Funny Voices in Small Padded Rooms: The Madness of Voiceover by Todd Schick

Todd Schick

Mar 2022 · Todd Schick

About this ebook

There are "how to" books on voiceover or voice acting and then, there is this singular book on the truth of the voiceover business.

Superbly narrated with extensive sound design, Todd brings over three decades of knowledge and experience in voiceover to the table. Weaving stories of the voiceover industry and its history, Todd reveals the raw truth of the business in what can only be described as an aural sculpture.

In comparison to most eBook/audiobook offerings, this book is like no other; setting precedent for sonic entertainment within the audiobook/e-book realm

With the release of this book, Todd Schick throws down the gauntlet using the power of his voice and pen. Blending sound, comedy, drama and personal experiences, it boldly reveals the genuine, honest truth everyone should hear about the modern-day voiceover industry.

This book is simply a great listen - regardless of the subject matter. Whether you're just curious about voice acting, or have been in the voiceover/voice acting business for a long time, it is without question a trendsetter well worth purchase.

From the inventor of the modern-day voice talent business model, Todd Schick brings a cast of voices from many sources and colleagues (including his dog and parrot) to this rare, entertaining and incredibly informative publication on voiceover and voice acting; the first in an on-going series.

From the Author's Introduction:

"There is no such thing as the "bible" of voiceover or voice acting; to make that claim is to sell someone a dream.

Indeed, books on voiceover or voice acting are rarely narrated by the author, much less feature sound design.

Voiceover is an aural product; spoken words born from imagination, to communicate imagination. I could not in good conscience publish a book on voiceover without recording it; doing anything less would speak to the integrity of the content and author.

In my humble opinion, it's pointless to publish any book on voiceover and/or voice acting if the customer can't hear the product. That said, if you choose to purchase the e-book version of this publication, be sure to listen to it; you'll really be missing out by simply reading text."

Author's note: If you purchase the eBook and your reader doesn't support audio playback, be sure to download a desktop/tablet app to listen to the book.

Ratings and reviews

Todd was instrumental in getting me started in my voice acting career. He produced my demos, he built my first DAW and helped me set up my recording studio. Todd has a no bs approach to the voice acting industry that I find very refreshing. I’m sure many of his insights and opinions make lots of industry pros feel uncomfortable. That’s why when I saw Todd had published a book about the VO industry I didn’t hesitate to buy it. I finished it in two sittings. Great insights, and required reading.

I loved this book, it’s about my industry and nails it; the good, the bad and the parts of it people don’t tell you or don’t themselves understand about VO’s unique performance niche. Here it is and hype-free, one VO talent's trek from blanketed closet -beginnings to living the dream - recording plum gigs daily from sweet lakefront home studio. Who are these disembodied professional voice talent you hear all over the radio and tv and how did they get there? Is it a great voice, add an agent and fold in? Does a radio background help and is it easy to jump from radio or tv to VO? This book lays it all out - where to start, assessing your own vo bonafides, what you’d better have ready to really get going, the pitfalls every talent encounters and negotiating success and disappointment along the way. The book is hilarious, the audio and fx are masterfully wrought- making it an especially compelling and fun listen, all while delivering on the practical insights. If VO is something you’ve always been curious about, this book brings an honest introduction and sublime insider reveal. Though. if you already work in VO and once upon a time you found yourself sweltering in a tiny booth at a fancy downtown recording studio- headphones muted, 5 agency-types across the glass, discussing at length your last take on the end tag (or are they are weighing in on lunch options?) this is your book too, enjoy! Elynne Dale Owner The Big Fish Voice Company

Full disclosure: Todd and I have worked together for twenty years, or about half the time I've been in the business. I thought I knew him... boy, was I wrong. After completing "Funny Voices" in one sitting, I discovered (to my delight) that apart from being a pioneer in the online VO industry and one of the best talents I've had the pleasure of working with, he's also a damn good producer and storyteller! His thoroughly entertaining book/audiobook is a no holds barred dive into the world of voiceover. After you've experienced it, you'll either be: Heartbroken, Overwhelmed, or Insanely Motivated. What you won't be? Sorry that you bought this book. Ours is an industry that is as rich with reward as it is with disappointment. I can safely say that you'll avoid a fair amount of the latter after absorbing his wisdom.

About the author

There are few people in the world that have as much experience and knowledge in the world of voiceover as Todd Schick.

A pioneer and stalwart veteran of the VO industry, Todd Schick was the first to offer voiceover services on the internet in 1999. As such, he is credited with inventing the modern-day voiceover talent business model; an occupation that thousands around the world enjoy today.

A career spanning over three decades, Todd Schick has lent his voice to almost every format imaginable; thousands of radio and television commercials & promos, hundreds of television documentary programs, extensive animation work, imaging, e-learning and corporate projects. In addition to an extensive background in radio and television broadcasting, Todd is also an accomplished actor, bringing a plethora of skills to the microphone few in the industry can match.

Over the years, he has mentored many individuals on the craft of voiceover and the business, helping many realize their dreams and achieve their goals. Much of the content in this series of books leverages those experiences; "real life" subject matter that's non-existent in most voiceover related publications.

Todd was one of the first voice artists on the Internet back in the day when Yahoo! was in its infancy and generously shared a great deal of information on the subject of voiceover. As a result of his website's renowned reputation for providing relevant information on the art of voice-over, www.toddschick.com enjoys a Page #1 ranking under many search terms associated with voice talent and the VO Industry. Roundly regarded as one of the most comprehensive websites on the internet for voice talent, it boasts some 100+ pages of content related to the voiceover industry.

Today, Todd continues to run Todd Schick Productions Inc. from home, employing many voice talent to service an extensive client base. Still making those funny voices.....but now, in a larger padded room.