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Archives for December 2018

The Compassionate Voice

Personal, Personal VO Views

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The question is, “What is a “compassionate” voice? How is the actor’s delivery different?” In a society where narcissism is arguably preferable over altruism, compassion seems an odd position. While sympathy is often overlooked today, people routinely respond to the daily tragic events reported by the media with outpourings of aid and well wishes. But a compassionate voice actor knows how to sincerely tap into the reservoir of his or her own heart and understand the sentiment of others. So, a sympathetic voice actor understands compassion, how to feel it, what it means, and how to convey it touchingly through voice acting.

Understanding compassion begins with understanding empathy. According to UVA Health, “Empathy is a gateway to compassion. It’s understanding how someone feels and trying to imagine how that might feel for you — it’s a mode of relating.” Impulses can be subtle, but a “compassionate” voice actor must make the mental and emotional connection to process and develop real connection.

Real compassion stimulates actions and makes heartfelt calls. It leads to changed lives for children to the elderly. Compassion cuts through sarcasm straight to the heart and soul of the matter. It can guide the heart and mind to receive instruction and consider various options as no other emotion can. Compassion champions the rights and needs of our families, culture, and communities.

This type of voice talent must be comfortable and able to feel the empathy called for in a project or script and channel that emotion into a connecting performance. In short, heartfelt passion must come from the heart.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

Easy, right? Perhaps.  I try never to overlook such an essential position. Compassion is being real.  It’s what I seek to do and provide in my voiceover performances to change the lives of others for the best.

What is your Compassion IQ?

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I know that’s a funny question because we all assume we can be compassionate. Really?

Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering” (Dictionary.com). Without compassion, you cannot really understand how to relate to others or how they feel.

Do you know how to help alleviate the suffering of another in a caring or sensitive way? Some of the smallest acts of kindness can speak volumes about compassion: a warm hug, conversation (more listening), a word of encouragement, etc.

Genuine heart-felt emotions and tender non-verbal actions can have far reaching effects and rewards. Something as small as a smile can warm your heart and touch the heart of another.

Do you fear showing others your own feelings or disclosing your compassionate responses to others?

Dr. Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin, has developed a test to score compassion. See how your compassion rates: http://www.self-compassion.org/test-your-self-compassion-level.html.

Go on, you can do it!
Type your new text here.

So you’re going to be a voice actor, really?

Personal VO Views, Voice over Training, voiceover

Voice artist or voice over is one of the most enjoyable professions in the entertainment business. Friends and associates often ask me how to get into voice acting. Compassionate lines in a script sometimes make folks believe it’s easy to be a voice actor. Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that.

To those looking for the opportunity to make their dreams come true as a compassionate communicator or as an over-the-top movie trailer orator, I encourage you to consider my tips on getting into voice acting.

A new voice talent must first “think” like a new business. Below is my short list of how to begin thinking and being a voice acting business.

Consider your reason for wanting to voice act: Think about why you want to be “in the business.” If you want, jot down your reason or reasons. Don’t worry, you can revise it later if you want, I won’t tell.

Drop the attitude, please: Voice acting is what I call a “service business.” All the pros I know have an attitude to serve others with excellence. The pros know that it’s not about having a great voice, but about bringing a script to life!

Start to make connections through the Internet: Start by doing word searches on Do a word search on voice over, acting, etc. Follow talent you find and like on Facebook, Twitter, etc, but in a causal friendly manner. You are seeking to develop new business connections not looking to stalk top voice over talent.

Find out all you can about voice acting for free: Before you sign up for that class that promises to make you a killer demo and voice over star in one year or less, do your homework. There are many sites that offer free advice on how to start developing your craft. You can take out the check book later.

Next time, I’ll will warp up my best tips on becoming a voice talent. So for now, have fun with your homework.

So you want to be a voice actor, really? (A little more)

Voice over Training, voiceover

Don LaFontaine and many others have found fame and fortune as a voice talent. These greats perform with seemingly little to no effort and bring scripts and stories to life. My soft, warm, compassionate delivery is only one style of voice acting. Voice actors can be as unique as petals on a rose or as varied as snow flakes. Below I provide a few more of my tips on becoming a professional voice actor:

Find your niche: what you do well. Many new voice talent want to do every delivery and style right out of the gate: compassionate, animated, girl or guy next door, etc. You need to understand your best style and delivery, which usually is not everything. Perhaps your voice is best for e-learning, hard sell, or perhaps for soft, warm, and hart-felt messages. The point is that you can waste a staggering amount of time pursuing the wrong type of jobs. Break the habit now.

Develop a support system. It can take years to become a stellar voice actor and that is with study and perseverance. Disappointments will come, and at times, you will be the one who needs compassion. This can be lonely business. Many folks like the idea of being a voice actor but not the hard work needed for regular practice, quality auditions, continued learning, good home studio skills, etc. Try to get someone to hold you accountable to help keep you on track towards building your voice business goals.

Do it or don’t! Recently I met a guy who said to me, “… I’m trying to do voice overs.” My first thought was, “Why. You are, or you are not.” Decide on who you are and what you do. A voice over artist is a skilled artisan. You don’t want to become someone who spends thousands of dollars on audio equipment and voice training to the become a professional (voice) student and not one (voice) job to your credit.

Know when to quit/know when to stay. Some folks hit the ground running and never look back. But if you have challenges or have tried and still are unable to overcome them, perhaps voiceover is not the right career for you. We all have personal issues, but if your obligations make it almost impossible for you to do what’s necessary to be successful, you may need to take a break or close the business until you can really commitment to your success.

Whatever you decide, voice overs is a unique and fun career. Well, that’s it for now.

Happy voicing!

Time for Social Media or Voiceovers?

Personal VO Views, Uncategorized, VO Business Tips, voiceover, Voiceover Bussiness Tips

Spending time on social media is excellent for connecting within the voiceover community. The various outlets provide a unique way of keeping up with the trends, events, and innovations in the VO industry. How much time of any given day should one spend on social media? Is it possible to spend too much time socially surfing? Make sure your social media activities don’t overshadow precious work hours in other areas.

As a self-employed voiceover artist, I find time management is crucial. I know that many voice artists are versed in computer skills, which is necessary for successfully managing one’s home studio and electronic interactions. However, it is essential to plan your time wisely, so you are not spending more time on social media than in other areas of the voiceover business.

Schedule Your Time: If you share your time in many daily pursuits, plan when to check in with social media. Social media is an excellent marketing tool and provides a unique opportunity to connect with potential clients. Still, this is only one tool in your marketing plan.

Social Media and Your Business: Posting and networking are not just efforts at play. Curate your content to reduce wasted hours and individually shape your posts.

Katie Lance writes in  Social Media Time Management: The Best-Kept Secrets Revealed for Curating, Creating and Promoting Hot Content “Whether you are building your Facebook presence, creating unique Stories for Snapchat, or building a community on Instagram – curating is probably going to be a part of your process.”

Make time for other Voiceover Management: Always seek ways to hone your skills. Regular practice helps you to develop a better voice delivery, so as they say, “Practice makes perfect.” Never minimize the need for practicing your voiceover skills over web surfing. Likewise, make sure you’re leaving time for client follow-up, auditions, and other necessary daily business habits.

Don’t leave out Human Interaction: Remember, you are a talent on the move. Compassion, tenderness, and kindness are great attractors within the human spirit. Let your soul show through when meeting others on and offline. Personal interactions can lead to new business relationships just as much web connections. Social media should not replace human interaction to give it a different flavor.

Okay, now go for it, and break that lip!

It’s 2013 – Do you know where your voiceover business is going?

VO Business Tips, Voice over Training

Fill in the blank. “In 2013, I resolve to _______________ for my VO career.” Really!!

If you are like me, you have started, stopped, and started so many things in life. Don’t let your VO career take the same course. Voiceover is a great career as well as an adventure in discovering the facets of your own soul as a voice actor.

I’d like to share with you Voice Talent Manager Celia Siegel’s thoughts on how not to skimp on your VO career in the new year (http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=6teiw9zw).

The industry continues to grow, and we must grow with it. Consider Celia’s article, and know where your voiceover business is going in 2013.

Voice-over Newbies – Makings for Great New Long-term Relationships

Business Tips, Voiceover Clients

(Photo credit: Curtis Kennington)

Voice acting is a great career, and the field is full of pros who deliver phenomenal talent in their performance. However, even the industry’s best voice talents had to have a start. Many of those new to the craft are tirelessly seeking and searching to find their position in the VO community. New voice actors have the potential to bring incredible benefits to their clients. For producers and agents, working with new voice talents can lead to tremendous long-term voiceover relationships infused with new styles of interpretation.

New voice talents (five years or less of experience) are desperately trying to make a name for themselves in the VO industry. The influx of new voice actors can be an excellent plus for clients in the following ways:

  • Discounted rates may be available to the client
  • Offers of pro-bono work to help build a voice actor’s resume
  • Eager voice actors focused to please new clients and go the extra mile
  • New acting perspectives reflecting modern communication styles

When new talents become established, most will still offer the best services and rates to their initial clients as a sign of appreciation and loyalty. Partnering on the ground floor with a new voice over talent can be a win-win for clients.

As with all relationships, even in business, they take work to last. With such competition in the VO industry, there is an ever-changing group of voice talent becoming equipped with new voice acting skills ready to deliver their best to you and your bottom line.

Consider all aspects of finding the best voice for your project. With so many available voice-over professionals, what you need is only a few keyboard strokes away.

 

Relationship Yourself Into Your Next Voice Job

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Let’s face it, we are all human. As humans, we are basically relational beings. So as a voiceover talent, your job is not to become a loner as you fight your way through the voiceover market forest. In today’s market, successful voice actors learn and cultivate the art of relationships – even online.

Many of us perform voice acting from a home studio. This solo working atmosphere may lead to disconnecting with others on personal and professional levels. While it may be profitable for a while, without human connections, you and your business may suffer. Take care not to loose your edge. Instead seek to develop virtual relationships in the business and voiceover community. Here are a few tips to building on-line relationships for a successful voiceover business:

Remember Clients’ Special Dates. Contact your new or potential clients on the holidays, but also on the owner’s birthday, business anniversary date, and their other special dates. These remembrances provide an opportunity to connect personally and professionally.

Comment on Associates’ and Colleagues’ Blogs. A positive, genuine reply of agreement or encouragement can be seen by the writer as well as their followers and readers. Remember when making your comments, make them brief, genuine, and always positive.

Build your Network of Colleagues through Give and Take. Many new voice talent seek mentoring by more experienced or famous talents. However, it is not advisable to ask a stranger to become your voiceover mentor. Build friendships and look for ways to add to the voice actor’s life or business. For example, look for ways to give and be of assistance to others. In time, you should receive a return on what you have given. The return may or may not be within the same relationship, so don’t get discouraged. The approach works, so keep at it while you look for the right fit.

Connect from the Heart Over Time. People like people who connect, listen, and show concern for others. You want your associates and clients to see you as more than another voice talent trying to nab a job; you want to become the right person for many jobs and business relationships. As others get to know you and your style, they may recommend you as a talent, think of you for specific projects, or at least keep in contact until the relationship pays off for the both of you.

Go ahead, show some compassion and make a (virtual) friend. It will payoff!

Factory Produced, One Dollar for Holler, and it Goes On

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There is much talk these days about whether automation will replace the professional voice artist. The buzz is also circling about voice talent offering products for $10 or less. While these items may seem like great voice “buys,” I would advise the buyer to beware! Voice acting is a talent skill as specialized as developing a masterpiece on canvas; each project should be a treated as a classic.

The voice artist who takes time to learn all aspects of his craft lays the foundation as a master voice artisan. Such an individual understands the importance of discovering the essence of each voice clients’ project and making each script come to life. Time learning delivery, tone, elocution, are like learning how to properly care and feed a new born. No matter if the project is a voice mail system or a narrated feather film, a masterful voice actor treats each client’s project for lack of a better word, like a “Baby.”

How much would you spend on your baby? If you only paid a caregiver a dollar to watch your baby, what kind of service would you expect? I know times are challenging, but many talent are willing to with clients to develop a masterful projects. Yes, it may cost more that $10 dollars, but, in the long run, the rewards have a better change of being greater and with better quality and service. Remember, the baby is worth a lot more than a dollar or “a dolla.”

Blogs: Training for Any Budget

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(Photo credit: Tom Baugis)
To stay on top of the ever-improving voiceover business, you’ve got to keep up with what’s going on. Doing voiceovers is the best. But as members of a networking society, blogs can help keep you on top of trends and changes in the VO industry. We can communicate, share, and learn from each other in the VO field. Interacting with the voiceover community will help improve the quality of your vocal delivery, business, as well as services to your clients. Learn from the best through social media.