This morning I woke up to a congratulatory message through Linked In and discovered that my voice-over coaching and directing business officially turned fourteen years old this month.
In letting that fact sink in, I recalled the year leading up to my very first workshop, made possible by the incredible support of Pirate Toronto, where I led the voice-over training and demo reel program for nine wonderful years.
Thanks to the generous mentorship of Terry O’Reilly, brilliant administrator Justice Darragh, recording engineer Spencer Hall, the support staff and studio coordinators at Pirate, this led to the enriching experience of working extensively with engineers Brian Bernard, Ian Boddy and Kyle Anderson.
I then had the pleasure of working beside Jim Davidson at Davidson Recording Studio before eventually landing at Toast + Jam, where recoding/editing/mixing master Andrew McCready and I have been collaborating since early 2017. I have known Thomas Neuspiel, who runs Toast + Jam, for most of my voice-over career, and I am grateful for his ongoing support throughout the Pandemic, as we all navigate how to keep doing our work creatively and safely.
Recording engineers have given me such a profound respect for sound, music, instrumentation, tempo, timing and the power of silence. These have been some of the best and most unexpected gifts I have received as a voice director.
My training as a voice artist began when I graduated from theatre school. I have been profoundly and positively affected by the instructors, casting directors, voice directors, actors and engineers I have worked with and learned from, since 1987.
My voice agent and mentor of over thirty years, Sandi Sloan, continues to be a significant guide for me, even though she has now retired from the voice-over industry. In addition to Sandi and my Pirate Toronto mentor Terry O’Reilly, so many other names come to mind as I think back on my years working in voice: Rick Palidwor, Linda Grierson, Marice Tobias, Dan Hennessey, Jody Colero, Donna McCarthy, Chris Tait, Tom Goudie, Tom Eymundson, Vanya Drakul, Drew Frohman, Jessi Petta, Angela Bottis, Callie O’Reilly, Joanne Boreham, Jessie Thomson, Susan Hart, Kim Hurdon, Karen Goora, Sherry Dayton, Michael Walters, Craig Mason, Darryl Hogan, Merle-Anne Ridley, Zach Anderson, Julie Lafontaine and Roberta Romano. These people continue to influence and stretch me to this day, thanks to their encouraging and collaborative spirits and their passion for what they do so very well.
Don’t get me started on my students, clients and peers - I know have learned the most from them, with each insightful question and creative challenge. I have worked with such exceptionally talented and curious people: from stage to film and TV actors; copywriters to producers; news reporters to sports personalities; models to stunt performers; public speakers to political candidates; spoken word artists to opera singers. Each one of these gifted souls have inspired me to get better – each and every time I enter the booth or a coaching session.
It goes without saying that without the unwavering support of close friends, family and my dear husband Rob, none of this would have been possible.
I’m not sure about you, but over this past surreal year, my concept of time has changed in so many ways. One of my favourite things about being a voice artist, coach and director is that when we enter the recording booth, time changes and the outside world magically goes away. All that matters is the story we are trying to share, in that moment. In that second.
I have never felt so grateful to do what I do.
With heartfelt thanks for helping me get here.
Tracey