Michael Bridges gave the below testimonial through email:
"Master Editor:
It is fitting that I write this well-deserved testimonial to you today, March 14, 2025, because my first completed audiobook (Chef Knows!! by Joseph Bodnar, narrated by Michael Bridges) went on sale this morning on Audible.com. You are a vital component in how I got to this moment.
Around 20 years ago, and more for fun than profit, I took some acting classes, including voice acting. My VO coach at the time helped me produce a CD of audio samples (one track each of commercials, promos/trailers and animation plus seven tracks of audiobooks). I actually succeeded in booking a few commercials including the VO on a TV spot for Nickleodeon and a radio spot for a TV show called The Scariest Places on Earth. But the timing just wasn’t right for me to quit my day jobs (law and finance) to pursue “show biz.” Back when I recorded the sample CD, voice actors were just that and nothing more. They came into a professional studio, read the script and the full-time audio engineer did all the editing, mastering and coding, etc.
I retired from those day jobs at the end of last year and decided to see if I could re-kindle my voice acting with emphasis on audiobooks. I had read and heard how, since the pandemic, VO has substantially morphed into a freelance gig performed in home studios. This meant that voice actors had to add “audio engineer” to their resumes if they expected to succeed in this new version of the industry.
I’ve been fairly computer literate for many years with the typical suite of Microsoft Office-style programs, but I knew virtually nothing about DAWs (digital audio workstations). I knew there was plenty of information on YouTube and elsewhere on the internet BUT, I didn’t even know where to begin or what questions to ask. I literally did not know what I did not know. Luckily, by chance – or, perhaps by synchronicity – I stumbled upon a YouTube video by you, Master Editor. That, in turn, led me to your online store where I saw your Audacity Bundle and decided that was the course that would get my audio engineering skills to a functioning level in the least amount of time.
Consider this chronology: on January 2, 2025, I downloaded Audacity 3.7.1. After struggling on my own for three weeks, I realized I needed a mentor and on January 27, 2025, I purchased your Audacity Bundle. Not only did I quickly learn from the videos, whenever I had a question, you responded promptly and concisely. I was so impressed with your expertise and professionalism that by February 15, 2025, I felt ready enough to post my narrator’s profile on ACX.
Within 24 hours, I received two offers to produce audiobooks. And, within the first week, a third offer came in. I accepted all three. One was completed on March 1, 2025, and, after passing ACX’s Quality Assurance review, went on sale today. A second was completed today and submitted to ACX’s QA review. Thanks to your teachings I have no worries about it passing. The third remains in production and should be finished in early April, still a month ahead of schedule. In addition, and thanks to you, I had the confidence to audition for three more audiobooks. Two of those auditions resulted in two additional offers which I have accepted. I’m particularly excited about one in particular – an “unofficial biography” of Elon Musk.
I would never have had the courage and confidence to launch this new creative venture in so short a time without the thorough job you did in guiding me step-by-step through the process of audio engineering. I highly recommend your course to anyone in my position contemplating a new career in voice overs or narration. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Michael Bridges
www.bridgesvoiceproductions.com
bridges.voice.productions@gmail.com
"
Below is the screenshot of the email:
Here is the link to his published audiobook: https://origin-www.audible.com.br/pd/Chef-Knows-Audiobook/B0F1DTYP18
