Guide your Voice Actor with this Simple and Powerful Method

instructional design, production, voiceover

Before Recording Educational Voiceover, Guide your Voice Actor with this method.

To my friends in Instructional Design and to the CD’s and EP’s at Media Production companies, your educational course or study is powerful, with well-considered and thought-out design at its core. The spoken audio ‘heard’ by a course participant can support or strengthen course modules, as well as help retention. Longer form audio that is scripted into online courses is a very viable medium for a voice actor to bring their acting ‘chops’ to the collaboration, aside from their stamina and microphone technique.

In this article, I’m focusing on a simple and powerful method for the Instructional Designer or Media Company to prep the voice actor (VO) for the recording session. I call it the ‘VO Logline’.

As a voice actor, my role is to make the words I read sound real, authentic and conversational. During my collaborations with Instructional Designers and course study Writers, I’ve adapted my acting technique to breathe life into learning – educational courses. I just renamed this method as the VO Logline. With a simple and powerful VO Logline for your project, a VO can grab ahold of that ‘essence’ while they record for you.

What is a logline anyway? Usually that’s a term used for TV, defined as a one-sentence summary of your TV story. A logline answers the question: What is your story about? It’s the kind of thing that TV Guide writes up about a program. So, a VO Logline for any kind of learning course informs the VO who they are speaking as, to whom they are speaking, and the context of that dialog. In essence, the ‘learning story’.

Now, all those of you who are familiar with a TV logline might immediately think ‘ah ha’! Nice idea. Those of you who aren’t, let me explain. You’ll use the simple steps below to create elements of the VO Logline – the single sentence providing insight to the VO before they record for you. It’s a simple way to guide your voice actor using what you already know.

**Create a VO Logline using these 3 steps before the script is recorded.** Then share the VO Logline with the person recording your script. This dials them into the vocal attitude and tone to match your objectives, like a shortcut.

1. Define “Who” Is Speaking.

Think of the written words to be recorded.

‘Who’ would say this to the course participant? What is their job title, role in the organization, and level of experience?
What is their role with the course participant?

You’ve just defined who the VO is speaking as. Nice!

2. Define the course participant.

What is their job title, role in the organization, level of experience?
Who are they hearing from: a peer, a higher-up, a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?

You’ve just defined the person that the voice actor is speaking to. Great.

3. Write your VO Logline as a simple sentence about the participant, speaker and course value.

Here are real-world samples from courses I have personally recorded:

An experienced senior foster care social worker is teaching new social workers the State rules they’ll need to follow for their job.
An expert sales manager motivating and demonstrating to the veteran sales team how to use and maximize a new CRM.
A retail clothes buyer teaching a new company-wide inventory and sales system to her peers, so they all run it effectively.

What is your VO Logline? Write me and share it.

Now it feels like a story about the people who are touchpoints within your learning course.

VO Loglines create dramatic context for an actor.

‘Dramatic’ in the sense of how an actor can approach your script. Many course designers already know these definitions or can figure it out because it’s inherent to the course design process. Providing this single sentence, the VO Logline, to your voice actor or narrator will create a tangible context for them. This is a wonderful tool to provide your voice actor.

Did you already know all this? Or was this something new for your consideration? Let me know.

As a trained actor, I create narrative ‘worlds’ to contribute to successful educational projects. Thank you for taking the time to review these ideas, and please reply back with your inspired thoughts and advice.

Staying Focused

accountability, business, small business, voiceover

I had SUCH a problem with ‘holding focus’ recently, like others have.

December 2020 was a quiet close to a year that had a lot of big ups and downs. Christmas and New Years provided some relief and relaxation. In fact, memes around New Years were funny, particularly this one, which made me literally laugh out loud:

Meme: Just wait til 2020 turns 21 and starts drinking — Just wait til 2020 turns 21 and starts drinking

Then January 6th, 2021 happened. U.S. news of politics and culture had me “attention-captured”. It’s like that saying about driving by an accident on the road. You can’t help but stare. And this was one big, long accident. News and reaction was everywhere, from email inbox to social media to podcasts to online streaming. How could I not be concerned and affected by all the news about the US election, the Capitol riot and its momentous ramifications?

Awareness is step 1. Do you find yourself with a lack of focus?

Whoopsie. I caught myself. I realized that the news about political culture of the USA had jumped into my daily ‘to do list’ like a bad habit. I even recognized that this new habit was taking up the time I gained when I gave up my multiplayer online game.

I recognized I didn’t want this to continue. I wanted to make an adjustment and not only get my time back, but to choose my priorities more consciously. I knew I wanted to keep appraised of further news and reactions, yet wanted to get back into the swing of my normal flow, attending to not only urgent but also important matters.

With that awareness, I made my a personal and professional decision: Hold. My. Focus.

Step 2 is diagnosing what’s going on in your specific case.

What was causing my letting go of ‘important’ when the world news calls ‘urgently’? What was the actual problem? Distractions? I found some good quotes for this:

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.
– Zig Ziglar

Focus is a matter of deciding what things you’re not going to do.
– John Carmack

When walking, walk. When eating, eat.
– Zen proverb

Sometimes, it’s that you can’t be still. That you’re almost, maybe, addicted to being distracted. In a podcast I listened to yesterday, they discussed many issues that can cause lack of focus distractions:

Checking email
Checking social media
Checking the news
Checking all of the above on your phone

Or maybe it’s that you’re worried about something, and those thoughts invade your focus: worried about a loved one, a health prognosis, financial or legal issues.

Or maybe it’s darn hard to remain focused because you’re working at home now, and you simply get interrupted by other household members.

I think for me it was a combination of being worried about what I was reading in the news while being inundated with news updates to my email inbox. STAYING focused while being distracted appeared to be the difficulty.

There are various ways each of us may realize we’ve been distracted. The important part is recognizing you need to re-focus, and examining your life to see how and why you lose focus.

Step 3 is coming up with solutions.

You can’t box yourself into a one-size-fits-all answer. You have to look at what works for you personally. When you’re ready to get rid of distractions, come up with a system or process that allows you to focus and eliminate what was distracting you.

Part of my own personal solution was accepting that I had been distracted. The news was also emotionally and physically draining. Acceptance and recognition also led to me pardoning myself! We can be so tough on ourselves… or at least I can be. I had to let myself off the hook for time lost, pick up from there, and bring the re-focus.

In my case, it was a little bit of ‘cold turkey’ or forced abstinence from news during certain hours. I’m also filtering the incoming emails to a ‘read later’ folder. Best.Thing.Ever!

I’m certainly going to read the news and keep up with American culture. I’m simply re-focusing on higher priorities first.

What solutions have you found for yourself when needing to re-focus?

Have you learned helpful tactics? I’d love to hear from you about it. Drop me a line!

Celebrating Client Gems of Wisdom

business, celebrate, creative professionals, production, small business, voiceover

10 Years!

I’m celebrating my tenth year working from home as a female-owned small business. I have wonderful clients whom I’ve learned a lot from. They hold a variety of positions, from producers at digital production companies to ad agency creative directors to eLearning instructional designers. I have a wonderful time collaborating on their projects and keeping in touch over the months and years. These long-term business relationships bring insights and gems of knowledge. This blog post celebrates the gems of wisdom that I’ve learned from my dearest clients.

Ask for Auditions

All clients on most continents can ask for a free audition prior to finalizing which voice actor is hired. Listen to your shortlist of voice actors with a few lines of your script. Like me, most voice actors appreciate the audition opportunity – it’s my way to show you how I fit your brand! Fun fact: Before the internet, auditions were actually paid for, and managed via talent agents.

Let’s Share All Details

There are simple but important details associated with hiring voiceover services to ensure everything runs smoothly. Ask for a brief overview when either considering me or having selected me from an audition. Things like audio specs, usage, copyright, timing and invoicing are important. I have a checklist so we can review and finalize all expectations and parameters in writing with full transparency. Most importantly, no surprises!

Pay How You Want to Pay

I’ve learned it’s important to accept payments from you in a variety of ways, and not frustrate you with mysterious online systems that feel cumbersome. I’ve had to jump through some hoops and get around obstacles, and I’m able to handle most every request. Paypal, Checks, Direct Deposit, Wire Transfer, etc. A client from my old home town, Doug, asked me to share this with VOs:

“Please accept my payment with a plain old check or credit card. I don’t need to sign up for ACH or any esoteric invoice processing system du jour.”

Discuss Relevant Script Background

As appropriate, I’ll ask lots of questions to help qualify what you’re hoping the outcome will be and take suggestions. Many times you can benefit from the broad range of experience that I have, which might improve the piece. Two wonderful clients told me:

“Writers love to talk about their work, and there will be takeaways about the character or scenario that you might not have otherwise got from just the script.” – Anthony

“Every brand, company, etc. has its own ‘voice’. Sometimes, they don’t even know it. But I think a great VO actor will learn what the voice is and be better able to adapt their delivery to match that voice.” – Matt

Communicate When Stuff Goes Wrong

There are moments no one, you or VO actor, can control… weather, technology, personnel changes, and so on. Mother nature can sometimes wreak havoc on a local level, either for the VO or your location. It can also feel like havoc when technology fails us, either through the internet or within local electronics. Layoffs or management turnover can mean my ‘person’ is no longer working for your company. In any of these situations, patience and professionalism are the best recovery systems from small changes to large disasters. This includes everyone doing the best to communicate directly, appropriately, and earnestly.

Some Clients Only Work with a Voice Actor Once

For certain clients, every project is so unique that a new voice is found for each one. It’s a bit dismaying to voice actors like me, who want to cultivate an ongoing relationship and develop recurring work with you. Regardless if the project was super fun, creative and energizing, it doesn’t always mean more work. So, I’ve learned to enjoy the experience within the journey.

“As a small production company, we make an effort to use a variety of voice talent so our website/work doesn’t get repetitive. As much as we would like to find one person to work with and stick with them, it just doesn’t make sense. The unfortunate reality is that every project is unique and we almost never reuse a voice talent unless it’s an ongoing series.” – Scott

No Client-VO Relationship is Forever

Many of my clients have worked with me for many years. And there are client relationships that last only a few years or are based on a finite advertising campaign or branding strategy. I accept the transitory and subjective nature of the work that I receive. I’m also confident and work on my craft, knowing there are new clients on the horizon.

Some Clients Work with a VO Actor Consistently

Let’s end this list on a high note for me! My returning clients are fun because of the personal relationships that develop, and the success of creating voiceover recordings that consistently meet or often exceed my client’s expectations. As we work together, I learn a lot about your needs and deliver accordingly. It’s a professional, mutually collaborative and creative partnership, enjoyable personally and professionally. This is what I strive for.

Recently I had a fun conversation with a partner company’s new employee. I shared insights about the VO industry and what it’s like to run a VO Actor business. My history in video production, advertising, cable tv operations sales and marketing all prepared me to run an owner-operated business in voice acting. I’ve learned, stretched, grown on all counts, from audio engineering or VO acting skills, to marketing and all the administration. I started with a dream and continue with lots of support from loved ones, mentors, virtual teams and wonderful clients. Thank you!

Social Media – Does It Support or Waste Time?

business, creative professionals, instructional design, post-production, production, small business, video design, voiceover

Social. Media. I am doing this. Been doing this. For years.

Is it working? Am I succeeding with it? This is one of my tasks to analyze over the next month or so.

OK, let’s back up. Which social platforms am I talking about?

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

I work at one or two every day, a little bit. I work this effort week after week, month after month, year after year. Are there results? How do I know if I’m succeeding?

Are you doing social media for your small business on any of these platforms? Are there results? Are you succeeding with it?

Because, frankly, I might be ready to let go of several.

Marketing goals are essential.

My goal has always been to generate connections with potential or current clients, get to know each other, and maybe end up doing some business together. I aim to connect primarily with creative pros from advertising, marketing, video/audio production and instructional design.

A secondary goal is creating strong alliances with other pro voiceover actors and talent agents. And there’s the preset that I am not near any of these people geographically. I’ve been remote working within this strategy for over 10 years.

Perhaps it’s this saturation of everyone doing everything virtually in the last few months, but I feel like it’s time to cull the wheat from the chaff among the platforms. Of course, I need to think this through.

Input & Output Experience differs per platform.

I’ve had good experiences with some platforms only, in relation to my above goals. I’ve cultivated many wonderful connections, clients and VO allies. I’ve also experienced a lot of frustration with wasted time and money.

Creating content is the most time-intensive. I created 20 topics to post about monthly. I hired a company which creates custom content from my ideas, and sets it up in a monthly calendar for my final approval or editing. Each unique post is set on the same day, in the same way, for each platform. I know this isn’t a best practice. I’m already frustrated with time spent to get these posts created and branded. Perhaps I need to rethink this?

Here is a mini-dive into how I feel about each platform I’m currently using.

LinkedIn – Highest true, tangible value. I find excellent professional, direct interaction within a professional community of clients, potential clients and other VO allies. Most of the LinkedIn Groups were very vibrant in 2007 and for many years. Now they seem like ghost towns. Active posts in the home feed and direct messaging are interesting and professional for the most part. I’m very satisfied and grateful for this platform and expect to continue finding value there.

Instagram – I started with skepticism, long after many had already lauded its perfection as the newest and next best shiny social place. It sort of felt like everyone I already knew was simply jumping to Insta. What’s the point of creating the same community on a different platform? And since this platform is about images – and now stories – it feels difficult to master with my vocation as a voice actor. I’ve positioned my Insta as a business account. I’ve not found it fruitful. I feel like I don’t have time to customize content the way this feed needs, and I’m not confident I know the best way to take advantage or if there really are opportunities here.

Twitter – So many changes have happened. Seriously, I used to be in a LinkedIn group that was called ‘Twittering’ in 2007! It was a baby then, quite effective and fun. Those were precious times. Since then, I’ve seen the best and worst of times. I have a nice following but limited interactions, primarily with people I already know. I’ve positioned my twitter as a business account. Although I also do what I can here to tweet, re-tweet, and engage, I’ve not found the right business angle during the many years since its heyday. Again, I’m not confident I know the best way to take advantage or if there really are opportunities there.

Facebook Page – This place isn’t my personal profile. It’s a lonely, lonely page. So sad! Friends and other voice actors take notice of my posts, here and there. This wasn’t true back in the day when Pages meant something and got traction. Then they changed the algorithm, and you don’t get eyeballs unless you do paid promotions. Ugh.

Facebook personal profile – I created this to be in touch with family and friends. My ‘friends’ have evolved to include real friends to distant acquaintances in voiceover. Over time I have included a tiny few clients and VO agents into this mix – and I’m always unsure if this is wise. It’s that blurry line that all the ‘specialists’ say you shouldn’t cross. I wonder if it’s a line I simply should stay on one side of? Whatever the answer is, I do not use this for business purposes as much as is possible. Lately, however, due to the Page being so low performing, during the moments I have thought to close my Facebook page down, I have shared from my Page to my personal profile. Wrong? Not sure that’s the right question. Ineffective? Probably.

YouTube – This is a repository for my work, a sort of online portfolio of work where I’ve been able to accumulate copies. Someone just recently suggested that I might want to pursue activity here. That’s never been a goal of mine. Am I missing something?

Best Practices per platform?

I’ve done my research, my content calendar and branding – as much as I have time to devote. Over years!

I found a company I enjoy working with to help me create content custom for my brand. I’ve read and re-read materials about ‘doing social media right’ and generating content. I’ve played with analytics but so much seems based on consumer vs business demographics. I follow experts that show tips and tricks for actors, and I do a lot of that right. I’ve hired so-called and real experts for paid promotion campaigns. I found one experience full of baloney. I was really mad that I wasted my money but at least I learned.

I know there are lots of best practices. The problem is, most seem geared to larger companies than mine. That’s why I’ve started to feel that a lot of advice out there simply isn’t worth the time it takes to read it. I’ve even studied and done the work about identifying my ideal client/s. It takes so much time. It feels so unscientific. It feels like a treadmill rather than a path to a goal.

What’s my opinion?

I know I’m succeeding with LinkedIn. YouTube is only a repository, with no further expectations. Twitter and Facebook are seemingly time-wasters at this point. Insta is an enigma and leaning toward feeling like a time-waster.

Back in 2007, when Twitter was new and LinkedIn was fresh, it felt good and really authentic. In 2020, it feels very different. My opinion is that LinkedIn is still a robust enough platform. The rest? Not especially worth the time. They’re fun to observe, see what others are doing, and to keep in touch with associates, friends and family. And enjoy very funny memes! I’m going to do some analytics again, and a little more deep diving on content value. At this point, my mind can be changed. Professionally though, I don’t see the value except with LinkedIn.

Do you agree? Do you see something wrong with what I’ve described? What’s your experience and opinion? Please leave a comment and answer social media Qs here: https://forms.gle/16qNPgrEmCZPTnba6

Controversial — Is ‘Line Reading’ Acceptable for Voiceover?

business, online vo sessions, production, voiceover

A while back I asked my media production clients for questions for Voice Actors (VOs). Several clients wanted to know how VOs feel about line reading. Are they for or against it? Is it a sensitive topic?

What is a ‘Line Reading’?

It’s when the person directing (a Creative Director, a Media Producer, or Product Marketing Manager, etc.) reads aloud the scripted line with a specific tone, energy, and emotion as an example of how the line should be said. It’s predetermined and meant to be mimicked by the VO. That’s a line reading. It can be either offered by a director or asked for by an actor.

What’s the Controversy?

In the broader acting community, a line reading is considered undesirable – a red flag for limited capability on the part of the director or actor. As straight forward as it is, a line reading can dilute the collaborative process, or imply a lack of trust for the giver or the receiver.

At the same time, in a single voiceover session, there’s always a deadline and usually multiple stakeholders. A line reading can move the process forward for either a director or an actor who feels stuck under pressure.

Tension lies within communication, creativity, limited time and the ability for specific creatives to ‘connect’ or ‘get each other’ within this constraint. The Director uses words to describe the desired creative result. An acceptable result is required in a specific and limited period of time… The controversy is whether to use a line reading as a shortcut through that process.

Is Line Reading Acceptable for Voiceover?

Let’s consider the parties involved in voiceover. Everyone in the production, including voice actors, takes their profession seriously and wants to be as creative and collaborative as possible, within time constraints. Everyone would love to have a creative, collaborative voiceover session where acting and directing shine like gold. That often happens.

Like other creatives, focused and successful VOs train and develop their talent. VOs come with acting skills to break down, interpret and perform the script. They compete for jobs via auditions. Once hired, they want to use their creative skills and give clients the best performance possible.

The Short Answer is… It Depends

Voiceover sessions can be for audiobook, animation, commercial or promo campaigns, series narration, and website or product videos. Each is a unique type of session.

Frequently, not always, the voiceover script is the last phase of production. Time buffers may have been used up prior to the voiceover session. No one really wants to use line reading, and yet sometimes it can be a useful tool for saving time.

I asked several VOs about this. Most said they welcome line readings openly. A smaller subset does feel limited by it and wants to avoid it. It wasn’t a scientific survey.

Since each VO session is unique, there is no right or wrong. But there is a general stance to avoid line reading from the greater acting community. That doesn’t mean the small group in your voiceover session believes that or needs to work within that paradigm.

Considering everything I’ve mentioned, the answer lies within the team at the session.

Tips for Hirers of VOs (and VOs)

When you’re part of the team at a voiceover recording session, you’re there for a reason. Everyone has a role. In order to have an effective session, which is why line readings come up, here are some basic tips.

Prior to sessions, VOs should prepare their script by seeing it earlier and being able to bring questions. We all know this isn’t always possible, but it’s a good goal.

After session introductions, any participant can ask, “How do you feel about line reading?” Be open and flexible with any answer.

Key creatives can share the project vision, the audience, and how the script message fits into this.

VOs and Directors can use questions to encourage collaboration. Specify if you’re referring to a specific line or set of lines:

- Can we try it with a different choice?
- Would we like to shift the performance somehow?
- Can I give / Can I get some guidance for that?
- What’s driving the delivery of that line?
- How about a final take to just go with gut feeling?

Collaborate

Like all things in life, it’s not as simple as yes or no. In my experience, it really does depend on the specific situation. I understand why the controversy exists, particularly for the projects that have more time for rehearsal and collaboration.

I love the creative collaborative process. It’s a huge reason I do this for a living. And, rarely, the question, “How about a line read?” has popped up. It’s always been a ‘yes’ answer, followed by the slight release in tension for the freedom to use this technique. It’s often a new opportunity to try something different, maybe even the final ‘safety’ take.

If you’ve enjoyed this and would like to collaborate with me further, please reach out via my email listed above.

Boost Your Success with Accountability

accountability, business, small business, voiceover

Do you keep yourself accountable to your own goals?

Do you write a list of goals and check them off? Keep measurements of success… or lack of? And how do you keep on top of that?

I have done all of the above. On my own, I’ve used paper and digital lists, posters, sticky notes, calendar reminders, spreadsheets, tracking, more tracking, hired help, more hired help, classes, and so on. All of these bits and pieces have been part of holding myself accountable. Sometimes it works and sometimes not…

But the truth is, I had been the only one who cared. Aside from family and friends who encourage and cheer you, working remotely as an entrepreneur is a singular thing. Aside from people you hire, or who hire you, there’s not a lot of other peer level, professional interaction. There’s some on social media, but still, meaningful interaction was limited.

I didn’t have the sense of partnership in the professional level of work I was doing, for problem solving, support for small losses or cheers for big wins.

Human nature is community-oriented.

Looking at this from another angle, human nature is full of interaction. And positive interaction that provides problem-solving, support and cheers. Families, towns, countries, religions, businesses – we feel more confident and protected when another person is ‘in it’ with us. So let’s use this to our business advantage.

That’s what I tried next.

Consider this: Have you ever buddied up with a colleague to hold each other accountable to specific goals? To work through issues you each face? To celebrate success?

I decided I needed my own personal community… someone other than a casual friend and running their own business too… who would have similar issues that could relate with my own, and vice versa.

I needed an ‘accountability partner’.

Define an Accountability Partnership.

My definition: Two trusted associates work together to make progress toward their respective goals. It’s a two-way relationship, where each individual supports the other’s goals in order for each to meet them. You…

encourage, challenge and provide focus for each other.
each want the other partner to succeed
are dependable and committed to helping your partner, while moving yourself forward.
communicate clearly, directly, and respectfully, asking difficult questions and offering insightful observations.
won’t let your partner get away with excuses, or slip through success without celebration.

It’s a powerful combination of motivation and support.

What are the basics?

Once you’ve found your trusted partner:

set up regular meetings at a pace that works for you
introduce each other to respective goals, tracking, and relevant processes
tweak as you go
allow personal goals as you wish
keep it going as long as it feels relevant

I’ve been working with my partner now for at least a year, and we’ve both grown during the process. We’ve addressed issues, both personal and business, and some that are a bit of both. We continue, and have modified our focus, meeting times and frequency once or twice.

There are only benefits. You’ll gain and you’ll give.

Partnering with someone gives you perspective and insights about your own stated goals and real accomplishments. Celebrate the wins and dust yourself off from the losses. Get pushed to grow with challenges. Brainstorm more effective processes for anything. Learn to let go of ineffective habits or systems that no longer serve you.

And vice versa, you’ll serve another professional. Witness them pursue success and transformation. Support them through changes, offer constructive feedback and wisdom to address issues, options and circumstances. There’s a lot of reward in serving another and watching their results.

For the last year, I have worked with an ‘accountability partner’ for my small business. I love it for both what I receive and what I give. It’s mutual growth with the satisfaction coming from individual actions – with a witness.

For me personally, I am more accountable to myself when I know someone else will be watching what I watch. I also have been cheered on when I was overlooking achievements. You can’t beat it!

We’re All Adaptable…

down-time, improvisation, life, voiceover

It seems almost the whole world is moving into ‘the next phase’. Are you feeling nervous or just a little anxious?

I was both when I ventured out this week because I hadn’t been out in more than a month. A part of me even panicked while driving to the store. Seriously! But a deep breath or two resolved the angst. I shopped and consciously noticed feeling a bit of joy, seeing other human beings like me. We are alive! We are moving! Hopefully the majority of us will take all needed precautions and move into the next phase with a little bit of joy thrown in – perhaps on top of the facemask like this?

Considering adapting, I also recently taught an online ‘improvisation for voice actors’ class. The students often enter class with anxiety about attempting improvisation, putting a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect or funny. After class they graduate with ‘training wheels’ and a newfound trust in themselves and their abilities. Happens every time.

Learning to change makes us strong.

So I thought about all of these circumstances, and couldn’t help but be uplifted by the large and small adaptations I witness, in person or online. I want to acknowledge you ALL – HERE. You deserve recognition.

You have been either within some level of unsettled discomfort, all the way to potentially the worst during this pandemic. You have changed your routine. You stopped traveling to an office, limited travel to stores and doctors. You learned new technologies, shifting from in-person to on-line.

You did this in your personal life, your business life, your parent life, your family, relatives, churches, sports, and so on. All the roles you live in life. This pandemic has been a big event for all of us, reaching almost every corner of the world. That’s scary impressive.

CONGRATULATIONS. I really love what I have heard, where people showed integrity, ingenuity, compassion and strength.

Human beings are so amazing.

We’re all adaptable… whether we like what we adapt to or not!

Adapting to stay alive. And more than that…

To learn new ways to thrive?
To remember old ways to thrive?

If you’d like to comment or share how you’ve adapted, please do using my email listed above.

Directed Voiceover Sessions – Zoom Caution and Alternates

online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover

Zoom Caution – Use a password

I confess – I was a huge fan of Zoom and now I’ve tempered that but still use it, particularly since I use the audio-only option for voiceover. If you didn’t know, due to the huge migration of people from office to remote working due to COVID19, Zoom usage surged, and their security and privacy flaws quickly became ‘talk of the town’. Most circumstances I’ve heard about were large group Zoom events, some open to the public. This is different from a voiceover session with as few as 2 to a likely maximum of 10 participants. Keep that in mind. However, security and privacy issues still exist, so use with caution.

For a voiceover session, use Zoom by incorporating a password and ask people to sign in (vs a simple link). I’ve used Zoom for several years now and haven’t any security breaches, but again my sessions are a handful of people only. If you are using Zoom for other purposes or larger gatherings, I suggest looking at your alternatives.

Alternatives – Rebecca’s top two choices:

Webex

It’s the same idea as Zoom: video and audio conferencing. The audio on this is as high quality as Zoom, and I use it as easily as Zoom. There’s a free basic level just like Zoom. I’ve used it for several clients and it was flawless.

Skype

It’s the same idea as Zoom: video and audio conferencing. I’ve used it many times in audio sessions. There is a free basic level. However, I do not prefer because it can create conflicts when connected to my audio recording software. Since that’s the whole point with a voiceover session, I actually try to avoid Skype.

I hope this helps you give proper consideration to Zoom. There are many more options here, where I got portions of my information:

My Coronavirus ‘Moment’

life, voiceover

Personal Reactions

During my personal coronavirus moment, I’m learning that I’m resilient. That if I let myself move through the emotional waves around me, my feet still touch the ground. Bend, flow, be connected, even if socially-distanced. I can lift up and fly, above all the chaos, the constraints, upwards to go where I want to go – live how I want to live. And be moved by so many human acts of love and connectivity – while we remain arms-length apart.

As you may already know, I work from home and have since 2010. You may not know I am currently in Italy, near Rome. I live a fairly remote lifestyle in the countryside when I’m here. The little Italian town I live near, a farm or two over, had no incidences of the virus until days ago. I hear a family is in isolation. Maybe three families. News like this is hard to confirm and it could even be gossip. But it’s changing how I feel. I was in a safe bubble. I am still but it just shrunk. News here says 80% of people will get infected by the time it’s all over.

Let me back up, to give you a sense of what it’s felt like. I’ve been in Italy since the holidays when coronavirus first happened in Wuhan, China. It all seemed so far away then, only a glimmer of news. But upon learning how it had spread to northern Italy, I felt a tsunami of fear and claustrophobia. The TV news was updating with bigger and bigger numbers in the Lombardia region, showing coronavirus spreading.

I was not alone in that moment. But suddenly I felt very alone, floating in an invisible padding of panic with an inevitable implosion. It became a mental panic vice on my head, squeezing and inciting adrenaline, with nowhere for me to run. Panic, fear of no way out, that claustrophobia and sense of doom. That feeling you have in the pit of your stomach watching a movie scene where someone is slipping into quicksand but this time it’s you. Is this similar to those who learn of a world war, or regional war?

Tough Decision: Stay or Go

I really had to sedate myself that night and, being honest, a few other nights since then. Escaping to the US occurred to me, but I couldn’t abandon loved ones here. Was I weak for considering that option, one most here do not have? Choosing to stay gave me a release on the vice and the rampant running of adrenaline. It gave me a sense of control and purpose. Do what I can, from here, for now.

Obviously, if I go ‘home’ to California to help my senior parents, I will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Could I even be a carrier? Do I want to risk it? At this moment, they seem OK, so I remain where I am. But my heart weeps for anyone separated from dear loved ones. I’ve seen both horror stories and others of love in the last few weeks. I bet we will all see them.

So here I am. Depending upon where you are, perhaps I’m ahead of the curve you are yourself facing. It’s a bit of a dark day for most of us, isn’t it, generally? Like we’re playing out some epic blockbuster movie. There will be death and destruction… and heroes.

Aside from the doctors and valiant others involved to heal and keep our world turning in the right direction, I want to shine a light on some other heroes. The Italian people are known stereotypically to have strong emotions worn on their sleeves, dynamic with love and anger. I’ve always admired this. In these recent days of #StayStrongItaly, #TuttoAndraBene (everything will be all right), #IoRestoACasa (I stay at home), Italy has shown its beautiful colors. Through social and other media, they have joined together while distanced, singing and holding lights from balconies and windows at a precise day and hour, spreading hope and love. It brought tears of hope, love and decency to my eyes, and encouragement to my heart.

Surviving and Thriving

I have always been known as a strong woman, brave, full of life, energy and intelligence. It’s a nice reputation that I’ve been happy to have. But I have to admit, I’m also vulnerable, a little bit scared, and hopeful.

I go outside when possible and hope you can go outside too, even if it’s a balcony or a windowsill. It’s healing when the sun shines on your face. And maybe you can see the trees blossoming regardless of our virus, rebirthing in their annual mockery of wintery death. I am thankful for so much. Smiles, floral perfume, then fruit and marmalade will come from the blossoms. We are resilient, like a flowering tree.

Be the hero in your own life. Find your light and share it during these darker fearful days. Loosen the vice of fear, open your emotional heart, and for the sake of humanity – share your love.

Will this end? Or simply become a seasonal incident? When we look back at this, will it be with pride in our response? I don’t know. But at 6pm tonight, I might just sing. Even if no one can hear me from their balcony.

Directed Voiceover Sessions With What Online Platform?

online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover

Friendly platforms for online directed voiceover sessions

An online directed voiceover session means having a high-quality audio connection over the internet to let a client direct a voice actor as if they were in the same place. An online directed voiceover session connects the voiceover talent with an engineering studio and clients. It’s multiple locations online at the same time, to direct and record a script for a creative project.

Online directed sessions are used for all types of audio and video production and post-production. From public-facing projects like films, advertising and corporate videos to internally facing projects like corporate training or sales presentations. And more.

It’s a relatively simple concept. A client directs the voice actor. The voice actor performs the script. Recording is either remotely done by the audio engineer or locally by the voice actor. There can be more or less people and responsibilities, but this is the basic idea.

Below are great options for sessions online.

Platforms for online sessions with remote recording by an audio engineer:

My ‘go to’ platform is Source-Stream, from Source-Connect.

I use Source-Stream almost weekly. Why is it my ‘go to’ platform? Clients use it! At least that’s why I started with it. Source-Connect is a very easy to use app. It’s relatively low-latency, which can vary based on internet providers. They offer a bridge to ISDN if needed. Finally, they have terrific support and it’s affordable.

Per Source-Elements the parent company, “Automatic Network Configuration is … Source-Stream, a new feature that allows for global, low-latency firewall traversal for your connections.” Source-Elements has been in business since 2005. My experience with clients worldwide is that most audio producers use Source-Connect, while some still use ISDN.

I highly recommended the lesser known SessionLinkPRO.

I have only used this a few times, but it was even easier to use than Source-Connect. It is used through your browser. I experimented with it both as a VO actor and as an audio producer. Pretty straight-forward and I didn’t feel any latency. I got the sense that for someone not expert at audio, this might be a viable option for a remote or online directed session. My wish is that more pros start checking out this little darling of a platform.

Additional platforms allowing online directed voiceover sessions (as of 2020)

I have found out about but not yet used Connection Open. Recommended by others, I’m looking forward to testing it out and trialing it with any willing producers.

I have trialed and have an account with ipDTL. Also recommended by others, I haven’t used ipDTL professionally yet because no clients have asked for it.

Platforms for directed sessions with local recording done by me, the voice actor:

Many clients prefer me to handle the recording locally. This again is a simple arrangement. The clients and the voice actor are not in the same location, so you want an online solution.

Primarily I prefer web-conferencing services like Zoom, and then WebEx. I’ve used both with much success and little to zero latency nor interference with my local audio interfaces. Multiple people log into the session from multiple locations.

My last choice but still functional options are a VOIP like Skype, or a Telephone ‘patch’. This is a phone call into my studio. My client won’t hear the same audio fidelity as all of the other services above, but it gets the job done.This is my last choice because I sometimes run into issues or interference with my audio interfaces. Skype specifically doesn’t like connections longer than an hour!

These findings are based on several years of experience in the trenches, and I’m happy to share with you.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have questions.