A Life Boat...

Something incredible happened to me yesterday.  For the first time in my life, opportunities were clearly and concisely laid out for me.  Let me explain.

I went to an intensive voice over class in NYC with PDR Voice Coaching.  Peter Rofé, who is the top voice over coach in New York, is an excellent teacher.  With 30 years of experience behind him I learned about etiquette, how to better my read, make strong choices and then make those choices stronger.  He coached me through 3 different types of reads and I also got to see other people in the class work.  

People in the class were from all over the place.  Three guys with low gravelly voices, a woman from London, a man from Ireland, a young musical theatre actor who loves to do voices, a man of Chinese decent born and raised in Italy, an insurance lawyer, a man from Romania, a set designer, a sales man.

What impressed me was that everyone in the class was actually really good.  Peter did assessments with people before accepting them into the class, so the day was productive and safe for us to make mistakes.  He also was brilliant at picking copy for us.  I mean dead on.

Also what impressed me about Peter is that he doesn't blab about his achievements in a condescending fashion.  Rather, he talks about his successes and failures, and encourages his students to realize that they can do it too.  He said "If it wasn't hard then everyone would do it", but Peter presented us with the tools to actually do it.  He has a group of clients that work.  Really work.  He works, his employees work, they have a state-of-the-art facility, and if you save up the money and invest in your career, then my God you can do it too.  And that money is made back ten-fold.  It's a business investment, the same as any other.

He didn't seem interested in tooting his own horn.  The work totally spoke for itself.  His coaching spoke for itself.  He didn't need to tell me he was the best.  I just knew it from the caliber of work and dedication he put in.  His studio manager, Rick, and his sound engineer, Matt, were also there the whole time and giving advice and helping throughout the day.  Three really dedicated individuals.

Holy crap.  I can do it too.  I can actually do this.  I feel like, for the first time in years, I'm not swimming in a vast ocean.  It's like a life boat came by and saved me.  Guys I'm like kind of good at voice over work.  I take direction well, I read well, I make choices.  Peter encouraged me to make mistakes, and also recognize that while I have the chops and training, I also have more work to do.  It was exhilarating, scary, motivating.  It was a life changing day for me.  My life and career will never be the same.  

I can actually do this with my life.

2014.  It's my year.  I'm saving money, I'm working my ass off, I'm picking up shifts, I'm making a commercial demo with Peter Rofé, and I'm going to be a voice over talent.  And I may just break a glass ceiling or two.

-Cindy