“THE AVENGERS”, A TESTIMONIAL, AND ANIME DETOUR

First off, a round of applause (standing ovation, really) to the awesome staff at Tekkoshocon. The “Big Bald Broadcast” had a successful live stream. My compadres, Otherworld Steve and The Engineer, were official guests of the con for the first time and much fun was had.

Upon returning, I received a very important phone call from my agency. A phone call that is representative of something I’ve wanted, literally, since childhood. After years of auditions, I was finally booked to record on a major cartoon series: Marvel’s “The Avengers”. A representative gave me authorization to announce that I will be voicing a few incidental voices on some episodes. The show itself will debut on Disney XD this fall. Aaaaaand that’s all I can say at this point, other than the experience was every bit as exciting as I had anticipated. For those who don’t know, unlike anime, cartoons are recorded with many of the cast present. Each talent has their own mic/music stand, and the show is recorded/performed much like an old time radio play. There’s no overlap in the dialog, but we are able to play off of each other’s performances. In between takes, there’s a lot of goofing around that is truly the icing on the cake. I got to work with some amazing individuals this past week (and will again in the future). For all the struggles, financial woes, stress, and depression that comes with working (moreso, NOT booking work) in this field, achieving such a personally important goal suddenly made all of the hard times absolutely worth it. I’ve made a lot of progress in the few years I’ve been in Los Angeles, and this cements everything. I’m exactly where I need to be. I’ve got a really great feeling deep down in my soul. You guys are going to be hearing me on bigger stuff in the coming years.

If you follow me on Facebook, a few folks took advantage of the super limited discounted spaces in my private online voice acting consultation sessions.   Within hours of my latest session with Adrienne in Florida, she was kind enough to write up a review………..

In the voice acting or acting area in general I’m what you’d call a ‘greenhorn’. I have very little experience, but I am willing to learn more. When I saw the offer of a one on one session I jumped at the opportunity to learn something new and see if I had potential. I contacted Kyle and he walked me through payment and setting up a time to talk. Once the session started, it was like I was talking to a friend, a very comfortable conversation. He was encouraging when it came time to read the lines provided, giving pointers on how to change the volume and sound of your voice. He was friendly and open about everything. Soon as we had finished reading, he told me about great places to go to leaner more and people I could go to in order to start a possible demo in the future. I would recommend Kyle’s lessons to any of my friends who are looking into getting started or even setting foot in to Voice Acting. I am very grateful to Kyle for opening up his time and heart to give these lessons.

For those in the midwest, I will be doing some voice acting critiques for free during my “Anime Auditions” panel at Anime Detour this coming weekend in Bloomington, Minnesota.  We will also be gathering all the voice actor guests to perform a cold read of an authentic “Shadow” script from 1938.   I’ve been a guest at every Anime Detour since its inception and I always look forward to returning.

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FACEBOOK DISCOUNT FOR PRIVATE SESSIONS & DESTINATION: TEKKOSHOCON

I am currently running a special on my online voice acting consultation sessions, aimed at beginner level voice actors.  The focus is to give you feedback on your performance of animation and commercial script samples.  If you follow me on Facebook, and are one of the first FOUR to private message me, I am offering a $25 discount.   (the one hour sessions are regularly $75, so total cost to you is $50!)

You’ll have til the end of April to pay the reduced fee for your session, but you must receive a reply from me stating that you are one of the first four that are eligible for the discount.  The session will be scheduled after payment.  Again, this is open to the first four private emails from my followers on Facebook.

Meanwhile, my next convention appearance is at Tekkoshocon in Pittsburgh!  The con takes place April 8-11, and I will be on hand for panels and signings Saturday and Sunday.  My cohorts from my geeky news podcast, Otherworld Steve and Marc the Engineer,  will also be on hand.   Steve and Marc will host their own podcasting panel on Friday night, all about creating your own internet radio show.  And on Saturday night, we’re planning to stream The Big Bald Broadcast LIVE with several of the convention’s voice actor guests.  We’ll have super limited edition buttons and postcards on hand.    Here’s the panel schedule for Tekkoshocon:

FRIDAY APRIL 9
8:30pm – 9:30pm  Panel room 4:  “Podcasting 101″ w/ The Big Bald Broadcast’s Otherworld Steve and the Engineer (Panel Room 4)

SUNDAY APRIL 11
11:00am – 12:00pm Anime Auditions: The Process (Workshop Room 1)
12:30pm – 1:30pm Autographs
3:00pm Closing Ceremonies

Visit Tekko’s official website HERE for more info.

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ANOTHER TESTIMONIAL…

Here’s the latest review of my private online voice acting sessions….

After reaching a personal plateau in my acting abilities for months, I knew that if I wanted to improve that the only way to do so would to be to learn from somebody who’s far more experienced than I am and who would really know what he was doing. Needless to say when I found that Kyle Hebert was offering such rich knowledge for such a LOW Price of $75 I just HAD to take advantage of his offer! Even though I had to reschedule a couple of times because of some mishaps on my behalf, he was incredibly flexible and professional about it and we eventually got a date set in stone.

As soon as our session began, Kyle’s voice came in with a friendly and warm “Well hello there!” and from then on I felt completely comfortable and at ease with him. He really made me feel like I was part of his world and that I was really in the world of Voice Over and I was no longer a wanna be. I was finally doing this! The reads for the “auditions” were absolutely thrilling and fantastic. He allowed me to do various takes on not only a variety of emotions, but on a variety of fight sounds as well. What was also a great plus was that he demonstrated how HE would approach the line, and to me that was invaluable because that let me know the professional mindset behind cold copy like that. But what was even more priceless than the auditions was the feedback. Kyle is indeed incredibly honest and sincere in his words. He will tell you what you’re doing right, what you’re not doing right, and will give honest opinions on anything and everything you might ask him.

For me this was a life changing experience. The improvement that I experienced upon leaving his session was exponential! I had recorded my conversation with him for personal purposes to review my lesson, and I listened to how I did the audition lines. Then after our conversation I decided to record the lines with what I had learned. It was seriously as though I was a different person! I had no idea I had that sort of ability in me! My lines had become more flexible, more believable, more everything! Would definitely take another session with him. Thank you so much again Kyle for doing this for me, you really are a great guy.

-Michael / Greenville, SC

My one-on-one online sessions are designed for beginner level voice actors.  We will run through simulated auditions of animation and commercial scripts.  I critique and tweak your performance.  I can also give you detailed analysis on any demo samples you may already have.  No scams.  No broken promises.    For more info, please click HERE.

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WANNA TRY VOICE ACTING?

Its the most common question I hear from fans: “How do I get into voice acting?”. I wrote an extensive answer in my FAQ section, but in short, its a combo of getting training/experience, and living where the work is, plus a huge dose of luck. But if you’re just starting out, how would ya like to get a professional, thorough, objective opinion of your skills? I offer a service aimed squarely at beginner level voice actors who are wanting feedback and guidance. I work with you one-on-one via Skype, and critique you on various commercial and animation script samples. We’ll hammer out your strengths, what you need to work on, and point you in the direction of some seasoned coaches to get you on the path.

I can’t get you work, an agent, or help you do your demo. I’m not directing nor casting. My private online consultation session is designed for you to test the waters, to see if this is something you really want. There are no guarantees, no matter how much training or experience you have. The acting business has always been and always will be a huge gamble.

So how would you know if this might be a good investment? I’ve gotten a lot of testimonials from folks who have taken my private sessions, which you can read in full HERE. My latest one, comes from Kelsey………..

For the longest time I’ve had this insane passion to get into voice acting. I’ve been doing my research and asking my questions but doing that alone didn’t really get me the specific answers I needed. Then I came across Kyle’s private voice acting lesson and decided to try it out. And I must say, it was worth every penny! Kyle really knows what this business is about, just one hour with him completely cleared up a lot of questions I had. He’s very easy to talk to, reassuring, a fantastic actor and teacher and the guy is down right hilarious! He goes over different types of scripts and gives great feedback on what you need to work on. I had a blast! Learning from him was truly an honor and I recommend Kyle’s lesson to all other aspiring voice actors. You won’t regret it!

For more info on taking a private session with me, click HERE.

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GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, YA KNOW I’VE HAD MY SHARE…

Had a BLAST in San Antonio for the one-day Mizuumi Con event this past weekend, on the campus of Our Lady of the Lake University. If you guys saw my video blog, the registration line was huuuuuuge. The staff and fans were awesome, then topped the day off with a delicious dinner at Mi Tiera. Little hard to have a conversation with mariachi musicians stopping by the table every five minutes wanting to serenade, but the meal was worth it. I also would like to take this time to thanks ALL the staff and fans at all my appearances, as well as on Twitter and Facebook. You guys truly are the best!

I get to travel the country, meet amazing new people, stay in nice hotels, all because I have been so blessed to be in the awesome world of voice acting. But getting to do what I love comes at a great price: financial stability. And throughout the past year, the amount of work that I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of, has been steadily dwindling. Going to cons as a guest means I get treated like a rock star, and its very flattering and humbling. Staffers always wanting to assist, fans standing in long lines…it never ceases to amaze me. And its a fantastic escape from the harsh realities that I always must return to once the weekend ends. Just like everybody else, I have bills, debt, obligations. I’m also a single father. But its still worth it to me, because I love what I do. I have a wonderful support group, besides the fans: my parents. They’ve helped me so much to help stay afloat ever since I moved to Los Angeles. I can’t express enough the gratitude I have for my family. My friends, both old and new, have cheered me on for many years.

While I’ve added some great credits to the resume, the cost of living has consumed any and all financial rewards. As the bills stack up, I’m constantly wondering, when will that phone ring with a call to work? When will an email show up in the inbox with good news? When will the mailman deliver that money I made from 3 weeks back or longer? The economy has struck everybody hard. And I’ve never been more broke. And ya know what? Its still worth it to me, because I love what I do.

This is a huge point I always try to drive home to people interested in getting into the acting profession. You have to want this so bad, that you refuse to give up, no matter what. And in this field, there’s a lot of sacrifice on the road to achieving your dreams. Constant stress, waiting, and disappointment. With all the competition, the law of averages say you won’t get cast from most auditions. The upside is, I get to work with a fantastic talent pool, tour the country, and get paid for having fun. No matter how depressing things get, every time I step into that booth, all the pain goes away. At least for the length of the session. And that’s plenty. I’m getting to do what I’ve wanted since childhood. I don’t have any delusions that I’ll become a millionaire. But the riches I’ve earned are worth so much more than money. And I’ve got many more goals to reach.

Its still worth it to me, because I love what I do.

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