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• 10 Things Voice Talent Could Be Doing For a Better 2010

  Whenever people talk about resolutions, they usually are referring to their own personal set of objectives they resolve to accomplish in the coming year. What if we as a community tried to observe some common resolutions that would make voice... Whenever people talk about resolutions, they usually are referring to their own personal set of objectives they resolve to accomplish in the coming year. What if we as a community tried to observe some common resolutions that would make voice over an even better, more productive and prosperous industry? Join me now in our countdown to 2010 with some industry-wide resolutions! Industry-Wide Resolutions Starting With VO Pros As we approach 2010, I thought it would be worthwhile to ponder resolutions that we might all try to adopt as a community... 10. Be Kind to Your Neighbour We are all here for such a short time and our purpose is to love. Remember that each and every person you meet is a child of God who has worth. Regardless of who you encounter, however brief the exchange, be ready to greet them with respect, patience and dignity. Be generous and approach each situation with an open heart. From the people you meet to the situations you find yourself in, everything happens for a reason. 9. Focus on Being Positive and Positive Business Relationships Be someone you would be proud to know. By living in the present and focusing on the positive you will be a source of good in this world and set an example for others. Similarly, engage in positive business relationships. Work with people who want to lift you up, who inspire you and believe in what you do. Reciprocate. Lift others up, inspire them and believe in their careers. 8. Participate in Community and Grow Through Networking Show interest in other voice over professionals and people who work in the greater audio industry. Get out to events, take part in teleseminars or start a networking group local to your city to bring complementary product and service providers together. One of the most admired aspects of voice over is how strong and closely knit our community is. Let 2010 be the year your circle expands to welcome others such as audio recording engineers, producers, voice directors, instructors, musicians, actors, copy writers and more. 7. Be the Best You Can Be Voice acting is relative to a solo sport. The only person you are competing with is yourself. If you've been measuring your gifts relative to those of others now is the time to stop. Your voice, life experiences, education and soul are unique. No one person shares the exact same path. Embrace your own voice, your own business and the customers you can serve. 6. Uphold Your Values What do you value? Family, health, morality? Whatever it is that you hold dear, be sure to not only hold those values but deliver on those values by making them true priorities in your life. If this means quoting higher rates, turning down jobs that go against your personal beliefs or spending less of your day on the Internet and reserving that time for your loved ones instead, honour them. 5. Have Faith and Courage For many people 2009, and perhaps the years that came before, have been particularly challenging. The economy is improving, a new year is dawning and opportunities await you. Believe in yourself, stand firm and place your hope in things that last. Whether it is a financial challenge, a personal struggle or something that seems to be out of your control do not be afraid. Everything happens for a reason. As a Christian, both my trust and hopes are placed in Jesus who is my strength and refuge. I am nothing without Him but everything with Him. People don't usually talk about spirituality or associate it with their businesses because it can often be a source of controversy or alienation. That being said, expressing my faith, both personally and professionally, gives me strength and the having of it empowers me to do good and lift others up through VOX Daily, Voices.com and in my community. Perhaps this is the year that your faith, whatever that faith may be, takes a prominent place in your business. Have courage! 4. See Things from the Perspective of Others If you've spent any time on this earth, it's no secret that there are opinions and perspectives that differ from those of your own. Perhaps you don't agree with some of what I've said. While you may not agree with what someone says, have the heart to try and see from their perspective and understand where they are coming from. That doesn't mean that you need to compromise on your own beliefs and opinions... it simply means that you respect them as a person and can agree to disagree. This will also help to make you a better communicator and diplomat. 3. Invest in Our Youth Do your kids want to do voice over? Are there children, teenagers or college students who you see potential in? Just as you hope to be scouted or heard by agents, people just starting out or who show potential need cheerleaders who can help them identify their talent and encourage them to excel. Are you that person? Are you helping to lead, educate or inspire the next generation of voice over professionals? Keep in mind that guidance counselors are not usually recommending that a student become a voice over artist. Think of a youth you know who may enter our field... the only person who might offer that kind of guidance and direction to them may be you. 2. Keep Learning Just as your car needs a regular tuneup, your voice over career needs a regular tuneup, too. If you have children in the school system or are a teacher, you also know that there are a number of "professional development" days on the calendar that are set aside for teachers to come together and learn of new teaching techniques, procedures and or curricula. People who work for businesses often find opportunities to grow in their position through professional development. Voice acting is no different. Treat your education as a business expense. Go to at least one educational event per year that either improves your current skills or helps you to develop new ones. If you can manage it, educate yourself quarterly in a formal setting and also take the time to educate yourself every day informally through podcasts, blogs, and industry news. 1. Shine Your Light Move with purpose and penetrate the darkness with your light. While you may only see yourself as a voice over artist, remember that you also can play the role of teacher, mentor, role model, advocate, cheerleader, connector, adviser and the list goes on. Be noble, live with integrity and be generous. Be a blessing to others. Do You Have Any Resolutions You'd Like To Add? Looking forward to your comments on or additions to the list! May 2010 bless you and yours abundantly with health, prosperity and happiness. Happy New Year! Stephanie and the Voices.com Team ©iStockphoto.com/Guido Vrola

• Words To Warm Up By!

  Do you have a favourite word or string of words that you use to warm up your voice and get ready for the day? Any particular words that can "articulate" that "resonate" well with you (pardon the puns!)? As a... Do you have a favourite word or string of words that you use to warm up your voice and get ready for the day? Any particular words that can "articulate" that "resonate" well with you (pardon the puns!)? As a voice major, I've encountered hundreds of different vocal warm ups and it is always interesting (and entertaining) to add more to the old repertory... I hope you find some neat ones here! Inspired by a thread in the Voices.com LinkedIn Group by Dave Justus, I present to you a number of warm up words that will keep your articulators and resonators in check for 2010. Warming Words Dave Justus asked the following of our Voices.com members at LinkedIn: "Your equipment is turned on, your mic is in front of you, headphones perched on your ears and your recording software is just waiting for you to start a new file. What words or phrase do you say out loud to warm up the voice and center your focus for your recording? For whatever reason I say, 'boogiedaboogiedaboogiehellohellohello.'" Replies A number of replies poured in from voice talent members who shared their warm up words and vocal exercises with the group, including: "I try to wake up by saying a few tongue twisters. Here's an easy one I found on Rodney Saulsberry's web site": Someone said something simple A simple something said to me Simply simple someone said A simple something said to me. -- David Hoxie "My speech therapist taught me to stick my tongue out (as far as I can) and put it between my teeth and say the alphabet. As you make the sound of each letter release the tongue then reengage it. And of course, tongue twisters." -- John Di Domenico "The best warm up words for me are to practice singing -- softly -- softly -- the chromatic scale. Whichever octave you are comfy with. Just sing from the lowest to the highest and back... until the job is done and warm!" -- Maurice Smith "I've been using the warm up exercises developed by Daws Butler that his protege Joe Bevilacqua taught me. They are superb! You'll find them in the book: Scenes for Actors and Voices." -- Carl Welden "My favorite one for myself and one I give my clients is 'A big black bug bit a big black bear' to flex the lips and then count to ten for the microphone levels." -- Brenda Smith What Words Do You Warm Up With? If you have any favourite words, tongue twisters or vocal warm-ups that you'd like to share, comment and let me know! Best wishes, Stephanie P.S. If you'd like to join us on LinkedIn, click through the link below: Join the Voices.com LinkedIn Group ©iStockphoto.com/Edyta Pawlowska

• How To Get an ISDN Line

  What's the best source to acquire ISDN service? If you are someone who wants to get an ISDN line and are curious about how to go about it, a number of pro voice talent with ISDN equipped home studios have... What's the best source to acquire ISDN service? If you are someone who wants to get an ISDN line and are curious about how to go about it, a number of pro voice talent with ISDN equipped home studios have shared their insight with you! Thoughts regarding Source-Connect and other technologies are also expressed. Read more now in today's VOX Daily. How Do You Get an ISDN Hookup? It all started with a question. How does one procure an ISDN line? Many people contributed to the answering of this question, all of whom are quoted and identified below. Here's The Conversation as it Unfolded! "You have to call your local phone company and see if they offer ISDN in your area. They might need to be persistent... most phone company customer service folks don't even know what ISDN is." -- Caryn Clark "That's been the biggest challenge for me getting any information in my 'not quite rural/not the biggest city in the world' about ISDN. I've even asked a 30+ year telecommunications expert what his opinion was on it, and he didn't have a clue what I was talking about (tried to convince me I just wanted more bandwidth!). I'm not the person who asked Stephanie the question, but I'm eagerly anticipating the input, too, all the same!" -- Dana Detrick-Clark "Phone company is the way. One of the problems is that ISDN was originally developed as a means to transmit large amounts of data -- and that use is outdated. Now many ISDN specialists have retired." -- Michael J. Schoen "Call your local radio station and find out if they have one and how they got it." -- Therisa Bennett "Look up Digifon. They're a great resource for all things ISDN." -- Chuck Davis "AT&T." -- Chris Wagner "You won't believe this my dear friends. I have been trying for the last 15 or 20 minutes to know the price of ISDN service here in Puerto Rico and almost nobody know what ISDN is. And when I finally found somebody that knows about, the person pointed me to the wrong extension, so the call was dropped." -- Pablo Hernandez "If your local phone company doesn't know what ISDN is, tell them it means Integrated Services Digital Network. That way you show that you know more than they do! ;-) But the question is, is ISDN outdated or not? Before I invest in ISDN lines and an ISDN codec I would like to know if technologies like Source Connect (http://www.sourceelements.com/source-connect/) won't make the expencive ISDN obsolete within the next two years." -- Philippe Bernaerts "Good point Philippe. I talked to our local phone company a few months ago inquiring about ISDN and they questioned why I'd want to connect with such an old technology. Maybe I didn't talk to the right person, but I got the same from a couple tech guys." -- Jason Ryll "Here in NJ it's Verizon for the local lines & MCI (which Verizon bought) for long distance... And the death of ISDN has been touted for several years... I doubt that it'll be gone in 2 or even 5 years. I got it in July and have 3 new REPEAT clients since I got it." -- Liz de Nesnera "Since I also work for 'the phone company' ISDN has been pushed aside for DSL and Fiber Optics for data and voice transmission--Most customer service reps who have worked for phone companies in the last 10 years have not a clue. You would need to ask to speak to a specialist (probably in Small Business) and they can help. Most major phone companies have it but that service is not 'paying the bills.'" -- Richard Willis "I have A T and T. Have had ISDN for years. They knew what I wanted as soon as I asked about it. ISDN work is not as common as other jobs, but the fact that I have it in my studio slims the list of potential VO candidates when clients insist on using it! It has definitely paid for itself. There may be a bigger badder better way to get voice in real time from one location to another, but it's more reliable and still very much used in the industry." -- Larry Wayne "Something else to consider is an emerging Internet codec called Broadcast Reliable Internet Codec (BRIC). More info here: http://www.comrex.com/products/products.htm" -- David Boyll "Be sure to impress upon whomever you get who knows ISDN that you want DATA ONLY. I have had repeated issues with AT&T and AT&T (the old SBC) not knowing what the other company is doing." -- Connie Terwilliger "I hope they all mentioned Dave Immer. He just helped me with my ISDN today (it had a malfunction for a client and he was avail the second I needed him). And of course you must not forget George Whittam (tech guru) at ElDorado Recording Services." -- Debbie Munro Acquiring an ISDN Connection in a Nutshell 1. Call your telephone service provider. 2. Request to speak with someone in "Business" who is knowledgeable about ISDN. 3. If you can't find any help this way, contact your local radio station and see if they have ISDN and inquire as to how they got their connection. * If you're in favour of using a newer technology instead of ISDN, look into similar products such as Source-Connect or BRIC. Do You Have Anything to Add? If you have thoughts pertaining to ISDN, tips on how to get it or new technologies that you'd like to recommend leave a comment and join the discussion. Looking forward to hearing from you, Stephanie ©iStockphoto.com/Franc Podgoršek