Demos 

Now Playing

Harlan's in the News!

Harlan's Greatest Hits

Client Downloads 

Harlan's VO Dept Store 

Upcoming Appearances

Voice Coach List

Recommended Reading

Orson Welles' Out-takes 

Blooper's Soap

Alice in Adland

Seriously Less Serious!

   Recommended Reading

It's simple.  Click on the "Buy from amazon.com button" to buy or learn more about a particular title.  It will open in a new window.  If you wish to purchase it go ahead and add it to your shopping cart or use Amazon's One Click Technology to easily buy it instantly ( you must Sign in to Amazon first).  Then close the window to return here to review more of Harlan's recommendations.  You can keep adding books to your shopping cart.  When you are ready to check out click on any of the 'View your shopping cart' links. Review your order and click on 'Proceed to Checkout'.   Buy with the full confidence of Amazon.com! 

Note: You must have "cookies" enabled for all this to work.  If you do not complete your order and check out,  your items will be saved in your shopping cart for 24 hours.  You can visit Amazon.com within this time period and click on any View your Shopping Cart icon to complete your purchase.

Learn more

Book Description
The Voice Actor's Guide to Home Recording shows both aspiring and established voiceover actors how to set up and effectively use their own inexpensive - but professional-sounding - personal recording studio.

For many years, recording voiceovers was the exclusive domain of commercial studios. Even a simple voice audition meant a trip to a studio, an ad agency, or an agent's office. Today voiceover actors are increasingly producing voice tracks for corporate narration, radio spots, animation, games, and other dialogue projects from their own home studios.

To survive in this highly competitive field, you need to learn and master basic production techniques. Authors Jeffrey P. Fisher and Harlan Hogan show you how to use a personal computer, reasonably-priced home-studio equipment, and the Internet to make professional-quality home recordings quickly and easily.

About the Author
During his more than 25 years in the business, Harlan Hogan has given voice to some of the most recognizable campaigns in advertising. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Learn more

Book Description
One of the country’s top voice-over talents shares his secrets to success in this insider’s guide to the voice-over industry! Not only does veteran actor Harlan Hogan offer a fascinating personal account of the crazed clients, practical jokes, and amazing coincidences encountered during his 25-year career . . . he also provides a wealth of tested tips for surviving and thriving as a voice-over actor! This indispensable guide features dozens of techniques to help readers train their voices, gain experience, make a demo, join unions, get an agent, and more. It also includes strategies for finding work in venues outside film and television, including games, automated telephone systems, and even websites. Actors, broadcasters, and anyone else who longs to make money speaking into a microphone will cherish this informative, insightful, and often hilarious glimpse at the business.

About the Author
During his more than 25 years in the business, Harlan Hogan has given voice to some of the most recognizable campaigns in advertising. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Learn more

Learn More

Voices are increasingly in demand for commercials, cartoon characters, announcements, and other voice-over spots. This outstanding handbook explains how to launch a career and find work. Along with sample commercials and script copy, the author gives advice on vocal exercises, on self-promotion, and on business matters, and this expanded edition includes new tips on making a demo CD; vocal modulation and breath techniques; advanced copy-reading techniques; and a section on how copywriters see the job of the voice artists they write for.

Learn More

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
Word of Mouth—now in its updated and revised third edition—is the primary instructional book in the voice-over field. A clearly written and practical primer for the beginner and a welcome refresher course for the professional, Word of Mouth contains voice-over exercises, sample copy, and essential advice about producing a demo, auditioning, self-promoting, getting an agent, and what to expect on the job. It also provides exclusive and up-to-date lists of voice-over agents, coaches, workshops, and demo producers and duplicators. It is the standard text for numerous university communications, television, and acting department courses.

Learn More

Book Description
All across the country, there is work in voice-overs. Now the classic guide to getting hired in this lucrative field has been completely revised and updated to reflect today’s marketplace. A bonus audio CD adds voice-over samples and helpful exercises for television, commercials, and animation. From self-assessments to creating a demo to preparing for recording sessions, Making Money in Voice-Overs is the complete guide, packed with insider tips, strategies, and dos and don’ts that will help both beginners and experienced professionals.

Book Description
The Organized Actor is the only book you need to organize your acting career. This ready-to-use workbook and planner features a 12-month calendar section, address book, dozens of pages for logging auditions, tracking expenses and recording submissions. Author, Leslie Becker contributes her extensive experience as an actress, choreographer and marketing director to help you create a marketing plan, set attainable goals and create a strong personal belief system. Her inspirational writing style will motivate you to reach your highest goals. Plus, the fun exercises will allow you to gain new insight into yourself and the entertainment industry.

Learn More

Book Description
Cartwright is the voice of Bart Simpson, and in her enthusiastic, candid memoir, she delivers an inside view of the show that has become a cultural phenomenon. An introductory chapter breezes over Cartwright's early fascination with voice work; her education and serendipitous mentor-student relationship with Daws Butler, the voice of Yogi Bear; and her early career as a cartoon voice actor, including stints on My Little Pony and Friends. But she devotes the majority of the book to giving fans what they really want--the who, what, when, where, and how behind each episode of The Simpsons. Included are the show's creation story and plenty of long anecdotes about the guest stars (the Elizabeth Taylor piece is excellent), along with Cartwright's own experiences with her strangely anonymous brand of celebrity and her advice for people interested in the business.

Learn More

Book Description
Daws Butler was the Master of Voice. He spoke the words for most of the classic Hanna-Barbera characters: Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Elroy Jetson, and a hundred others. He also originated the vocal character of Cap’n Crunch and other famous Jay Ward cartoon characters. His significant work as both a writer and an actor with Stan Freberg in the 1950s on The Stan Freberg Show and multi-million-selling records such as St. George and the Dragonet are still held in reverence today. This is his book of scenes, exercises and advice for voice actors, written for those who are now tops in the profession. Among his many successful students are Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson), and Corey Burton (from Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind to Disney’s Treasure Plant), who wrote the Foreword.

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
This book explains more than just the voice talent's job. It describes the whole production process and what's expected of you by the writer, engineer, ad agency, agent, talent union -- and, of course, the client.

Learn all about interpreting scripts and taking direction. Preparing your demo. What happens during recording sessions. How voice casting works. Exactly how much voice-overs pay. And much more.

Complete with over 20 pages of sample radio, TV, narration and animation scripts.

Learn More

Book Description
So You Want To Be A Voice-over Star is an introspective look into the voice-over industry written by Sandy Thomas, the Voice of MSNBC. So You Want To Be A Voice-over Star is a must read if you want a look into the voice-over industry and as to how it all works.

Learn More

The wisdom of a veteran casting director and the viewpoint of a photographer-writer mix well to give newcomers to commercial acting all the how-tos, tips, and references to break in. After all, the reasoning goes, more than 60,000 commercial roles are cast each year, so why not get in on it? On the basis of their collective experience and interviews with more than 75 industry pros, Berland and Ouellette completely debunk some of the myths surrounding success: that talent is the only quality that matters; that you can pay to get on camera; and that all you need for voice-overs is a great demo tape. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Here, aspiring actors are walked through every stage of the process, from resume preparation and getting head shots to residual and contract explanations. Summaries at the end of chapters help focus on what has been learned, and straight text is interspersed with question-and-answer interviews. A good reality check about acting for both kids and adults.

Learn More

Book Description
In "Star Quality," Steven Dameron writes the basics and beyond of how to make it in show business anywhere! By the end of the book, you will know how to professionally put together a resume, get photographs and audition for commercials and films. It also makes a great study guide to help keep a professional actor, or parent of a child performer, sharp in their craft. Everyone is interested in show biz and the true stories of "being on the set" will keep everyone turning the pages. You'll laugh while you learn.

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
Acting in television commercials is fun, challenging, and often very lucrative. Squire Fridell offers tips and advice that will give you the edge necessary to break in and keep on working:
How to get started with a winning résumé, a dynamic headshot, and a terrific agent
New audition strategies and performance techniques
Learn to manage "downtime and build your career even while you're not working
Practice acting with scripts from real television commercials!

Squire Fridell has appeared in some living room, somewhere in America, selling something to someone on the average of once a day for more than twenty years. His 1,700 television commercials included fifteen years as the Toyota spokesman and six years as television's Ronald McDonald. He has been featured in Newsweek and has been on the cover of TV Guide. In addition to his television, film, and stage credits, he has a master's degree in acting/directing.

Learn More

Book Description
Now revised to reflect the latest industry trends and realities, this bestselling guide (60,000 copies sold) offers actors the best, most specific advice for auditioning.

Learn More

Rich and Famous in Thirty Seconds is filled with inside secrets and in-depth interviews with successful actors, teachers, agents, and casting directors. Special chapters on broadcasting, modeling, and kids in commercials.

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
Professional actors covet opportunities to act in commercials because of the potentially high income and visibility. But commercials require an acting style that is specific to the medium. This updated volume explains how to adapt one's acting skills to the needs of brief and persuasive commercial scripts. 16 illustrations.

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
Although there are hundreds of schools that teach acting, hardly any address work in front of the camera. You Can Work on Camera provides this much-needed training for actors aspiring to work in range of media, including television commercials, corporate films and video communiations.

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
Culled from Tony Barr's 40 years' experience as a performer, director and acting teacher in Hollywood, this highly praised handbook provides readers with the practical knowledge they need when performing in front of the camera. This updated edition includes plenty of new exercises for honing on-camera skills; additional chapters on imagination and movement; and fresh material on character development, monologues, visual focus, playing comedy and working with directors. Inside tips on the studio system and acting guilds make it particularly helpful for people new to the business, and numerous anecdotes from actors such as Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins and examples from current movies illustrate its many lessons. It is perfect for acting classes, workshops, all actors who work in front of the camera -- and all those who want to.

Learn More

* evaluate the market to better plan and promote your products and services
* tap into new moneymaking markets
* use the Internet for long-distance collaboration
* learn to create high-impact promotional material
* develop the proper mental attitude to carry out your vision

Learn More

Learn More

Book Description
If you want to be a success in today's music world, you'd better become a promotion fanatic. Here's all you need to learn about how to get new business. You'll discover the real strategies that let you leverage your success and status to keep bringing in more business. Prepare your mind for self-promotion and master the technical aspects. Create an image and learn to clarify what you are trying to say. Fisher will teach you to gather marketing information about your segment of the music industry and how to understand and use many promotional tactics such as networking to establish and maintain your efforts. Ruthless self-promotion is about making your music business stronger by building upon the success you've already achieved. By the author of the MixBooks favorite How to Make Money Scoring Soundtracks and Jingles.

Learn More

Book Description
TV: Sex, Lies & Promos is a sizzling insider's how-to guide for anyone who has ever dreamed of a career in television, working with famous people and making great money.

Learn More

Book Description
This celebrated survival guide for actors is still considered "the Bible of the Biz"-the most comprehensive book on the business of acting, informed by an inside view of how casting decisions are actually made-and it has now been updated and expanded to cover new on-line ways actors can promote their picture, rsum and video clips; interviewing and auditioning tips for the new crop of young actors; enhancing one's image; and finding jobs in emerging markets. Of course, the book still draws from dozens of industry professionals for authoritative advice on financial survival, networking, meeting agents and casting directors, the performing unions, selecting a wardrobe, studying a role-all the essential information actors have steadily relied on since 1987. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Learn More

Book Description
This book will guide marketers into the world of positioning and selling products and services. The authors lead the reader step by step through the process of developing a marketing campaign. They offer detailed descriptions of more than a hundred marketing tools from contests to affinity programs, from direct mail to billboard advertising. Anecdotes, graphics, and rules of thumb are also included.

Learn More

Book Description
Guerrilla Marketing Excellence explains fifty rules aimed at fine-tuning your marketing style. It includes information on the uses of video, television distribution, networking effectiveness, and marketing combinations in an increasingly competitive business climate.

Learn More

Book Description
Positioning, a concept developed by the authors, has changed the way people advertise. The reason? It's the first concept to deal with the problems of communicating in an overcommunicated society. With this approach, a company creates a 'position' in the prospect's mind, one that reflects the company's own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of its competitors. Witty and fast-paced, this book spells out how to position a leader so that it gets into the mind and stays there, position a follower in a way that finds a 'hole' not occupied by the leader, and avoid the pitfalls of letting a second product ride on the coattails of an established one. Revised to reflect significant developments in the five years since its original publication, Positioning reveals the fascinating case histories and anecdotes behind the campaigns of many stunning successes and failures in the world of advertising.

Learn More

Book Description
The world-renowned marketing consultants and bestselling authors of Positioning, Marketing Warfare, and Bottom-Up Marketing offer a compendium of 22 innovative laws for understanding and succeeding in the international marketplace. Illustrations.

Learn More

Book Description
This inspirational voice-over guide will teach you how to take control of your career with the power of positive thinking. Rodney Saulsberry shares his methods to turn fear and self-doubt into confidence and success. Plus, get advice from many of the top voice-over performers in the business that includes: Don LaFontaine, The King of Movie Trailers and Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson.

Learn More