Hey Reader,

Here’s what tends to happen by week four.

The math drops away. You stop counting frames and start feeling the scene. You're landing inside the cues instead of chasing them, slowing down without announcing it, getting out of the way when the moment belongs to the picture.

That shift comes from doing the work in front of someone who can hear exactly what you’re doing and tell you the truth about it; then doing it again, the same week, while the feedback is still fresh.

That’s the whole design of Bootcamp. Small group, live, on real AD material. You won’t leave with theory. You’ll leave with reps.

“I walked away brimming with new insight about what it’s like to be a working talent in the Audio Description world.”

Last week I was signing into a website and my password app stepped in to fill the credentials. A "remember this password" checkbox appeared in the browser. The app covered it. Two extra clicks to uncover it, check the box, just to set what I wanted and move on.

This weekend, I attended the film I produced Audio Description for at Carnegie Hall. To get there (practice, practice, practice, right?) I boarded a flight having downloaded nothing, because the aircraft had Wi-Fi. I got on the plane, signed up for the service. Just before I clicked purchase, a note appeared: streaming audio not available on this flight.

I'm sure you've experienced those customer service calls: you press 1 for English, 3 for billing, 5 for dispute. Then you get disconnected and call back. You had to start over.

I know how this sounds, as I wave my fist in the air with a furrowed brow, barking something about cats getting off my lawn or turn down that racket.

My point is that while the information was always there, it just wasn't available at the point where you could still act on it.

I've had this same experience in Audio Description. On more than one session I performed the work, sent it in, and heard nothing back. Not good, not bad. Just ... nothing. I returned to my booth and did the same things. For a while I genuinely didn't know if I was improving or just working.

Most performers wait out the silence for years.

Thing is, this industry was designed to ship content. Giving performers feedback isn't necessarily on their radar. But knowing that doesn't make the absence easier. It does mean you have to find or build the feedback somewhere else.

Boothcamp is a small group, with nine sessions built around feedback while the work is fresh. Live performance coaching in July. Career clarity in August, after four weeks of actual performing. An integration session in September to confirm what stuck

If you’re on the fence about whether this is the right moment for you, reply and tell me where you are. I’d rather help you choose well than just fill a seat.

Dates: July 6, 13, 20, 27 · 5:00–6:15pm Pacific · $297.

[ Register for Bootcamp ]

Roy

P.S. If you need only one side: Bootcamp (performance only, Mondays in July) is $297. Beyond the Booth (career clarity only, Tuesdays in July) is $300. Reply and I'll tell you which fits.

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