The Voice Over Stimulus Podcast

It’s been awhile since my last post. Lazy, no just really busy with life and getting along with what matters. Not that voiceover does’nt matter, no not at all. Just things that needed attention.

Anyway, among other things I made it through winter with some common maladies but nothing serious. Now that it’s May and the weather is warmer, the trees are budding, the grass is green, etc., etc. and I come down with what the doctor called Upper Repiratory infection, Sinus infection and possibly a variation of the Repiratory flu or any combination there of.

So you ask where I am going with this. Ok, the scenario is you’re feeling lousy, headache, stuffy nose, aches and pains, you know the drill. So drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Easier said than done, right?

So let’s see…take normal medication…check…take non-drowsy cold pills…check and off to bed, hopefully to get a goods night sleep or at least better than if I took nothing for my ailments.

Bout two in the morning, I stumble into the bathroom to answer natures call and to take another round of cold tablets. Here is where the adventure begins. I fumble for the cold tablets, finally find the package and pull out a dose. But wait…these two little babies are sealed up in their packaging with more security than the US Gold deposits in Fort Knox. I mean really! Oh yeah it has this little corner you simply peel back and open the pack. If I’m correct about my conspiracy theory, Im thinking the designers of this cruel hoax sit around at lunch time laughing hysterically thinking up scenarios in their mind of people trying to get at the product that should be so simple to extract.

In the meantime, I’m peeling, bending, biting the edge of this small pack trying to get it open. Finally thinking maybe I would be better off just going back to bed in the condition that I was previously in, might not be as frustrating as this adventure had become.

Finally, off to the left in a container with other tools for primping and grooming I spot a trusty pair of scissors. Alas, I take them and cut right down the center between the two pills in the pack and liberate those little babies that will hopefully bring me relief during the rest of the night.

With all of the technology available today, why can’t someone develop a simple to open pack so people can take there pills and go back to bed. Well, we won’t go there as this would open up another conversational debacle.

All said and done, I am finally starting to feel better and should be getting back to the normalcy of auditioning for my voiceover clients, agents and others.

Just a side note. I made it fine, but did get a bit worried when a good client of mine (WTOC in Savanna Georgia) e-mailed me last Monday and asked me to do a station promo for an upcoming show this last Saturday. I did my best and sent away. No retakes needed and all was well.

Isn’t life grand, when you’re feeling good?

Keeping Your Voice Over Motor Running

Keeping-Your-Voice-Over-Motor-Running-Smoothly

Have you ever had a car that when going down the highway at cruising speed it ran just fine?

Although when you came up to a stop sign you had to keep your foot on the accelerator to keep the engine running.

Is that how you feel when doing voiceover? It’s hard to keep yourself motivated from day to day.

Keeping yourself motivated is a task unto itself, apart from all the other things that we must do on a regular basis to keep our voiceover structure in tune.

We have probably asked ourselves on different occasions “how do those who are successful in voiceover keep it up?” Well just as in the case of the car that would not idle well until we added some fuel injection cleaner, we need to keep ourselves motivated each and every day to keep our voiceover goals alive and running smoothly.

As individuals we can become confused about the meaning and nature of motivation.

Let’s look at the probable scenario of the successful voiceover. He or she starts with a vision of wanting to look into voiceover work. They do research on the subject, read some books by established VO talent. They consider that they might take some lessons in voiceover. Valid coaches usually give a consultation, relating the excitement and rewards and costs involved in getting started.  Now when I took my coaching sessions it was fairly easy to stay motivated during this time because of  all  the one on one time. I would listen to the CD of the coaching session on the way home, call my wife and tell her about the session. (Warning! Talking on a cell phone while driving may be extremely dangerous!)

Eventually much of this one on one constant coaching ends and you are on your own to keep practicing what you have been taught to do. While waiting for some positive results from your efforts is when things can get discouraging, no agency has responded, no work from the popular pay sites even though you are trying very hard. Discouragement can set in even to the most positive minded

What then keeps some people moving forward and prospering in the beginning while others just start to dabble at the craft and eventually fade away? The answer is simple…you need to keep your eyes focused on the outcome of what might be when you apply yourself.

Then as you keep working at the techniques you have been taught and keep marketing yourself on a continual basis, you start to see results. Usually small results at first, results from your hard work, priming the pump so to say. Now you can start shifting from just visualizing the outcome you hope for to starting to experience some of the fruitage you are working for. For example an agent or two pop into your life and starts sending you auditions, that first job from sites like Voice 123 or Voices.com just to name two of the more popular sites and things can start to get real exciting.

Is there anything surprising about the fact that we now want to keep working out?  Not at all, you see, we’re reaping so many benefits that we want to continue working on our techniques. We are motivated to act because we have a MOTIVE or REASON. The reasons for acting are the BENEFITS and PAYOFFS that we receive

By now, the concepts of motivation and willpower may be clearer. To put our newfound understanding to good use, let’s now look at some steps we can take for the cultivation of motivation. What is it that you would like to do in voiceover? Work at it not only because it’s fun and you love doing it but maybe doing it full time. Pick a goal and consider these steps.
1. Begin by analyzing the costs of acting and not acting. Many people wistfully dream about things that they would like to do without considering the obstacles involved. So, if they make an attempt, they quickly give up after striking the first few hurdles. Considering the costs involved gives you power. It prepares you and offers the opportunity to look for resources and solutions before problems arrive. Don’t forget to consider the cost of not acting. Let’s say you don’t workout because you don’t like practicing and marketing yourself. If so, you are giving up what you want MOST (a rewarding career) and your dream will most likely fade into the sunset.

2. Analyze the rewards you will receive after achieving your goal.

Doing voiceover because you enjoy and love voice acting.

Because you want to make it a rewarding and profitable career.

Because you meet some of the finest people you could ever meet.

As a side point to this, the vast majority are extremely supportive and helpful.

List everything you can think of because there will be many that you will overlook or be unaware of.

3. If the benefits outweigh the costs, make a commitment to start working toward your goal.

4. Looking forward to success is enough to get you started in taking your first small steps. The rewards you get after taking those initial steps will be enough to motivate you to take additional steps. After all, nothing motivates like success. Each step you take causes motivation to snowball and accelerate.

5. Repetition strengthens outcomes. Motivation won’t continue to grow unless you notice the improvements, so keep records and monitor your progress. Repetition also reinforces motivation and makes it easier to maintain because it becomes habitual.

6. To keep the momentum, don’t deviate from your plan. For as Zig Ziglar said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” As long as you keep up the pace, motivation will remain strong. But if you let things slide, there will be fewer rewards, and, therefore, less motivation.

So remain vigilant and you will be assured of success in your voiceover expectations.

Comments in this article were adapted from an article by:

Chuck Gallozzi  at personal development.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download