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On Words and Being Proactive
Voice actors tend to be lovers of words. I know I am, and in VO life, there’s nothing I love more than feasting my eyes on a beautifully or cleverly written script. After 20 years of script reading, I’d say my vocabulary has grown a bit, too. 😉 Reading, in general does a body, mind and soul good. So read as much as you can! And whenever possible, read aloud to continue strengthening your chops. [Read more…] about On Words and Being Proactive
5 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Head
You know when you can’t get any recording done because your inner critic just won’t shut up?
Yeah, me too. It’s the WORST.
Don’t get me wrong—there’s a time and a place for that critic! Critically listening back to your performance can help you determine which changes you need to make to make your read believable (and bookable).
But sometimes, like a particularly persistent, loud cat, that critic voice butts its head into your business when you’re trying to perform, stopping you dead in your tracks and opening the door for your old pal, Self-Doubt. [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Head
Jacked Up: Remember–Voice Acting is ACTING
Voice acting, like any form of acting, is a form of storytelling. And as with all acting training, the actor takes the craft of storytelling and breaks it all apart. You study each element of the craft (performance, tech, business), you see what you range you have, and what your strengths are, and you run up against obstacles that you either master or work around. You find your limits. You define your brand. You refocus. [Read more…] about Jacked Up: Remember–Voice Acting is ACTING
What To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed
Ever feel overwhelmed?
You know… like your brain has too many tabs open? I think it’s fair to say we’ve all been there. It can leave you paralyzed, panicked, and just plain pooped. And when you have VO awesomeness to achieve—auditions, jobs, marketing, demo prep—feeling overwhelmed can stop you dead in your tracks. [Read more…] about What To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed
What To Expect in a Live Voiceover Session
TVAS student, voice actor, & jack-of-all trades Duston Frank.
Jumping into a live, directed VO session can be super nerve-wracking, no matter how much experience you have. Those nerves are good news—they mean you care and want to do a good job!
But nerves often come from the unknown. What exactly happens in a live voiceover session? What do you do?
Here’s what to expect when you’re expecting…a directed voiceover session. (…no? Too “dad joke-y? We’ll workshop it, it’s fine.) [Read more…] about What To Expect in a Live Voiceover Session
Jacked Up: Backing Up
Quick story: my wife (a university professor), a few years ago, dropped her one and only external hard drive on the hard title floor. That was the end of that drive. But no worries, she said. Off we went to campus, where, in her office, she had a backup program that had all her stuff. Something there had glitched, however. She had all the folders, but nothing inside any of them. She lost YEARS of data, images, lectures, specialized scans…her entire professional life. Poof! Gone. [Read more…] about Jacked Up: Backing Up
Why Running a VO Business = Self-Parenting
Remember when you were a kid and your parents had to essentially bribe you to get chores done?
You know. One of these: “If you put the dishes away, you can play on the trampoline.” [Read more…] about Why Running a VO Business = Self-Parenting
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Give Up
Ever hear that ‘doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will?’ Well, I’d say that’s pretty accurate. We’ve all had times where negative thoughts creep in and they play over and over on repeat in our minds like the occasional high-maintenance client who doesn’t know what the hell they want – asking for take after countless take. (They end up liking take 1). 😉 [Read more…] about Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Give Up
Jacked Up: I’m Not Booking, It Must Be My Mic
If your mic is doing its job—making you sound like YOU—then other than a bad recording environment bringing in bounce or echo from within your recording area, or extra noises outside your booth, like from your dog, kids, passing trucks, or your refrigerator—don’t blame the mic. [Read more…] about Jacked Up: I’m Not Booking, It Must Be My Mic
Five Character Voice Development Tips
One of my specialties is character work—whether it’s an accent or a voice or just a different personality, I came out of the womb trying to make Mel Blanc proud. And one of the questions I get a lot from students is, “How do you do that?” [Read more…] about Five Character Voice Development Tips
