BATH

For those hoping to pursue a career in voice acting, Bath Adult Education may have just what you need to get started. A one-time class titled “Getting Paid to Talk” will be an introduction to voice acting, a growing field that goes beyond the voiceovers you may hear on commercials.

This is a common, but mistaken assumption, according to David Bourgeois, president and creative director of Voice Coaches, a professional production and post-production studio company in New York that will be hosting next week’s session in Bath.

“Commercial voiceover work only makes up about 10 percent of work in the field,” he said on Tuesday. “Most of the work is what we would call narrative voiceover work.”

This includes voiceovers that don’t sell a product or service, including audio books, training and educational content, documentary, historical, biographical travel, television, phone systems and video games — all of which will be explored further in class as an “upbeat, realistic introduction to the field,” Bourgeois said.

But like any other profession, it’s not a skill that can be picked up just after one night.

“We balance it and keep it very realistic because you never know if there could be someone in the class that’s actually thinking about going into the voiceover field,” he said. “It’s great for people to go into this with both feet on the ground.”

Bourgeois also noted that people are often drawn to the field by taking “stock in a natural skill set they have.”

“For example, somebody who has been complimented on their voice or a school teacher who has already developed really good vocal communication skill. I think people start thinking ‘what else could I do with this?’” he said. “At the same time, I think people are attracted to it as something that they would enjoy as well.”

Others interested in the profession are also people looking to “take control of a component of their income” — many of whom have already retired or are preparing to retire.

“I think people like it because it’s a way for them to have a thing that they can’t be laid off from, a thing that they can enjoy and do about as much of it as they want,” Bourgeois said. “I think that’s very appealing to people and it’s very liberating, actually.”

The field may not be suitable for just anyone, however.

“For people who are curious about the field in general or people who have thought about ‘hey, maybe this is something I’m interested in,’ the class will do a very good job of convincing people either way — that this feels like this doesn’t fit me,” he said.

As a voiceover producer, Bourgeois said he began a career in the music industry before beginning to work with voice actors in his late teens.

“I focused on voiceover, started to enjoy it, got really good at it and things sort of snowballed from there,” he said. “I’ve got little clients up the street and big clients like Nintendo, so it’s so much fun.”

Having fun is also an important part of the profession, as success in the field often has “nothing to do with the voice,” he said.

“Recognize that there’s a little bit involved — it’s not as simple as having a good voice and just showing up,” Bourgeois advised. “And number two, have fun … make this something that you enjoy.”

The class will take place at Bath Regional Career and Technical Center on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30-9 p.m. The session will cost $40, and enrollment is limited to 25 students. Register by calling (207) 443-8255.

dkim@timesrecord.com

• THE CLASS “Getting Paid to Talk” will take place at Bath Regional Career and Technical Center on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30-9 p.m. Register by calling (207) 443-8255.