Here at Such A Voice, we bring together some pretty incredible professionals from all different parts of the world to provide our students with a top voice-over education. Our staff members have such a wide variety of backgrounds and unique personalities. From working VO actors starring in movies, video games, and national TV commercial campaigns, to producers spending their days working on voice-over demos as well as broadcast voice-over work, to copywriters, casting directors and many other industry skills in between! We genuinely love bringing our expertise and our experiences together to create the best programs for our students.
For this week’s spotlight in the series, we’d like to introduce you to one of our coaches, Mike Hanko.
SAV: Hey Mike! We’re thrilled to feature you today. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hanko: I am one of the more recent additions to the Such a Voice coaching staff, having started in February of this year. Coaching combines two things that I enjoy: voice and training/coaching.
SAV: You were a radio DJ back in the day, weren’t you? How exciting! Can you tell us what you learned as a DJ that helped you become a better voice-over actor?
Hanko: Being a DJ taught me how to ad-lib. Sure, it’s easy to read the advertising spots when they’re written out for you, but I had to learn to provide the banter that exists between songs or when opening/closing my show. That was challenging, but fun!
SAV: What’s your niche in VO?
Hanko: My niche thus far has been audiobooks. I have done over 40 already and I have tried many different genres (fiction, non-fiction, inspirational, self-help). I have also done approximately 80 simulations and e-learning modules for the medical and corporate relocation fields.
SAV: With autumn coming up soon, what would you say is your favorite fall time activity?
Hanko: Fall for me is football!! I am an avid fan of Ohio State and the Cleveland Browns.
SAV: We’d love to hear about the most challenging voice-over job you’ve had and how you got through it.
Hanko: The most challenging voice-over job was a book I did about a controversial social issue. When I auditioned, the script looked pretty straightforward. When I accepted the offer and got the full manuscript, there was some very aggressive language used. I contacted the author, hoping just to have an honest, mature discussion about it, but I didn’t get a response. So, I did my best to honor the agreement and finish the book in the most professional manner possible.
SAV: Do tell…Star Wars or Star Trek?
Hanko: Star Wars! My mother took me and my siblings to see the original when it came out. I was 8 at the time so I absolutely loved it! That was my first exposure to sci-fi and adventure. It really caught my attention. I have seen all of the movies so far and I am looking forward to the next one.
SAV: What’s the most exciting VO job you’ve done so far?
Hanko: My most exciting VO job so far has been a two-book crime novel series that I did earlier this year. This was my first attempt to create multiple characters so I had to get really creative. The stories themselves were interesting and well written. I’m looking forward to seeing if the author releases any more from the series.
SAV: You also work as a corporate trainer, right? I can only imagine how performing in that arena makes you a stronger VO talent, would you agree?
Hanko: I agree with this 100%. As a trainer, presentation and delivery are essential to not only getting the information out to your audience, but also with keeping them engaged for a full day. I have worked hard for 10 years to perfect my craft and to create a style that makes software training (current focus) more fun and bearable instead of boring and tedious.
SAV: What’s your favorite item in your voice-over studio?
Hanko: My favorite studio item is my laptop. When I did radio, I was learning to produce on tape! I love that everything we do is digital now. You now can produce high quality audio projects using a PC from start to finish. The software is very forgiving; if you have a bad take, redo it. I have even started a blooper reel for myself when I’m having a rough stretch vocally. It helps me laugh at myself and to refocus.
SAV: If you could share one piece of advice for a talent just starting out, what would it be?
Hanko: I have several that come to mind, but the main thing I stress to my students is to have fun. I spend a lot of time helping my students focus on their plans about how to get started, how to sustain their career, how to manage their time, etc. But I tell all of them to remember to have fun. We do this because we want to use our talents and we want to make our own decisions, rules, etc. But, I’d like to think we picked this industry because it’s fun and the work is interesting and rewarding. I’d tell them don’t lose sight of that. Not everyone can say they have fun with their work.
