MILLSTONE — Twenty years ago a person had to have a particular kind of speaking style to become a voice actor. Today that's no longer the case and more people are getting paid just to talk.

Millstone Township Community Education has partnered with Voice Coaches, a voice acting training school based out of Schenectady, N.Y., to host an Introduction to Voice Acting Class Nov. 11, which could open the door for locals to use their voices professionally for commercials, audio books, training videos, educational material, the Internet and more.

David Bourgeois, president and creative director at Voice Coaches, has worked in the voice acting profession for over 20 years as a recording studio owner.

"Our company has produced voiceovers for 'While You Were Out,' the Discovery network, HGTV and the WE network," Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois said the voice acting industry has grown leaps and bounds since the days when voice actors simply provided radio and television voiceovers. He said voiceovers comprise 10 percent of the voice acting industry today with the remaining 90 percent including narrative voice acting for audio books, training and educational materials, phone messages and the internet.

Voice Coaches, which has been in existence for 15 years, started providing introductory classes across the country to get more people involved in the industry.

"There's absolutely been a growth in the field," Bourgeois said. "People today are successful in voice acting without having to live in New York or Los Angeles."

To be successful in voice acting, Bourgeois said people need to know two things — what their voice does best and if they want to go into business for themselves.

"A lot of people are not cut out for going into business for themselves," he said. "When you are a voice actor you are engaging in a small business."

Bourgeois said the introductory class helps people determine if they are serious about entering into a voice acting career.

"It's a great class for people curious about the field," he said. "They can see if voice acting is a fit for them, but the class will not prepare people to enter the field."

During the two-and-ahalf hour non-credit class, students will learn what it takes to become a professional voice actor. From the basics of getting started, all the way through working in the studio, recording a demo, and landing jobs, the class has been planned to thoroughly introduce people to voice acting.

"It's a lot of fun and participants will have the chance to record in small groups under the direction of producer Mike Massa, who worked for MTV," Bourgeois said.

Class attendees will have an opportunity to record a mock commercial under the direction of Massa, a professional voice actor who has actively been involved in communications since childhood. Massa received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he majored in Public Relations. After college, he joined CBS Television in New York City and then worked at MTV, a division of Viacom Entertainment.

Bourgeois said, "This is one of the fields populated by people who are doing what they wanted to do. I'm surrounded by people who love their jobs."

The class will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Millstone Township Middle School. Advanced registration is required as enrollment is limited to 20.

For more information, call 732-786-0950 ext. 70003 or visit www.voicecoaches.com.