Lots of Hats

I love hats, I have about 100 hats in my closet, and my wife will do just about anything to get rid of them, but each hat holds a memory, a point in time where it was received, purchased or found that brings about an emotional response.

Think about that when you're voice acting, or narrating a piece, invoke emotional responses to what you're speaking about. Whether it's cars or cracked foundations, you're ability to tell the story with an emotion in your voice will convey to the listener the one thing that emotionally connects them to the idea, product or story.

I find that telling stories to children is a great way to tune up character voices, or work on delivering an emotion. It's great practice, and its fun for kids too. Try it, volunteer at your local library, or read to your own kids, or grand kids for that matter. You'll find that when you tell the story, and it's just you doing all the characters in the story you'll find ways to emotionally connect to the story, and the audience is just as emotionally connected as you are.

Finding you niche' is probably going to be hard! No, really, it's going to be the hardest thing about voice work/production. Finding out what you're good at took me 19 years,, well not that long, about 15 years actually. I always wanted to be a radio superstar.. like Lujack, or Mancow, or Dare, or Imus. But,, that never happened, and it probably never will.

So I had to find out what I was good at. Let's see, I can tell good stories, (especially to 3 and 4 year olds) with character voices and mouth made sound effects. Ok, I'll put that on my check list. Let's see what else.. hmm, ok, I have a knack for creating imaging that cuts through, with the use of sfx, drops, conversational pieces.. Ok,, that goes on it too.. but what do I do the best?

I create commercials that sell! But I didn't do that by myself, I had a little help from a creative director who writes.. OH,, you can do that too.. fan-freakin-tastic! You're well on your way to finding that niche' I've been talking about.

Marketing yourself and your niche'?

.. well, let me do some research and I'll get back to you

July WHEW!

Been a while since the last time we chatted. I've been through so much in the last month it's mind boggling. My father had quadruple bypass surgery and is still in the hospital with rehab issues, a family member had the most extravagant wedding I've ever been to or will go to, and I've been dealing with some personal issues that I think I've worked out.

I started this blog to catalogue my life and how it relates to life, sort of a "how to" book online, but it's mostly becoming a place where I can vent, and post my thoughts on all kinds of stuff.

But enough about me, let's talk about Voice work, imaging and what needs to happen to make it "sound" right. I've worked with a lot of great voice over people in my career, and they've all got great advice on how to get work in this cut throat business. But let's face it, unless you've got kahunas the size of grapefruit, or a voice so unique it's really hard to get business. I'm a member of several online communities, but I've only gotten a few jobs and it's extremely rare that I get a substantial amount of money for the work that I do.

That being said, do not be disheartened by it, and most certainly don't take what I say as gospel. But do try and find your niche' and then follow it. Tomorrow, I'll share how to create some cool effects with software and mic technique.