LV woman speaks of success with voice-overs

Alice Whitfield can sing a jingle for Salem cigarettes so heart warming that the menthol smokes seem as tasty and appealing as a bowl of home-cooked soup.

She has done countless radio and television voice-overs and jingles for restaurant chains, car dealerships and supermarkets.

Now a Las Vegas resident, Whitfield teaches a voice-over class through UNLV's Continuing Education program.

Whitfield broke into the industry in the 1950s when she was a teenager. Her father traveled across the country and sold air time. She sang the jingles.

Today she will discuss the industry and sign copies of her book "Take it From The Top: How To Earn Your Living in Radio & T.V. Voice-Overs" at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 2191 N. Rainbow Blvd.

Her book, which she describes as "as easy to read as a hot knife going through margarine," is an informative guide to the voice-over industry, she said.

"It's a handbook," she said. "It's for people who know nothing and people who think they know everything."

But don't quit your day job hoping to cash in on the lucrative business, she added.

"Not everybody's making $10 million at it. If there are 100 people dying to do this for a living there are maybe five who are good."

Voice-over is a difficult form of the creative arts because readers can't use body language. The key to doing successful voice-overs is not developing the voice, as illogical as that may sound. The key is learning how to approach and interpret copy, Whitfield said.

"A lot of it is reading comprehension," she said. "A lot of people cannot read nuances."

Although the book discusses vocal styles, character and methods to reading copy, it focuses heavily on how to break into the business and make contacts.

Information on unions, talent agents, casting companies, demo-reels and auditions is provided. Talent agencies in various regions across the country are listed in the back.

In addition to voice-overs, Whitfield has starred in the off-Broadway musical "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living In Paris."

She has worked in advertising and ran Real-To-Reel Recording Inc., a production/recording studio in New York City.

archive