Private in person

Interested in booking your 1st appointment to get your current demo professionally reviewed and/or ready to begin the coursework of learning and advancing towards a top market demo and launching a moneymaking VO career with voice over teacher Nancy Wolfson?

If you live in L.A. and wish to pursue this via IN PERSON training with Nancy, then read on ⟶

If you do not live in L.A. and wish to pursue this via PHONERS, please click HERE

Private Appointments are per fifty minute session:

• Base rate if paying via cash/check is $190 USD
• Paypal when sending USD from within the US is $190 USD

• Paypal when sending USD from outside the US is $190 USD

Coaching times are on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Non-weekday appointments are available every other Saturday. These Saturday slots tend to book up far in advance.

All appointments are scheduled VIA EMAIL, NOT VIA PHONE.

We are in back-to-back appointments with folks throughout the day and locked in the recording studio, and as such, email is often the only way for us to communicate all the details, set appointments, field cancellations, etc.

Are you an eager and diligent student looking to get lessons more frequently?

For Private

↓ Please read ↓

Notes from Nancy

What you are about to read will explain a ton, save us time, and will include some free advice. It’s a lotta info….

I don’t want to overwhelm you and we don’t book more than 1 consult at a time. This will provide a sense of what the process will look like should we elect to go the distance with me as your Personal Trainer, and probable Inside Access Point Person to a TON of new VO Casting that I’m doing on line and in person to help cast my students via agents all over the world.

I work with tons of working pros, beginners, and everyone in between with refining their VO skills and ascertaining personal branding. As the only former Agent out there teaching this material, the only one who has also written, produced, and cast thousands of projects, this course of study offers uniquely tailored advice on the particular likes and dislikes, needs and tools required by the professionals you’re soon to be pursuing for job access (Agents, Producers, Casting, casting thru me, yadda yadda.)

Because the days of needing to have some kind of special VOICE (deep/raspy/sexy/ bold/sunny) are gone, because ad agencies are really looking for any and every kind of sound out there that can connect with the consumer, I firmly believe that anyone who has enough acting skills under their belt to tout a marketing tool called a “head shot,” or any singer out there with the skills to be pursuing work in that area, ought to also have the VO skills and marketing tool called a Voice Over Demo. Voice Over is simply another arena in which you folks can get a job, so you ought to have the skills and the tool just in case the opportunity comes up for you by default or design. Who knows – VO could wind up becoming a big piece of your acting income’s pie chart – maybe it will only prove profitable in bits and pieces…but it is wise to have it in your acting bag of tricks.

And if you’re not coming from an acting background, DON’T FRET. This stuff is TOTALLY TEACHABLE.

I teach the acting that is necessary to service advertising, help you folks recognize the patterns in which ad copy is written (kinda like the Stanley Kaplan approach to VO), and — perhaps most importantly — help you better understand how casting directors and agents perceive your personal style.

By the way – this is not one of those VO classes that offers acting exercises to people who already know how to act.

Because I currently do a ton of casting with agents here and in other markets, because I used to be an agent and department head myself, I know and experience every day how much MORE there is to booking these auditions than just good solid acting.

I believe I am now one of the only coaches in town who can give my students access to current auditions even if they have not yet procured VO representation – this is pretty cool – very new – and loads of fun.

These days, a VO talent MUST learn how to work their own HOME EQUIPMENT, how to direct yourself on your own auditions that I will help you procure from your own home system, how to work mic technique, how to market yourself…all of that and so much more.

The acting is an important foundation, and if you need help in that arena, I can get you where you need to be quickly on that matter. But there is so so much more for us to work on beyond acting if you are to make the money at this that is totally out there for the taking in a way that has never been possible before.

Once we are confident your audition skills are competitive and I have a very specific take on your brand, I will produce/direct a demo that reflects these skills & unique style ($1,900.) I will also help you “brand” the graphic packaging/web design (prices vary depending on project size.)

Nobody (not even I) can tell whether or not you are a “natural” until we find out how well you interpret copy.

That takes more than a few privates, and certainly more than a brief conversation.

And if it turns out to be harder than you had guessed (maybe it will, maybe it won’t), I can teach you the skills that will help you get your performances where they need to be.

It would be irresponsible to guess in advance just how many privates it will take someone to learn the skills – my curriculum is 15 chapters long, so the average person needs about 15 privates before they are prepared to have me make them a demo.

(That said, on occasion, some rare talents fly through my 15 chapter curriculum in many fewer than 15+ lessons. As it is impossible to determine the rate at which a person will learn, I do not commit people to pre-determined packs of privates in advance. One lesson at a time.)

You have to trust that I will get you to your goal as expediently as possible – it serves us both to work hard and fast and yet we both must be patient with whatever pace your particular learning process requires.

After demo production, there is at least one necessary post-demo private wherein I advise you on how to proceed with submitting to agents, provide an inside list of agents to whom you ought to submit, tailor your letters to those agents, discuss artwork branding, etc.

Beyond that, most folks come in either once every other week at the most or once every six weeks at the least to keep their chops up until/during/after work opportunities start to come around. As I mentioned, I become a bit of a career coach in this endeavor, so it is wise to check in every now and then for an update as the business changes constantly and I get new casting opportunities in now REGULARLY.

This audio portrait we paint of you is an important one, and it must be done properly so to last you for as long as a couple of years. You must have a finished presentation on yourself (that means artwork, website) in order to pursue representation properly and competitively, and if you are already repped by an agent and somehow got that representation without having presented them with a demo CD/web site, you will have to have one produced for you eventually. Everyone must have one – even celebrities – as the CD is a critical tool used by the agents to procure work for you, introduce you to casting people, etc.

The goal is to help agents and buyers see what is unique about your personal style (beyond your pitch, beyond natural dialect) so they can know what you are likeliest to book, thus helping you help them help you, etc.

Making money in this area of performance is more determined by one’s ability to interpret copy than by the genetic sound of the voice.

And speaking of making money: I have some major casting avenues that allow me to put real auditions in front of many people who have gone thru the full course of study with me into demo, which is great (more on that when we chat.)

Every week, my students book commercial work from auditions I sent to them from various sources. I even cast 26 characters for an animated series, and most of the roles went to my students!

Turning that genetic gift into something that makes you money is all about learning how to think like the folks at the ad agency are thinking, break down ad strategy, and ultimately, with solid acting skills, provide an audition that shows you can be of service to their needs.

That is what we do in here – learn the patterns of how these ad agency writers think. Well, that plus everything I said about branding, plus learning the business of the business, protocol, etc.

I am typically booked up about 3 weeks in advance; emailing a request for a time slot well in advance is advised.

Also let me know if you were interested in being put on the Wait List – many cancellations crop up each week that afford eager and available people to get in much earlier than we might anticipate!

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Zeke Hardman

After you have launched your private study with Nancy, she might determine you would benefit from doing a batch of your Braintracks coursework lessons with our in-house acting specialist, ZEKE HARDMAN. Zeke is a full-time voice actor and only the second person ever chosen to be mentored by Nancy to teach here. Growing up the son of two professors, Zeke was raised to be a lifelong student. He double-majored in Political Science and Spanish, earning his BA from Ohio University. He went from coaching youth soccer to teaching English in China to acting to teaching VoiceOver for Nancy at Braintracksaudio.com.

 So – now that you know how it works,

contact us to get a time slot and we will get you started.

Testimonials

Thank you so much for the note and the encouraging words! It really means a lot and definitely made my day 🙂

I knew when I saw you speak on the panel at SOVAS that you were the right teacher for me, and I am so, so thankful that I followed through on that hunch. I appreciate your no-nonsense pragmatic approach to getting booked, your clear curriculum, and most importantly your directness in giving feedback. The most important thing to me in a teacher or a coach is that, while being supportive, they have no qualms telling you with specificity and clarity what you need to do to do better. Nothing worse than a teacher who says of every read, “Ok, that was pretty good,” and then just moves on – what can you learn from that? You have always been specific and clear and engaged with my lessons and I am so much better for it. Thank you!

Erica Maity

Hey Nancy, dropping a quick email to say, “Thank You!”
I can totally say your training won me a job.
I removed myself from being the Announcer.
I got the job as the Voice for a Housing Company and then I got a “regional perpetuity.” Whoop! Whoop!
Their words were, “everyone else sounded too announcery”.
This right here is what all the hard work is for. And I know we have only just begun.

Daya Ottley

Aw thanks so much! I love that you love it!! 

I heard your voice in my head when I was working on it. 🙂

It’s a union job and even though it’s regional and I really didn’t expect the money to be huge, the first check basically paid for my VO studies with you. I have spent $7420.79 on studies and the gross from this check was $7364.10. It’s almost to the penny!

Isn’t that nuts? And then I did two more spots yesterday and that income will surpass my investment AND get me over the hurdle qualifying us for another year of insurance. The creative director at the agency said he wants me to be the voice of their three properties.

The synchronicity of it all has me kind of reeling. It’s so wild how the universe helps sometimes!

I’m very happy and relieved today…!!

Thank you. So. Much.

Xoxxhp

I have booked 4 gigs in the last 2 weeks including:

2 National TV spots, 1 Regional spot and my first major Video Game title!!!!

My goal was to get my first multi platform (PC, PS, Xbox) release and without saying too much I just finished voicing 2 lead characters!

Needless to say, thank you for the compass you have brought to my in studio work.

Jared Boucher

netflixSo…guess who is the new narrator for Season 2 of The Movies That Made Us on Netflix! Yes, Me!!!! I’ve been wanting to tell you since I booked it but didn’t want to jinx anything until I recorded the 1st episode, which we did yesterday. 11 more to go! I really want thank you for your amazing tutelage and guidance. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without your techniques and tricks! And on top of that, I got a new eLearning client who booked me because “you sounded really conversational and relaxed and that’s what we were looking for “. That definitely wouldn’t have happened without your help! So thank you and I hope you can feel the love!!

Phe Caplan

Nancy, I want to tell you how much I’ve valued our working relationship. My business is adult learning, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed experiencing “beginner’s mind” under your masterful guidance. As I’m sure you hear again and again, as an instructor you offer a rare combination of rigor, depth, precision, and experience that creates the most inspiring tension between security and “get off your ass!” accountability. In my experience, it’s a pretty unusual combination, and I’ve felt very fortunate to have run into it—and you. Many, many thanks!

Peter Norlin

You really are like some kind of Voice Over savant. And I mean that in a good way, a great way.  It is truly amazing how your brain works – you are wired to “see the code” in the system.

Charlie Shanian

It’s my favourite day of the week! Just finished a booking I got right off my new demo. Now it’s time to prepare for my voice over lesson with Nancy. Success comes from working with the best and doing the hard work. Check out Braintracksaudio.com Nancy has made all the difference in helping me reach my goals.

David Cannon

Nancy, I just booked my second gig in as many weeks from the demo you produced for me – no audition necessary. You rock!! This investment just keeps paying me back. Thanks.

Randy Schell

Am I proud [the buyer] hired my audition over a bunch of others? Um, yeah. But the truth is, most of the attention I get does not come from my auditions but from my demos.
The ones you produced. People hear them and contact me directly.
Glad I found you.

Jonathan Lockwood

Just wanted to share the good news, and props out to my fave coach, Nancy Wolfson. We just BOOKED the most prized of all the auditions I’ve received in a VERY long time. Next week I’ll be recording as the “king around the forus”… SO psyched!

Paul Bellantoni

Hi Nancy, just hearing back from you helped calm me down a bit. I went in & did two radio spots for McDonald’s (Midwest regions of course ;-). Anyway, I had fun, used my training & believe it or not felt like a true professional – “nothing like Baptism by fire,” as they say.
I thought, “hey, I’ve done this before!” You are the best.

Clare Jacoby

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Shane (Daniel Hoff Agency) called me in this morning to read for four commercials and it went terrifically well. I was VERY prepared. Using your guidelines for marking copy and focusing on what the spots were all about, I rehearsed, but left myself open to take adjustments. Thanks again, Nancy, you’re the best.

Tom Katsis

Hi Nancy,
I submitted to Benztown recently and got a response today that said they liked my demos but didn’t have a spot for me right now. I responded thanking them and telling them I’d send my new demo when you were done producing it for me… Five minutes later I get a W9 and a rate sheet…”We don’t need to wait for your new demo. Let’s get started. “

So…. thanks for helping me with this end of the week win!!!!!!!

With great appreciation,

Jessica Taylor

Hi Nancy,
I was going to write to you and tell you I had to really limit my voicing after Avery was born because I got really sick, but that’s finally better so I’m working more now. Two weeks ago, I did a huge training job for BASF, and yesterday, a series of four commercials for Oregon Health Sciences University. I also was one of two finalists for a gig with Amazon. Though they went with the other voice, they liked my audition and may come back to me in the future. Your training pays for itself time and time again.
Thanks,

Cate

Briefly:
Interviewed with DB Talent Agency on Monday morning. She ran me through four or five pieces of copy, and I had the opportunity to use the techniques you coached me on Friday for a couple of them. Felt like that really landed, especially a PGA Tour piece she had zero notes for. She signed me. I got an agent!

See you Thursday!

Jason Maniccia