 Voice over career panelists (l-r): Tor Mhyren, Joan Baker, Rodd Houston, Joe Cipriano, Valerie Smaldone, Cedering Fox, Bill Ratner and interviewer Alan Kalter (Jeff Fasano photo)
THAT'S VOICEOVER! Was 'Over The Top'
In Education, Fun & Career Inspiration
Note: The audio recording of the entire THAT'S VOICEOVER! stage event, and a PDF of the program, is available for $34.95. For details and to order, please visit: http://conta.cc/TVOaudio
By John Florian
VoiceOverXtra
Everyone felt like a voice over celebrity at THAT'S VOICEOVER!, the classy voice over career stage event and reception at The Times Center in New York City on September 22.
For nearly three exciting hours, voice over celebrities and insiders were on stage sharing experiences and advice, of course.
And it all rubbed off on attendees who rubbed shoulders filling the theatre and later networking - with hors d'oeuvres and wine - in the marble lobby.
 Co-hosts Alan Kalter (The Late Show with David Letterman) and Joan Baker (Secrets of VoiceOver Success) - yes, that's them pictured - guided us through the evening. (More photos are below.)And yours truly grinned and applauded from the Center's glassed production booth, from where VoiceOverXtra provided the live broadcast of the event online, worldwide - and recorded every word.
BTW: The entire stage event audio recording and program are now available here for just $34.95: http://conta.cc/TVOaudio.
A WINNING PROGRAM
A major portion of the event was producer Push Creative's Audition Spotlight, for which scores of voice talents auditioned before judges earlier in the day. Then on stage during the event, six finalists read that script again.
 Voice actor Rachel Logan (shown here, auditioning) took top honors, winning the voicing of an actual TV spot; agency representation by Vanessa Gilbert, president of TGMD Talent; and a Neumann TLM 102 microphone.Two panels anchored the night in Q&As with co-host Alan Kalter: The Business of Voiceover and Voiceover as Craft and Career.
 Dr. Joyce Simons (pictured) spoke on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association, which benefits from the event's proceeds. The evening was dedicated to the memory of voice over legend Don LaFontaine.
And major sponsors were AFTRA, Neumann, Voicebank.net and Back Stage magazine.
The stage show was followed by a reception and book signing of Joan Baker's Secrets of VoiceOver Success - a compilation of success stories by the industry's pros.
'OVER THE TOP!'
Comments from the theatre and online attendees came quickly, including:
It's not too late to enjoy THAT'S VOICEOVER! The audio recording and program are available here for just $34.95: http://conta.cc/TVOaudio.
PHOTO REVIEW ...
Photographer Jeff Fasano captured the action, including ...
 Voice talents Joe Cipriano and Valerie Smaldone
 Joan Baker and voice talent Rodd Houston
 Co-host and interviewer Alan Kalter
 Voice talent Bill Ratner
 Rudy Gaskins, Joan Baker, Rachel Logan, Vanessa Gilbert and Alan Kalter
MEANWHILE, UP IN THE BOOTH ...
 VoiceOverXtra recording the audio - webinar style - in production booth
 VoiceOverXtra's John Florian (with directorial delusions)
 Rebecca Bridges, VoiceOverXtra's webinar production director (the real worker)
 Your Daily Resource For Voice-Over Success
|
|
|
"Rudy (pictured with Joan), what you and your wife did last night was fantastic .... The peek behind the curtain was such an eye opener! The work you are doing to help find a cure for Alzheimer's is great." - 
.png)
First, the peak behind the veil was such an eye opener! It is something I have always wanted to do but just never had a clue how to start. I’m now studying with a great voiceover coach with an eye towards recording my demo reel in January/February (I flew in for the event so I live in a different state).
Second, the work you are doing to help find a cure for Alzheimer's is great! I too am losing someone very close to me to this horrible disease and was mighty grateful for that portion of the event, along with the speaker who brought me to tears.
Thirdly you and Joan are so special in this industry. My admiration for what you both are doing and bringing the public is truly remarkable. I’ve now even learned about VoiceOverXtra and love what they’re doing, too.
Rudy and Joan and the rest of the guests on That’s Voiceover - thank you for changing my life!
Barry Owens
That's Voiceover really made a special effort to connect the dots for us. Joan, you were radiant, sparkly gorgeous and powerful!! Wow, you looked amazing. Alan Kalter, I'm now in love with - he was brilliant. Thank you to all the incredible speakers, Dr. Joyce Simons for Alzheimer’s and the honoring of Don LaFontaine. Congratulations to Joan and Rudy for creating an amazing event!
Van
It was a pleasure to see you again, Joan. I met you when G. Keith Alexander and Don LaFontaine were on your panel through the Learning Annex, Make Millions With Your Voice. I'm hoping my voiceover career will get jumpstarted from the connections I made that night at That's Voiceover.
I also made a donation to the Alzheimer's cause at your event that evening. I, too, am touched by this disease and credit you for all your fine work and wish you and Rudy continued success in everything you both do.
Evelyn
I want to thank you for an incredible, informative and truly transformative evening at That's Voiceover! at The Times Center in midtown.
.
From start to finish it was a beautiful, well-polished shining tribute to both the voice-over industry - with a deeply touching tribute to the late Don LaFontaine - and also to the heartfelt speech of Dr. Joyce Simons and her personal struggle with Alzheimer's and her important work for the Alzheimer's Association.
The event was cast with the Best of the Best in the voice over industry, and I left the theater more inspired than ever to pursue this Voiceover Career! I was throughly engaged and felt enpowered the moment I sat down in my seat.
Continued success in everything that you both do, and I can't wait for the next one!