Building a Home Studio

Prior to being laid off, I had already sat down with an engineer at my job, "designed" a computer based on what I wanted it to do, and then purchased one through our Dell preferred employee program. Then I got Adobe Audition, Sound Forge and Vegas editing software programs at a ridulous price (it pays to have tech friends lol). Now what? A mike of course with the proper cord and stand. Still in the process of getting those, but in doing some research, I came across this article/podcast at Voice Over Xtra. I'm glad he said I don't need a bunch of fancy stuff. Good. 'cause right now it ain't in the budget. It's informative. Check it out and peep the mustache.

Home Studio: What to Buy? Know
Your Goals & 'Don't Overthink It'


By Dan Lenard
Voice Actor & Home Studio Consultant

If you’re scratching your head over what equipment to buy for your home studio, you’re hardly alone.

Even veteran voice actors who’ve been accustomed to working in professional studios are being lured to the efficiency (work at home!) of having a home studio.

But … what to buy?

To answer, home studio consultant and voice actor Dan Lenard asks another question: “What do you want the equipment to do for you?

“Know what you want to achieve,” he says, and simplify the formula. “Don’t overthink it.”

In this podcast recorded for VoiceOverXtra, Lenard reviews misconceptions about home studios and offers advice on achieving your home studio goals. This includes the elements of a good home studio.

Lenard’s engaging delivery alone is worth the listen!

With 32 years of experience behind the mic and in commercial studios, he combines voice acting with home studio consulting to help voice actors succeed.

(The podcast is about 10minutes long, worth a listen) It really let me know that I am on my way.

To contact Dan:

Email: dansvoice@roadrunner.com
Web: www.homestudiomaster.com

Boy What An INCREDIBLE Election Day!

I know I talked about this yesterday, but when I sent this email out to a bunch of friends, they encouraged me to post it on my blog, so here it is. It's sort of like yesterdays post but with more detail.

Let me tell you what an incredible day it was....

I had just finished canvassing all day in Richmond and then my friends and I returned to my girlfriends house, freshened up and started heading down to U Street to get something to eat. On the way, NPR stated that Barack was projected to be the next President. So we started beeping our horn and yelling to let people know what happened. Then we turned down U St doing the same, parked in front of Ben's Chilli Bowl, got out screamed, jumped up and down, hugged people, stopped traffic, danced. It was amazing because when we first started down U street, folk were just starting to hear the news. They were looking at us like we were crazy, then they got it and simultaneously folk flooded the streets, cars were beeping like crazy. People -all of us technically strangers started slapping each other five (even the people in cars as they were driving by), hugging, crying, laughing, waving signs, taking pictures, chanting Yes We DID, O-ba-ma, and Yes We Can! We found a drum circle and started dancing and chanting Obama to the rhythm. The energy was like carnival but w/o the hedonistic aspect (lol). It was celebratory. Then we decided to finally head to Bus Boys to get something to eat...and what timing. We couldn't get in, BUT we got there in time to watch and read through the front window (since it was close-captioned) Barack make his acceptance speech. It started pouring rain, but we didn't care. We didn't move! We stared and read in disbelief. My girlfriend and I had a video camera and recorded as much of the night as possible. (I even have her on videotape, knocking on city bus doors until the drivers would stop and open them for her. She would then climb up the stars, give the driver a kiss, and then hug every passenger on the bus. She left everyone smiling that much more. )

After watching the speech, we went inside a club that was also playing CNN, then some Bob Marley. This is love...this is love...this is love...this is love...that I'm feelin.....We danced some more and when it stopped raining, we went back outside. On a corner there was someone who put their speaker in the window and started spinning some songs. We all started dancing. The songs were fun (mostly reggae and African) and then they played 50 ...We gonna party like it's your birthday... everyone started jumping up and down and then Jay-Z's Swagger Like Us came on and we started shouting swagger like Obama, swagger like obama (lmao). One dude started yelling when I say O you say bama --- he yelled O and we chimed in Bama, O-Bama! Afterwards the music was becoming more inappropriate. I was craving McFadden and Whitehead, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, but we could tell that wasn't going to happen, so we headed to the White House. By that time, there was no crowd. My friends and I took pictures, offered to paint the White House black (lol), offered prayers for the next First family and talked to an AP reporter. Then we went home, forgetting to buy a paper, and barely awake. Needless to say, yesterday, for the most part, I was laid out on my bed, encouraged, overwhelmed and satisfied. If I smoked cigarettes, no doubt I would have lit a couple. LOL. It was awesome. Aboslutely unforgettable.

OMG - YES WE DID!

Wow where do I begin. Yes I've been a bit incongnito on this blog as I go through a series of transitions, but today we start one of the biggest transitions in history -- the transition of Bush to Obama, a transition to a new administration that is being celebrated all over the planet.

Yes I voted for Obama. When I lost my job last month, I used some of that time to help get Obama elected. All day yesterday I spent in VA helping to get out the vote. I was back in DC on my way with friends to get something to eat on U street when we heard on the radio "...BARACK OBAMA is projected as the next President of the US." We beeped our horns, parked the car, screamed, and hugged almost everybody we saw on the street. We danced, stopped cars, screamed some more, high fived, ran up and down the street as we absorbed and celebrated the impact of this moment in history and everyones role in making it happen -- from our ancestors, educators and community leaders to our best friends, and even those we perceived as enemies. If Obama can be president, surely my dreams and your dreams can come true -- with hard work, discipline, focus, determination and, as Barak, no wait excuse me, PRESIDENT Barack Obama, has demonsrtated, we can do it with a graceciousness, humility, and compassion that inspires and uplifts everyone around you. YES WE CAN!

(to comment, click title)

BOY what a D day indeed

Yesterday D was for Demo -- I met up with my friend for my demo session. He wanted me to do some reads for alternative rock station. HILARIOUS! I did not realize how strong my regional accent was until he started pointing out how I was pronouncing certain words. It was very eye opening. It is going to be interesting to hear the final product. It will be a great starting point until I am able to start gigging regularly.



Yesterday D was for doomsday, but in fact it wasn't doomsday yesterday. TODAY was doomsday. The company for which I work, WorldSpace Satellite Radio, filed Chapter 11 this morning. Consequently, this afternoon, everyone in my dept except for 3 people were laid off. So I have now officially joined the ranks of the unemployed. How do I feel? Well, frankly it sucks but I anticipated something like this happening months ago, so I prepared for it. I am so grateful I did. I had asked the HR person about COBRA and you know what? The cost of basic medical insurance for a single person is about $527 a month. How much do I get a month in unemployment insurance? Approximately $1500. So how does one budget for rent, gas, food, bills AND medical insurance?? Let's see....food or bills, health or rent? Indeed people are hurting. Glory be to God. I am doing fine. Will I have medical insurance? I have to start looking now to see what my options are. I am very healthy so I may have to pass at least for a lil while and believe God will continue to keep me safe.

Still, ironically, I am excited. Excited about what is coming. Excited to see what this challenging situation will bring out of me. Again I know I said it before, but preparation is soooo important. When I first suspected this company may be coming to a close, I got ready for this season. Now here I am - in it. Wow.


Here's to the future! Pray for me!


I feel like I am being led to the edge of a cliff, and have to trust that my parachute will open and help me land on my feet.

GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOO!




(to comment, click title)

Today is D day

Ok what do I mean by D day. Well..

D is for Doomsday?
Today is the day that I am supposed to find out what happens with me at my job. They owe me back pay. Will I get it? If not today, when? and afterwards will I be fired, let go or asked to stay on?

Today is also the day that at least 10 of my friends were laid off in the Sirius XM merger.

D is for Demo Session
Today is the day that I am supposed to have my official imaging Demo session with my friend Zoltar. I am working on his resume and he is editing my first demo. We met yesterday to discuss it and gather all the previous work I have done. He's stretching me in some ways, so I am excited and curious how well I will deliver.

D is for Depsite
Despite what some would say is crazy times in the overall economy and even in my life right now since so many things are up in the air for me,

I am feeling quite good -
grateful to be alive and healthy
fortunate to have more than enough to pay my bills
excited about having great family and friends who love me
curious about the lessons I will learn in this season
impassioned about the creative adventures I just started to embark on....(what r they? I'll let u know eventually...)

and somewhat anxous for the election to hurry up and be over with! Barack the vote!


Oh BTW, D is also for deep cleaning my house. I am finally putting my summer clothes away even though it was HOT is DC yesterday.

ttyl!

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Just for Laughs: SNL debate

I've been in NY handling family business and am right now grateful that my mom has DSL!

Did u catch the debate on Tuesday night? I caught part of it on radio. Here is the SNL skit of it. I got the biggest kick out of

McCain saying the same thing over and over again,
Tom Brokaw trying to stay within the time limits,
McCain calling a questioner the wrong name,
referring to Obama as "that one", and ultimately,
McCain walking all over the place and getting into the camera shots LMAO
How both McCain & Obama answered the last questions simultaneously "Change...Maverick" lol

I wish Obama was easier to make fun of...so snl could get more laughs regarding him.

On a voice over tip, what a science it is to imitate people's voices and cadences. Props to SNL!

Enjoy!

Inside a coaching session with Nancy Wolfson

A friend of mine like me, was looking for a coach and decided to do a tele-coahcing session with Nancy Wolfson. As many of you already know, Nancy is one of the major players in the business, and has a great repution. However, her worksop at VOICE 2008, in my opinion, left much to be desired. I was very disappointed.

My freind also had some questions, but decided to go with Nancy anyway. So finally when the session happened, I told her to give me some feedback. Here are some of the things she said.

First, since it would be thier initial sesson, Nancy sent her some "homework-prep " which she said was very helpful. (GO Nancy!)

"My first session with Nancy went well -- it wasn't so much a coaching session as a demo audit. We spent time chatting a bit and then she gave a pretty detailed listen and analysis of my current demo. Total of an hour.

Right away, I did notice is that she has a very keen ear. Before listening to the demo, I shared a bit about myself, and she made observations about my sound, vowels, my regionalisms, and could also tell what my face was doing (my mouth/jaw/tongue) over the phone.

Re the demo...She gave a strong critique, and I was expecting that, however it was constructive. She told me what she liked, didn't like and why. One aspect is local / national market standards. I know that her standard is a national market, so that's the bar that she's holding the demo to. My feeling is that national vo commercials are very nuanced and subtle. My demo was created in a small local market, and I agree with her assessment on the forced, "corny commercial" (my words) feel of my demo. However, that's what local commercials sound like here! She did note that the overall demo is a reflection of the director (who does come from a small market and knew very little about me before doing the demo). Some music or sound layering was dated and obviously small market to her ears. Either too over the top, or did not match my voice style.

On branding, while listening to the demo, she picked out what was my "brand sound." And I was surprised, but based on my interpretation of what national commercials are (subtle), it makes sense. if you listen to my demo, she liked my voice/delivery for 2 spots I did, 1 PSA and one health food commercial. So that's good to get a beginning direction on where my niche could be.

But aside from that, some things that I really understood is how I do need coaching on commercial acting. I have no training in commercial. It's all been intuitive or guessing. Commercial have such a limited amount of text, so each word or phrase really does have a big punch. Or no punch if I totally miss the point of the copy writer putting it there. She asked me questions about the 'call to action' that I am asking of the customer/listener, and how to present that for different goals (do I want the person to think about something or buy something or call someone, etc.)

I think her skills are definitely worth the cost... I was very impressed with her ear and her knowledge and insight about the minutiae of commercial script analysis that she does have. I look forward to tapping that in the next lesson. I do have another session scheduled for November, and in the meantime I'll download her "acting for advertising" mp3s. She sent copy to work on, and so it's good to have 'homework' "

Bravo to Nancy and my friend. It sounds like it was a productive session!