Building your VO expertise shouldn’t stop when you leave class. Here are three tips for practicing your VO performance!
Jacked Up: How Much Should You Know About Audio Editing?
WHAT? I have to be an audio editor, too?
I recently listened to an online webinar where a well-accomplished audio editor gave a class on Twisted Wave, an audio recording app. It runs in the cloud as well as on Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads. It’s my go-to editing and processing app.
[Read more…] about Jacked Up: How Much Should You Know About Audio Editing?
5 Things I Learned as a New Full-Time Voice Actor
Back in February of this year, I finally said, “To heck with it.” (I actually said something else to that effect, but it wasn’t G-rated, and this is a G-rated blog). I’d had enough with only tip-toeing around my lifelong dream of being a voice actor; I wanted to go after it full-time.
So I quit my full-time job. I quit a secure paycheck. I quit predictability and dove into my booth and only surfaced for air in between auditions for more coffee (and occasional Frasier binges, because come on, girl’s gotta have a break). [Read more…] about 5 Things I Learned as a New Full-Time Voice Actor
Are You Doing the VO Cha-Cha?
I say it all the time, but our VO journey is a marathon, not a sprint, with many starts and stops along the way. Sort of like a VO cha-cha!
For a while, you might feel some major momentum with your VO training, but then, something pulls you away. Life happens, work happens, being human happens. At TVAS, we totally understand. We’ll never make you feel bad if you’ve had to hit the pause button on your VO training because another part of life needed your attention. We get it—we’ve been there. (Just know we’ll be happy to see you when the time is right, and we’ll never grill you on where you’ve been! Ever!) [Read more…] about Are You Doing the VO Cha-Cha?
Jacked Up: Carts and Horses
It happens every few months: a voice acting student I know is morphing before my eyes into a working voice actor, having been at it for six, nine, or twelve months. They come to me all excited. “I booked my first gig!” (Usually when I hear about that it also includes, “my first audiobook!”)
Oh, great, I say. Are you ready technically? Got your studio together, have your process in place?
I’m greeted then with either a blank look or a confident-sounding, “Oh, I’m setting up my studio this week.”
My reaction (that I keep to myself) is, “How did you do a decent audition without a place set up to record? And why would you accept a job without a place to record it?” [Read more…] about Jacked Up: Carts and Horses
Top 10 Steps for VO Success
Everyone’s voice over journey is different. It may take some people a few months to cut their demo and other people a few years. Some people want to go after voice acting full time, while others like it as a side gig. Some folks are animation and character wizards, while others prefer corporate, commercial, and narration work. The variety is what makes VO so special and unique to you! [Read more…] about Top 10 Steps for VO Success
Mic Technique & Style Tips
Voice acting is so much more than just talking into a mic. When you’re interpreting your scripts, you should not only think your performance choices like mood/attitude who your audience is, and how you want them to feel—you should also think about the how you’re interacting with the mic itself.
For example, if it’s a conversational script, keep it—you guessed it!—conversational! Think about the volume level in which you’d speak if you were talking to someone sitting right next to you. [Read more…] about Mic Technique & Style Tips
The Power of 5
I’ve been thinking about you. Yep! I’m always thinking about ways I can help, support, educate and inspire you. I know you can do this.
You know how I always say, “Reading out loud just 5 minutes a day can be a game-changer in building your overall VO performance skills?” Well, here are a few other ideas to think about: [Read more…] about The Power of 5
Joy’s Talent Spotlight: Andrea Balsa
Andrea Balsa is a fascinating young woman who is setting the world on fire with her outstanding talent in bilingual voice over. The day I interviewed Andrea, I was sitting in my home in Las Vegas, NV and she was sitting in her room…in Poland! Yes, Poland, doing a huge voiceover project. She was hired to do a job for a big U.S. department store, and had to hunt for a studio to record the project in Poland. That’s just one of the projects Andrea is currently working on. [Read more…] about Joy’s Talent Spotlight: Andrea Balsa
The Power of Enthusiasm
Want to know my word of the day? Enthusiasm.
Remember when you were a kid and someone mentioned ice cream? Or a water park? Or camping in the back yard? It was the greatest thing ever.
Enthusiasm is a state of mind. Enthusiasm breeds energy. It inspires action and is the most contagious of all emotions. I think one of my secret super powers in life is bringing genuine enthusiasm to everything I do. When I get up in the morning, I’m excited about what the day holds. I genuinely look forward to experiencing my first sip of coffee, going on my morning walk, and then seeing what creative opportunities await in my inbox! What on earth will I be voicing today? I can’t wait to find out! [Read more…] about The Power of Enthusiasm
