Step Up to the Mic: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs [Paperback]

Rodney Saulsberry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2007

This inspirational voice-over guide will teach you how to take control of your career with the power of positive thinking. Rodney Saulsberry shares his methods to turn fear and self-doubt into confidence and success. Plus, get advice from many of the top voice-over performers in the business including Don LaFontaine, The King of Movie Trailers, and Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rodney Saulsberry is one of the top voice-over talents in the country. For more than a decade the Detroit native and University of Michigan graduate has given voice to many commercial campaigns, including Toyota, Alpo, Colgate, and movie trailers such as, Finding Forrester, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Dumb & Dumber, The Best Man, and Friday After Next. Saulsberry also lends his character voice to that animated Jazzman in Zatarain’s television spots. As an announcer, he has worked on the NAACP Image Awards and The Essence Awards television specials. Saulsberry, the voice of Joe Robbie Robertson on the cartoon series Spider-Man, resides in Agoura, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Tomdor Publishing LLC (March 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974767891
• ISBN-13: 978-0974767895
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Career Inspiration - not a how-to, February 12, 2008

By 

voiceactor (Houston,TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step Up to the Mic: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs (Paperback)

The easiest way to describe Rodney Saulsberry's book Step up To the Mic is to quote his preface: "As much as you love what you do, there will be times when you do not work steadily and you might question your decision to pursue this career....Step up to The Mic is a feel good book that reminds you of the power of positive thinking...I will teach you how to channel positive thinking into your everyday existence..."

And for the next 100 or so pages, he does just that. Using affirmations, games and mini-pep talks Rodney has put together a "pick me up" for those times when the ugly realities of this business show their faces.

Conversationally written, there's not much new or deep here, if you've read any general self help books. But the difference with this book is I felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend in the business. Someone who really understands what it's like to be called into an audition and mentally wrestle with the egos and the drama in the room AND still give a great audition.

It's okay to be manically happy, angry, bewildered, nervous and/or frustrated at times...for a second... then put away the pity party and get back to the work of building and maintaining a successful career..

Step up To The Mic, fits well into the current resurgence in Positive Thinking and Attraction Thinking. Best of all, since Rodney's "one of us" he includes relatable examples from the real world of voice over.

My favorite part of the book is that it also includes "do it yourself" examples for creating a positive approach to your voice-over career. Utilizing visualization, affirmation and journaling techniques, Mr. Saulsberry gives you kick starts to turn your attitude around immediately.

Step up To the Mic gives a refreshing boost to anyone in the business who has struggled with the ups and downs of making a living in VO. It's a book I plan on coming back to often in the new year.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Step It Up, May 1, 2007

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step Up to the Mic: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs (Paperback)

Saulsberry provides helpful hints for success in the field of voice-overs and life in general in his latest book, STEP UP TO THE MIC: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs. Unlike books that educate on technique and processes, this guide focuses more on staying confident and positive amid the rejection, frustration, and sporadic nature of the business.

While the book is geared toward voice-over artists, there were also several hints anyone would find helpful, such as maintaining a positive attitude, giving each assignment your all, and being a team player. In the back of the book, Saulsberry provided exercises to help forge and maintain the positivity that is so crucial to getting ahead. In addition, he included bits of wisdom from some of the industry's top performers.

Full of insight from a voice-over industry's veteran, STEP UP TO THE MIC was an enjoyable read. Saulsberry's writing was casual, yet informative. While it provides knowledge to all readers, the value of the book is even more beneficial for voice-over hopefuls.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome and practical addition, December 8, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step Up to the Mic: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs (Paperback)

"Step Up To The Mic: A Positive Approach To Succeeding In Voice-Overs" by Rodney Saulisberry is the quintessential instructional guide for establishing a productive and commercially successful career doing voice-over work in the advertising and entertainment industries. Now only does Saulisberry draw from his many years of experience and expertise as a successful and sought-after voice-over performer, he draws upon the advice of Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson), Don LaFontaine (known within the film industry as the `king' of movie trailer voice-overs), Frank Welker (the voice of Scooby Doo), Robe Paulsen (the voice of Pinky in the Warner Brothers animated television series `Pinky and The Brain'), and Harlan Hogan (author of "VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor"). Aspiring voice-over actors will learn how to control their mental, physical, and emotional well-being through transforming self-doubt and performance anxiety into confidence and professional level performances. Enhanced with a compilation of informed, informative, and even inspiring essays, affirmations and exercises, "Step Up To The Mic" is a welcome and practical addition to academic and professional Performing Arts Jobs/Careers reference collections. Also very highly recommended as an instructional introduction to a career in voice-over work by Rodney Saulisberry is his previous "how to" book; "You Can Bank On Your Voice: Your Guide To A Successful Career In Voice-Overs".