Q: I am 51 years old and I was recently downsized out of my job of 27 years. I am writing because I always wanted to do voice-overs. Can you give me some advice on how to get started?
— Mildred Davis, Via the Internet
A: The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists publishes a voice-over guide that will put you on the right track. In it, you’ll find information about classes, recommended production houses and recording studios for talent to use, and a
listing of agents that represent artists in your field of interest. The good news is that there are several types of voice-over that you can do, from instructional to commercial. And depending on the class you take through AFTRA, the culmination of the course is a demo. For more information, contact AFTRA at www.aftra.com.G. Keith Alexander, an African American voice-over coach, runs the VoiceOver Academy (www.voiceover academy.com), a school for individuals like yourself who are passionate about becoming voice-over artists. The program offers beginner’s and intermediate courses and private lessons. For a listing of schools around the country, log on to http://harlanhogan.com/coach eslist.shtml
.For more inspiration, read VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor by Harlan Hogan (Watson-Guptill Publications; $19.95). Break a leg!