Interview with Mike Lenz: Pharmacist, Voice Actor, and Podcast Host
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Today\\u2019s episode is an interview with Mike Lenz.\\xa0 He\\u2019s a pharmacist, voice actor, and podcast host.\\xa0 Mike is someone I look up to, and I have the pleasure of calling him a friend.\\xa0 Mike and I know one another from the voiceover industry, and he uses his voice to entertain.
Mentioned in this episode
Website https://mikelenzvoice.com\\xa0
Podcast https://mikelenzvopodcast.com
Mike\\u2019s book Paid to Talk - A Journey into Voice Acting
VO Success (Online Course) https://vosuccess.com\\xa0
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michael.lenz.1460/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelenzvo/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/mlenzvoice
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikelenzvoice/
Sean Pratt, nonfiction audiobook narration coach https://www.seanprattpresents.com\\xa0
APAC (Audio Publisher\\u2019s Association Annual Conference)
VoiceZam Player https://www.voicezam.com\\xa0
Mike Lenz is a full-time SAG-AFTRA professional voice talent, actor, audiobook narrator and podcast producer.\\xa0
As a voice actor for more than 15 years Mike has worked with clients such as Xerox, Hershey, Dell, Microsoft, Bayer, Coca-Cola and many more on commercials, eLearning projects, real estate videos, corporate and web-based videos, and brand imaging.
Mike has also appeared in regional and national television commercials as an on-camera talent and was the host of a local TV talk show in Saratoga Springs, NY for a number of years.\\xa0
Mike is also an accomplished audiobook narrator with more than 100 titles narrated to date. With titles in genres ranging from Fiction, Entertainment, Science, and Children\\u2019s to Christian, Business, Self-Help and History, Mike loves bringing non-fiction and fiction stories to life with his engaging, confident, and trustworthy voice.\\xa0 \\xa0
Mike is also a Voice Arts Award nominated podcast producer of a popular Voice Over podcast, and the creator of Podcast Snap, a podcast consulting service, helping his clients with every step of their podcast creation and production.
Mike is the author of Paid to Talk - A Journey Into Voice Acting and is a frequent speaker at Learning and Voice Over conferences.\\xa0 He currently lives in Saratoga Springs, NY with his wife and 4 children.\\xa0
Highlights from the interview
Before becoming a voice actor, Mike ran the pharmacy that\\u2019s been in his family since 1960.\\xa0 He is a former Council Member and Mayor of Saratoga Springs, NY.\\xa0 After his position as mayor ended, he explored his creative side:\\xa0 screenwriting, film-making, voiceovers, etc.\\xa0 He enjoyed the communication piece of his public service:\\xa0 \\u201cusing his voice.\\u201d\\xa0 After his 1st VO coaching session, he realized he loved it.\\xa0 The journey began. \\xa0
2-3 years ago, he become a full time voice actor (made the switch from pharmacist to voice actor). It took > 10 years to make his part-time side hustle his full-time job. \\xa0
Mike has had some great voice actors on his podcast!\\xa0 Examples include Harlan Hogan, Rodney Saulsberry, and Tom Dheere.\\xa0 Mike asks his guests about their journey, obstacles they overcame, lessons they learned, and advice for aspiring voice actors.
Mike and I shared a nonfiction audiobook narration coach, Sean Pratt.\\xa0 We both graduated around the first of September 2020.\\xa0
For each finished hour of audio for an audiobook, there are several hours of audio engineering after recording. \\xa0
Building relationships in the voiceover and audiobook industries pays off.\\xa0 Among other things, referrals keep Mike busy working! Audiobooks, course books for online colleges, etc. \\xa0
Conferences have changed Mike\\u2019s life.\\xa0 One example is APAC (Audiobook Publisher\\u2019s Association Conference).\\xa0 Meeting people and building relationships led to more work. \\xa0
The voiceover industry is a giving community with authentic relationships.\\xa0 We refer our friends because when you give, you receive.\\xa0 What goes around, comes around. \\xa0
There was an element of faith in making a leap from pharmacy to VO.\\xa0 Mike says, \\u201cJust get in the boat!\\u201d And see where it takes you.\\xa0 You only connect the dots looking backward.\\xa0
Mike has demos on his website for IVR (interactive voice response/on-hold messaging), elearning, audiobooks, commercials, and narration.\\xa0 Mike uses the VoiceZam player to help potential clients find and listen to his demos easily. Outside audiobook publishers, Mike\\u2019s clients include podcast clients, elearning, corporate clients, and on-hold messaging.\\xa0 Everything revolves around his audiobooks schedule.\\xa0
How does Mike care for his voice?\\xa0 He does warm-ups, including tongue twisters, humming, and vocal warm-ups.\\xa0 He stays hydrated and tries to get his sleep. \\xa0
Mike has done some live announcing.\\xa0 It\\u2019s fun for him, and he has booked the work thanks to referrals from other voice actors.
Mike has an online course called VO Success.\\xa0 It teaches up-and-coming voice actors a good foundation about the VoiceOver industry.\\xa0 Topics include focusing, performance training, the business of the business, branding, and recording in a home studio.\\xa0 Lifetime membership (as of October 23, 2020) is $97 USD. \\xa0
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