Senior Female, Middle Age Female, Baby
AUDIO DELIVERY METHOD
ISDN, Audio TX, FTP, AIF, MP3, WAV
EQUIPMENT
Sweetwater Creation Station in my home studio ( a wonderful room in my home), MOTU 828, four mics, so much more. My portable on the road studio is built around my Laptop made for me with superior audio capability and 2 gigs memory My fav programs are Sound Forge, Vegas I also have USB Audio Interfaces, MBOX, PowerPlay Pro-XL, M-Audio Speakers, Composer Pro Audio Interactive Dynamic Processor, Rode and Audio Technica Mics, Sennhauser Mics, Mic Stands of all types, earphones including JBG, Sennhauser, Sony, Noise Cancelling phones, more, fully soundproofed large studio space in my home with triple-pane Pella windows, studio 2 inch thick glass, Relacore Board panels, and I had special noise proof windows put all over my home to triple the quiet. It's amazing and wonderful.I love it and so do my clients.
Comments
It's so nice to have you join us!
Hugs,
Penny
Good evening, Bettye - I am a displaced Englishman living outside of Houston with my Texan wife and a motley assortment of rescued creatures on Dysfunctional Farm. I've just relaunched my VO career after a 10-yr gap. Jim Conlan (whom I believe you know) produced an excellent demo for me, and as of the end of last week I am represented by Cindi Davis-Andress at Pastrini-Bosby Talent . . . stay tuned for further developments :)
link:
Hey Betty, thanks for the info on Sound Forge. I did get the MOTU Microbook II it comes with AudioDesk which is Digital Performer babyware. Learning to use it for my audio book recordings. Lots of useful editing tools. Channe
As one pro to another . . . Thanks for your kind remarks regarding our son's passing. Have a Great Day Bob
Thanks, Bettye, I'll check it out!
Hey Bettye,
Just listened to the recording of the Political Voiceover Demo.....Good info! Thanks again for helping me with my Political Demo....Just gotta get out there now and take your advice and market...market.....
Hey Bettye,
Thank you for the add! I very much enjoy following your advice on VO Xtra and look forward to connecting!
William
Hi Bettye: I feel unsure about submitting some auditions because of my accent. I've been working on my phrasing. However, I am sensitive to my accent now so it seems to really stand out. Your class sounds great. I will sign up. Thanks!
Hi Bettye!!!!!!
So glad we are friends now! You are a legendary and terrific voice talent and everyone speaks so highly of you. Personally, I am tiring of doing straight commercials for so long and really excited about getting more into cartoon bookings. I just posted my Character-Animation reel just about everywhere. I am with DeSanti Talent in Chicago, and on voicebank and VO Planet. I am a single dad and my little boy lives with me in Michigan. He is mildly autistic and is my guiding light in this world! God blessed us with these kids....what a journey. I am from Houston originally! I do want to take your course on working in the cartoon genre! God Bless you ma'am.
-Markham Anderson
Hello Dear Heart,
Things haven't worked out as well as I'd liked. In fact the jobs just dried up like a desert creek. I keep my hand in now by making 'audio books' for my grandchildren. They seem to like them and the pay is in hugs and kisses, so in that regard I'm really cleaning up. I just finished one called, 'Scary Stories for Stormy Nights'. I'm sure not giving up and I believe the pendulum will swing my way again. I hope you are well and appreciate you thinking of me.
Ran
'Don't Just Get Voice Over .... Get Ran Over'.