Arthur Dent started the Such A Voice VIP Program in January of 2023, and since then, has built (and continues to grow) a successful voice-over business. Let’s hear about his journey with SAV and beyond!
What were you doing before you started in voice-over?
Prior to becoming serious about voice acting I served in the Navy, and for many years I have been doing narrations in support of retiring Navy service members with things like reading retirement scripts and narrating short instructional videos.
What made you choose Such A Voice?
The primary reason I chose Such A Voice was the company’s reputation for training end to end. Such A Voice doesn’t just train a new voice acting talent and send them on their way, this team continues to provide support in the form of additional coaching, the VO Pro Membership, and having dedicated lifetime support. I feel blessed to have the team of absolute superstars that have supported me including Ms. Rosemary Chase, Cathi Colas, Angela Castonguay, and Mr. Steven Wahlberg.
What was the most valuable part of your training with SAV?
The most valuable part of my training started the day I met my awesome voice-over coach Rosemary Chase. Rosemary not only trained me well in VO technique, she helped me to understand what it means to be a voice actor and the core elements of an effective performance. I work hard on every performance to make her proud. So the technique training I would say was the most valuable part of my training as in my opinion it is not about your voice, it’s about what you can DO with your voice!
What was your very first voice-over gig? How long did it take to book after you finished your training?
My first voice acting gig was for WhisperRoom, Inc. about five months after I completed my training and demos with Such A Voice. I made a decision to invest in my company and upgrade my recording studio to a WhisperRoom Voice isolation booth. I loved the quality of the booth, the sound isolation and ease of assembly. I told the salesperson, I would love to do a testimonial (watch that here) and I was put in touch with the Marketing Director. He and I have kept in touch since and I am expecting more work in 2024.
Tell me about how you got the work with Epic Invite? What has it been like working with them?
One of the platforms I use for marketing my business is Backstage. Epic Invite had a posting there seeking voice actors for their new product launch, custom invitations. They asked for demos and I applied. The response from the producer was as follows, “After listening to demos all day, we were very excited to hear yours! You probably get this all the time, but your voice is reminiscent of the great James Earl Jones! We’d love to have you on our roster if you’re interested”.
Thank you Anglea Castonguay for the great direction helping me produce my demos!
How did you get into Audiobooks? What role did your SAV training play?
I decided that based on my past experience with narrating scripts for retiring military service members, and for my job in support of key milestones, I really liked telling the stories and bringing them to life. So transitioning to audiobook narration was almost a natural progression for me. The training I received from Cathi Colas has been absolutely instrumental and helped me to not only become a better storyteller and actor, but to also look one level deeper at the characters in fiction books to really bring out the emotions of those characters. The way I show my appreciation for all that she has and continues to teach me, is by continuing to refine my craft everyday. Thank you Cathi.
What is your absolute dream VO role?
My absolute dream voice acting job would be working for TV networks like The Discovery Channel, History Channel, or Travel Channel narrating stories, shows, or documentaries.
How is SAV continuing to support you in your voice-over journey?
Consistent with my answer to why I chose Such A Voice, this team trains end to end. Such A Voice doesn’t just train a new voice actor and send them on their way, this team continues to provide support in the form of additional coaching, the VO Pro Membership, and lifetime support.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for a week, where would you go?
I would love to visit Germany for a week. In all my time traveling with the Navy, I never had an opportunity to visit.
Anything else you want to add or mention?
The next phase of my business includes rebranding myself to really go after a niche market which is the Intelligence community (IC) and Department of defense (DoD), a total of 18 organizations. So, I am looking forward to having a brand that I feel really speaks to my military background, years of service, and commitment to our country. The tag line will be something like the “Voice of Service”. I feel as though partnering with the IC/DoD community will be a natural transition.
Lastly, I have a framed piece of art, which hangs in the staircase area of my basement which reads, “Don’t wish for it, Work it” – that’s my motto in the voice-over business.
