Presenting


with Mercedes Rose
"Take the voiceover journey in high class!"

TEST DRIVE...Is this career for me?
This is the pre-requisite to all the Voiceover Driving School classes and groups, unless a local talent agent already represents you. The only exceptions are the JUMP START Class and PHONE SYSTEMS Class described below. Test Drive will give you a broad overview into the business including the maps and directions to guide you. You will gain specific insight into the local voiceover community, and what it takes to move forward, whether it is for a possible career choice, or just an interesting hobby you would like to explore. The class will cover all the basic questions. What is voiceover? Who succeeds at it? How do I get started? The class is divided into two parts; part one is a lecture format, including an overview of the provided materials that are full of information, tips, tricks, and scripts. Part two, you will get in the recording booth and experience the essence of the voiceover world. The best way to find out if you have what it takes is to get in front of a microphone! We will provide a safe and low-key experience…simple scripts and helpful feedback.

6-person limit
Beginners Only
Cost: $150.00
$10 materials fee
$15 studio fee
Coach: Mercedes Rose and Leslie Jane
sign up for this class

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CARPOOL - Just for kids!
With Leslie Jane "at the wheel" your child is sure to learn how to use their talents in the booth. Leslie combines her 11 years of elementary teaching experience with her professional voiceover career and creates a little bit of magic! All children have a special spark - it might be time to see if your child's spark is ignited in the recording booth. There are a variety of results you can expect...from a true interest in the voiceover business, to a general boost in self-confidence, or just plain fun on a Friday evening.

All Levels
5-person limit
Ages 8-18
Cost: $75
Coach: Leslie Jane
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MARC'S MECHANICS...There's no substitute for a great "mechanic"!
There's no substitute for a great "mechanic"! If you received an audition opportunity today, would you be prepared? Learn all the ins and outs of what it really means to have a home studio and to be "set-up at home". Marc Rose will help you see that it is more possible than you think! This course is also recommended for those of you who are already set-up and haven't had the time to explore the technology available to you...it could mean the difference between a novice-sounding read and a winning audition! So, bring a notebook and a pen and get ready to learn!

1. Overview of the process of home recording.
2. Tools needed
3. Room Acoustics, how to fool the microphone into thinking it's in a million $ room.
4. Signal path - how it gets from point A (the microphone) to point B (your computer).
5. The software maze, what's appropriate for you. We'll look at three different ones.
6. Basic editing technique and creating the "hero" take.
7. Signal processing, polishing up your final take.
8. Creating the perfect MP3 (encoding-labeling etc.)

5-person Limit
All Levels
One Session
Cost: $125
Coach: Marc Rose
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TAXI RIDE...Drop-in and get where you need to go!
This new, "drop-in" format will give you the flexibility that you have wanted. There is a great need for all voiceover talent, no matter what level, to practice as much as possible. Be honest, do you follow through on your practice schedule? Is your practice time productive? Your Taxi Ride will include expert and often "passionate" feedback, personal challenges, and as much time in the booth as possible. The more you come, the farther you will go! *must confirm attendance before 6pm Friday night.

6-person limit
All Levels
Saturday Mornings
Location: In Both Ears
Cost: $20 per session
Purchase 10 sessions and get the 11th free!
Coach: Leslie Jane
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THE SESSION...Get ready for an actual gig!
So if you booked a gig today, would you know what to expect? Would you know what was expected of YOU? This one-day class will provide you with a glimpse into what an actual recording session is like. Leslie and Mercedes will be "playing" the part of the producer and the client. Marc will be your engineer. You will receive your script the night before, just like you might for a job. When you arrive at the studio you will be treated just like the "talent" that you are. You will be told what the "client" is looking for and all the details. From there it will progress as a job might - with script changes, time issues, varying directions. In the end you will have a copy of the finished "job". This class will prove invaluable as you progress on your voiceover journey into the professional realm.

All Levels
One-on-One
One-hour "session" with 15 minutes of wrap-up
Cost: $175
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ROAD TRIP...The Continuous Journey:
Road trip is similar to the group formally known as "playgroup". It includes seven weeks in the booth, and the eighth and final week addressing the next step and getting work without an agent. The sessions are coached and guided with concentration on style of voice, types of scripts, intention, and finding your personal range. You will have homework assignments each week. The cost includes your coach giving you feedback via email regarding your homework reads, and/or auditions for a total of three times during the course. If you would like emailed feedback beyond the three times, there will be an additional fee. Road Trip is an offshoot of what some of the pros in Portland are doing on an ongoing basis. Although the sessions are grouped in 8-week blocks, the need for practice and feedback never ends. That is why we will offer Road Trip on a continuous basis throughout the year.

5-person limit
All Levels
8-weeks
Cost: $280 / only $35 per night
Coach: Leslie Jane
sign up for this class

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The PHONE SYSTEMS Class
Phone systems are a great way to get your voice heard when you are just getting started in VO. This is a highly lucrative part of the industry and one that literally ALL talent can do. Everyone is welcome to the PHONE SYSTEMS CLASS! This class is also great for anyone wanting to improve their "phone voice".

6-person Limit
All Levels
One Night
Cost: $75
Coach: Mercedes Rose
sign up for this class

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The MULTI-MEDIA Class
Portland is the hub for clients such as Intel and HP. These businesses do a ton of training videos and internet broadcasts...often with extensive VO. This class will focus on all types of reads that are NOT commercials- pod casts, station tags, training videos etc. This class will give you the chance to practice your skills, get feedback and learn some of the tricks.

6-person Limit
All Levels
One Night
Cost: $75
Coach: Mercedes Rose
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The CHARACTER Class
Do the voices you hear in your head find their way out of your mouth? Make those wacky and wonderful voices work for you. Learn how to develop a character. Discover the difference between characters for games and commercials. Don't be surprised if even one night of character-focus increases your skills in all other voice styles…wow, all in one night!

6-person Limit
All Levels
One Night
Cost: $95
Coach: Leslie Jane
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CDL - Commercial Driver's License...for those who are seriously driven!
Mercedes and Leslie have been pondering and brainstorming - how do we challenge those of you who have been excelling in past playgroups, and who are ready for more intense challenges? This course is the result of us challenging ourselves in order to help you continue to strengthen your skills. We realize that you are ready to go beyond the original playgroup format. To be invited into CDL, there are certain requirements. You must be set-up at home for recording, comfortable with using your recording equipment including editing, normalizing, and sending an mp3 file. You are serious about pursuing a career in the voiceover business and have the desire to do whatever it takes! This course will be offered only three times per year. It will include script interpretation; tools for self-direction that will help you improve your audition reads, and critical feedback. Your coach, engineer, and peers will not only challenge you, but you will challenge yourself. The cost includes feedback from your coach via email for a total of four times during the course. Additional coaching requested will be an additional fee.

6-person limit
Invitation Only
Cost: $350
Coach: Leslie Jane
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THREE FOR THE ROAD - Personal Coaching
This is your chance to get private coaching with Mercedes Rose, Leslie Jane and Marc Rose. You provide the scripts you are interested in working on, we provide the booth time and amazing feedback. We will work around your schedule so let us know when you are ready to get a work out!

All Levels
One-on-One
Cost: $100 per hour/ 2 hour minimum
Coaches: Mercedes Rose, Leslie Jane & Marc Rose
sign up for this class

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WEEKEND DRIVE...Experiencing a lot in a short amount of time!
The Weekend Drive is for those of you who are not quite ready to commit to producing a demo, yet you are ready to put something out into the voiceover community. The Weekend Drive is an intense process divided into four parts – script practice, recording, producing, and marketing. The timeline from start to finish takes approximately 2-4 weeks, so it’s perfect for those of you who love a good dose of instant gratification. You will drive away with 3-5 produced spots on separate tracks that can help you accelerate toward your ultimate goal.

Part 1:Individualized scripts presented to you one week prior to your recording session. During that week, it is up to you to interpret the copy and practice to the best of your ability.

Part 2: An hour and a half, one-on-one recording session with Mercedes, Leslie, and Marc.

Part 3: 3-hour Production Includes:

Assembly of pre-produced material utilizing sound FX and music as needed
Recording of any additional material (name, contact info., etc.)
Editing/mastering of tracks
Provide a Master CD that contains AIFF, Wave, MP3 versions of the finished tracks
Three copies of the CD in audio form

Part 4: Marketing Seminar - your finished product and YOU!

All Levels
One-on-One
Cost: $495
Coaches: Mercedes Rose, Leslie Jane & Marc Rose
sign up for the weekend drive

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GENERAL CLASS NOTES