Ugh. Talk about a bring me down...

[CeruleanAsh]

Alright so... I took a few months to decide if Voice Acting was really something I wanted to get in to, or if it was just a mere hobby. After this small test I have come to the conclusion that I do indeed wish to continue down the path of becoming a real professional voice actor. I've done my homework, learned a lot, am still learning... then I hit a brick wall. I find that I need to develop certain traits to strengthen my voice and the different things I can do with it. Come to find out there isn't a single class, course, instructor, or anything within nearly 300 hundred miles of where I currently live. Bummer. The only things listed are theater acting, and I must confess I am not even a little bit interested in theater... *ducks the flying tomatoes*


I suppose what I am getting at... Is that I am realizing I might have to stick to Skype lessons and courses rather than having the comfort of a real live person in a room teaching me. Trying to find a teacher via Skype isn't any easier unfortunately. So what my real question boils down to is: Are there any online courses that anyone here would recommend?

[Kei]

If the option is there I'd probably suggest trying theater. Even if you don't want to do it professionally, any other acting opportunities can only be an asset to strengthening your craft. A great deal of voice actors also have theater backgrounds! Being able to play opposite live actors and getting into characters physically may help you act out situations alone with more believability!

Of course, I can't be sure...I unfortunately don't have theater opportunities in my tiny little town =[

[CeruleanAsh]

Kei, thank you for your response I totally feel your pain with the "small town blues". Looking back on this I think I let some stuff really get me down lol. Perhaps I will take your advice and at the very least look into the theater classes to see what all they offer. Maybe I'll get lucky and find someone who works more on the voice side! Who knows... Regardless, thanks again Kei!

[thehurricanekid]

Yeah, echoing what Kei said, more experience can only help you. Even if theater and voice acting are distinct crafts, there are certain aspects of performing that carry over. In both arenas, you have to be able to adapt your mindset to a wide variety of situations and frame your attitude correctly to give off a believable delivery. Just practicing that to make it more natural can indeed help you in voice acting too. I have a background in theater as well, and if it's one thing from that experience which has helped me in my voice acting, it would have to be the experience in learning how to really become a character and convince not only the audience but also yourself that you are, for that moment, in a realistic situation and reacting naturally to it. I know you say there are still minute technical things you want to improve specifically with your voice, and those most likely won't be addressed here, but it doesn't mean you can't benefit from it otherwise. If you're really serious about making this craft your life, you can always move to another place later where there are more opportunities to improve in the specific areas you want. But for now, it is still beneficial to practice in whatever way you can.

[CeruleanAsh]

Thank you for your helpful words Hurricane, I will give it a shot! I do plan to move, it just gets a bit overwhelming at times living in such a small, closed in area where there is little to nothing available. I'm sure I'm not the only one dealing with roadblocks. Thanks again!