Bobbin's Blog

Goin' Mobile

2012-05-15T01:42:50Z

I'm going Mobile...In more ways than one

I won't be blogging for about a week. I'm departing at 5AM tomorrow, bound for my Wisconsin home to get it ready for the summer rental season.

It's a lot of hard work, mixed with fun, as I always make a point of visiting with some of my oldest friends and local haunts.

And yes, I have a remote studio set up, but only for emergencies or fast auditions. I may take pictures of my remote setup, and I promise they won't be glamorous. Tee-hee.

The big news I have today is that my regular website is now mobile! I am ready for the future, for now....

Check it out from your mobile smart phone.

Or from your computer web browser, http://www.bobbinbeam.com/mobile/

Yay!
I'll be back mid-next week!

Real VO? or TTS?

2012-05-11T16:56:19Z

I was fascinated by what I found and heard recently in an online discussion group. It it real voiceover, or TTS?

Yes, it's real and it's...TTS

TTS means text to speech. We've heard about it, and some fear it. I must admit that the technology has greatly improved, its not all there. I don't think we're going to have another "HAL" like in the film, "2001 A Space Odyssey".

Take a listen:
Ivona

Loquendo

I use Google's phone number service and the speech to text technology has a long way to go. This free (reverse concept) service converts a spoken word phone message to text and emails it to me. There's a lot of drop out.

However, Google is also big on cloud-based TTS technology:
++++++++++++++
Have you ever found yourself in a place when you just can’t focus on your computer screen anymore? Maybe your eyes are strained by long hours of time in front of computer or your are just feeling lazy. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone read stuff to us, instead of reading it ourself? You can just sit back, relax, close your eyes and listen to the stuff you needed to read.

Text to speech technology has made a lot of progress in the last few years. Previously we had software applications which needed to be installed on the computers for them to convert text to speech and weren’t much effective. But now we have some excellent text to speech services and most of them are free and of good quality.

++++++++++++++

The applications of TTS are many and varied!

Don't fret fellow voice-over artists! You'll note that some vocal patterns can mimic so-called "emotion", but can never take the place of the natural nuance of a live thinking human. Computers cannot ACT!

Voice-over jobs and Celebrities

2012-05-08T19:44:24Z

In case you missed this in several of the Facebook discussions, here's the link to the front page
LA Times article from yesterday's edition that discusses a perceived trend that "celebrities" are taking all the voiceover jobs away from the working pros.

Stars Muffle The Voice of Experience

One of my voice coaches, Harvey Kalmenson at Kalmenson & Kalmenson voice-casting in Burbank rants in an open letter to Joe Flint, the article's writer on the topic.

My opinion, is varied. Yes, celebs are working more in animation, films, games, commercials, and even audiobooks. Just look at this year's Audies finalists!

Never fear...There is still plenty of work for the working pros.

And not all agencies will have the budget to hire A-list actors.

Life goes on!

Vocal Health: How much do you know?

2012-05-06T20:28:26Z

I must admit that when I took this timely quiz on Voiceover Xtra, I was astonished at how much I wasn't aware of.
Especially the one about milk products!

I'm in the throes of narrating a 13 finished hour audiobook in addition to all the auditions and other gigs and I am feeling the effects of vocal and bodily fatigue.

By the end of the day, I don't want to talk! TO ANYONE! And my family understands. Yay!

So in vase you've missed it, Take the Vocal Health Quiz now

The quiz has gotten me very interested in this topic. It's taken from notes to Bettye Zoller's upcoming webinar on Vocal Health - Learn Truths, Shatter Myths, this Monday night (May 7).

For details about the vocal health webinar and registration, please click here or visit:

http://conta.cc/YourVocalHealthWebinar.

Voices.com to launch iPhone app Monday, May 7th

2012-05-05T03:22:15Z

The Voices.com iPhone app will be launching Monday May 7, 2012.

Here's some advance detailed information on how the Voices.com iPhone app works.

Download the iPhone app user guide here:
http://www.voices.com/documents/Voices.com_iPhone_App_Talent_User_Guide_v1.pdf

And yes there's a version for Android in the works for a Fall, 2012 release. And they're presently developing an iPad app. Here's a short video describing the iPhone app. I look forward to Monday, May 7th. Good job, Voices.com!

Audiobook Release: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

2012-05-02T20:01:59Z

Even though the latest audiobook narration I've performed, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll was released about six weeks ago by Cherry Hill Publishing, I'd like to share the press release about it.

Bobbin Beam voices audiobook version of "Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland"

It was a lot of fun and creative to play so many absurd character voices.And to be associated with such a classic work of literature was a complete honor for me.

And here's a link to Cherry Hill Publishing's first quarter 2012 library catalog

Gut Check

2012-04-30T03:20:08Z

Gut Check

How many times during the career of a voice actor will he or she hear, "The client has decided to go with another voice talent"?

If you're honest, it's all the time, especially if you audition constantly and consistently. Sure, you nail the read, and some gigs you'll even book. But how do we work through this repeating message without becoming a head case?

Some call it, "selection, not rejection". While that might be true, and it softens the blow. But it feels otherwise at the moment you receive that old refrain from your contact people. You know your audition was stellar. You did the job. You just didn't book it. And unless you're a bald-faced liar or delusional, it happens more often than not. And yes, sometimes we'll get on a hot streak and score score score. Know that things can change.

Some like to endlessly spin and spew all their impressive credits to all who they think actually care. I tune out that noise. Instead, I go to work on things that matter and that I can change, that I can control. I cannot control the voice casters who makes the decisions.

So how do I handle this not so glamorous voice actor reality ? I seek to express, not impress. And be interested, not interesting. At times I must admit I must summon all my Zen for clarity.
I must move on. I summon the gut check.

After living in the voice over space for so long, by now I've trained myself to let go and move on quickly, and focus on the positive, fantastic gigs I have performed. I'm still that same person, at the top of my game. It may take a day or so, but the end for me result is a better one on all levels.

I realize this is up to me. What's not working is me, so I need to act. Nobody's going to ride in on a while horse and change the scenario. So I read and learn constantly. I seek coaching and stay abreast of trends. I'm always changing and becoming, renewing. I'll read a good book or watch a movie to get my head out of myself. I'm planting new seeds and tending my garden, taking care of the business. Always working to improve the booking ratio. Laziness is not allowed.

I'm learning about what I don't know. And there's a lot I don't know. So when I feel a gut check is in order, I remember that champions never became champions without dedication and tons of hard work to achieve peak performance.

VOICE 2012 Discount Going Going.....

2012-04-27T03:43:49Z

May 1st is the deadline before price goes up!!!!

Hurry. It's coming fast. And the Hotel is almost sold out of the specially priced rooms.

GO HERE!

VO: Where sickness is not optional...

2012-04-20T21:20:22Z

Just another day in the life of a working pro VO.

I was ill last weekend. I thought it was a 24 hour flu. But it really threw me off my normally healthy chipper and high-energy self.

I've been feeling better but with a lot less energy. The fever is down but I still feel so tired.

Well I found out after going to the doctor this week that I 've had an infection from a cyst in my back what I never knew about. No wonder I've felt so lethargic and tired.

This morning there was an 8AM ISDN session. I was totally geared up for that but afterwards my energy was flagging. I wanted to go to bed!

But I kept working. Thankfully I could accomplish much while lying down. I just agreed to my first audiobook contract through ACX, and spent much of the day laying down, doing a preread and prep of the book. Perfect timing.

This afternoon, I was able to sit at my desk for a while and pen some thank you notes while listening to an audition class I subscribe to online.
I'm still on the mend, but still taking care of biz. Thank goodness my voice has not been affected. If it were laryngitis, I would be out of business for that time until it subsided.

When you're in business for yourself, sickness is not an option. No personal days or sick days are provided by my employer. Oh, that's me... Take care of yourself and Happy Weekend!

VOICE OVER LEGAL e-BooK Now Available

2012-04-18T02:47:23Z

VOICE OVER LEGAL e-BooK Now Available

Contact: John Florian / VoiceOverXtra

johnflorian@VoiceOverXtra.com

203-459-8834

April 17, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VOICE OVER LEGAL, Essential eBook Guide, Now Available

Voice Over Legal, a 120-page eBook guide for voice actors and performers to successfully manage their independent business and legal issues, was published today by VoiceOverXtra LLC, the voice over industry’s online news, training and resource center.

Written by voice actor, actor and attorney Robert J. Sciglimpaglia Jr., the guide is a virtual textbook of how to save time and money in structuring and maintaining a voice acting business, and how to cope with a myriad of potential legal issues and liabilities.

“Breaking into the voice over business is no easy feat,” says Sciglimpaglia. “I wanted to write a book that answers the questions that most voice actors are too scared to address right off the bat when landing voice over gigs – things that should not be learned by costly experience.”

The well-organized eBook is available now at www.VoiceOverLegal.com, in a variety of formats for instant download to a computer, Kindle, iPad or other eReader device.

Voice over industry leaders have been quick to praise Voice Over Legal.

“If I’d had access to Rob’s book I would have been richer and smarter,” says Pat Fraley, voice over star and trainer, and one of the top 10 performers of all time to be cast in television animation.

“This is an amazing resource for anyone, not only in voice overs, but also in radio, TV or acting,” adds Bettye Zoller, a leading international voice talent and teacher. “So much information is here that would cost many thousands were a person to hire legal counsel. Rob has added substantially to our resources.”

And James Alburger, Emmy-winning producer, trainer and co-producer of the VOICE voice over conferences notes: "Robert Sciglimpaglia is one of those rare performers who has an in-depth, working knowledge of the legal side of the acting world - truly a qualified expert on the legal minutia that can get in the way of a successful voice over or performing career.”

In great depth, yet in a highly readable non-legalese style, Voice Over Legal details business law for performers, including:

Business Structure / Organization – Why and how to incorporate
Clients and Contracts – Including a sample contract
Copyrights, Trademarks, Work for Hire
Agents and Contracts

· Unions and Financial Core (Fi-Core)

Business Insurance
Taxes – Recordkeeping and legal deductions
And more, including a handy Glossary of Legal Terms

“Any number of issues can drop in out of the blue,” notes VoiceOverXtra publisher John Florian. “Be smart. Be prepared,” he advises. “Voice Over LEGAL can save voice actors and other performers time and money by alerting them to legal and business issues before they make costly mistakes.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Attorney Robert J. Sciglimpaglia Jr. began his acting career in 2005 and has appeared in numerous national television programs, feature films and Off-Broadway productions. He is also a popular voice over talent and trainer, heard in countless voice over commercial and industrial projects for major brands including Starwood Resorts, Waterford Crystal, the Danbury Mint, Conference USA, the LA Dodgers, Zales Jewelers and the National Fair Housing Administration. As an actor, he is most recently best recognized as the “Dad” in the hugely popular Chevy “Happy Grad” commercial that aired during the 2012 Super Bowl. More is available at his website, www.RobPaglia.com.

ABOUT VOICEOVERXTRA

VoiceOverXtra LLC is the voice over industry’s daily online news, training and resource center, featuring how-to advice, industry news and hundreds of voice acting and business success resources for voice over working pros and newcomers. The resources include a comprehensive voice over industry directory, affordable webinars, calendar of training and industry events, classifieds, and links to hundreds of outside resources. Founded in 2007 by publisher John Florian, VoiceOverXtra offers free subscriptions to newsletters, reports and announcements at its home page, www.VoiceOverXtra.com.

Voiceover Newcomers Survival WebinarTonight

2012-04-16T16:26:38Z

After feeling sick most of the weekend I am happy to greet the new work week doing much better. I am so healthy normally, so I welcome the return of my high-energy self again.

Voice coach Betteye Zoller wrote me over the weekend and asked me to pass along this reminder about a webinar she's doing tonight with VoiceoverXtra:
+ + + + + + + +

"Read your latest blog with the older article on studio etiquette. Yes. Everyone should know. I learned from others when I first started out. You too. But note about milk and other things you said re: voice and beverages...be sure and tune in or ask John Florian for our webinar on Vocal Health with my personal physician, a famous ear nose throat and hearing physician and top surgeon, Dr. Mark Alteneau, because it's vital to stop these myths etc. about the voice. I think you'll find it most interesting. This is such an important webinar about vocal health with a physician that I'm telling people please to tell others. It's vital.

See ya at voice 2012 I hope.

All hugs
BZ"

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012
Starting At ...

9:00 pm Eastern

8:00 pm Central
7:00 pm Mountain

6:00 pm Pacific

TUITION: $44.95

includes full audio/visual recording

REGISTER

Revisiting Michael Shurtleff's 12 Guideposts

2012-04-16T03:02:33Z

12 Guideposts Based on

Michael Shurtleff's "Audition"

Here's a cool way to approach your copy. Think of ways these apply these timeless acting guideposts to your next voiceover audition.

Guidepost 1: Relationship
Find the love in the scene; for example the presence of love, absence of love, betrayal of love etc. Who is the other person in the scene in relation to me? Mother, daughter, son, lover, husband, etc. What’s your history with this person? Ask the question: “If you loved me you would...” What do I love about this person? What do I hate about this person? The problem in the relationship is always with other person. The “I’m Okay, You’re Screwed Up” Approach. Important to Remember: “This is a play about me in love relationship. What is the problem with my partner and what can I do/ give to my partner to solve my problem in order to get my dream today?”

Guidepost 2: Conflict
What is my dream and can I do to my partner so that this person can make my dream come true today ? Your Fighting For is done in a variety of ways, which are called Actions. An Action is described as an undeniable communication that affects or changes your partner to get what you want. The best actions are physical, because they are undeniable. Some examples of actions: to berate, to infuriate, to surprise, to tease etc, etc. Name the action, then play the action.

Guidepost 3: The Moment Before
Your Dream, plus your Fighting For focused into a first action seeking conflict. A strong beginning. Physicalizing the first action is recommended. Do it whenever you can. Remember, you are also carrying into the scene the personalized history you have made up for yourself, which are facts or inferences you’ve made from the script.

Guidepost 4: Humor
It’s a way of coping with the absurdities or sorrows of living. It connects you with your partner, for example, to tease, to put at ease, to share a laugh with, to deflect pain. An appreciation about the irony of life.

Guidepost 5: Opposites
In life a fundamental truth about ourselves is that at some level we want something and at another level we don’t want it. Whatever is true in the scene, the opposite is also true. An opposite is an action that interferes with you getting what you are fighting for. The 3 most obvious opposites--1. Action -Screw you , I hate you. 2. Action-You’re right, I’m wrong. 3. Non-Action-I give up. You give up your dream for the moment.

Guidepost 6: Discoveries
What’s new? Discovery is the moment to moment action. What is your partner saying or not saying. Be attentive, alert, sensitive, aware of what’s happening in the scene. Listen and be affected.Talk and effect change. You must make discoveries or you’ll miss the events. If you miss the events, nothing will happen. You must make discoveries or your scene will die. Action comes right on the tail of discovery; something which you may have suspected is suddenly comfirmed.

Guidepost 7:Communication & Competition
Give and Take. Give and Receive. What are you sending and what is your partner receiving. Vice versa. You must send and receive both Emotionally and Physically. If you are alert and aware you will discover wins and losses in you communication and competition. Celebrate you wins and mourn you losses. Keep score. Count the wins and losses. Love to compete.

Guidepost 8: Importance
Raise the stakes. This is not everyday life, but a day of crisis. Today is the day I fight, where formerly I fled. A day when everything changes. It’s has to be important or the scene falls flat. Add “I” - if you don’t nobody will listen to you. You must personalize.

Guidepost 9: Find the Events
Events equal changes, especially in the relationship. You have to create the events. Be alert to what is happening. Discover it in your partner. See if your partner is aware of what’s happening between you. Otherwise, nothing will happen--the scene will be dead. Events move the story forward.

Guidepost 10: Place
Where are you? What’s around you? Are you indoors; outdoors, on your own turf, your partner’s; or neutral. What’s your emotional connection to this place? There may be a possibility of third area focus. For example, deal with the trees or flowers in the park.

Guidepost 11: Game Playing & Role Playing
It 's not insincere-it’s very true to life and real. Game Playing and Role Playing is a way dealing with reality, not escaping it. For example, a teacher’s role with students in college classroom setting is different than later if they meet later at a cocktail party.

Guidepost 12: Mystery & Secret
Wonder about your partner and your situation. Have a secret - keep it a secret, but let it add drive and intensity to your scene.

Guidepost 13: Mischieviousness
Adds humor. Lightens it up. Involves you with your partner.

Oldie but Goodie Time

2012-04-14T23:38:52Z

Man, we just had the biggest weather front come through yesterday. Nothing I know like our fellow Oklahomas are undergoing right now.

But we did have some real weather here in Southern California. My rain gauge said 1 3/4" rain, plus some of the scariest lightning and loudest thunder I've ever heard. Plus a brief power outage And it's cold. Cold for us, anyway.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather myself right now so I'm going to post one of my golden oldies for us. I have chills, aches and a low-grade fever, so I'm going to take some time to feel normal again.

Enjoy the following article I wrote a couple of years ago.

This is about good studio etiquette, whether you are working solo on your home studio with phone-patch or ISDN, or if you are booked at an off-site studio where the studio engineer and producer/director are present.

While being a skilled voice actor is partly about the quality of your voice, it's also about techniques, copy interpretation, performance skill-sets and behaviors that you’ll develop through application and experience.

Here are some skills I’ve learned on my own and from others and am happy to share:

Don't wear noisy jewelry in session and remove it before you record.

If you have change or keys in your pocket, put them in your bag or just somewhere where they won’t make noise and ruin a take when you move

Don't wear a watch that ticks, beeps or chimes.

Turn off your cell/mobile phone.

Don't wear nylon shirts- or noisy fabric. Static and rustling noises will happen. Stick to knitwear.

And leather won’t rustle but makes a bit of a flatulent sound.

Do understand that a booking is for the duration you’re booked.If it's an ISDN session, this is especially important, whether or not you're working from a home studio.

For off-site gigs, arrive on time, maybe a bit early. It's hard if you’re booked back-to-back & have to travel halfway across town during rush hour-ask your agent for lea-way.

Don’t play with the studio’s costly equipment. Sound booths can be cluttered with cables. If some technical equipment is in your way, ask the engineer to move it, don’t do it yourself unless asked and never ever touch the mic without first being given permission to do so.

Don’t spill stuff. Just about everything in the sound booth has a current running through it. Always be extra cautious of any liquids; you might be a great voice but you won’t work for the client again if you fry a couple of grand’s worth of equipment by knocking over your water glass or dump a coke on to the carpet. And you shouldn’t be drinking coke or any carbonated beverages that can make you flatulent!

Do be script silent. Learn to turn the pages of your script over without making a sound. You should be able to flip through your local newspaper without any noise in front of a mic. Laying out your pages in a sensible manner across the copy stand before recording will assist you in this. Practice this at home - it's very useful.Better yet, read from a monitor or computer or iPad screen. Technology is a beautiful thing.

Do learn to take cues from a TV monitor, screen wipe or sound beeps or pips. Register what the cue-lights mean (sometimes there’s more than one), learn to read and work from a time-code and read the script brilliantly. And learn to do it all at the same time.

Do remember to eat something before your session, a while before the session too, but not too much garlic as you don’t want to offend. Munching on something prior to getting in the booth will help stop those annoying stomach sounds that can hold up a session. As we’re talking about food & drink, always take any trash with you when you leave and it’s always a nice gesture to bring out your empty water glass. Don’t expect the studio staff to rush out and buy you food if you’ve got the munchies...this is arrogant behavior that can work against you.

Don’t have coffee or tea in session because caffeine may dehydrate and give you jitters and if you add milk, it will bring on phlegm which can tighten the vocal cords . Instead just opt for a glass of room-temperature water. It’ll keep your voice lubricated and your lips moist but not wet-this’ll help stop mouth noises that the engineer will have to edit out.

Don’t drink sparkling drinks of any kind prior to or during a session; always drink the still or flat variety. Would you want to engineer for someone who was gurgling and burping through their session?

Learn to work a mic properly and practice the avoidance of popping your P’s- They’re called plosives; every time you see one of those plosive words coming up in your script get ready to slightly turn your mouth away from the mic when you hit the word-this’ll direct the pop sound away from the mic’s diaphragm and you won’t need to re take the line…practice makes perfect. I don’t use a pop screen when I record and you shouldn’t need one either. And they don’t really work very well, anyway.

Do practice drop ins or rolling punches. When you do drop-ins, match your breaths, your proximity to the mic, cadence, timbre & vocal pace at the drop-in point. As the drop-in point approaches, read aloud, along with run-up. This will create a seamless flow between the pre recorded piece and your drop-in point.

Play with word lengths, voice delivery levels and their timings to complement, or punctuate the background music or SFX …. Both of these techniques are useful for adding drama to your read. Extending a syllable can sometimes make the difference between a mistimed read and a perfect one. Usually additional tracks will be added to the mix after you’ve left the studio but always ask to hear the backing tracks to get a feel for the piece. Most engineers are happy to play the music to you as they know it will help your performance. Same goes if you are asked to deliver a louder voice than normal due to the scene calls for loud background noise or you’re in a crowd scene. Ask the engineer to play the relevant sound effects in your headphones during the recording if they can, It’ll help you get the feel right. But if the music or the SFX aren’t there, don’t worry, just imagine them. You’re an actor, right?

Massage, and or notice your syllables and words when you need to but don’t go overboard on this technique so it sounds contrived or too announcery. And avoid wearing headphones , except while editing yourself, so you won’t fall in love with the sound of your voice.

During a session, always be cordial and professional, have fun, and banter with the director/producer and the engineer and other studio staff to a degree… but don’t overdo it and eat up too much recording time and don’t get in the way when the engineer and producer are trying to work out a problem. Making a recording is a team effort, So become part of the team and don’t worry when the rest of the team ignores you. If the talkback is switched off they’re probably just discussing a point that doesn’t concern you.

Don't brag or boast about your latest accomplishments. Don’t eat up expensive recording time telling everyone that you’re in a show in whatever theatre.

It’s boring, tedious, and not great actor behavior. As a voice artist you're probably getting paid more per hour than the others on the end of the line gets a week. You may be worth it, but who's to say you are. Leave your ego outside the studio.

Don’t ask, “Should I start speaking now?" This question is a red flag indicating you are a newbie. When you’re asked to "give levels," or "give a read," just start reading your script until you’re told to stop. Hesitating at the start of a recording is like shooting off fireworks that spell out, "I have never done this before."

Read ahead. When you’re reading the script learn to read ahead so that your brain can “navigate” and can work out where the text or the thought is going, before you actually get there vocally. In most voice sessions you’ll end up reading a script cold, and if you work on this technique, you won’t need numerous retakes to finish the session. The faster you are, the more your employer has time to mix and therefore you’re saving him or her money…that is a BIG plus in your favor.

Do practice adjusting the overall speed of your reading/performance, a paragraph, a sentence, a word – learn how to adjust by seconds and frames and you’ll eventually develop a stopwatch in your brain.

About breathing: Don't breathe straight into words as you begin speaking and don't gasp an intake of breath when you finish, this makes editing more difficult for the engineer and will mean more re-takes. Always start from an open mouthed position and always be topped up with breath before beginning your take, a slow quiet exhalation before recording is useful too. Learn the silent breath…make the engineer think you don’t breathe. It’s OK to pause after a sentence, then breathe, keeping the script’s rhythm and pace in mind.

Continue your read/performance even if there is an echo or feedback in the headphones, this happens a lot in ISDN recordings, when you MUST wear headphones …an easy way to overcome this is just wear the one of the earphones off your ear so that you can hear your voice live on one side.

Sometimes there are technical problems out of your control. So you should be able to do a good read more than once !!!

Practice speaking in other languages. There’s bound to be a French or Spanish phrase cropping up somewhere in your first 20 jobs. Voice talents who do medical or technical voicing should earn 10 times the normal hourly fee. We don’t, but we should. If you’re capable, it’s just another way to bring in sacks of money.

Save your hearing, when self-editing don’t run playpack too hot. The quality and the level of your headphones can alter your performance- too loud or too soft a read, for example. In the end it’s up to you to make your performance work.

Do be cautious about your body movements and chemistry. Just about every studio now records in digital formats. This means that a lot of noises that used to be covered by tape hiss aren’t.

Dress in layers. Many studios don’t have air conditioning due to the noise associated with it…rather than steaming away, its better to get down to a T-shirt or tank top and pair of shorts than sweating it out.

If you are sent a script beforehand, do read it before the session. Find any problem areas and suggest changes/ and ask questions about trick or questionable pronunciations, grammar or syntax prior to recording- it may impress. Often the script will have been written by a new copywriter and might sound awkward to the listener. However, the script may have been approved by committee, so the producer or director may not be capable of changing a single word. Be sympathetic to their problems-practice tongue twisters so that you can say anything.

Don't blow your nose/cough/sneeze into the microphone. A good mic can cost over 3 grand and a well-aimed shot from your schnozzola can kill it. Tell the engineer first or just turn away from the mic.

Don’t wander away from the mic between takes, unless you know how to get back to exactly the same mic position. If you need to leave the sound booth, mark your space in front of the mic and when you return close all the doors tightly. Check with the engineer if he needs to do another level check before you start again.

Always ask something; asking questions make you look like you’re on the ball. Every pro does it and you want to be pro, right? So why shouldn’t you? Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a take to say, "Oh uhmmm how do you want this word pronounced?" Don't begin your read without asking (if you can’t tell) 1) to whom you are reading 2) what the intent of the script is. And for the love of God….don’t ask, “What’s my motivation?”

Befriend the receptionists, assistants at the studio. Clients will ask reception to recommend a good voice. The more the receptionist likes you, the more your chances of a recommendation. Don't overstay your session unless you’re invited to hang out, just tell an amusing anecdote, say goodbye and leave. There’s mixing and other stuff to be done and you’re not needed for that.

Have fun in your sessions, enjoy them! Voiceover can be a lot of fun and you’ll meet some really terrific and talented people. Don't get aggressive egotistical or abusive if you don’t like the way a session’s going, life’s too short and you don't need the ulcers. And you want to be called back for future jobs, don’t you?

7 Worst Vocal Trends Started By Teenage Girls

2012-04-10T23:41:27Z

I was contacted last week by Elizabeth Walters, a part-time writer/researcher for BestOnlineColleges.com. While searching for best online college resources, she discovered my blog post a while back titled “Alleged Voice Trend: Vocal Fry”

In my opinion, Voice actors need to be aware of vocal trends, whether or not they are the kind of thing that permanently embed themselves into our communication. I know I have used and referred to various trends in speech patterns for finding characters and exploring new reads to more or lesser degrees, depending on a number of factors which I won't delve into here and now.

For the most part, trends can be "trendy", and easily become stale or downright destructive to the human voice, like the "vocal fry", after prolonged use. Voice actors had best heed the call to take extreme care of our vocal folds! You lose or damage your voice and you're out of business!

Anyway, I 'd like to share the following with my blog audience, because Elizabeth and I maintain a shared interest in speech and vocal patterns. I trust what you'll see aren't purely permanent vocal trends, if there are such things. But perhaps moreover a fad, a cultural reflection, especially as demonstrated in the last video clip, which is too long, and basically a teenager behaving badly, yet glorified by a hit show. So what do you think?

7 Worst Vocal Trends Started By Teenage Girls

Hey voice actors, just don't do your daily warmups singing to Brittany's songs!

My original "recording equipment"

2012-04-04T03:51:49Z

This week I participated in my friend, Peter O'Connell's blog project, answering 5 questions about my life as a voice-over actor..

One of the questions took me back to thinking about my Dad's tape recorder, which I basically took over when I was about 7 or 8. Hours upon hours were spent with that machine where I told stories, did weird voices, and sang into the wild-looking hand-held mic. Last night I started looking up photos on the web of old recorders and mics and BAM! I was obsessed all over again.

Well I found an exact replica today on ebay. It's a vintage tube tape recorder made by Webster Chicago. And I've purchased it . Just for fun, and just for the studio. Just to look and get that sense of history and appreciate how far we've come in the development of the technology. From analogue to digital. What a leap!

Introducing...

WEBCOR ROYAL EP2611-1 Reel To Reel Tape Player Recorder

And here is what "my first microphone" looked like that plugged into the back of the recorder unit. My oh my... Art Deco!

Well I've found both on ebay and I decided must have them. I'll see if I can actually get everything to work, and I'll report back later.

Lucky for me the recorder is in Palm Springs. It's been sitting in some guy's closet for 30-40 years. I'm driving there to pick it up this weekend, to not only save on shipping, but to protect those delicate tubes during the transport.

So someone tell me:

What was YOUR recording device of choice that foretold of your future work as a voiceover actor?

Few Spaces left for Three Voiceketeers Redux

2012-04-02T17:51:59Z

                  Registration is now open for the Three VoiceKeteers Workshop in LA

                                                            April 21 & 22, 2012

      www.voice-overs.com/Three_VoiceKeteers.html

Separately, the VoiceKeteers are three of today’s most successful voice talents and coaches. Together, they are an unstoppable force, ready to kick your career into high gear! Julie Williams, Vanessa Hart, and Marc Cashman have among them decades of voice-over success. Plus, they’ve trained hundreds of professional voice-over talents on the tools and techniques of the voice-over trade. Put them to work for you in this 2-day workshop in L.A. at VoiceTrax West!

Saturday: Narration Nougats—Julie Williams
Narration encompasses so many of today’s ever-growing voiceover opportunities. Learn everything you need to excel in this lucrative
field! Corporate presentations, web videos, eLearning, software tutorials, medical voiceovers...these only scratch the surface. Learn proven techniques to set you apart as the “go-to” person for the high volume
of repeat business this genre offers. Julie is also available to produce your narration or medical narration demo for an additional charge by special arrangement.
Julie Williams has voiced thousands of narrations over her 30-year career. While she also voices audiobooks (2010 Audie finalist), commercials, and other genres on a regular basis, her favorite genre is narration.
And they’re her bread and butter. She knows what it takes to land and excel at narration
voiceovers. She has also hired hundreds of VO talents for narration jobs.

SUNDAY: Marc Cashman has instructed hundreds of students through his courses, and is one of the top VO coaches in the U.S. He is also the creative director, casting director, and executive producer of Cashman Commercials.
Marc has won more than 150 advertising awards, including the Addy, Telly, Silver Microphone, and the prestigious CLIO on behalf of hundreds of clients.

Audiobooks A to Z—Vanessa Hart

This workshop is a continuation of Vanessa’s highly acclaimed series “The Power of Five.”
You’ll benefit from Vanessa’s expertise in learning what’s expected in a winning audiobook
demo, how to prepare a manuscript, including technical aspects, the always important
skill of character analysis, finding the narrator’s voice (and that doesn’t mean you!) and how to land your first audiobook. Vanessa is also available to produce your audiobook demo for an additional charge by special arrangement.
Commercial Excellence—Marc Cashman
Commercials are the most lucrative type of voice work, but they’re also the most competitive.
Whether you’re a newbie or a working
pro, Marc Cashman’s “Cashman Cache” of Voice-Acting Techniques© will help you get the competitive edge on auditions, find your signature voice, and discern exactly what the producer wants. Marc will give you the tools to win the audition, perform the job, and wow the client. Marc is also available to produce
your commercial demo for an additional charge by special arrangement.
A 2008 Audie Finalist, Vanessa Hart has voiced dozens of audiobooks.
AudioFile Magazine

Register here!
recently gave her a glowing review for Blood Born. Vanessa is known for training students and then connecting them with audiobook producers.

Register:

My photos from Faffcon 4

2012-03-30T16:43:00Z

Oh so sorry that my Faffcon 4 pics didn't make their way at the time of my post the other day. I'm still getting acquainted with my iPad. So here they are! Mea Culpa, and here's to a rockin' great experience! And to all who were there I miss you all and can't wait for the next one.

I've also posted the same pix on Facebook.

Dave CourVO, Bobbin, J.S. Gilbert Next Faffcon!

Amy Snively at Opening night-Circle

Trish & BobbinMy Roomie Diane Maggipinto

Scottish to the kilt- Monk

BruceMiles Randye Kaye at Friday's lunch call Dan Lenard, Peter O'Connell, Dave CourVOJanet Walton & Jay Patrick Doug Turkel's Magnificent Voiceover ManifestoSteve Savanyu and David Goldberg
And the rainbow I came home to.

Talk is easy. Voiceover is not.

2012-03-28T18:08:09Z

How about some excellent insight into what it takes for the pros on both sides of the glass to produce the best of the best. I just feel this article is fantastic. It's all about the marriage of voice performance with technical aspects. Hope you'll agree that a finished voice-over piece is not about "easy talking".

www.sonicscoop.com/2012/01/22/the-art-of-vo-production-pomann-sound-breaks-it-down-step-by-step/

...

Let the Faffing Begin!

2012-03-24T23:37:15Z

And the Faffing Begins

I'm at my second Faffcon, happening in Ventura, CA The amount of energy here is contagious. I attended the first event in Portland in fall of 2010. My, how it has grown since its debut. I think there were perhaps 75 vo peeps or so in Portland. Now, including all the sponsors and attendees, the room seemed to hold at least twice that number. Wow.

Dave Courvoisier, yours truly, J.S. Gilbert

Trish Basyani , Rich Owen

Liz de Nesnera

Celebrating Pam Tierney's B Day and Amy Snivley

Faffcons idea schedule

Lots of first timers and returnees. Yesterday was like old home week, with everyone arriving and hugging. The conversations flowed well into the late night in the lobby bar and beyond.

This AM I got up and my roommate, Diane Maggipinto shared her awesome freshly ground French Roast. This tasty treat got my eyes open and motivated me to take my "no excuses" walk at the beach (across the street) take a shower, and get down to breakfast. Very quickly!

Not only is there energy, but the knowledge-sharing is vast.
Here, our peers set the agendas, ask the questions, and go where we need to go. Here, each person is responsible for their own learning experience. And there are so many opportunities.

And the topics are timely and you suddenly feel comfortable with the fact that there's so much to learn and share. Someone will have and answer. And you will have a golden nugget or many to share that'll help someone else.
Yes. A golden nugget. A newly learned resource, a website discussion, editing techniques, SEO, social media, mics VO demos, improv, marketing, bookkeeping.

These peers are open, wise, friendly, giving, and funny as hell! I'm back with my kindred souls. We lean on each other and are islands to one another, overjoyed to get out of our "Padded cells". And log some real face to face time.

It feels like home.

Hello, Spring Cleaning Time!

2012-03-23T04:30:01Z

Sorry I haven't written anything for a little bit. But I've been revamping things around here. Last weekend we had an intense winter storm with pounding rain and cold winds while the eastern half of the USA enjoyed summer-like temperatures and record heat.

I decided it was time to get busy and follow through on my plans to perform some "Spring Cleaning" in the studio office. One thing writing this blog makes me to is be accountable and do what I say I am going to do.

I removed boxes and an accumulation of dust from the top of an armoire that houses my laptop, scanner, external drives and serves as a work desk.

Then I tackled a CD /disk shelf and found this lovely 3.5" floppy disk: Don't laugh!!!! At least it wasn't a 5 1/4"!

Just how ridiculous was that? Well I just ordered new organizational supplies from Staples to completely revamp and color code my filing system. I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff no longer purposeful in my life or work, that have done nothing but clutter my workspace, which is already tight. A spot was removed from the office carpet, surfaces were dusted and the space looks and just feels better. I believe without all the dust around me, I'll breathe better too.

Tomorrow I'm off to Faffcon, being held this weekend in Ventura. I'm a sponsor this year. My donation is the signage.... and here's what they look like. Sweet!

Have a great weekend! I'll post some pics soon!