Whether you’re looking to break-in to the career of your dreams
or to expand your repertoire of voice acting skills, TalkShop’s got
your number -- with classes led by top casting directors, agents and
artists.

“This is who you go to when you want to become a professional
  in the voiceover business!”
         Roger Rose - Voice of CBS Monday Night Comedies,
         Leopard Seal on Happy Feet
         William Morris Endeavor Entertainment

Our Workshops

Beginning with your first evening, you’ll work on the mic in our
world-class studio, learning in a real world professional environment
(not just someone’s living room), progressively building your skills
and confidence level. Each evening presents multiple opportunities
to record your own performances in a relaxed, fun, challenging and
creative atmosphere. Begin to gain the experience and know-how
to help you break-in, become competitive and start booking.

Basics 1                                                                    6 weeks: $495
Think you’ve got the knack?
If you’re new to voiceover, this is where you begin.
Basics 1 will give the foundation, principles
and techniques you need to begin a successful voiceover career.

Topics covered:

• Anatomy of a voiceover commercial
• How the pros interpret commercial copy
• How to work the mic – and let the mic work for you
• Choosing your performance attitude
• Finding the “conversation” in the copy
• Getting over the fear/anxiety of stepping into the booth
• What producers expect from your performance, and how to give it to them
• The business of voiceover and how to become an expert
  

Basics 2 / Intermediate                                         6 weeks: $495

We continue to build on the foundation started in Basics 1 by focusing on:

• Getting to the heart of the copy
• Current trends in TV and radio advertising
• Developing timing skills
• Finding your unique voice persona
• The balance between real and retail
• Character-driven monologues and dialogues
• Performance techniques that lead to booking
• Preparing for your demo
  
  

Courses in Your Living Room

Canít make it to LA? Get the same great course online, LIVE, wherever you are! All you need is a computer, a mic and an internet connection. Youíll be astonished with the quality and effectiveness of the content and the CD-like fidelity of the voices of your instructor and fellow students, as you learn from the best and participate in reading and working on real commercial voice-over copy.

 

Intro to Voice-Over

$49, credit card or Paypal

This 1-evening seminar will walk you through the world of voice acting, answer many questions and more. Conducted by one of the top VO Casting veterans in LA, weíll present a clear-eyed look at the business, discuss your assumptions about doing voice-over yourself and if youíre up for it, give you the chance to read some actual copy to get some professional feedback and advice!

Limited to 15 people, you can either call in by phone or connect via Skype. Either way, thereís no typing ñ so youíll be part of a fascinating, live conversation. By the end of this 2-hour conference call, youíll know whether voice-over is a passion youíd like to pursue ñ and how to go about doing it!

 

Voice-Over Basics 1

Six weeks: $495 2.5 hrs per session, including a 10-minute intermission. All classes meet on weekdays or eves.

Evening Class 1: 7:30 Eastern/6:30 Central

Evening Class 2: 7:30 Mountain/6:30 Pacific

The Morning Class: 9:30AM Pacific/10:30AM/Mountain/
11:30AM Central/12:30PM Eastern

Please email info@talkshopla.com for July and August starting dates.

Be sure to include your name, phone number and city location.

The same great curriculum as our in-studio Basics course (see description), conducted live online. If you canít make it to LA, weíll give you an experience that nearly equals the original. Limited to 10 students, this 6-week course is broadcast live via Skype, which blows away the problems of old-fashioned phone conferencing and makes you feel like youíre participating in a conversation right in front of you -- which you are!

Professional voice-over copy is emailed to you every week for practice and prep, so youíll be ready to read it during class to get feedback, coaching and support. The lessons are world-class, the discussions are lively and your personal performance time is reserved, front and center, every week.

Whatís Skype?

Itís an easy way to make free telephone calls, anywhere in the US. All you need is a computer, a microphone, an internet connection and a free account on the Skype website. Youíll be amazed with the CD-like quality of the sound of peopleís voices and how simply it works! For complete info and a 60-second video demonstration, go to www.skype.com.

 

Next Intermediate Living Room Course:

Mid-September. Email info@talkpshopla.com for dates!

 

...and more, here in our studios:

Guest Directors Workshops                               6 weeks: $595

It’s everybody’s favorite: 6 weeks, 6 different Guest Directors. With a variety of highly successful working talent, casting directors, talent agents, advertising executives, each week has something exciting to offer – new perspectives, great tricks and helpful hints, what’s working out there and how to make it work for you!

Seminars

Marketing for The Voiceover Artist                   3 hrs: $195

In addition to having great voiceover acting skills – what’s going to make you stand out from the crowd? Nationally known VO talent DC Douglas reveals the secrets of how to sell yourself and get noticed in this challenging market. Bring your notepad to jot down the many tricks on how best to make your mark and get your demo heard.

One Day Weekend Intensive                               5 hrs + lunch break: $195

Think Voiceover Bootcamp. Part seminar, part workshop,
it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the possibilities.

• Quick warm-up techniques
• Dealing with difficult producers
• The art and etiquette of the booth
• Agent-grabbing discussions
• Making it to call-back
• Perfecting your reading skills
• Legals and speed-reading
• Invaluable handouts

Private Coaching                                                       1 hour: $100

Sometimes a voiceover actor feels the need for a little personal
attention – to find a new angle, get over a difficult hump, or simply
focus more specifically on your individual sound. Private one-on-one
coaching is perfect for this… it’s one hour that’s all about you.

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As opportunities arise – we are constantly adding and updating
our Class Schedule...

Keep checking this site for new and fun special classes…

For rates and upcoming class start dates –
Call TalkShop at: (818) 908-9200
or email us at:  info@talkshopla.com

Get the competitive edge – call TalkShop now!

Our Instructors

Martha Mayakis spent the first 14 years of her voiceover career at
The Voicecaster as one of the most well-known and highly respected
voiceover casting directors in the country. Currently the casting
manager at TalkShop, she has cast and personally directed
thousands of projects. A veteran teacher, she’s coached and
nurtured the careers of hundreds of actors, many of whom have
gone on to successful careers of their own. Her insightful direction
and charming wit make her a favorite with novices, veteran talent
and celebrities alike.

Casting director Gary Giambo – also began his career at The
Voicecaster, where he spent the last 8 years as the best known and
most popular booth director in LA – directing hundreds of the most
well-known voiceover pros and celebrities in town. Ask any
working voice talent and they’ll sing the praises of Gary’s easy-
going yet on-the-money direction. His weekly workout group is
an industry staple for good reason – he’s a blast to work with.

"Here's the bottom line, if you're serious about becoming a voice over talent or you're already a voice over talent and want to be better, there's only one place that I would recommend, and that place is TalkShop. And there's only one reason (well actually two) that I would send people there, Martha Mayakis and Gary Giambo. Simply the best directors and teachers in the business, period. If you don't believe me, you could do what I did when I started in the voice over end of this business years ago... spend thousands of dollars on classes with different, so called, teachers and directors all over town, and then go to Martha and Gary. You'd be sorry you didn't go there first."
        Kim Strauss - Voice of movie trailers and commercials
        DPN Talent Agency