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VOICE OVER TODAY - March 19, 2003

www.edgestudio.com

Published by EDGE STUDIO
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WANT WORK?

visit www.edgestudio.com/marketinghelp.htm

NEED SCRIPTS?

visit www.edgestudio.com/scripts.htm

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THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:

1.)... It's tax season. Can you deduct voice-over Training and Marketing?

2.)... Who is that crazy voice?

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1.) IT'S TAX SEASON. CAN YOU DEDUCT TRAINING AND MARKETING?

In case you were wondering if you can deduct voice-over Training and
Marketing expenses, we asked an accountant to give us a sound report.

BY SPEAKING ABOUT DIFFERENT BUSINESS TYPES, this article will help you
decide how you can deduct business expenses against your income.

This article will address two points:

* Which voice-over expenses can you deduct?

* Should you incorporate yourself?

What is the right entity for a voice-over business and what about taxes?

Generally, a voice over artist can conduct his or her business in one of
three ways:

As a sole proprietorship

As a limited liability company (LLC)

As an S corporation

The sole proprietorship has the virtue that it is simple to form and that
its income is taxed once at the owners individual tax rate. Gross profit
(or loss) for the year is reported on Schedule C (or schedule C-EZ if
certain tests are met) of your Form 1040 and becomes part of your adjusted
gross income.

Profit (or loss) is calculated by deducting all ordinary and necessary
expenses incurred by your business from the income that you have received
(reported on Form 1099 in box 7 as non-employee compensations) for your
voice over jobs.

(A word about ordinary and necessary expenses - at the start of your voice
over career, the largest single expense you probably will incur is the
production of your demo, that should be deductible on Schedule C as
promotional or marketing/advertising expense.

Of course, other expenses such as telephone, postage, professional
publications, travel and printing of business cards are also deductible.
Office space used primarily for your marketing endeavors may be deductible
(for example, if your computer desk takes up 10% of your home, then 10% of
your rent/mortgage may be deductible).

Items not used exclusively for your career are generally not deductible -
such as nice clothing used to impress new clients, and a brand new stereo
system used to listen to your demos.

You will, in addition to owing income tax, usually be liable for self-
employment tax and will have to make quarterly estimated tax payments as
well. The sole proprietorship is not a separate legal or taxable entity
from its owner, does not require a separate transfer of assets and does not
limit your personal liability for the debts of the business- your
individual assets remain at risk.

An LLC is formed under the applicable state's limited liability company
statute. A one owner LLC is generally taxed as a sole proprietorship.
Although the tax consequences of a single-member LLC and sole
proprietorship are the same, an LLC provides its owner liability protection
not available to a sole proprietorship - your assets are not at risk.

An S corporation is a business entity whose income is taxed at only the
individual level and has the same advantage of limited liability as a
shareholder in a regular or C corporation. Unlike an LLC there are
restrictions on an S corporation's capital structure and on who may be a
member. An S corporation's income, gain, loss and deductions pass through
to its shareholders and are reported on individual tax returns.

Important information:

If you are not incorporated, and earned $600 or more from an employer, that
employer must send you a 1099misc form by January 31st. If you should have
received one, but did not, call that employer. Note that the employer
should send a copy of the form to the IRS.

Taxes must be mailed out on or before April 15, 2003.

IRS tax help-line = 800-829-1040

1 IRS tax forms and distribution center = 800-829-3676

IRS on-line tax order form = http://www.irs.gov

disclaimer:

This article is intended to provide general guidelines on matters of
interest to voice over artists. The application and impact of tax laws can
be very complex and vary widely from case to case. Readers are encouraged
to seek professional advice concerning specific matters before making any
decisions. The author and publisher disclaim any responsibility for
positions taken by taxpayers in their individual situations. This article
was first published in February, 2000, and was edited in February, 2003.

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2.) WHO IS THAT CRAZY VOICE?

.An interview with Character Voice-Actor Paul Liberti

We interviewed one of the nation's most popular character voice-actors
(also Edge Studio's character coach). Paul has worked for Nickelodeon,
Blues Clues, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, VH1's Behind the Music, MTV,
Professor Elm on Pokemon, PBS, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, Noggin, Saturday
Night Live cartoons, Fisher Price, Whack-a-mole, Claritin, Starbucks,
Wendy's, Lowes, Bud Lite, Clean Shower, NJ Lottery, Informix, 1-800-Fed-
Info TV spots, Mapquest CD ROMs, and many more.

Paul also has his own TV Commercial Puppet Company... Criddera And Cooties
Inc.

As a stage actor has worked at McCarter Theatre w/Hershel Bernardi, Seven
Angels Theatre opposite Semina Delaurentis. Tours include: A Chorus Line,
Cabaret, Frankstein, Muppet Show On Tour, Muppet Babies Live. As a film
actor Paul has had featured roles in The Guru w Marisa Tomei, Dummy, No
Such Thing w/ Helen Mirren, the lead in Showtime's Priority Seating.

1. DO YOU LOVE DOING VOICE-OVERS ?

Although I have acting roots in musical theater, film and TV, my absolute
favorite form of acting is in Voice-over. Voice Acting helps me to continue
acting when Theatre or film isn't happening. There is no down time for
voice-over work.. Think about it.. On camera commercials are seasonal . so
are films and TV work.. But not voice-over! Every single time you turn on
the radio or TV you hear literally hundreds of voices doing voice-overs!
Cable TV has quadrupled the number of Voice-over spots. Even the Internet
has lots of work for us Voice-over artists. Not only is it fun . but voice
acting is different kind of acting with its own set of challenges. Being a
singer . made voice acting easy for me . phrases, meter and rhythm were
already there thanks to my music training.

2. WHERE HAVE WE HEARD YOU IN PAST ? WHERE CAN WE CURRENTLY HEAR YOU ?

In the last year alone. I have played a fly on the wall.. The voice of Yogi
the Bear AND Boo-boo for the Jet Blue ads and Cartoon Network Promos,
several voices on POKEMON, CD ROM Series - THE LITTLE RAVEN AND FRIENDS,
and the voice of "Gooey Louie" in commercials and the game itself. I also
wrote and performed my own puppet musical, EWE ROCK! In the past, I have
played dogs, cats, rabbits, bears, and a Boar, a dishwasher, a doughnut,
and many other inanimate objects. I have worked for Nickelodeon, MTV,
RUGRATS, BLUES CLUES, NOGGIN, VH1 HBO and SHOWTIME to name a few.

3. WHICH JOBS ARE THE MOST FUN ? WHICH JOBS ARE THE LEAST FUN ?

I love to do cartoon and character work because you can really go over the
top without going too far! I do not like to do medical text or recorded
books as they take a lot of energy and do not pay very well as compared to
Commercials.

4. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ?

I was lucky enough to work with Jim & Jane Henson during the 80's. Later I
worked in Nashville at Opryland as a dancer and was hired in 1988 to voice
the HEE-HAW donkey for the 20th Anniversary show. When I was a kid, I had a
Mortimer Snerd puppet so I just did my best Mortimer Snerd and got the job.

5. ADVICE TO NEW-COMERS ?

Don't be afraid to be a "new voice actor." Everyone has to begin somewhere.
It is an agent's job to constantly find "new" talent. If you really love
what you do . keep doing it! Your persistence and love for the craft is
what will get you noticed and keep you working.

6. ADVICE TO PROFESSIONALS WHO DESIRE MORE WORK ?

Always have a demo tape on you no matter where you go. I have made
connections to voice over work at the gym, while at Kinko's, and even while
out shopping or at the theater. ALWAYS have a CD or at least a business
card with you. Bring a demo to every audition you go to as well. It may be
a new client or your audition may be next to another audition that may not
have time for you but may want your demo. You never know . be prepared.

Advice for your auditions...do what you can to be memorable! Every audition
you go on . is another chance not only to get the job . but reconnect with
the casting director.. They are the ones who will request you again to you
agent. Put yourself in the listener's place; what would appeal to you?

Most important tip? When you come in for an audition, treat it as a job you
already have. You are there to do the work, YOU HAVE THE JOB FOR THAT TIME
PERIOD; the moment is yours -- show your confidence that you are the best
choice for that job!

7. STRANGEST EXPERIENCE IN A VOICE-OVER SESSION ?

The first time I did POKEMON I was not ready for all the distractions that
go along with dubbing. I would hear three beeps in my headset and was to
begin talking where the fourth beep would be.. I could also hear the lines
of the other actors but could only speak when the beeps told me to and not
always when the other actors stop speaking. It was so difficult as I wanted
to just speak in response to the other actors. Since it was originally
recorded in Japanese . we had to get our lines in at the same time in
English and match the lip-flap of the Japanese cartoon on the screen in
front of me. The lines almost never fit right... I could hear the Japanese
tracks and those beeps started with EVERY line I had.. So I am trying to
read my lines in front of me, while trying to watch the screen, and hearing
beeps with every line. Through all of this I was supposed to stay in
character! After a while it got easier but I left with a headache.

8. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU FEEL TRAINING IS ?

Training is everything! Your training never ends . just because you have a
demo does not mean that you can't get any better. You just keep studying
and getting stronger at your technique. You may have great sounding vocal
cords . but how good are you at taking direction? Are you able to read lots
of copy without stumbling over your words? Would you go to a doctor who
never went to medical school? "I am great at cutting people open. why should
I got to learn how.?!" YIKES! Why would anyone continue to hire and
untrained actor who keeps being distracted and can't take direction and
can't read what is on the page in front of him??!!

9. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST TO LOOK FOR IN A COACH ?

Look for a coach that you "click" with. If you don't like that person .
find a coach you do like. Find a coach who is supportive and strives to
make you sound like the best you that you can be. Find

a person you feel "safe" with so that you can make mistakes and not feel
intimidated when you do.

10. HOW DO YOU FORESEE THE INDUSTRY CHANGING IN THE FUTURE ?

Reality shows are here for a while. Voice-over is also very "real" sounding
right now. The pushed phony voices of the past are not the cutting edge
trend in the top of the market. Real People are in. The ethnic barriers are
dropping and a change towards Ethnic ambiguity is also where we are headed
in Commercials and Voice-over.

11. WHAT'S YOUR SECRET TO SUCCESS ?

Persistence! . and I keep the professional relationships I have made. I try
to stay in touch with everyone I connect with in the business.

12. ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ?

Be the best "you" you can be. No one else can sound like you so don't try
to be anyone except who you are. If you hate your job.quit! If you are in a
bad relationship . get out of it! Surround yourself with people who support
you for doing what you love to do ... in whatever you are doing be it
plumbing or acting. Enjoy what you are doing!

Interested in character voice-over work? Paul offers one-on-one training
at our New York city studio. To schedule, call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-
321-edge.

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The 2002 edition of the Audiobook Reference Guide, from the publisher of
AudioFile magazine is worth checking out. This comprehensive sourcebook to
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audiobook publishers, wholesale and retail distributors, creative,
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Check out the new section on Voice Talent--and sign up for YOUR listing in
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jennifer@audiofilemagazine.com.

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"I have spent a lot of time and money. I have a great demo! How can I get
agents and casting people to notice it . or even listen to it?"

The outside of your demo should be as interesting as the inside.Get your
demo noticed before it is thrown on a pile or in the trash without even
being heard!

WANT CUSTOM CD DEMO CARDS?

"What's a Front-Card?"

That's the insert-card on the back and sides of your CD demo case.

"What's a Tray-Card?"

That's the insert-card on the front of your CD demo case.

"Why do I need cards?" This determines if your demo is heard, tossed

in a pile, or thrown away!

STILL INTERESTED?

NYC area - I come to you! Either your place of business or home to
set up artwork. Together we'll listen to your demo and create
Artwork suitable for it. Everything is stored on file for future
Duplicates.

CD Front Card - $1 per card

CD Tray Card - $1 per card

Cassette J-Card - $1 per card

One time Set-up fee - $40

Cutting Charge - $10 per order

Paul Liberti (212) 229-7856

voiceoverPaul@aol.com

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HAVE A DEMO?

We're always searching for new talent. Please mail us your CD demo to:

Edge Studio, 251 West 30th Street, suite 9-fm. NY, NY 10001 USA

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Voice Over Today is an Edge Studio publication

- advancing voice-over careers since 1988 -
www.edgestudio.com
888-321-edge

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To advertise, email info@edgestudio.com or call 1-888-321-edge

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