Butterfly Dreams

One of my favorite childhood memories when visiting Grandma Johnston’s house was the delicious aroma that would come from the kitchen. There is always something about Grandma’s and cooking. They’re like magicians in the kitchen. They have all the magic tools and they’re not about to give away their secrets.

Grandma Johnston was also famous for leaving candy dishes everywhere. The living room, the bedroom, the bathroom…they were everywhere. It was like Grandma Johnston and the Chocolate Factory.

Grandma Johnston’s house was always a cozy place to visit and although anyone over six feet tall would have trouble walking around without their head going through the ceiling, it was always a fun place to be. There was a park down the street where our family would take walks, play a little catch or just take in the scenery.

Mapleton was a folksy kinda town. It was like one of those towns that you see in a Folgers commercial and Grandma Johnston fit in perfectly. Like a bird in a nest. I would love to go back to the park and pay one more visit. Just to reflect upon Grandma’s life and the joy she brought to everyone.

If you see a twinkling star in the skies above Mapleton tonight, it’s Grandma Johnston looking down upon us with a smile. After all, who wouldn’t be smiling after getting a private concert from Andy Williams!

Now, she is free as a butterfly, spreading her wings and gliding across the heavens. I’m sure she has already reunited with her youngest son, husband and other loved ones in our family who have passed. She will be missed by all of us. Goodnight Grandma Johnston and may you rest in eternal peace.

If The Mic Isn’t Rockin, Start Walkin!

When the mic is rockin’, don’t bother knockin’! Okay, so what do you do if it’s just not rockin’ and you’re having a tough time getting your delivery down and you're stumbling through the entire script? Instead of getting frustrated and stressed out, take a break and come back to it.

That’s right! Go for a walk, turn up some music, make yourself a cup of tea or take a power nap. Fifteen minutes can do wonders! While excessive napping doesn’t pay too well, either does excessive stress. I enjoy running and playing basketball at the gym. It's great exercise and it always reboots my brain!

The point is to just break away from the studio – completely remove yourself and escape for a bit so that you can refresh! If you force it to happen when it isn’t, your frustration will come across in the recording. The voice is transparent and modulates to express our span of emotions. Any frustration, anxiety and stress will show through, stalling the flow and zapping the energy from your voice.

It’s like a good major league pitcher who just doesn’t have his good stuff on a particular day. If he struggles, the coach takes him out. If you're struggling during a day of recording, remove yourself from the studio.

So go ahead and break away! You’ll come back to the studio refreshed, full of vibrance in your voice, and ready to deliver!

Managing Mr. Shiny

Hey look! Something shiny! Yes, we have heard a ton of jokes about ADD. I've been known to come up with a few of them myself. For example: how many people with ADD does it take to change a light bulb? SQUIRREL!

It's good to have a sense of humor about it but it can also be a pretty serious condition. A client once hired me to do a narration on ADD and ADHD and I told her it was right up my alley because I have this condition.

Some consider ADD a disability, but in reality, it’s a super-ability. People who do not have ADD have the ability to regularly focus on one thing at a time, while ADD people have the ability to focus on multiple things.  It’s not uncommon for a person with ADD to be simultaneously listening to music, playing a game, texting a friend on their cell phone, instant messaging several more on the computer, all while reading a blog with the television on in the background!  

People with ADD deal with it in different ways. Some need medication. Some need Yoga. Here I've compiled a few stories featuring some voice talent friends of mine who have ADD and how they deal with it on a daily basis. Especially, since many of us in this industry work from home, this presents immediate challenges and distractions for anyone with this condition.

I believe I have had ADD since I was a child. I struggled in school my entire life because it was very difficult to focus, and things in which I would be interested, would always fade in favor of something new and fresh. In the past year, I have really turned up my level of exercise. Running, playing basketball and working on the machines in the gym have really improved my focus and my overall work ethic. I feel less anxious and more relaxed. Now, don't get me wrong. I still have stressful weeks where I feel like I could pull my hair out, but it is so much better than it used to be.

My doctor subscribed me to Adderall once and it didn't really work for me. It felt like a really good caffeine buzz, but all I wanted to do is stare at the screen for 20 minutes. I know it works for some but it didn't for me. I have found that less coffee and more exercise has really been the difference maker for me. It's not a cure for ADD, but it sure helps me manage it a lot better.

Here are some stories about how a few of my voice talent friends are coping with ADD:

Pearl Hewitt:

ADD—where do I start? My motto used to be "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done!" Keywords are procrastination and distraction, lack of focus but also hyper-focus! I get hyper focused on projects on which I'm working and other stuff (especially in the house) gets avoided until I'm finished. If you have ADD traits or tendencies, it's so important to get some business training on time-management skills. Bad time management will cause unnecessary stress, the inability to stick to a schedule and could potentially ruin your business. Working with various coaches to learn about the VO business I am gradually improving my time-management skills and consequently achieving greater things. It's very—very hard to break the habits of a lifetime, but with the right coaching all will become clear and you will be enlightened! I'm nowhere near perfect, but I'm getting better and my business is now prospering because I'm learning to work according to a schedule, setting timers and consequently, I’m less stressed! I'm much happier because I can now see the wood for the trees. I could never have done that on my own. People with ADD have to learn and be trained to be more organized. It's worth every penny.

Laura Branch Mireless:

Although I've never been officially diagnosed, I have no doubt I have ADD. It's gotten worse since I had kids, so I call it "Mommy ADD"—she loses brain cells with each birth!  I agree with my dear friend Pearl. She has made some very good points. I guess for me, the biggest "ah-ha" moment was when I realized that working in a "project" oriented business (such as VO or video production) is where I'm happiest and the most fulfilled. It's those pesky little follow-ups like billing and marketing where I drop the ball. Oh, to have a business coach for that!

I have found that using any kind of visual aid to keep me on track helps. I have a large monthly calendar next to my editing screen so it's in my left peripheral vision at all times and a daily log sitting on the desk to my right. That way, I have a mental photo of what's coming up or if there's not much written on them, I know I need to work on marketing. Overkill for some, but helpful for me.

  

Mara DuRousseau Junot: 

I also have never officially been diagnosed, but I’m a firm believer that I developed ADD soon after I became a regular internet user in 1996. Clearly it's not just my imagination either, as articles seem to abound on the topic...like this one fresh from today: http://www.sgvtribune.com/opinions/ci_21061328/steve-scauzillo-is-internet-driving-us-crazy

Case in point -- at this very moment I have 15 browser tabs open, email with no less than 5 accounts constantly updating, I’m texting my mother on my cell phone, Oprah Super Soul Sunday playing on the DVR in the next room, and Spotify playing music. Bored much? Lately I've been forcing myself to practice mindfulness meditation exercises for at least 20 minutes, and it's definitely making an impact on my ability to focus.

I'd like to thank Pearl Hewitt, Laura Branch Mireles and Mara DuRousseau Junot for the gift of sharing their stories on my blog.  I hope by sharing theirs, you'll be able to gain more focus for your own!

Voiceoverland- A Recap of Voice 2012

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical at first when I heard that Voice 2012 was going to be at the Disneyland Hotel. I didn't think it was the right location for this event but I was wrong. It was perfect! Between the spacious conference rooms, beautiful pools and the bar/restaurants in Downtown Disney, this is one of the best Voice International events to date.

This year, the event seemed to lure a few more voiceover students than pros but it was a nice mixture and everyone got along tremendously. It was nice to meet a few of my talented students in person as well! Everyone was gracious with their time and the energy was uplifting. You don't always see that in other events.

Some of the best networking came by way of the conversations that took place in the infamous Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. I had several intriguing conversations with Stew Herrera, Bobbin Beam, Dave Fennoy, Trish Basanyi, Tom Dheere, Stephanie Ciccarelli and many more.

I didn't make it to all of the presentations but Tom Dheere's presentation on "Goals and Action Plans" was fabulous. The Super Socials presentation was well received. For the first few minutes, I was hiding in the basement of the hotel waiting for Dave Courvoisier to come and get me. It was all a part of a skit, where I accidentally sleep in and Dave has to come and wake me up for the presentation. It felt like I was back in theater again. Loved it! Here's a pic of us on stage as well as the video we used for the opening!

Downtown Disney was fabulous! Tracy and I had so much fun going to dinner with our VO friends. We had a lot of laughs and it was great exchanging marketing ideas!  The Jazz Kitchen was one of my favorite places. Great food and scenery.

I took Tracy to this event not knowing how she would interact with a bunch of voice talents but she did great and everyone loved her. She was also a big help in running the PPT for our presentation. We had plenty of time to play. We spent some time at Disneyland. It was the first time I had gone since I was a kid and it was a very nostalgic moment for me. I had gone with my family in the mid 70's. We took a "Griswold" type family vacation to the west coast via motor-home!

The Garden Party was the last event we could attend due to having to fly home a day early. It was great to see Joe Cipriano and some other pros I hadn't seen for a couple of years. The weather was perfect. Crystal clear blue skies and the temp was in the middle 70's. This was another event where the networking was priceless. For the new talents, you can learn just as much from networking with some of the pros as you can sitting in the presentations.

Special thanks to Jim Alburger and Penny Abshire for putting on another impressive spectacle at Voice 2012 and for giving us, the "Super Socials" another opportunity to present on social media and the voiceover industry. See you in 2014, if not sooner!

Ten Reasons Your Microphone Is Collecting Dust

1.) You’re taking your clients for granted: You’ve built up a solid clientele, and now you’re assuming they’re always going to be there. This can be a dangerous assumption when it comes to developing your professional career as a voiceover artist. Never assume that those regular clients are going to be eternally consistent. This is a business and it’s important to reach out to new and existing clients on a regular basis. Continue working to earn their business because nothing is ever guaranteed in life.

2.) You’re not making time for marketing: It may sound basic, but a successful marketing campaign is what launches a career. Not only do you need to be sending demos out, but they need to be reaching agencies, production companies, marketing firms as well as audio-visual services weekly. Making the most of your voice means getting it out into the world and hopefully, ringing in the right ears. Make a point to prove to top executives that you have what it takes by actively submitting your best work with confidence.

3.) You’re not keeping it fresh: It may be easy to recycle the same demo time and again, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most effective method. Copy can become outdated as quickly as any music trend, so it’s important to update your material regularly. Promoting demos you used five years ago doesn’t show anyone that you have the ability to evolve. Market your talent, growth and ability to stay current in the industry by continually tweaking your demo to fit professional standards and trends.

4.) There’s a void in your virtual world: In our age of modern technology, it’s imperative that voiceover artists maintain a website to showcase their talents and run their business. Not only does this exponentially expand your sphere of promotional marketing, but it gives you a platform to connect with potential clients and share advice with other professionals in the industry.

5.) You’ve invested in sub-par sound quality: If your sound isn’t professional, it’s going to be difficult to be taken as one in the industry. If you’re sending out recordings and audition tapes that are fuzzy or filled with background noise, it’s only distracting from the star of the show—your own voice. In a business that runs on audio, quality is key. That being said, it’s important to invest in treating your recording studio. If it’s a job that seems out of reach, than it’s time to make an appointment with George Whittam (God of all things audio). A little Whittam influence will go a long way in turning your amateur sound into professional success.

6.) You’re a no-show at networking events: A large part of marketing your services is meeting up with people who can boost your career and make your visions a reality. In order to meet these individuals, you must attend scheduled meet-and-greets, as well as events hosted by the Chamber of Commerce in your area. Not only are these opportunities to network with other professionals, but it’s your chance to hand out business cards and really get your name moving in industry circles of influence.

7.) Your taking your time getting work finished: A true professional doesn’t just finish on time… they finish ahead of schedule. In any business, it takes work to make sure you’re standing out in a crowd and the voiceover industry is no exception to the rule. When it comes to completing work for your clients, be early and show them you’re exceptional. Give yourself the time, space and focus you know you’ll need to delivery incredible work in a timeframe that leaves clients knocking on your door time and again!

8.) You’ve cut out coaching: Those who are most successful in the voiceover business never stop learning.  Professional voiceover artists are always working with coaches to remedy bad habits that may have slipped into their delivery patterns. Additionally, coaches are incredible marketing resources and can help keep you up-to-date on what platforms are available for getting your work into the right hands. Never turn down an opportunity to work with someone who can improve your method and help put you a step ahead of the competition.

9.) You’re not paying attention to protocol: When it comes to submitting demos, following directions and paying attention to the details is essential. Always take time to check the talent agency website and carefully package your demo according to their standards. Sending an mp3 attachment when they’ve specifically asked for a CD, is a sure way to miss out on a great opportunity.

10.) You’re not utilizing social media: While you may not be a personal fan of Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin, the fact of the matter is that businesses are booming in the wake of their influence. Not only are they FREE and powerful marketing tools, but they provide a consistent client pool each and every month.  Push past the idea of viewing social media as nothing more than conversations and photos. Instead, begin to use the virtual world to benefit your business endeavors.

Social Media and the Voice Over Industry

We're less than a month away from Voice 2012 at Disneyland! For the second time in four years, I am joined by Dave Courvoisier and Trish Basanyi on stage to present another seminar on social media and voice over industry. This is a subject I am passionate about because it has helped the growth of my voiceover business. I usually book a couple dozen jobs a year from Facebook and Twitter alone. I consider both to be powerful marketing tools. My girlfriend, Tracy's photography business has benefited from Facebook as well. When she posts photos on her brand page entitled Universal Soul Photography, she usually gets a couple of leads right away. Social media works!

Our presentation at Voice 2012 will be educating yet entertaining. We don't take ourselves too seriously and we aim to have fun! At Voice 2010, we started with a silly parody song to the tune of "Drive My Car" by The Beatles. It was a great way to start the presentation and loosen people up. This year, I am considering flying through the air on a wire like David Lee Roth did in the "Panama" video many years ago.  Ha!

Our presentation is Thursday, June 14th at 8:30am at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. It is one of many presentations at Voice 2012. I'll be discussing Facebook and how it can help your business. Dave will be talking about Google+ and LinkedIn and Trish will cover Twitter. John Florian of Voice Over Xtra describes us as "The Super Socials" and even created the logo above when the three of us did a webinar for his site a few months back.

Special thanks to James Alburger and Penny Abshire for inviting us back for another presentation this year.  This is going to be a blast!

Losing the Nah!

Nah, I don't have a chance at getting that gig. Or nah, not for me. Is it really not for you or is there a wall up in your brain preventing you from believing that you are qualified? This is true in any kind of business. We get so locked into the notion that a certain job just isn't for us or there's a skill that we just can't do. I said "nah" to Sushi for decades and now I absolutely love it! What didn't work ten years ago, might work for you today.

A friend of mine recently got his black-belt in karate. He used to always whine that he would never get there. "Nah, that takes like 50 years to get your black-belt." The more he procrastinated, the bigger the burden it became. It felt as big as building a 200 floor skyscraper after a while. Now that he has it, he thinks it was no big deal! Lol! Sure, it took time and a lot of work but he finally got rid of the "nah".

In the voiceover business, there are many talents including myself that have often looked at an audition and went, "Nah, this one isn't for me." Sometimes that might be the case but most of the time, it's us believing that we have no shot. I want to take a flamethrower to this kind of attitude. My brain used to be locked into this frame of mind at one point but then I got headaches from shaking my head and saying, "nah". Now, every time I audition for a commercial or narration, I always believe that I am going to get the gig. Even if it doesn't happen, it trains my brain into believing that I have just as much of a chance as the next talent.

So the next time you say, "Nah, not for me", take a minute and think about what you are saying. More times than not, it IS for you!

Heavenly Voices

2012 has already been a challenging year with illnesses in my family and the loss of several loved ones that were close friends. There are always times where we feel alone. In those moments, we may feel like we are the only ones feeling that way. However, in the real world, just about everyone does!  And you know what?  It’s perfectly okay. It is in times like these that we are drawn closer to each other. My late Uncle and Grandmother are always smiling down from the heavens, telling me everything will be alright. They are the ghosts in this house. They keep things in perspective. In a way, they are protecting my house.

When I feel alone or like I am really struggling, I look up to the old record album of my late Uncle Terry. I feel as if he is looking down upon me and saying, “Come on, guy. You gotta keep going!”

Do you have a ghost in your house looking down on you? I bet you do. Don’t take life for granted; not even the lives of your loved ones that have passed on. Every single breath, thought and even chuckle are all precious moments. Embrace them. Accept them.

There is always a voice in your head offering words of wisdom. These voices do not have to scare you; they can be positive reinforcement that you could have received from a loved one before they passed away. Maybe one of your grandparents or another close relative said something to you that engraved itself into your mind. Now, every time that you are having a rough day, you are able to reflect on those empowering words.

There have been many times in this house where my dog would look up and bark even though no one would be there. Sometimes, I even hear whispers throughout the house or strange noises in the middle of the night. Imagining that it is just one of my loved ones hanging out in the kitchen or fumbling through the clutter in the storage room always brings a smile to my face. I never feel afraid. I am comforted because I know the memories I cherish about the people I love will always live within me.

The Voice Over Cafe

A few years back, Trish Basanyi and I recorded twenty episodes of "Voice Overs on Demand", a podcast that quickly earned a steady following of voice over pros and students. We interviewed guests like Joe Cipriano, Randy Thomas and Rodney Saulsberry, just to name a few. We were very candid the way we went out about our business on this show. We kept it educational but didn't take ourselves too seriously because we wanted it to be a fun show.

This year, we are launching a brand new podcast that will begin where "VOD" left off. It's called, "The Voice Over Cafe." We decided on this title because we were looking for that laid back coffee shop vibe.  Like coming to a coffee shop, relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.

The new show will feature some entertaining segments.  Rob Sciglimpaglia, an attorney, film/tv/theater and voice actor based in the NYC area will be a regular on the program. He will be doing "The Legal Minute", a segment in which Rob will offer up some tips for voice talents and their business. For example, contracts, incorporating your business and more! Rob's latest role was playing a young father on the famous Chevy Super Bowl commercial, Happy Grad! His new book, Voice Over Legal, will be released soon. For more information, visit www.voiceoverxtra.com/VoiceOverLegalPreview.htm

"The Cafe Mailbag" is a feature we're bringing over from the old podcast. The segment will feature both of us taking questions from listeners about the voiceover industry. I suppose if someone wants to know our favorite 80's bands, we'll be glad to cover that as well!

"The Random Skype Call" will be an entertaining feature. This is a segment where we'll find another voice talent who is currently logged in on skype and just call them with no prior warning and ask them a few questions. Perhaps they can provide some insight into the industry as well. Beware all you voice talents who are linked up with us on Skype!

The show will feature other segments as we go along but we also plan on having guests on a regular basis. The show will be featured on the Entrepreneur Podcast Network and also available on iTunes. EPN is the brain child of Eric Michael Dye and is the ultimate source for business advice, information, motivation, inspiration and major live event coverage.

Trish and I plan on recording the first episode of "The Voice Over Cafe" next Thursday. Stay tuned for more information. This is going to be fun!

UPDATE:  The link is http://epodcastnetwork.com/the-voice-over-cafe-is-on-the-air-with-terry-daniel-and-trish-basanyi/

A Healthy Diet Means A Healthy Voice And A Healthy Attitude

Towards the beginning of every year, millions of people around the world make the decision to get in shape and get healthier. That day came for me about a month ago. 

Up until that moment, I was still fairly active throughout the week by playing basketball. However, my biggest weaknesses came in the form of breaded foods especially the greatest invention that I could not say good-bye to – FRENCH FRIES!

Many people may not know this, but consuming foods that are high in carbohydrates (such as white bread, white potatoes, noodles, etc.) will cause you to feel tired throughout the day. Why is this? These foods have very high levels of sugar, which cause your blood sugar to rapidly rise and require more and more of your energy to become absorbed. Therefore, before you know it, you’re crashing soon after you ate because of all of the work that your body had to do just to process all of that sugar. Many of you may be experiencing this day after day and probably did not have any idea why it was happening. Until I changed my diet, I was just like that. 

My body was being negatively affected in two different ways. The first way was my energy was being drained. I felt energized and ready to go when I woke up in the morning but because of what I was eating, I felt bloated and extremely tired in the afternoon. The second way affected my voice. Like many of you, I make my living my using my voice so this was definitely not a good thing!

With the research I have done and because of the negative affects, I decided I needed to make some changes. With doing this consistently, I can now hear and feel the changes in my voice throughout the day. It is much stronger and lasts much longer because my energy levels are higher than they have been in years!

Let me break down my basic day for you and the changes I have made. I have always preached to my voiceover students to stay away from cream in their coffee but was still at times putting it in mine. So now, in the morning, I normally stick with a cup of black coffee mixed with a lot of bottled water at room temperature. Studies have proven that drinking lots of water works wonders for your voice. In the afternoon, I get an extra boost by adding a little bit of honey to a cup of green tea, which makes a great afternoon beverage! 

I used to eat a sandwich every day for lunch. I have now cut out bread, potatoes and pasta from my meal choices. I eat a lot of soups, vegetables, fruit and meat/cheese without the bread. To get a little exercise in throughout the week, Tracy and I started running together. It’s been great in so many different ways. It’s great for our bodies, attitudes, energy levels and has even benefited our relationship in general.

Until I jumped on the scale, I had no idea how much weight I have lost just by making these small changes in my exercise routine and diet. Within one month, I have lost 15 POUNDS!  Now, that was a nice surprise! I didn’t have to join any weight loss program or follow any hardcore diet to see a drastic change in the way I feel and look. Keep that in mind when you are thinking about the resolutions that you probably made for yourself over the past couple of months. It really doesn’t take much to see a change; you just need to be consistent! If I can do it...so can you!

Please excuse me now as I go to Taco Bell to celebrate my accomplishment.  Juuuust kidding. Ha!