Voicetrax San Francisco

 

0

1

Ralph B.

Berkeley, CA

I wholeheartedly echo the opinions expressed by those extolling the virtues of Samantha, Shirley, Chuck, and all of the wonderful instructors at Voicetrax. I've been a student there since June 2006, attending on a definite "fast track" curriculum averaging 2-5 classes per month. During the 35+ classes I've taken, my experiences have been nothing short of amazing. The instructors are all extremely professional, work us hard, and manage to ensure we all have fun in the process. While I know this will lead to paid work as a voice actor, the value I've received goes well beyond playing characters or reading bad local retail copy with enthusiasm and passion - I've learned a lot about myself and who I am as a person. And that, like the ad says...is priceless.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

3

Lea G.

Sausalito, CA

Don't be fooled! That tiny studio with the hard chairs tucked inside the business plaza on Bridgeway is a first rate voiceover training facility.  
I've taken acting classes on both coasts and this is the real deal.  The impressive roster of working professionals teaching at Voicetrax is proof of the great reputation they've developed in this business.  

Now, now Yelper John.  There's never any parking at auditions either.  The search for parking in Sausalito (hint: check around the library) could be considered part of the training!  Also check out Golden Gate Transit.  Commuter bus #2 from SF stops right in front M-F.  You can return on the #80 after class. call 511 for hours or pick up a schedule right on the bus!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

9

Zinnia S.

Los Angeles, CA

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOICEOVER, I LEARNED AT VOICETRAX!!!  

(I really should make a bumper sticker or a button or something!)

I took my first class at Voicetrax in 1998 and I've been going back ever since.  Let me try to summarize what I think of Voicetrax based on the past ten years:

- Voicetrax offers the best variety and caliber of classes anywhere.  I've taken classes in NY and LA too...but nowhere else so consistently offers the breadth & depth of classes that Voicetrax does.  The teachers at Voicetrax are top-notch (most of the best teachers here in LA, I first met or heard of through Voicetrax), the content is up-to-date, and all your fellow students are there to learn & grow & play (whether they are there to become professional voiceover artists or just for fun).

- Samantha does not coddle you.  She will be honest with you when you're bombing and push you to do better.  Most of the other instructors are the same.  They're really cool people but they are not there to stroke your ego...they are there to improve your skills!

- Voicetrax is like family.  Whenever I go for classes, it's like a homecoming...I get a big hug & kiss from both Samantha & Shirley.  I get to say hi to people I've taken classes with before and meet new people I've never seen.  I've definitely made friends I'm in touch with outside of class...both students and teachers.  Whenever I call, Shirley & Chuck always know who I am.  (Before Chuck it was Johnnie and way back when it was Irene...and maybe there was someone in between Irene and Johnnie that I'm forgetting...but the point is, I always felt like they took good care of me and answered all my questions.)  

- It's true that classes fill up FAST but the only times I haven't gotten classes I wanted is when I'm too lazy and slow to sign up for them in a timely fashion.  Even then, they always do their best to at least get me on the waitlist for the ones I want the most...and amazingly enough, I often end up getting the class because other people drop out!  Samantha's "dots" (suggestions for classes) and notes on the registration form are always hand-written, personal & specific to me.  And I know from first-hand experience that Sam is always open to feedback from students about classes & teachers and she makes adjustments accordingly.  Sam has also called me or emailed me directly when I had questions for her in particular.

- Yes, the classroom can get hot & stuffy with a full class of people.  And maybe the chairs aren't upholstered.  And they don't have water there anymore.  But you know what?  For one thing, 12 or 13 people in a class is actually a really good student-teacher ratio.  (If you really want more space, you can always sign up for private sessions or smaller group lessons with only 4-6 people.)  The other thing is - we're all adults, right?  You can bring a water bottle and a back pillow for yourself if you need it.  You can even bring food to heat up in the microwave or coffee & snacks to share with your classmates.  And nobody says you have to stay rooted to your chair the entire time...get up, get a view of the booth, go outside and get some air & stretch...take care of yourself!  As long as you aren't being disruptive, I'm pretty sure nobody will mind.

- Maybe I'm just lucky but I don't remember ever having a class start late.  More often, I'll get there a little early and Sam's already started bringing people into the booth to work on copy.  And many times teachers will stay late or order lunch in so that people can hear more playback or so they can answer more questions or just because we're having such a great time!

- For me, Voicetrax classes are DEFINITELY worth the time & money I've spent over the years.  Otherwise I wouldn't keep going.  It was worth it when I started to make the drive from San Jose to Sausalito (sometimes 2-3 times a week) and it was worth it when I moved to Seattle to fly down for classes and it's STILL worth it to me now to drive or fly from LA when I want to take a class at Voicetrax.

BOTTOM LINE:  I have been living and working in LA as a voiceover actor for the past three years now and Voicetrax is where I learned everything I needed to know to get a rock-solid start in the business.  And it's still where I go to learn more from the best of the best.  

***I do not work for Voicetrax now nor have I ever, I'm simply a VERY SATISFIED student.***

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

10

Matt M.

San Francisco, CA

I've been taking classes intensively at Voicetrax for almost 2 years now.  I'm very happy with the education I've been receiving, and it's about time I let those interested in pursuing voice-over know what an excellent school it is!

The classes there do cost a sizable amount money, but I realized a while back that schooling there costs the same amount that schooling for any grad school would have cost me.  In fact, I probably saved money because so many grad schools had pre-req's that I'd have to take before I could even enroll.  Enrollment at Voicetrax didn't require me to have any previous voice-over or acting experience, which was extremely lucky for me.  I'm also lucky that the school is so close to San Francisco (just over the Golden Gate!).  Four dollars for toll really seems like nothing when I compare the thousands of dollars my friends have spent moving to top-notch grad schools on the East Coast.  And parking is always plentiful, and I never have to pay for it.  Bonus!

You know what makes Voicetrax great?  Samantha brings in the best teachers from all specialized areas of voice-over.  If you missed it, let me say this again---she brings in TEACHERS.  They aren't just well-knowns in the VO industry, but Samantha has made sure that these people have the experience and skill set to teach clearly and concisely in a classroom setting, which is so important.  In all my other years of schooling, I've found that not all teachers are really, true teachers.

I also love that Samantha gives me an evaluation at the end of each semester to let me know where I stand and what she expects of me for the next semester in order to keep progressing.  She writes these evaluations for each of her students.  It's really cool to know she takes the time and care to review each of us individually.

The staff who run the front office (as well as multiple tasks behind-the-scenes) have always been kind to me, and they run the place like a well-oiled machine.  Shirley is a sweetheart, and Chuck is the man!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

4

David J.

San Francisco, CA

I have been taking classes at Voicetrax for about 15 months now.  I have to say I am LOVING IT!  I felt compelled to share my experience and help people find this wonderful school!!  I truly believe that what you put into it you will get out of it.  Hard work is involved but wow, is it ever rewarding!  

I started looking at Voice Over because I felt I had become too old to ever pursue any kind of acting career today and I always loved the idea of doing commercials or animation characters or even video games.  I am a computer tech guy who really would love to branch out and become creative!  

I have heard old stories about "talent" agencies that would love to take your money, so  I was naturally cautious.  Was this just a scam?   I mean I do know that any kind of school is something that needs money to make its living, but just what would I get out of it if I invested in it?  

My first class made me feel very welcome.  I was loving it! Everyone in this class was having a good time and it was just amazing at how well the intimate environment provided allowed us to drop our guard and just have fun!  I am surprised but I am still in contact with some of these fellow students yet today 

I am a person who wants it ALL and NOW.  However Sam had said one thing that resonated with me, you have to put something into your effort in order to get something out of it.  How true that is with anything in life!  So I gambled and signed up for a few more classes.  I worried the cost might be too much. I had to decide: did I want quibble and try to get free handouts and only dabble into this new world? OR did I want to invest in my future? In the end I was able to pace it out and budget myself to my needs.

My fears that this was a quick flash in the pan looking to just take my money, quickly eroded away.  Right away I saw that the teachers were all very qualified and even more, WORKING in their field, as well as casting agents and voice directors both from the Bay Area AND Los Angeles!  What became apparent, is how well Sam was respected in this community and how well connected she was.  She truly has her students interests at heart.  She wants you to shine, but she wants you to work hard.

The curriculum covers all kinds of areas in the world of Voice Over.  From commercials to narration to video games, to animation. Plus things I had never even considered..  Heck I even had a class from the guy who is the current voice of Porky Pig!

The teachers vary in there approach. You can find many varieties that work for you. I really liked that.  All of teachers also had great insight to the process of getting you to stretch and open up as a voice actor.  

You learn to find your voice.  You learn how to use it. It's a great journey, and its fun.  I can't stress it enough. If you are serious about your desire to work in the industry, and you want to be serious about building up your skills,  then you make a commitment.  These people are committed to what they do and they know the business. Every agent and director I have met, knows VoiceTrax and holds them in high esteem.  I am truly impressed!

Yes there were periods of time I doubted myself, and wondered if what I was doing was worth it.  Yes I wondered if I could afford to take these classes.  Parking? While areas you have to watch the meter, just a few blocks away you can find it fairly easy. At night? All of Bridgeway is meter free, and always has spaces. Far easier than downtown San Francisco at any time of the day.

In the end? I found I loved the people. The instructors were incredible, relevant and CURRENT.  How could I NOT afford this?  Do I think this is the only school you can learn from?  Of course not!  Diversity is a good thing.  Though I have not found another place with this many different types of classes.   Do I think that this is a wonderful school and the right direction for my career?  Definitely.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

4

Evstathios G.

San Rafael, CA

So negative reviewers now openly declare how arbitrary they are about the whole rating process.  Well.  There we are.  

The reviews which "resonate" with me are the ones based on something more than two classes or a coffee machine. We've had palaver about a "real world context"; now how about some real world RESULTS?

After a year and a half of study at Voicetrax, I was given two opportunities to audition in Los Angeles. A few months after that, I had a demo. Shortly after that, Voicetrax helped me get signed with Stars, with whom I booked my very first audition. Very shortly after that, I booked fifteen gigs in my first full year of auditioning in the Bay Area.

By the way, the highest-paying one - $2,000 for 90 minutes of work - was booked without an audition, purely on the strength of the demo Samantha Paris directed and produced for me at Voicetrax. And I wouldn't have achieved any of this with ANYONE ELSE.

Forget me.  Watch the movie "Scream" for a real Voicetrax success story. Watch the HBO series "Carnivale" for yet another.

Cold, hard facts.  Ain't nothing any detractor can do about it.

How about the student who would have given up if Samantha hadn't refused to give up on him - if you watch NBC or MSNBC, you'll hear him doing around 70 percent of the promotional voice over on all the upcoming features on each network.

How about the student who had to spend a year just getting her Brailling up to a speed that would sustain voice over? You can count a regular role as one of "The Rugrats" among this student's many accomplishments.

THAT is what Samantha means when she says she wouldn't presume to discourage anyone in the pursuit of voice acting. She's nurtured far too many determined students, overcoming physical and emotional obstacles on their way to meaningful voice over careers, to say otherwise.

That's why this whole notion of voice over coaches evaluating people they've never worked with, and judging them capable or not, comes from a position of profound ignorance. The cynicism brandished in this thread fancies itself wise, but each successive negative review betrays how clueless it is in the end.

Another example: harping on the size of the studios, which actually works to a specific purpose - it's plain, here, who know not whereof they speak on voice over.  William Morris and SBV are 2 of the largest voice talent agencies in Los Angeles; how much room do you think you get to breathe and ground yourself in their lobbies? I've been there (decidedly out of Marin, thanks) and I can tell you those lobbies and green rooms are even more "claustrophobic", and the booths are around half the size of the ones at Voicetrax.

True, at Voicetrax, you needn't take an elevator back down 10 or 12 flights to go outside and work on your copy. Otherwise, welcome to the real world of voice over.  After Voicetrax, you're prepared.

And for someone who hasn't taken the classes, I've found that Shirley does more than an excellent job answering questions about them; she also provides you with a keen litmus test.  Her dander does not rise lightly, and if you somehow rouse her impatience, you're likely behaving in a way that would infuriate producers, directors, and advertising clients down the road.

Never mind damning Voicetrax for its chairs and all the peripheral (and infrequent) factors out of its control. Forget any "suspicious" conjecture about how quickly the classes fill. We'll even set aside writing Voicetrax entirely off over one introductory seminar, on the most specious and contrived of grounds.

Let's revisit the exercises in that first lecture, which I've seen a few times. Samantha clearly explains that they're meant to do more than "titillate". They're highly efficient, direct, and vivid introductions to the predominately right-brained process of professional voice acting.   Those who'd pass judgment on total strangers for having the good sense to understand and enjoy these exercises speak for themselves.

I think most Yelpers can see the trend here: the "consistently negative" reviews, especially the cattiness and vitriol, come from those who didn't  hear what they wanted to in at MOST, "many months". Those who have stuck with the program, over the time Sam states right up front that you'll need, have a markedly different take. What does that tell you?  

Students elsewhere talk about running into each other at auditions, and that's great.

Voicetrax Students run into each other at JOBS.  Kelly Moore Paint Stores and Shea Homes radio campaigns, Farm Vet and Pet Pals video games; Voicetrax reunion parties, all, in the last six months.  Academies ARE as academies DO.

So if you have an unquenchable desire to pursue voice over, the determination and discipline to go with it, at least enough self-possession not to demand constant coddling - and you crave a fighting chance at some REAL voice over dividends - then Voicetrax is likely the ONLY training ACADEMY for you.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

3

Arianna Z.

Palo Alto, CA

I took 2 classes at Voicetrax. Sorry to be a bubble burster but the space was CLAUSTROPHOBIC and that does matter to me. Being creative is not being intellectual where you only need a desk and chalk board. You need to be able to breathe, to move, to ground yourself before you act.

I have a performing arts background and my friends kept telling me you have a great voice. I've taken performing arts classes in NYC, Chicago (my hometown), and even Canada and this was by far the smallest room I ever sat in. I agree with the Yelper below, it constricts your sense of creativity. The booth is one thing because you are in there a short time but I just remember being in this small room packed with people. We stood around doing exercises singing out loud while running into one another.  I kept thinking why did they put so many people into this room?

I think the person who described Voicetrax as an "academy" needs to get outside of Marin.  An academy is 'an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.' When I think of an academy I think of Yale Drama or Julliard. Not a small room and a sound booth.

I'm new to Yelp but I have read a lot about businesses and restaurants for recs I get the feeling that when reviews are consistently bad, people who work for these places will post positive reviews and I kinda feel like that's what's going on here.  If you work for a business that you are reviewing then you should say so.

I was going to give 2 stars but when I read the positive reviews telling me how world-renowned and exceptional it was I changed it to 1 star. Hyperbole will get us nowhere people.

Good luck Yelpers!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

Annie S.

San Mateo, CA

On a frustrated whim, I Googled Voicetrax Sausalito and found these Yelp reviews.  I concur on all counts. My first comment will begin with the common Yelp line:

DO NOT EAT HERE.

In fact, do not come here for serious voice study unless you don't care about money or the value of your time.

I have taken 4 classes at Voicetrax.  Of those four classes, two of them started LATE.  When I say late I don't mean 5-10 or even 15 minutes late. I mean 30-40 minutes late.  It happened TWICE.

I couldn't believe it.  We sat outside waiting and waiting and waiting.  The worst part was that in each case, the instructor did not have a phone number to Voicetrax Management to call.  In other words, VOICETRAX IS HIGHLY DISORGANIZED.  Don't you think if an instructor is flying up from LA or whatever should have a way to get into the school or have someone there to meet them?

We got a few apologies when the engineer (who had the keys) showed up.  So again, the instructors do not have access into the studios and they could not even properly schedule their staff to make sure someone was there to let us in.  Because the classes are always full, every minute counts.  In a 3 hour class, 30-40 minutes is a significant chunk of time. We never made that time up.  The thing is, at a "professional school" the word "professional" tells the public: WE ARE READY, WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE AND WE ARE HERE TO TEACH YOU."  

Making students wait 30 minutes in confusion ("I wonder if anyone is going to show up?"  "Do they know we are here?"  "Who should we call?") and then not even having the decency to offer to make the time up is in a word: disgraceful.  It will take an additional 10 minutes of small talk while the students file in, find their seats etc. and the instructor finally sets up which suddenly extends a late start to 40-45 min.  The reason I am describing these examples in detail is because it says a lot about how the school is run, the fact that they cannot anticipate such simple considerations or plan accordingly.

I would not be writing this review if the other ones did not resonate with me.  I was furious the SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED.

By the way, the engineer (a teenager about 17 years old actually) had an excuse: "I forgot".  

Another point I want to make is that I researched into other voice schools and limited my searches to schools in "San Francisco".  Voicetrax is the first school to come up in this search.  The school has a website with lots of name-dropping and self-promotion by owner, Samantha Paris, which at first blush is impressive.  

What is misleading is that VOICETRAX IS IN SAUSALITO, NOT SAN FRANCISCO AS ADVERTISED.  This is a very hokey way to pull in business.  It may be a small thing, after all, how nice is Sausalito but the fact remains that they are NOT in San Francisco, they are across the bridge in Marin.  More gas and another $5 to your commute.

I have spent approx. $1,500 for 4 courses of which I lost 1 hour of instruction because they began late.  The rate works to about $37 per hour of class.  Based on my searches, this is expensive. Most classes (voice, acting, performance) will give you on average 30 hours for less. In other words, at Voicetrax classes are $370 each (and going up).  Weekend classes work like this: Friday evening 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. then Saturday from 9-4 (with 1 hour lunch) or about 9 hours. Weekday classes meet over the course of 4 weeks for 3 hours per class (+ breaks).

My reasoning and most people's reasoning would be: Samantha Paris is an expert so $37 per hour (remember you share this time with at least 11 other students) so it will be worth it.  You get what you pay for.  But based on my experience with Voicetrax San Francisco (located in Sausalito) it is not worth the money.  I would rather take less expensive voice classes in San Francisco where they presumably do not start late and respect your time.  I was very disappointed with Voicetrax and the way the owner runs her business.  They really behave in an unaccountable way.  

It also bears repeating that the school is 2 rooms and the front office. The classrooms are cramped and uncomfortable.

I was shocked when I first went there but I talked myself out of that too (who cares if you are learning from the best, right? - Wrong) the space feels confined, does not allow creativity to flow.

For the money you spend you would be better off finding another school. There are other professionally trained voiceover teachers who also work in the industry and do not charge as much or treat students with the same disdain.  If you read Samantha's marketing materials you easily become convinced that she is the only person between L.A. and New York who is as qualified and well connected as she is to teach but it simply is not true.  I wouldn't be here if it were.  

I cannot in good conscience recommend Voicetrax.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

5

Aileen C.

Burlingame, CA

The first thing that caught my eye was that it was an academy.  An academy.  

This is an academy that has opened their doors to plenty of the bay area's voiceover talents.  

Had Samantha not been so open to accepting students of all kinds....and I mean ALL KINDS, I may not be the working talent that I am today.  

I have taken classes elsewhere in the bay area and even in LA, but Voicetrax is where I laid down the foundation to my second career.  

The instructors are world class, the staff is dedicated to the students, and the students support each other.

It may not be for everyone.  How could it?  Classes are not cheap.  I graduated from Cal and that was not cheap.  I found the investment was worth it.  It is like that song..."you never count your money when you're sittin at the table."  Well don't start counting until you actually make some.... and that might take awhile, even if you do think you are the $hi!.  

What I like above everything else is that most of the students are there to learn, try, fail, improve, and have fun.  Most egos are left outside the door.... most.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

2

John S.

San Anselmo, CA

I decided to train for a new career in voice acting about 2 years ago.  I went slowly; reading books at first, buying some cheap equipment and experimenting. Then I set about finding a place to study.  Here in SF, there are a few places you can train in this field, but really only two that focus on voice acting exclusively. With this in mind, I attended the introductory class at each school.  

When I attended the class at the first school, VoiceOne, I was energized.  I was given a lot of the information I had already gleaned from some books I had read, including the book by the woman who runs the school.  But she also put a lot of things in a real world perspective - what is the job market like, how do you train, what to realistically expect. During her class, there was a torrent of noise from one of the other tenants in the industrial building that the school is housed in. The instructor acknowledged the noise, joked about it and told us its source, and that she had personally spoken with the company doing the work.  She did her best to be honest and to take into consideration the needs and even distractions of her audience.

Next I went to Voicetrax.  The first problem I encountered was parking.  Not that parking in downtown SF is easy, but with some patience you can usually find a cheap or free place to put your car. No so in Sausalito where, despite the fact that the city thrives on tourism, parking is hideous. Once I got to the class, I was not charmed by the lady working there (who I later found out to be the owner's mother). She was not helpful and seemed only to be there as a clerk, and not very organized at that. It took her a while to find my registration, which I sent in by mail weeks before.  Went I finally was allowed entrance to the room, I had to sit in the back on the previously mentioned hard chairs and really had to crane my neck to see or hear during the class.

As soon as Samantha showed up, some loud, rhythmic, mechanical banging started. Samantha never acknowledged it and it did not cease during the class. By the time she gave everyone a break (to feed their parking meters) I had a headache. I was astonished that a school that depends on studio conditions would not address this issue.

Samantha also gave a lot of the same information that I had read before, but in her case she did not give real world context.  She said plainly that she would never discourage anyone from training at the school, even if they were bad. Her words were, "Some people get this in 12 months, some people get it in 5 years. I am not here to tell you to quit." Not that I think the folks at VoiceOne want to discourage students either, but to have the instructor basically tell you that she was really only interested in students and not in creating voice actors was very telling.

By the time I was done with the class I felt as if I had been in the room for hours.  She did walk us through some exercises, which I thought were not very helpful because I wasn't there to be stroked or titillated but to gather information. However, many of the other students seemed to be there just for that reason.  Many of them were fellow Marin-ites who seemed to be there on a lark, or as a diversion - like a pottery class.  It made me uncomfortable to think I would have to deal with both unprofessional students and an instructor who did not inspire confidence. Overall, I was not impressed by my experience and I subsequently enrolled at VoiceOne.

That being said, she does have an impressive lineup of instructors and a wide variety of classes.  She is well respected (to my knowledge) in the VO community and I have met students who train at both schools and have had great things to say about VoiceTrax.  If it weren't for the ridiculous parking problems, I would probably give one of the other instructors a chance. But I am not foolish enough to think that I could find parking easily or cheaply on a Friday night in Sausalito. That's crazy talk.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

2

Angela N.

Rodeo, CA

Howdy fellow Yelpers,

First I would like to state I am not an employee of Voicetrax, I have not been paid or given any quid pro quo for any comments.  Also any comments I make may not be the opinions of the staff, company or other students.
Simply enough I LOVE VOICETRAX.  
-I have been training here since 2004, yes- I have spent a small fortunate in class and I feel I have had the comprehensive learning experience vs. a small luxury automobile.
-I have not taken classes at VoiceOne.  Therefore, I can't speak to that experience.
-Classes are challenging, teachers are not here to hold your hand-they have your best interests at heart.  You get real-world experience in auditioning, directing yourself and script analysis just to name a few classes.  The guest directors and instructors have been incredible.  
-Numerous students have gone on to become huge successes in the industry and for me I have found my passion.  At nearly 40 I have finally found what I want to be when I grow up.
-Fellow students and staff are warm, welcoming and encouraging.  Shirley does not suffer fools gladly.  
-I didn't sign up for classes based on parking, coffee or any other superfluous reasons.  I signed up because VOICETRAX was the only VO company to actually call me back and show interest in making me their student.  Voice One and Voice Factory never have returned my calls from 2004.  I have stayed at VOICETRAX because I have loved my learning experience there.
-Parking sucks everywhere this is the bay area.  I don't expect that they will be any better in SF or LA when I go for gigs.
-Am not signed yet, but I do have a demo and I have had several auditions and gigs from my basic home studio.
-As far as feed back goes, I know of several occasions that myself and other students have email Sam at the main Voicetrax email and she has personally responded.  She is very conscientious of her students and their learning experience.  At no time have I ever felt she wasn't open to feedback.  Everyone of the staff gets our feedback.  The Good, Bad and Ugly.
Thanks for reading.
Angie Noble

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

1

2

nicki r.

San Francisco, CA

Have one of those voices where people say, "You should do voice overs?" Well, if you want to explore that part of yourself, check out Voicetrax San Francisco. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head over to the ethereal land called Sausalito. Samantha Paris  is a seasoned professional who will coach you with tough love and dedication,and get to the nitty gritty.   She recruits teachers from L.A. and beyond, all consummate professionals. I have been taking classes at Voicetrax since 1996 and am now a working actor. The tools I continue to learn in this supportive environment have been priceless... "Selection Not Rejection" is advice that has helped me endlessly!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

0

1

Alan L.

Ross, CA

They give the impression that they just don't care. Voicetrax is the self-proclaimed varsity school of voiceover finishing 1st overall in the nation according to its brochure. Sadly, this was not my experience. After commiserating with fellow students over the course of many months & the handing over of many a greenback, it occurred to me that we were not in fact learning the art of voiceover nearly as quickly as spending thousands of dollars clamoring to get into programmes that for some very odd reason seemed to fill up within hours of their anticipated release. The school operates on a 2-semester system. Students are mailed out the schedule & are expected to fax or fly over their registrations with a hefty deposit within days before the classes fill up. Classes are recommended to you by the owner Samantha Paris.  She highlights between 10-14 classes that she believes you should take.  Then it is up to you to see how much you can afford to take in a matter of speaking. Many people come to this school from very far indeed. Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Jose, Pelaluma, Napa, Fremont.  The list goes on & on.  Driving in for a 3-hour class in a very small room (15x10) with uncomfortable plastic chairs -- hard on those with back issues (never mind the cost in gas, hours of downtime commuting).  No beverages await you when you arrive (odd for a voice class not to provide bottled water), only a Mr. Coffee that is so damaged & old it is embarrassing.  Classes are always filled to the gills, which means that 12 people are all vying to shove themselves into the 'booth' first, taking turns performing for the next three hours. That is not much booth time. There is not nearly as much training & instruction as one would hope. Instead there is 'direction'. The instructor tells each student to slow down.  More this, less that for an entire evening.  Student's average time in the booth in one evening is probably 15-20 minutes.  Perhaps this would not be such a bad thing if it weren't for the fact that there are only 4 classes meeting once a week or the weekend seminars that is one evening & one full day to the tune of $370 (10 hours for a class) or $380 if Samantha is teaching. Everyone says the same thing, it will take you about 2 years of study.  This is a family business with her mother Shirley running the front office. Another concern: The school does NOT solicit feedback from students.  I have never been to a professional school or attended a course that did not provide some sort of evaluation form for students to evaluate the instructor, their experience or communicate any concerns. Because Voicetrax does not solicit student feedback, it sends the message that there is no room for improvement on their part & student opinions & their experience does not matter. As far as feedback to students, Samantha tells students that she is watching each student progress & has a sense of where everyone is. However, there are hundreds of students at any one time.  The only feedback she does provide is a few handwritten lines of her thoughts on your registration sheet that she writes on the margins of the paper! Mine were typically in 3-line fashion about 'great work' & 'keep it up.' Nothing about my voice, my technique, how long I needed or any specificity about the area of work to pursue.  My personal feeling is the people at Voicetrax may not appreciate the difficulties, expense & sacrifices people endure to attend the school.  There is no mentoring & the administration of the school is indifferent to concerns unless you are reading your credit card number over the phone. Basically, I just don't feel like they care.  Furthermore, the school is so small & is structured in such a way that is very difficult to get any useful information on classes or anything for that matter. Samantha is only available for private meetings ($$$ hourly) & Shirley doesn't know anything about the classes. Asking her a Q is truly unpleasant. She seems inconvenienced & lets you know it. She has no patience for students & calls on her fall back position 'you will have to ask Sam'.  Unfortunately, Samantha does not have any office hours.  She does not have an office there. She does not provide a phone number, she does not have her own voicemail at Voicetrax nor does she even provide an email address to students!  You cannot communicate with her unless you are willing to pay.  Another pet peeve is Shirley often waits weeks before processing payments which is a nuisance. Classes have actually been cancelled if one of Sam's dogs took ill and a last minute substitute could not be found. Never mind the family time & appointments students cancel in order to attend class. We all have stars in our eyes. BUT BEFORE YOU SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, HOURS OF TIME COMMUTING & REDIRECTING PRECIOUS RESOURCES, MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL HAS YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. Voicetrax falls short. Hope this was helpful. Just being honest.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review