Negotiation Resources

My experience at Voicetrax -- over two years, 20 or so classes averaging about 10 hours each--- has really honed my skills. Samantha, the founder, is a top talent and teacher. The staff at Voicetrax never lowers the bar, but they train you so well that you find you can jump higher than you ever imagined. You gain expertise, you gain confidence, and you get cutting edge information about the business. Yes, it is expensive (over $300 a class), but it is a worthwhile investment. And... you have a lot of fun!

Let me first say that I have been studying at Voicetrax for a little over a year. In that time, I have taken about 12-13 classes and one private lesson with Samantha. I have received an excellent education and I continue to learn what it will take to be a working voice actor.

I can imagine that those looking for quick fame and fortune might be put off by the modest environment of Voicetrax. Sam, Shirley and Chuck are real, caring people and they treat all the students like family. Is everything slick and computerized so that people become numbers? NO! & I for one am grateful that this is the case. Once in a while you have to wait a minute for Shirley to find an answer but honestly, if that is as bad as your life gets...count yourself as lucky.

As for the instructors, they are amazing professionals and they care that everyone gets the most they can out the classes. I have often been in classes where the reality of the business is discussed. So, there is no truth in the review that claimed Sam only cared about getting students and not about being real. Classes fill up quickly and there often isn't the space or ability to add an additional class. So there are limits to the number of students VT can handle effectively. In each class, I learn not just from the time I am in the booth but also from the adjustments that others make when they are in the booth. The statement that the classes are too big is ridiculous. At most a class might have 13 people but usually it is 10 or 11.

I think anyone who wants to do this work or improve their performance skills should call Voicetrax and start their journey.

Pros: Friendly Staff & Teachers, Fun & Engaging Classes, Variety of Subjects Taught, Intimate Class Size, Creativity and Personal Guidance from Samantha
Cons: Sausalito Parking, Small Classrooms,

Very expensive, no mentoring, very hard to break into voiceover profession. In order to be properly trained you need a critical mass/momentum in instruction but the classes are so short and so costly it is an impossible endeavor to determine if you have a chance in this business when you can only take a few classes per season. I tried to explain this to the owner, Samantha Paris, but she insisted that it can take up to 4 years of taking classes before you will know. I don't have 4 years do spend on a maybe. The problem here is the school lacks structure. There is no way to train yourself outside of class but in class you get very little training. Too many students per course.

Pros: Sausalito is nice
Cons: EXPENSIVE, MINIMAL PERSONAL ATTENTION, SCHOOL DOES NOT SOLICIT FEEDBACK, FRONT OFFICE STAFF RUDE, WORKING PROFESSIONALLY AFTER STUDY UNLIKELY, NO MECHANISM FOR STUDENTS TO REVIEW INSTRUCTORS OR SCHOOL