Voice One

I just finished a four day class at Voice One called «By the Book». The class was based on Elaine Clark’s book ‘There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is.’ Ms Clark was the instructor and I can’t give her instruction style or her book enough praise! It was four days packed with information, individual and group training. Trite as this may sound but, there never really was a dull moment. She has had a long and successful career in voice over work and draws on that for hilarious anecdotes, touching stories of strength and support, as well a numerous «a hah» eureka light bulb moments. I could think that I was lucky to get into an exceptional class whose diverse members were stunningly fast learners, but I have a feeling she gets the most out of all of her students. It’s important to note that many of the techniques taught can be helpful for a wide variety of endeavors. I sing and the class has helped improve my voice. I could imagine this helping those in business, acting in general, or any situation that calls for public speaking. I know this review sounds over the top but this is an honest assessment of my experience.

Every class I have taken here has taught me more than I imagined would be possible. Every class, whether with Elaine, the founder/​owner, or with a guest teacher, has been wonderful fun as well as a challenging learning experience. Each teacher has a different approach, and every single one has been amazing in terms of their own impressive career credentials as well as their teaching abilities. So many specific improvements to my acting technique. So many specific to-​do items to support my career and job prospects. Every interaction is handled with integrity, organization, and professionalism. I can’t say enough good things. Hobbyist or professional actor, either way, Voice One is a great place to be.

This place is so much fun and has been such a help to me in not only learning about the art and business of voice over, but in improving my communication skills in other areas. All the teachers are fun and supportive and the staff is always friendly and willing to help.

I took the intro course recently and it was exactly as expected. Great base knowledge on the industry, recommended classes to take based on areas of interest, and a focus on getting you work and paid as soon as possible. Elaine is transparent with her industry knowledge, has clear business savvy, and even with a larger intro class of around 30, was able to give productive feedback to each individual in the first session. I look forward to taking the next class and learning more about technique and getting behind that mic again!

I took Elaine’s By The Book class recently and came away a much better voice over actor than I was when I went in. She really broke down my voice and narrowed in on what I needed to work on to be successful and get work, which is the whole reason I took the class. A lot of good exercises, a lot of good butt-​kicking, a lot of good technique.
For those who think the class is expensive — I felt the same way going in — but you really do get your money’s worth. She does not try to sell you anything, you go through almost the entire book, she pushes you to get the voice that earns. I highly recommend this class

These folks know a lot about the business and impart a lot of good information. Unfortunately, the training is not always conducted in a positive environment and can leave motivated, hard-​working students feeling quite inadequate due to some very negative teaching practices that they somehow think are conducive to making better students. Well, I’ve invested $ 4,000 in the core curriculum, and for that money, I expect to be treated with respect and to be set up for success in the classroom when I apply myself. I’ve seen students berated in class and moved to tears. Not a smart business plan when your students are spending thousands of dollars on training. I’m all for letting your students know how competitive the industry is, but you really do draw more flies with honey than with vinegar.

After completing the 6 week daytime conservatory, I couldn’t wait to start the advanced session. Elaine’s style of teaching and feedback is honest, direct, interactive, and fun.
I clearly hear the difference in my reads. I am truly excited to add voice over to my acting trajectory. And I’m very proud that it began with Voice-​One.
Thank you Elaine.

I wanted to provide a review of this business because I’m not sure the Unilocal reviews on here are reflective of a majority population — I have to say it’s pretty hard to believe that you run a business like this and you almost have 100% 5 star reviews — I mean someone is going to be unhappy, this is essentially investing in an acting career and you’re paying a business to make your dreams come true, I seriously doubt everyone that comes through this business is successful or happy after dispensing with 3000 plus dollars — mostly my review has nothing to do with the cirriculum, I’m sure it’s great (or not) — or your chances of getting a gig might be great (or not… most likely not) –my feeling is like so many of these types of schools you get out of it what you put into it – that said, some people can work as hard as they possibly can and never go anywhere — I went to the Intro to VO 3 hour workshop, in which I paid for so I feel I qualify to make a review regarding that experience
Soooo, I showed up for this workshop — it was held in a cramped little room with 50 or so other strangers interested in VO — here are the things I did not like–
The space, too small, they crammed everybody they could squeeze into that room — and collect $ 50.00 a person for the privilege — I started to think about this because this place is so ‘gotta make money’ centric seems like they could have sprung for a decent space in that building for 3 hours and a bagel (but hey, it’s only worth what you’re willing to pay)– this little workshop is most likely the bread and butter of the entire school, they have several of these scheduled all the time and they pack em in– I’m sure numbers thin out considerably after people get the bottom line
Elaine did the workshop — and that’s great, it’s her business and she showed up to sell it – can’t say anything is wrong with that –
My chief complaint was– I felt a little like I showed up for one of those Trump University classes, where they say they’re going to teach you how to make $ 10,000.00 in real estate — problem is you never make that, they just keep leading you down a road where you spend more and more money –sooo, you sort of feel like you need a shower after you finish the 3 hours–
I did not find that it was a high pressure sell to sign up for classes at the end (which is good), although they were quite ready to take you credit card at all of the breaks for classes and buy Elaine’s books :)– Elaine walks the line of making promises that are not hers to make during the workshop –but if asked directly about something I felt she gave an honest response –at that point a good majority of those that might have the cash to do this sort of thing might just only hear the things they need to hear to make the leap — this is the danger and not so much Voice One’s fault –but be warned they are certainly aware of this and are game to take advantage of it –
Soooooo, tread lightly– if this is your dream and you think this will help you get there, go for it – I can not say I would not take classes here, but I think it would just be a for fun type thing… just wanted to write a review so people can get in the right head space before walking in to this place –

I’m surprised this place doesn’t have a lot more reviews — it is a jewel.
So far I’ve taken classes with Elaine, Tom, and Sally — each extremely knowledgable, as well as kind and helpful. (Okay, two of the three are «kind,» but all will help you get where you’re going, voice-​wise.)

Voice One is great! I have taken about 4 different classes now and feel that I have enough experience to give them 5 stars! I found Voice One after reading Elaine’s book– There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is. Awesome book but that is a whole different review. I thought getting into Voice Over work would be a lot easier and not so technical. What I have found is the quality of your voice is quite a bit lower on the scale of what producers are looking for. That is where Elaine Clark comes in. Her By the Book class was outstanding! All of the techniques in this class give you the tools to become a competent voice actor. They are quite tough to learn and even harder to master but hey if it was easy… Of course watching Elaine demonstrate shows that with time it’s second nature. If you are serious about a career in voice over then you owe it to yourself to come to the Intro Class. It’s cheap and a great way to meet the owner, get some information on the industry as a whole, learn about voice acting, practice some scripts, get some feedback and check out the school. That’s a whole lot for under $ 50. I’m sure I’ll see you at the school.

I just took «Narration Simple» with Sara Kliban. Sara is a wonderful teacher, even though she is «tough,» pushing you to bring out the best in yourself.
I’m looking forward to more classes and feeling a little more confident about entering the field of voice acting.

I only recently began my foray into voice-​over acting, but the experience has been nothing less than transformational.
I discovered Voice One via a Google search for voice over and acting schools in San Francisco — it was the first result in the search, which is a testament to its online credibility. Owner Elaine Clark had me at hello (aka, the Intro class offered on a monthly basis), and my experiences since have completely validated Voice One’s fantastic 25-​year reputation in the industry.
Like any great instructor, Elaine has both the professional experience (she is an actor, director, producer and sound engineer) and the [academic] training necessary to properly educate Voice One students — and the same goes for the force of instructors on their roster. Of course, the teaching styles vary amongst the staff, but they most always offer constructive criticism that enables you to build a better sense of style and technique. Thus far, my favorite experiences have been with Elaine, Tom Chantler, Sarah Kliban and Sally Clawson. Elaine is most critical, but in that, the best; and don’t mistake criticism for dislike — she coaches her students from a selfless place, bestowing accepting individuals with wisdom and insight acquired from a career spanning 30 years.
Classes cover the various forms of voice-​over acting (commercial, narration and characters), as well as acting for film and TV. Furthermore, Voice One offers intermediate and advanced courses including marketing, improv, home recording and dialects to name a few. Many classes are offered several times a year at varying times to accommodate students and working professionals, alike.
Voice One’s pricing is very reasonable, particularly compared to other major voice-​over markets. And if you’re serious about a career in voice over, consider it an investment — something that always precedes any return.
Voice One is centrally located to Bay Area transit. It’s only a short walk from Muni, CalTrain and BART.

Sarah Kliban’s «Narration Simple» class at Voice One was fantastic! Sarah is, as she herself says, a «tough teacher», and one of the best I’ve ever had. I walked out of the 2 day-​class having learned a ton about mic technique, and making a «read» sound natural and personal. Even more, I have tools now to keep practicing at home, and an ear for what sounds knowledgeable and «intimate,» and what doesn’t. I would recommend Sarah to anyone serious about getting into voice-​over.

Do you want to get into voice over work or acting? Voice one teaches it all in a very small group and personal way.

Wow! I’ve taken a number of classes at Voice One and they are all excellent. However, I just took a class that topped them all. It was Sarah Kliban’s «Auditioning for the Camera» all day workshop. Kliban really knows her stuff and she knows how to teach it. She is witty and wise, and very generous. Her honesty cuts to the chase, but one feels elevated as well as chastened by her critiques. This class gave me additional inspiration to work harder in all aspects of my theatre career… not just film.

I got really interested in voice over a couple of years ago, but I was living in Orange County at the time. The choices for workshops were limited. I settled with buying some CD’s. Listening was nice, but without being able to apply it, it turned out to be a waste.
I moved to San Francisco last year, and I have been attending Voice One for a few months now. I started out with an intro class, and I progressed on to the Beginner’s Stepping out and Creating Characters class.
This past Monday I took a class in Home Recording. Since many auditions are done from home understanding the progam to do my own recording was a necessity. Elaine took us through the program, and showed us everything needed to record auditions. It was a relatively inexpensive set-​up as well.
I am also currently taking the «By the Book» class on Thursday nights. In this class, the concepts that were written about in «There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is» is elaborated on e.g. breathing techniques, movement, etc. We’ve also been updated on what’s current in the industry for 2009. I believe the book was written in 2000.
On Sundays I attend their 10.00 drop-​in Improv classes, which has been fun. I am not regularly the spontantous, energetic character, so it really develops a skill I am not able to practice on a regular basis.
From a convenience standpoint, because I work full time, I need the classes to fit around my schedule. Most classes are offered several times throughout the year. There is evening availability, and for those who are full time actors or don’t have day jobs, they have day time classes.
Voice One has provided a forum where I can regularly practice with lots of support because everyone participates and always has encouragement on some level.
There is enough variety in the classes where a person can be skilled for many types of voiceover jobs and the instruction has been incredible. When you go up and do a read Elaine won’t tell you that you’re great, but she gives constructive feedback that you normally wouldn’t get. A person will just most likely not get a call back from an employer. What I like about her style of teaching — she wasn’t just a voiceover herself, but she’s also casted so she knows from an employer’s point of view what the right protocols are, what they’re looking for, and what would make the lives of directors and audio engineers easier.
As far as the demo, she charges a quarter of what most studios would. Not only do I get the good quality demo that I would need to market myself, but the instruction to help develop my skills. It’s a very good investment to develop a skill that is universally used.

It is hard for me to write this review because there are so many nice things I want to say and I don’t have all day, for gosh sakes. I was introduced to VoiceOne and its owner Elaine Clark when I started out in voice over training. I had read Elaine’s book, «There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is,» and later learned that she ran a school in SF. I was excited to meet the author of what I considered the best book out there (the more I read the truer this is). But I also shopped around a little before settling on VoiceOne. Boy I am glad I did stay with Elaine.
The classes are small, usually around 10 students and the instructors are terrific. While everyone is looking for mic time, I think the best part of the classes is examining the technique of other students and listening to the instructor lift up their reads. Some folks for whom you have little hope of getting a good take, suddenly improve exponentially under the sharp direction of the Voice One staff. It is an excellent learning environment.
Physically, the location has only one drawback, it is 2 blocks from AT&T Park (or whatever they are calling it this week). You need to be careful when choosing classes that you check the Giant’s schedule and that you make sure no other events are going on at the park. Recently, I went into a class at 9:30 AM on a Saturday and did not leave the building again until 5 PM. When I came out I found the streets overrun with guys who were there for a motorcross event. This wouldn’t have bothered me but the parking lot I had parked in then tried to charge me 2 ½ times the amount that I would usually pay on a Saturday. I talked my way out of it, but be careful.
Overall, I find that VoiceOne is a well run, exciting and serious place to learn this craft. Please give it a try, or if you don’t want to jump in feet first, try picking up Elaine’s book. It will give you a lot of information and show you what kind of person she is. Kudos to Elaine and her staff for all of their good work.

Before I was an innkeeper, before I was a hi-​tech marketeer, before all of that I was an actor. I stopped being an actor in the belief that I needed to make a living, and acting was not a sure way to do it. But eventually I missed it – I missed the people, I missed the challenge, and I missed the business.
Fast forward to last Christmas. I was searching for something fun to get involved with, that wasn’t innkeeping, and I thought of voice-​over acting — I had done a bit of it many years ago. I found an old audition tape I’d made, listened to it, and was impressed by what my voice could do way back then. So the next question was «how do I see if I want to get back into the acting business?»
I went on line and easily found Voice One. As luck would have it, they had scheduled one of their «Starting Out» classes the next day, so I signed up. This class was an overview of the industry, and of the educational and experiential opportunities the school offered. Next I took the ‘Daytime Conservatory” — another more in-​depth overview with hands-​on microphone experience. A couple sessions of that, and I was convinced I’d found not only that thing I wanted to do, but the school that could give me the tools to make a go of it.
I’m currently working my way through the «Core Curriculum» at Voice One — classes designed to focus on specific areas (Commercial, Narration, Characters) where I might develop expertise and eventually find work. I’m not yet sure which area (s) I am most interested in, or have aptitude for, but I’m confident that the staff at Voice One will help me focus and find my niche. I enjoy my classes so much: meeting and working with other aspiring voice actors and having an opportunity to learn from the experienced (and delightful) working voice actors that form the teaching staff. Elaine Clark, the founder and guiding light of Voice One, is involved in every aspect of the school, teaches many of the classes, and is always available to dispense advice or share knowledge. And, frankly, she and the other instructors, make learning FUN!
I feel like I’ve come «home», to a family of like-​minded artists and performers, many of whom, like me, have had success careers doing what they «thought» they should do, and are once again connecting with what they «want» to and love to do. Make no mistake, it’s hard work, getting those rusty old «pipes» (my voice) back in shape, and convincing that voice to do what I want it to do. And there is much more to voice acting than appears on the surface. Levels above levels above levels. But that’s what makes it fascinating, challenging, and enjoyable! I hope to be ready to cut a demo disk by the end of this Summer (’07), and to be able to call myself a working voice actor by Fall. With my determination, support from my family and peers, and training by the fine staff and management of Voice One, I’m sure that’s exactly what will happen.

Okay, so I like to talk and i like the sound of my own voice. I’ve always had an interest in acting and have done some acting in school many many years ago. I checked out a few schools to see if i could fit a some voice over classes into my schedule. I came upon Elaine Clark’s school Voice One. I took an introductory class and it sparked my interest to sign up for what is called the core curriculum. So here I am after just finishing my second class called” By The Book” I’m hooked. Elaine is funny, smart, gives great direction and if you can be an active listener you will benefit greatly! Voice over classes at Voice One has helped add to my excitement in a career in voice overs. The school is conveniently located here in San Francisco and offers a variety of classes that can be taken at a slower speed or in fast track mode. The class size is with just the right amount of people so that you won’t feel left out and will get enough time with Elaine. That goes with all the instructors at Voice One. Can you tell that I am having a flipping great time? Like my mother always say although it was always about food; «Try it you’ll like it!». Can’t wait for more! Thanks Elaine and to all the fun people I’ve met and worked with in class!!! Michael Ritz. Voice over addict

If you’re reading this I suppose you’re interested in Voice Over schools… right? Well, thanks to my friend Michael I am able to leave some feedback for Elaine Clark of Voice ONe and of course You!
I have always been interested in arts of all kinds. It so happened that not only did I adore manipulating my voice, but I also received compliments on it! The next logical step was to take a class.
I started backwards taking a intermediate character class and then a core commercial class. WOW!!! is all I can say. The classes are intense, challenging, and a great deal of fun. The first day I started the character class I thought Elaine was speaking a different language. Quite frankly I think she was. But I caught on to the lingo of the biz and started stretching my mind, focus, and control. You definitely need to be Present, Focused, Relaxed, and Listening. Let Elaine direct you and trust me, she will.
Elaine Clark is a phenomenal teacher, director, and actor. She is as REAL as all get down! Unlike some other L.A. types. She knows the business and she gives great tips/​advice. Expect to be challenged because she will critique, cut through, repeat, and direct you to the finish of a script. Like it or not. You might even think she’s harsh at first, but you’ll get over it.
This is a defining experience in my life. Thank you Elaine for being YOU. Can’t wait to be stretched some more!!!