Burn baby Burn

Well, I never wanted to have to deal with something like this but I guess it was inevitable. I never imagined that one day, I might be faced with a client that is not what they appear to be. Being someone who is very dedicated in their work and one that strives to deliver a quality product day in and day out, I never thought that a client would burn me. I want to scream from the rooftops their name and let all unsuspecting voice talents and potential business folk know of their ill practices. Is that what we as voice talent now have to do? Do we need to be paid partially or in full prior to doing any work? The only "product" we have is our sound file. Although it is tangible, it's not something that can be returned. Our time and talent is really all that we have to show for that invoice and when a conniving client wants to shirk on their end of the bargain, it hurts: financially and physically. I'm hoping that said client delivers on his word but I'm doubtful. Voice talent beware.....
Have you ever had this experience? If so, please post!

Two Subs hold the Gouda

Vox (according to Wiki Wiki pedia) is a latin term for Voice. It can also mean the HMS Vox, two submarines of the Royal Navy. Bet you can just imagine the acoustics in a tin can. Would you rather vox in a box or mic on a trike? Dr Seuss I am I am. But since this is a blog, I have to stay on course. Blogging and Voxing are two totally different things. Writing can be so misconstrued but speaking cannot. That is why doing what we do on a daily basis is a gift. We can emit emotion and feeling with just a whisper, tone or scream. You can hear nuances in vox that is often lost on the written word. How many times have you written emails (professional or otherwise) and wondered. Does the person receiving this think that I was being funny? LOL or did they take my comments entirely the wrong way? Have you ever written the same person again and asked if they took something the wrong way? I bet you have. Emotion and feeling is stricken from quick blurbs online that sometimes it's always best to pick up the phone and call. When you are cold calling a client it's always best to do exactly that...call. I have found that the personal approach in dealing with clients works best for me. Now I don't always get every job but hopefully, I make a good impression and stay in their brain for the next. I have stuck my foot in my mouth on occasion though. Sharing too much is never a wise idea. I'd love to hear your stories too.

The Nose Knows

Psst....have you heard about the latest invention that has saved the voice over community? It has literally saved many vo talents from being passed over for a job. It's called Nasal Irrigation. I call it the Nose Douche. Cute huh? And it's exactly what you picture when you hear about it.
I first learned about the neti pot last year after having nasal turbinate surgery. This procedure scared me more than having a baby! How could I knowingly have a procedure done that could affect my livelihood? As it was, I had the surgery and it all worked out without a hitch but my ENT doc suggested I use the neti pot post op day 3 - 4. I had only told a few people that I was going under the nasal knife. A few days after the procedure, a very good client of mine asked to me to voice a big project the following week. I did not want to turn them away and I felt that I should be better by then....of course I would! Well, Sunday comes and I'm stuffed up more than Kirstie Alley at an all you can eat Sizzler buffet. What to do...
The Neti pot called my name. If you haven't seen one in person just think "I Dream of Jeannie" and the Genie's lamp. Here is it's origin.

Nasal irrigation is an ancient Ayurvedic technique known as Jala neti, which literally means nasal cleansing in Sanskrit, where the practitioner uses a neti pot to perform the irrigation. The irrigation-specific elements of jala neti are starting to be recognized by Western medicine under the term nasal irrigation to treat a variety of conditions.

Sticking a concoction of saline solution and tepid water in your face is not something that you feel comfortable doing the first time. Being a Neti virgin was short lived. The mixture was in the pot, my head was poised over the sink and I had nothing to lose except a big check for the narration project that would be going down the sink if I didn't try this out. The neti was nestled in the nostril...(say that 5 times fast) and like the spaghetti in the nose trick, the saline solution came out the other side and down the drain. I will spare you the gory details of what came out but I could BREATHE! It was a miracle.
I am now a Neti convert....pshaaww to those that prefer OTC meds when you can have relief naturally. I've converted a few people...husband, 12 and 9 year old sons, 76 year old mother, brother in law etc....
Thank you Western Medicine. This Easterner thanks you every cold and flu season!

No Valentine's Day Card..just a Video Card Please

It's a few days late, but my Cupid will be installing a new dual monitor video card today. It should have been done weeks ago, when a stray surge of power decided to send a behemoth sized volt of energy into my tower. My personal geek squad ooh'ed and aah'ed over the fried "mothah" board. See that's what they call it here in the New England area. My demise was their prize. So today, the studio will be offline for just a while as they pop in a new piece of equipment to get my other monitor back in action. But being Saturday, most of us vo talents are resting our cords and soothing our muscles anyway. It will give me time to think of some topics for next week.

I love my Grammy

Were you watching the Grammy's on Sunday night? If you were, you may have been focusing more on the performances and the clothes but not the woman's voice that was announcing the lineup before and after the commercials. Call me a voice over geek, but that's who I was listening to. She had a cushy gig and I would love it. Someday.
Female voice over talents are everywhere. If you notice, you hear us more and more on the tele and in stores. Times have really changed - for the better. We aren't just delegated to selling tampons and PMS meds. We can sell cars, computers and gadgets too and do it well. Sorry guys, but women have started to make some inroads on the biz and I'm happy to say that. So it's not just a boys club anymore - we can now accept the trophy.
Feel free to comment ....

Intro to Blogging

Hello! I must admit, this is my first time blogging. Don't get me wrong. I have read quite a few blogs in my past but have yet to start my own. It won't be Mensa material mind you, but it may give you a small insight into my world as a voice over talent. I'll share some new projects and audio samples and even some of what's going on in my studio. Thanks for joining me...put on your headphones and step up to the mic... check one two....