Pretty important: classes and microphones and comedy and more

[David H. Lawrence XVII]

Hey, there.

Just some quick notes on this week's classes, including a great deal on a non-VO class at Actors Comedy Studio, the end of Amazon's affiliate plan, when class registration will open for this Sunday's class, an Audactiy tip and more.

GET YOUR FUNNY ON

==============================================================

Todd Rohrbacher, who runs the space where I hold Sunday's classes, has offered a great last-minute deal on a class that he and G. Charles Wright, who casts The Middle on ABC, is teaching this coming Sunday. It's just before my class, from 11 to 5p. Make a day of it, at a great price, and hone both your on-camera comedy AND VO chops! Todd says:

      Hi David!

      I have a One Day Comedy Cast Intensive coming up with Casting Director, G. Charles Wright and I have a few spots left open.

      Normally the Intensive is $195, but I'd like to offer you and your students a price break since you're part of the ACS family.

      Anyone you refer can register for $120 - a savings of $75. 

      Here is a link to the One Day Comedy Cast page for more info:

      http://actorscomedystudio.com/#/comedy-cast-intensive/4541925981 (give the page time to load - it's a bit slow)

      Sunday, July 10

      11 am - 5 pm

      Lunch provided.

      Limited to 16 actors.

So - I'm referring you. Go get it!

NO MORE MICROPHONES FROM AMAZON

==============================================================

Amazon abruptly cancelled their affiliate plan, of which I was a part, this past Wednesday when the California budget was signed. Included in that budget was a tax on affiliate advertising sales income. Instead of paying that tax, Amazon decided to take its ball and go home. I'm currently shopping around for another company to refer you all to other than Amazon, as I'm not going to support a company that can't seem to support the people that helped make it as large as it is. I'll keep you posted.

WHERE I'M TEACHING (AND TAKING) WORKSHOPS

==============================================================

Mark your calendars, and get in touch with the studios below if you want to join me.

 - Workshops/classes I'm teaching:

2011-07-10: Secrets of VO: Digital and Internet VO Skills

Actors Comedy Studio - West Hollywood (ongoing - each Sunday)

     http://www.vo2gogo.com/classes

2011-07-14: Secrets of VO: Getting Started in VO in LA - Week 1

2011-07-21: Secrets of VO: Getting Started in VO in LA - Week 2

2011-07-28: Secrets of VO: Getting Started in VO in LA - Week 3

The Actors Company - West Hollywood

     http://theactorscompanyla.com/calendar.php

2011-07-16: Secrets of VO: VO Demo Strategies

Orange County VO Peeps Meetup - Irvine

     http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1713534227

2011-08-13: Secrets of the Network Audition + Rehearsal (free/cheap)

AIA Actors Studio - Burbank

     https://www.aiastudios.com/ or 818-563-4142

2011-08-27: Secrets of the Network Audition + Rehearsal (free/cheap)

Reel Pros - Sherman Oaks

     http://www.reelpros.com/

 - Workshops/classes I'm TAKING:

2011-07-05: casting workshop at Act Now (three weeks)

Manny Fernandez with Slater/Brooksbank (The Tudors, Chaos)

     http://www.actnownetwork.com/

CLASS REGISTRATION OPENS TONIGHT FOR PROS, AND...

==============================================================

...on Wednesday night for non-Pros. And that's the way it's going to be from now on - that will handle the occasional national holiday weekend. You'll get an email, a much prettier one that this.

PRO REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE AGAIN BY THE END OF THE WEEK

==============================================================

The watchword is "slowly" - that's how I'm handling people joining the Pro membership. This Friday at midnight, the doors will close again, so if you want to become a Pro, get access to all SOVO classes and vClasses for free, and 20% discounts on all demos and other services, get while the gettin's good - I'm only taking 10 more Pros this go-around, and 5 have already signed up:

     http://www.vo2gogo.com/pro

AUDACITY TIP - WHEN NORMALIZE GOES BACKWARDS

==============================================================

New Pro member Loring Greene wrote, asking why, when he was normalizing his auditions, the wave forms were getting smaller, not bigger. I asked him to check what the normalization limit was set at in the little screen that pops up after you ask Audacity to normalize your selection (Effects >> Normalize). Sure enough, it was set at -3 dB. That's actually 19% below full volume, so if any of your work pops up into that territory volume wise, Audacity will find the loudest of them, drop that down to -3 dB, and everything else will drop accordingly.

To fix that, change the -3 to a 0 the next time that little window pops up, and Audacity will normalize to 100%. And it will remember that setting so you don't have to do it every time. And I know that Voice123 suggests you normalize to -3, but they also suggest you not slate. So much for me agreeing with Voice123.

=========================

I've got a fairly light week this week (for me), so if you want to get anything done, or you need my help, give me a buzz.

And my absolute adoration to Karen Eileen-Gordon, who made a great little video about being a Pro that I'm adding to the Pro and Kudos pages - if you want to be seen there, feel free to plop yourself in front of your webcam, and send me a short video loveletter. I'm all ears (and eyes), as usual.

David

-------

David H. Lawrence, XVII

Explore my world: http://www.davids.com/