Steven Shagrin

Voice Description

I've been involved in public speaking and community theater since my teens, bringing different voice characterizations to the various projects for forty-plus years.

Though only recently offering voice-over services professionally, I've been providing different voice characterizations since I was young, now in my mid-50s.

I've been told I have a dulcet tone; a warm, smooth and soothing voice for narrations and presentations; and I can vocalize odd-ball and quirky voices and sounds for almost anything, including animated media.

I'm an excellent reader and can provide vocal energy and flair while reading aloud. And I've been told by a nationally-known VO instructor that I take direction "unbelievably well."

I'm willing to join any required union when qualified.

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

• Commercials
• Promos
• IVR, voicemail, phone systems, and on-hold messages
• Training, business presentations, sales, and web sites
• Audiobooks
• Videogames
• Documentaries
• TV shows and movies
• Movie and game trailers
• Podcasts
• Adult content
• Others (on-camera, infomercials, live announcers, spokespersons)

Jobs I Am Willing to Take (Union-wise)

• Non-Union Jobs

• Jobs for AFTRA (US) signatories

• Jobs for SAG (US) signatories

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
• I can record and then deliver the files by regular mail

Pre-, Post- and Production Services I Offer

None

My Home Base

Walnut Creek, California, United States

Accents, Impersonations, Characters and Dialects

Several eastern accent and dialects (think NJ & NY), flat mid-west twang, southern gentleman, western, and many cartoon-type voices. My quirky impressions include old movie types like Peter Lorre, Humphrey Bogart, and W.C. Fields, among others.

I can provide nasally, fun, helium-type, and deep "over-acting" type voices, as well. Often, if I can hear it, I can imitate it.

And I can provide several animal sounds (dog, cat, cow, duck, pig, monkey) and other sounds.

My Voice Experience

New to offering professional voice-over services, I have been the host of two different weekly radio shows, each running for about 3 months. My shows were on both terrestrial radio and internet platforms.

However, I've always had the ability to imitate different voices and engage in conversation in different accents and dialects. I've often been told that I have a voice for radio -- and a face to go with it! Not stunning in front of a camera, I shine behind a microphone.

As shared above, I've been told I have warm, smooth and soothing voice for narrations and presentations, and I can vocalize odd-ball and quirky voices and sounds for almost anything, including animated media.

I'm an excellent reader and can provide vocal energy and flair while reading aloud.

I can perform several eastern accents and dialects (think NJ & NY), flat mid-west twang (think Chicago), southern gentleman (think Atlanta), rough-western, and many cartoon-type voices. My quirky impressions include old movie types like Peter Lorre, Humphrey Bogart, and W.C. Fields, among others. I can provide nasally, fun, helium-type, and deep "over-acting" type voices, as well. Often, if I can hear it by ear or in my head, I can imitate it.

And I can provide several animal sounds (dog, cat, cow, duck, pig, monkey) and other sounds.

My Training

I have taken several speech classes in standard academics, and participated in Toastmasters for over 7 years, reaching the level of Advanced Communicator-Gold. I have mostly used my vocal skills for fun, only recently deciding to share my talents with the world in a professional way after reading about careers in the area in a local newspaper. I am willing to and intend to take some classes to hone my skills, though many have told me that I have a great voice for the work.

I've done some local theater in the past where voice and projection were important, and I present continuing educations programs via the internet, where vocal variety and presentation skills are vital in keeping the attention of the audience.

I have taken several classes at Voicetrax San Francisco with Samantha Paris.

My Studio Equipment

I have a Sterling ST-51 mic, with a Mackie Onyx Blackjack Premium 2x2 USB Recording Interface, currently using Audacity Digital Audio Editor software on my notebook PC. I also use a table-top mic booth for sound isolation and noise absorption.

Additional Skills

I have a fairly flexible time schedule, and am willing to go the extra mile to provide just the right voice for a project. And I understand that rejection is part of the game -- if you're not right, you're not right.

My prior vocational activities include accounting, law, financial planning, investment advisory, and coaching, so I have a knowledge of those fields for professional voicing needs.

Payment Methods Accepted

• PayPal
• Credit cards
• Personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders in my local currency
• Wire transfers

Contact Information

To contact Steven Shagrin by email or phone, please click here.

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