John Benson - technical/scientific, goofy ethnic, mock serious

technical/scientific, goofy ethnic, mock serious

• John Benson is registered with Voice123 since Jul 02, 2007.
• John Benson started his/her voice over career in 2007.
• Currently John Benson is a Standard subscriber.
• Auditions and proposals submitted through Voice123 during the past six months: 0

John Benson does not appear to be an active participant of the Voice123 marketplace at this time. John Benson was last active on Voice123 more than 365 days ago, OR may not be receiving our email messages.

Voice Description

English is my first language, but I have a Master's degree in Spanish and have lived and worked in South America. Here are the voices I do:
1. Professional: I've taught computer classes around the world in English, Spanish and Portuguese, so I have a straightforward technical presenting voice.
2. Goofy, domestic:
Gramps: thin, wavering Walter Brennan-type voice
3. Goofy, foreign:
German: medium voice, schtrong rrrroled aaaahRs (think Sig Ruman in "A Night in Casablanca")
Heavily Spanish-accented English: generic cultured and barrio
Abuelito Gallego: similar to Gramps, but in Spanish, comes out as what the Argentines call a "Gallego" accent
Heavily Brazilian-accented English
Heavily French-accented English, less-exaggerated and therefore somewhat more realistic than Peter Seller's Inspector Clouseau

Voice Genders and "Ages" I Can Perform

• Middle Age Male
• Senior Male

Language(s) of Which I Am a Native Speaker:

• English - North American

I Offer my Services for these Recording Purposes

• IVR, voicemail, phone systems, and on-hold messages
• Audiobooks
• Documentaries
• Movie and game trailers
• Podcasts

Jobs I Am Willing to Take (Union-wise)

• Non-Union Jobs

My Union Affiliations and Memberships

None

My Recording and Delivery Capabilities

• I will go to any designated studio in my area
• I can record and then deliver the audio files via Email
• I can record and then upload the audio files via FTP

Pre-, Post- and Production Services I Offer

• I offer translation services
• I can deliver edited and finished voice tracks

My Home Base

Orange, California, United States

Accents, Impersonations, Characters and Dialects

adult, gramps, foreign accents: Spanish, German and French

My Voice Experience

My only paid, voice-related experience so far has been technical presenting (live classroom teaching).

My Training

Presenting technical material internationally for Tandem Computers, Compaq and HP were my on-the-job training for authoritative voicing.

I have also solo'ed on the piano in classical music concerts (Bach and Mozart) and played in Twenties and Thirties jazz bands, appearing twice at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Festival. This gave me a heightened sense of timing, and a sense of the musicality of speech.

My Studio Equipment

Mike: Audio Technica ATR 40 Cardoid
Analog to Digital Converter: M-Audio FastTrack Interface
Noise removal etc.: Audacity Sound Editor

Additional Skills

I'm a computer professional and science-literate as well (BA minor in chemistry). I convey technical information convincingly because I understand it.

I've also created technical curricula on generic and proprietary computer subjects, so I can create the content as well as present it.

I'm can help a client define and refine the technical message to be communicated, whether or not I end up presenting it myself.

I can do both original writing and editing in English and Spanish.