voice acting Archives - The Compassionate Voice

Holding Up In 2020: Have It Your Way

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

As I hope you know, the world is in the midst of the Covid-19 onslaught on our society and our way of life. As such, we have to make drastic changes in our daily lives to stay healthy. Countless news programs, commentaries, podcasts, preachers, and scientists give us their daily take on how to adjust to the ever-changing “new normal.” But I’ve come to understand that changing during this unprecedented time in world history can only go so far. Each of us must decide how to make it through these strange days.

If you’re running a business (like voice acting), there is a fair amount of adjustment needed for dealing with things as a creative and entrepreneur. I’ve come up with a few thoughts to consider for adjusting to the new normal your way.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

While voice actors should keep abreast of the types of voice delivery popular in media and entertainment, we need to dial back the doses of bad news. To be clear, communication that leads to feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, and fear are bad news. Keeping informed of the latest health developments and strategies for staying safe is a good idea. But you may have noticed by now that too much of a perceived ”good thing” may not be so good after all.

Limit daily news and media time. If it’s breaking news, you’ll probably get a Tweet or Instagram post about it. Review several sources of news to help you determine a balanced view of the information. You must think critically about what you are seeing and hearing to decide what’s best for you.

In, What to Do When You Get Unexpected Bad News, Suzanne Kane writes “Go straight to the source to eliminate bias or watered-down information that may be more opinion and hearsay than factual. To properly deal with unexpected negative news, you need to arm yourself with the facts.”

Maintain your Daily Wellness

Hopefully, you have some idea of what a thriving daily routine looks like for you. Keep your physical health in check, and make sure you are also watching your dental health. (Ever since I learned that many of the ancient Egyptians died of gum disease, I’ve become a big supporter of good dental health.) Likewise, watch your weight by getting in regular exercise and healthy relaxation. I find cycling helps me to stay mentally and physically healthy.

Practice Caution until the Cure

Many of us are finally getting opportunities to do more outside our homes than grocery shop. We can now visit museums, shops, beaches, churches, restaurants, and friends! But there is still a need for extra caution in society. Have your fun and do as much as you need to maintain good relationships. Of course, make sure you’re practicing the official guidelines for venturing out in public and around others.

Stretch your Creativity to the (legal) Max

It will take most of us a lifetime to understand and reveal our true selves. Use this time of adjustment to continue to see what is in you and express it creatively. For example, you don’t have to be a voice actor to invest in training in voice or acting. Get in on virtual learning and artistic pursuits to see what comes from within you. Let yourself laugh at life and dream of how the world would be if everyone were just like you. If you’re a voice talent, never stop investigating the possibilities of advancing your creativity to that which lies within you. Continue to harness your creative “gold mine,” your mind.

Nurture your People

Your new normal should not be void of people. Again, voiceover people know and understand the importance of human interactions. We know that you cannot relate and reach others without understanding them. We need our families, friends, neighbors, and even some of our enemies. People teach us to succeed, fail, fight, love, grow, and adapt. Spending all your time behind physical or virtual walls does not lead to good relationships or mental health.

The worst solitude is to have no real friendships.” Francis Bacon

Use the virtual tools available to connect with others. Moreover, meet others in safely distanced setting to talk, laugh, and just be yourself. You need your people and they need you. Don’t deprive them of you. Nurture others and you will find your spirit is a little lighter every time you interact with people. Find a way to make it work your way.

Your survival is now in your hands. You are too special to lose, we need you. Take the advice on being safe, but don’t let being safe strip away your life. You can make it through 2020 and beyond. I’ll be listening for you breaking a lip.

Perform like the script was written with you in mind

Personal VO Views, Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

Voice over and film talents encounter all types of situations surrounding the ongoing stream of auditions. Do you ever feel your best is not needed because you are not the best or the first choice for a piece? That’s no excuse. Always give your finest. Even if you’re not the first choice, perform each voice-over script like the role was made just for you.

Did you see Ghostbusters? I watched a documentary the other day on the making of the original 1984 movie version. Of all the talented, big-name artists and performers in the movie, one artist’s journey still stands out for me. Writer/Actor Rick Moranis played “Louis Tully,” a neighbor of “Dana” played by Sigourney Weaver. Moranis was a last-minute fill-in for the Louis part. The role was written with Comedian/Actor John Candy in mind. Some of the film pre-shooting storyboards in the documentary even contained the Tully character with a striking resemblance to Candy.

The narrator noted no other actor was considered because the movie’s producers assumed Candy would take the role. But, once Candy read the script, he turned it down. Needing a quick replacement, one of the producers thought of the much lesser-known Writer/Actor Rick Moranis. Moranis read the script and could not believe his luck. He quickly accepted the role. The role was so laid out for Candy that Moranis had to write most of his lines.

Moranis’ performance had audiences laughing nonstop with his business write-off party and offering the dog demon a Mike Bone (if he could find one). Now that’s a full-service artist.

A voice actor (which Moranis occasionally works as), must be ready to make any role his or her own. The director will often give some parameters of a script. Some voice seekers even suggest characters to emulate when performing a voice-over script. But, it’s up to the voice actor to develop each script performance with the proper attitude and element of acting to bring the text to life.

Like film actors, a voice actor must be the talent and determine how best to perform a voice-over role. There is no time when a script is just a straight read. Even when the direction is to take a cue from a character actor, there’s usually room for a specific tone, feel personality, and confidence level in the performance. A voice-over artist is not hired to be a slough reading with a friendly voice. A voice over is engaged to be an actor using the medium of voice.

Always be your best actor

Like Moranis, you may or may not be the person in mind first, but with the proper script analysis infused with your style and creativity, you can rock your best performance.

Let your personality shine through as you listen carefully to the direction and give it your best routine. If possible, listen back to your performance and see if there is anything more you can pull out of the story for a better performance. Once you’ve given the director or producer what they initially asked for, do you see where you can pull more from the role? Who knows, the director may like your take on the script. If not, you can always go back to your first execution.

Get help in developing you

I am a big proponent of acting classes. Voice actors should always look for ways to bring out the creative stylist that lies in the soul. As children, most of us made up characters, games, and played pretend adventures. That spirit of creativity still lies in our soul; acting and improv training will help bring out your best interpretation no matter how long it’s been since you were a child.

Be ready for that unexpected VO role

Voice acting is such a fun profession, and there will be times when you are chosen for a job because you bring something unique to a script, a believable performance. Take a cue from Moranis, be ready not just to be the voice over, but the best actor for that script.

You know what to do, break that lip!

Fuel your Creativity through Friends

Personal VO Views, Voice talent renewal, voiceover

A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of voice actor friends. My elite group of FaffCon friends and I have been virtually meeting very nearly monthly for several years. (FaffCon was developed by Amy Snively and is one of the first content laden, voice-over events specifically geared to helping voice-over talent become successful through collaboration.) While time and life have changed us all, we are very happy to still be working voice over talents. Hearing of my friends’ successes and optimistic hope for the future really uplifted my spirits. While human relationships can be work, they are the best way to fuel your creativity and hope for the future.

The meeting with my friends reminded me of how important it is to focus on the good things in life. Where I live, the airways are constantly bombarded with negative rhetoric and news. After hearing hours of negative comments, death reports, and predictions of doom from an irradiated planet, taking time to interact with the right set of friends is just what I needed.

So, what does this have to do with voice acting? Plenty. Voice actors by nature and sensitive to the world around them. I have found that to be an effective voice actor, confidence and optimism are essential. One way to keep and maintain confidence and optimum is to fill your creativity soil with those things that grow your confidence and optimism.

Choose to associate with positive people who like you for the person you are, who encourage you to be yourself, and be the best you can be.” The Napoleon Hill Foundation

An Ear for the Positive

We all want to be successful, so pay it forward. Take time to listen as others speak, especially a friend telling of success, and be happy for them. We all have times of success and failure. It’s a part of the human experience. Hanging out with the right friends and business associates can make all the difference in the world. For more on this, see my blog “How I Get my Voice-over Help.”

This week’s meeting (like many) with my FaffCon VO friends felt like a cozy warm hug from a friend that I hadn’t seen in some time. Of course, not all relationships and interactions are always cozy and warm, co don’t give up on doing the hard work of building healthy relationships. Through healthy relationships, you become a much better voice actor and person overall as you learn, grow, forgive, appreciate, and do it all over again. You’ll truly see how building positive relationships can help in the down times and fuel your creativity even in the recording booth.

Now, with all this optimism, it’s time to break a lip.

Social Wise is a Voice Actor’s Mission

VO Business Tips, Voice over Training, voiceover, Voiceover Bussiness Tips

Most business owners understand that their website is the place to park their info for the world to hopefully find their business. One’s social media presence is another matter. Today’s voice-talent will have a hard time finding work without a wise and specific strategy for getting the word out about them via Social media. If you want to be a real player in the voice acting arena, make sure you’re getting your effort’s worth in communicating through Social media.

Choose the Best Social media Sites for Your Business

Every so often, I come across someone in business who proudly announces that they are not on Facebook. What gets me is the pride the person has in the distinction. I think some business owners feel that they are hiding from a whirlwind of social chatter or protecting their privacy by not being on Facebook or similar platforms. While this may be a nice thought, the lack of social media participation only keeps a company away from potential clients.

For more on platforms, Kris Spisak, in 2019 Social Media Trends & Statistics— (January 2, 2019, Business 2 Business), outlines the social media platform trends and audience. Limiting your Social media to the right platforms can help you narrow down where to find your best on-line audience.

As a voice actor, it can be a challenge to choose the right platforms. Voice actors place their demos on their websites, so there’s no need for daily post clips from jobs on social medial (which is a very bad idea). So, voice talents must be a little creative on what works to keep in front of potential clients.

When looking for your client’s “water cooler” so to speak, start by searching general terms associated with your clients’ niche. Search for networking events your clients may attend and see if the events have social media sites. Likewise, your clients may already have social media pages (which I’m sure many do). Follow them and read their posts to get an idea of how you can help their business. Make sure you review as many platforms as needed to find your potential market.

Narrow your search to companies in your genre. Look for the social media platforms of potential clients. When you read the posts and comments, give honest and uplifting feedback that shows a positive attitude and that you have an idea of your potential client’s challenges.

Maintain an Active Presence

Once you have established your Facebook, LinkedIn, What’s App or other presence, make sure you’re making regular postings. Many voiceover talents feel social media can be overwhelming. To help bring order to regular postings, use a post planning tool like Hootsuite, Postplanner, etc. You can set up your activities to continue without your constant oversite.

Once you’ve decided on how often you post to your sites, I suggest you try your best to keep that schedule. For myself, I find it annoying when I receive newsletters at irregular intervals. To me, it appears the sender has no structure; I never know when an email or social media post may emerge from the writer. Equally, those who follow you may look forward to your posts, so don’t keep them waiting. Keep your posts timely.

Don’t Fear Being Personal

I think sharing a little personal information can help potential clients get to know you. Don’t share anything you’re not comfortable with, which is also very wise. Share posts from sites you like, give a kind greeting with a beautiful scene, or relate some bit of information that can benefit others. Something as small as remembering other’s special holidays and occasions shows you have a personal side and perhaps a good sense of humor.

Only Speak in the Positive (Someone is Always Watching!)

What we post has repercussions. Speak, kindly always. Now more than ever, personal views shared on Social media can be a career killer. Crisis management can sometimes address unforeseen posts and items taken out of context, but why create your drama (away from the microphone). Make kindness your partner on your road to success. For more on crisis management, see Your Comprehensive Guide to Social media Crisis Management by Sapir Segal.

If you currently have negative posts on your sites, consider removing them. Your views are important, and so is your business and social presence. Make an impression that will draw others to you not away from you.

It’s your mission to make a good impression and be social wise so you can break that lip!

Wind in the Mind Time for a Voice Talent

Personal, Personal VO Views, Voice talent renewal

As a US citizen, I hear daily political and climate news with dire predictions of future calamities and over accentuated, sensationalized headlines. The voice-over industry is not immune to those periods of dire predictions such as automated voices replacing human voices. Can you imagine your automated voice service as the voice of your favorite animation character? Give that a thought for a while. Don’t let bad news or hyperbole knock you off your life’s course. No matter your pursuit, keep yourself fresh and real with “wind-in-the-mind-time” to maintain your best.

Mind Checkup

I’m a big proponent of regular checkups. Our world is full of daily and even hourly distractions disguised as information, which is geared to kick us off our course. The distractions cause us to doubt our worth, importance, appearance, lovability, and marketability. We’re constantly told we need something outside of ourselves to be enough as humans. Forces are out there that cause us to doubt ourselves altogether and our purpose in life.

The feeling of being ‘offended’ is a warning indicator that is showing you where to look within yourself for unresolved issues.” — Bryant McGill

When I feel a little off base and unsure about everything, I do a self-check-in to refocus. During my wind-in-the-mind-time, I cut off the television, movies, radio, and even Social Media to silence the voices and sounds coming into my world. During my distraction-less time, I listen to what’s going on inside of me. My breath, heartbeat, and general temperament are my focus. It amazes me at how upset I can become after watching a controversial movie or hearing the news. Stepping back and taking time to re-center my mind, thoughts, and being helps me get back to the fabulous person I know I am.

Getting Better with wind-in-the-mind-time

Many of my friends, regardless of their profession, seem to face similar challenges. We grow as talents, business leaders, and professionals, but the human side appears to need the most refreshing and needs it most often. It would be nice to focus our mind on something like losing weight or making 1,000 cold calls and do it. But that’s not the way people work, and that’s fine.

The task of redirecting and refocusing from the old to the new can be exciting and fun. Almost every day, we are exposed to new technologies and processes built to make our world better. We also learn more about the human psyche and how to find inner peace. Voice actors have a leg up on most folks because we operate from our emotional center to vocally communicate written texts. But I also believe those in the acting profession know the cutting edge of deep emotions and feelings and their effects if not kept in check.

So, what of it? The purpose of wind-in-the-mind-time is to refresh your thinking. I use the time to review my world and the changes I become aware of to see if there is something out there that can make my business and life flow a little better. Likewise, this is the time I use to decide on what things I’m exposed to that no longer need my time attention or curiosity.

Is it time for your wind-in-the-mind-time? What have you heard, what do you do, what’s new, what’s essential, what can go, or stay? A little time in the mind can get you back on track and find inner peace.

“The key to happiness is really progress and growth and constantly working on yourself and developing something.” — Lewis Howes

I’m refocusing some of my efforts this summer to improve what I provide to my voice-over clients. You too should take some wind-in-the-mind-time. No matter your business, embrace the positive and focus on a great future as you prepare to break that lip.

(Image by Gerd Altmann and Pixabay)

Foundations of the Working Voiceactor

Business Tips, Personal VO Views, VO Business Tips

Voiceover is still a hot topic with people moving in and out of the industry daily. The rise in audiobook sales and gaming platforms has piqued the interest of the younger generation as many vie for an opportunity to become one of the favorite gaming voices or narrators. But some things about voice acting are timeless and a vital part of the makeup of the working voice artist. Integrity and hard work are still the foundations for success as a voiceover artist.

Why integrity?

Voiceactors quickly learn that unlike other professions, the best parts of your mind and spirit are open to the world to examine, critique, and even criticize. Voice acting comes from the soul of the truly gifted artist. Each performance is an imparting of the spirit of the artist as he or she brings a piece of text to life. This practice of pulling from one’s inner being to perform before the world is not always well received or accepted. For that reason, rejection in the form of losing a job or not being selected for a project can be especially hard on the voice actor. Losing a voiceover job oe client can be seen as a professional rejection as well as a personal one.

Integrity plays a big part in supporting the soul of the voice talent. It’s in one’s nature to desire appreciation when one has done their best. Knowing that you have done your best with integrity or the “personal quality of fairness” helps when you face rejection and can fuel your pursuit of future success. Giving your best as a voice actor and business owner, plus returning the same respect and kindness as one wants from others, builds the integrity foundation that supports the working voice actor’s professional life. Showing integrity by treating others fairly, learning to accept rejection, and keeping an even keel can lead to eventual success. Your integrity shows up in the way you approach new prospects, learn from your teachers, run your business, manage your finances, help others, and most assuredly in your voiceover performances.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Henry David Thoreau

Why hard work?

The nicest voice actor around must still run his or her voiceover business like a business. There is no substitute for a regular regime of marketing, learning, training, and auditioning to remain viable. The voiceover industry has very few shortcuts. The industry evolves as society evolves in the way it communicates and interconnects. Working voice talent keep an eye on changing industry trends and how the human voice is most effective across the various voiceover genres. Also, a successful voice talent must maintain focus on the technologies related to home studio innovations. Lastly, a voiceover talent must know his or her transforming personal style, learning curve, ability, knowledge, etc. Regularly reviewing and embracing all aspects of the voiceover industry and continuing to reach toward voiceover success can be a daunting task, but not impossible.

Working hard also means working smart. Recent industry changes have some talents rethinking their commitment to voice acting. Some are finding that changes in the industry’s accepted rates and the overall feel may differ from their personal aims. Moreover, some may feel that it takes too much work to make a decent living as a voiceactor.

Voiceacting is like any other profession; one must learn to “roll with the punches” to make it. If working hard is still not getting the results you need for success, know when it’s time to refocus your efforts or find another professional pursuit.

Starting with the basics of deciding how to perform all aspects of one’s business with integrity and through hard, is the sound foundation of the working voice talent.

Whether its gaming, commercials, or eLearning, voiceacting is a lot of fun and can be very rewarding. But, without the fundamentals and a good foundation, success eluded and only be an unfunded dream.

Work hard with integrity as you break that lip.

Kindness: Shared, Remembered, Returned

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

I recently vacationed in Idaho and stayed at a resort hotel. Late in my stay week, I left my hotel room early one morning for breakfast. When I returned later that day, I found a note from the housekeepers thanking me for my stay. While the note could have been an indirect reminder of the gratuity, I’d like to think the note was just a sincere appreciation. Each time I encountered the cleaning staff, I made a point to greet them pleasantly and compliment them on their services. I was so moved by the note, that I left a “nice” gratuity in response. Never underestimate the power of kindness.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “kindness” as the quality or state of being kind, treating people with kindness and respect. Kindness, such as in the case mentioned above, prompted me to increase the amount of gratuity I planned for the cleaning staff. It also gave me a good feeling that I was appreciated as a guest.

Likewise, I had a different episode just a few weeks before my vacation. A neighbor in business has shown me little kindness over the past few weeks. While she has not said anything overly offensive, her short emails written in bold, capital letters and her curt responses to my emails regarding community matters, gave me the feeling that she has a low personal regard for me.

Now, this is not entirely a rant; it’s more of me pointing out a lost opportunity. I believe the services my neighbor offers could be enhanced through narrations, targeted voice marketing prompts, and information videos on her website. Moreover, I support her vision and applaud her as a successful entrepreneur. However, due to our interactions, I believe our working together would not be beneficial. Alas, the experience is a missed opportunity due to the lack of kindness.

Kindness Matters

Speaker and author Bob Burg once said, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like, and trust.” Do people trust you? Do people like you (and do you care)? Are you genuinely kind to others? We all have good and bad days, but do you try to maintain an attitude of openness and kindness? Small acts of kindness can determine your business’s future, primarily as a working voiceover artist.

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

Working voice talents interact with many potential clients throughout the day. The person that serves us in the restaurant may be the owner. The Uber driver may be part of a small company burgeoning on video success. Your neighbor, whose child has just visited your door requesting a small donation to his or her high school band’s field trip, may be in need of your business services. Voice actors are like passion ambassadors.

We have fantastic opportunities to touch the world through our human voice. The art of vocally communicating emotions that compel others to act can best be performed by a voice actor and second to no other mode of communication. It all starts with the behavior of kindness.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

Princess Diana

Never overlook kindness in building new friendships. Who knows, you may need the favor returned sooner than you think. Lastly, you may further be surprised as how being kind to others helps you stand out from the pack in all areas of your life.

Be kind as you break a lip.

Voiceover Success: Your Mouth Matters!

Voice over Training, Voice talent renewal

As many enter the voiceover and voice acting arena, there is an area not usually addressed in blogs, at conferences, or during training sessions. The mouth and vocal cords play an essential role in the success of anyone who speaks for a living. Moreover, dental and vocal care can affect how a voice talent speaks, breaths, and feels. Your teeth, breathing, and the way you form and express words are so crucial that such items can break or make your voiceover career. Here’s how you can practice healthy vocal and dental care for voiceover success.

Your Pearly Whites

Human teeth nicknamed “Pearly Whites” are the first item of note in our mouth matters. The Mayo Clinics’ Healthy Lifestyle, Adult health article provides steps to promote oral health. Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:

Brush your teeth twice a day. When you brush, don’t rush. Take time to do a thorough job.
Use the proper equipment. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than does manual brushing. These devices are also helpful if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively.
Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.
Keep your equipment clean. Always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing. Store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air-dry until using it again. Try to keep it separate from other toothbrushes in the same holder to prevent cross-contamination. Don’t routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, which can encourage the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast.
Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become irregular or frayed.

Choppers and the Voice

Good mouth care also includes monitoring the voice. Overuse of the voice can negatively affect the healthiest mouth. The National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) provides information on protecting your voice.

Try not to overuse your voice. Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is hoarse or tired.
Rest your voice when you are sick. Illness puts extra stress on your voice.
Avoid using the extremes of your vocal range, such as screaming or whispering. Talking too loudly and too softly can both stress your voice.
Practice good breathing techniques when singing or talking. Support your voice with deep breaths from the chest, and don’t rely on your throat alone. Singers and speakers are often taught exercises that improve this kind of breath control. Talking from the throat, without supporting breath, puts a great strain on the voice.
Avoid cradling the phone when talking. Cradling the phone between the head and shoulder for extended periods of time can cause muscle tension in the neck.
Consider using a microphone when appropriate (and correct placement for the voiceover). In relatively static environments such as exhibit areas, classrooms, or exercise rooms, a lightweight microphone and an amplifier-speaker system can be of great help.
Avoid talking in noisy places. Trying to talk above noise causes strain on the voice.
Consider voice therapy. A speech-language pathologist who is experienced in treating voice problems can teach you how to use your voice in a healthy way.

A little care and attention to the mouth can lead to a long and successful voiceover career. You always want to keep your vocal health on the side of your voiceover success. Now go and break that lip!

Leesha

Voice Overs