Voiceover

Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

December 13, 2021 by Amy Taylor Fernandez

Aretha Franklin had no idea Zoom would later become the world’s gateway of communication when she sang those words in her 1985 album “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” Nor could she have imagined the countless memes about Grandma being on mute or kids photobombing their parents’ meetings. The advertising industry is having a field day with the addition of Zoom to our daily lives.

The pandemic shifted the way we work, go to class and communicate with others. The Zoom app is a big player in that shift and it is a great tool for communication.

However, voice talents like me have spent thousands of dollars making the best sound possible from our professional studios. Whether we offer connections via internet like Source Connect or ipDTL, or traditional copper wire connections like ISDN, we’ve taken great pride in ensuring we are providing the best sound possible to our clients. The connection must sound like we are in the same recording studio with the client. We have treated our booths with Auralex foam. We have purchased very sensitive condenser microphones that pick up every nuance of our performance; the words, the pauses, the sighs. It’s part of our craft and it sounds magical when heard through high-end technology.

Since it’s assumed everyone has Zoom now, clients expect to see me. My booth was not set up with a camera. At first, I was reluctant to agree to Zoom sessions believing the sound quality would be sub-par. In the beginning when asked to use Zoom, I clipped an iPad to my mic boom and fired up zoom on it. The camera angle and lighting were not great, but they could see me.

I did a Zoom session this week with another voice actor and I’ve got to say, it was nice to record some dialogue with no lag. We both recorded in our repective studios and sent the files to the editor to sort out, but the banter was more natural using Zoom. ISDN was a great service, but there was usually a huge silence between the 2 actors’ lines which interrupted the flow. With Zoom, I liked being able to see my friend, the director and the engineer. It made it feel like old times when I used to go into New York City for a recording. So now I’ve changed my tune. Zoom gives me the best of both worlds. I get to see my co-workers and not have to travel several hours to get to a session. My only requirement is the client request Zoom at the time of booking so I’m prepared for it! I don’t want to be caught off guard in my bathrobe. (Yes, sometimes I do sessions in my pajamas!)

The systems we voice actors had in place pre-pandemic work great, the sound is perfect and the end product is top notch. The majority of my sessions are still recorded via the tried and true; Source Connect, phone patch, ipDTL and ISDN. But Zoom has earned its place in the voiceover realm. This week, I’m installing hardware in my booth so that the camera angle is better. I may even get one of those ring lights. I believe Zoom is here to stay.

A blog? Isn’t that a little “90’s?”

December 12, 2021 by Amy Taylor Fernandez

“What’s new with you?” said an acquaintance at a holiday party.
“Well, I started a blog this fall.”
“A blog? Isn’t that a little 90’s?”

Um, ouch? I didn’t know how to talk to the guy after that.
Ok, so does that mean that no one should ever start a blog again, just because people were doing it 20 years ago? Creating a blog was something I’d wanted to do for some time. I simply got around to it in 2021. I think there’s enough room in the blogosphere for everyone.

Seriously, I brought up the blog because it was the safest answer…the kindest answer.
Would he rather I drop names and mention awards I was nominated for and clients I’ve acquired? It occurred to me that those would’ve been *his* answers had I asked him what was new with him. But Momma taught me not to brag. I mingled and found some like-minded people to talk to. I had a blast the rest of the night.

And I’m gonna keep on blogging. I write because I love it. In this space, I pen my musings about being a voice actor, about family and life in general. I write for anyone who wants a peak into my world.

Last weekend was spent with 14 super talented voice artists at an unofficial conference.
I got to hang out with some beloved colleagues that I hadn’t seen since pre-pandemic times. I also made some new friends. We rolled up our sleeves, strategized, and lifted each other up. They are precisely the type of people I want to surround myself with; fellow entrepreneurs with great attitudes, phenomenal brains and generous spirits. It was a magical weekend and my heart is full.

I came back to Connecticut energized and ready to spend quality time behind the mic.
In between loads of laundry and feeding the family, I did 84 auditions this week. 19 were for healthcare & hospitals. 16 of them were covid/vaccine related. 12 were for financial institutions. 9 were for the medical/pharmaceutical industry. 6 were insurance related. 4 were for tech companies. 2 for auto dealerships. 2 furniture stores and the rest were miscellaneous. So far, my efforts have netted 1 booking. I’d say it was a good week. I’m not sure what the half-life of a mini-conference is, but I plan to do as many auditions again this week. Bring it on.

Voice Talent Job Description: Auditioner!

November 16, 2021 by Amy Taylor Fernandez

Auditioning is my job. Booking a gig is the end goal. A typical morning for me consists of combing through auditions from various sources like agent and casting director emails, and VO websites. First I delete the ones that aren’t in my wheelhouse such as Adult Male with French Accent. (Mais non, je ne peux pas!) Second, I take the ones I think I’m suited for and write them on my to do list with agency name, client, proper slate, the due dates & times. For Example: ABC Agency – Brawny Paper Towels – No slate – Due Monday noon ET.

I then go into my booth with my iPad, scroll to the script that is due first, read the specs and hit record. I give a few reads and move onto the next audition, reading those specs and recording it. I do this until there are no more to read.

Usually it’s all recorded onto one long file. Then I take my list and my computer and do about an hour of editing, depending on how many auditions there are that day.

My list is really helpful because I can keep track of which agent sent me what. Once editing of the first file is complete, I go back into the agent’s email and see how to name the file. Agents are very particular about naming and will delete anyone who can’t follow the rules. It actually helps them weed people out.

I also make sure I send the file correctly. Some agents like me to upload to their FTP. Others prefer the auditions by email. Once I send that one off with a kiss, I start editing the next one until they’re all done.

If any more auditions have hit my inbox while I was editing, I put them on the list and repeat the cycle. If not, it’s time to record my dailies or my “paid gigs.” This approach is very different from the way I used to do things. Before I would always record the paid gigs first, then audition for possible gigs.

I changed my method when my booking ratio slowed quite a bit. It’s true that the early bird gets the worm in this industry. I’m up early enough to get my auditions out of the way before the workday starts, so I’m not keeping my paid clients waiting AND I’m getting my auditions in as early as possible so my agents can listen and send to their clients.

This system has been working for me for a while, but I’m constantly revisiting my techniques. I’ll keep doing it this way until bookings slow down. Then it’ll be time to roll up my sleeves and roll with the changes.

Voiceover Auditions

October 6, 2021 by wadmin

This week in the world of voiceover auditions I was asked to be a small wheel of cheese, a zebra and an eight ball. I don’t know what any of those things would sound like personified, but that’s half the fun of my job. I get to imagine how the character sounds. Delving even deeper into it, I imagine how the character feels, thinks, laughs, cries, sighs, etc. Having a connection to the copy and to the character is key to booking a job.

A few years back I booked a promo for a Dora The Explorer DVD. I remember they were looking for an older abuela or grandmother-type read. I channeled my inner “abuela” and thought about how her kitchen smells, how proudly she displays photos of her grandkids, etc. and I recorded the script, sent in my mp3 and waited. The result? I landed the job! When I got to the studio they said, “We chose you because there was a connection there. Most of the auditions we got were “cartoony” and yours sounded like a real person.”

That’s not to say that sometimes a cartoony read isn’t warranted. For the Dora spot, I took a chance and it worked out. Auditions always involve taking a risk. Sometimes those risks work out and sometimes they don’t. There will always be another audition around the corner, so I try not to get too hung up over them.

Voice Over Actor

Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

A blog? Isn’t that a little “90’s?”

Voice Talent Job Description: Auditioner!

Voiceover Auditions

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