VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor (Paperback)

by Harlan Hogan (Author) "I don't believe in psychics, astrologers, or fortunetellers..." (more)
Key Phrases: voice demo, creative review, whisper room, New York, Blooper's Soap, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Any person interested in a career in voice-overs should read this book." -- Michael Wells, executive casting director, Just Voices Casting, New York City

"For an actor pursuing any facet of the entertainment industry, this book contains a wealth of invaluable information." -- Margaret Travolta, actress

"For anyone considering a career in the voice-over business, Harlan's book is a must-read." -- Mike King, ARU, Chicago

"The best VO in the business has written the best (and funniest) book about the VO business." -- Chuck Cohen, executive creative director, C&C Advertising, San Francisco

"Wonderfully amusing and informative reading-–you don't have to be a potential VO to enjoy this book!" -- Milt Rosenberg ,WGN,Chicago

Product Description
One of the country's top voice-over talents shares his secrets to success in this insider's guide to the voice-over industry. Not only does veteran actor Harlan Hogan offer a fascinating personal account of the crazed clients, practical jokes, and amazing coincidences encountered during his twenty-five year career, he also provides a wealth of tested tips for surviving and thriving as a voice-over actor. This indispensable guide features dozens of techniques to help readers train their voices, gain experience, make a demo, join unions, get an agent, and more. It also includes strategies for finding work in venues outside film and television, including games, automated telephone systems, and even Web sites. Actors, broadcasters, and anyone else who longs to make money speaking into a microphone will cherish this informative, insightful, and often hilarious glimpse at the business.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581152493
• ISBN-13: 978-1581152494
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,370 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #9 in	Books > Entertainment > Radio > General Broadcasting
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  #98 in	Books > Entertainment > Television

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal, December 3, 2002

By	Jay Rose (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I never met Harlan Hogan, but I also started in radio and soon switched to commercial production. Only I was doing it from the other side of the glass, as engineer--and then director--of quite a few thousand national and regional spots, working with hundreds of VO talents on the East Coast and LA. So I know what these guys go through.

Everything Harlan writes is true: the techniques, the way the business works, the friendships that form between actors competing for the same jobs, the life. Except his way of telling it is funnier than real life.

This is actually two books, interleaved. Chapters alternate between sage (and hard-earned) advice on polishing voice-acting performing and job-getting skills, and some of the things Harlan had to go through to learn these lesions. If you're an announcer, engineer, or sharp producer, you'll chuckle over the war stories. If you're trying to break into the business, you couldn't have a better teacher.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like talking with a friend, May 15, 2007

By	G. Littlefield (Bangor, ME United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Harlan Hogan provides a lot of explanation of how things work in the VO world (or at least as they did in 2002, when this book was written). He gives great advice while lightly touching on subjects like running your business, jargon, union vs. "pre-union", etc. However, he also offers some insight that beginning voice actors aren't likely to find in a lot of other books. Harlan does this by recounting stories from his own experience that not only entertain, but relate to the major points of each section. He also lets the reader in on inside jokes of the trade like "Blooper's Soap" and the infamous Findus Foods session with Orson Welles. Sure, they're easily Google-able, but how are they woven into the fabric of the industry?

I've done radio for a dozen years, switched to the computer tech side
for another half-dozen and now I'm studying and working on figuring out
where I will best fit into the VO market. This book not only confirmed
a lot of things I felt instinctively, but it also helped me to not
listen so much to the "what if" voice that we all carry with us.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harlan's insights and tips are crucial for all v/o and commercial actors, May 5, 2006

By	Kenneth Calhoun "StockTradingSuccess.com" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Harlan's tips and insights are great to learn from; as a master voiceover actor and personality, I found it useful to read his tales and techniques. Largely autobiographical, Harlan's book explains what it's like, the "real world" of commercial v/o, and provides a realistic perspective on how to approach and manage your career; in v/o and/or commercial acting.

The techniques he shares are insightful, on how to read and interpret your copy, and connect with the listener.

Plus, he's an interesting "character" ... I read this book cover to cover, it was that interesting. And useful.

Excellent job, Harlan!


Regards,

Ken Calhoun