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!

Social Media: A Positive Tool, Not a Negative Trap

With the rising popularity of the social networking in recent years, the increasing misuse of this tool has been rising almost just as quickly. If you are one of the people that find yourself using Facebook and Twitter as ways to argue and insult others, stop it! Admittedly, yes, I have been sucked into a few debates myself on Facebook and have learned one important rule because of those experiences – NOBODY EVER WINS! 

It is understandable that 2012, just like any other election year, is going to be filled to the brim with political debates and discussions. However, if politicians themselves struggle to the win these debates on television, what makes other people think that they would be able to win political debates on the internet? Do you seriously believe that you are going to change the political views and opinions of a Republican or Democrat through a Facebook posting? 

Sure, we all have been trapped in fierce crossfire of debates bouncing back and forth online. However, there are some members of Facebook that have the sole purpose of engaging cyber warfare with others. Who are these people? They are the so-called “friends” that never support anything that you do. However, the very second that they do not agree with you on something, they are always the first ones to immediately starting pushing your buttons. Do NOT allow these people to get to you! Keep in mind that you don’t have to respond to every post on your page or even look at them. You have the option to ignore or even delete the comment and you always have the choice of unfriending them all together.

So many people seem to forget that a Facebook friend is supposed to be just that – a friend. If they only jump at the chance of arguing with you or mocking you, they really are not your friends and need to be dumped. 

People that use social networking simply for fun are free to do whatever they like with it. However, if you are using it for business purposes, you need to focus on using it more as a tool instead of a hobby. You are still able to have fun with it while, at the same time, always remaining professional and courteous to your followers, friends and business contacts. 

It is also important to continuously be mindful of the time that you spend on these sites. Just like with TV, it is too easy to get hooked within Facebook and Twitter for several hours at a time. Because of this time trap, it will not take long before you are sacrificing important time that should be dedicated to your business.  If you are getting new clients through your time in the social media world, great! Keep at it, because it only means that all of the power networking is paying off for you and your business. However, if you find yourself just hanging out like we used to hang outside the "7-Eleven" as teenagers, then it is time to change your social networking habits. 

It’s FaceBOOK, not FaceWHINE

In 2012, Facebook seems to be evolving into Facewhine with millions of members finding new things to complain about almost daily. Even though it is extremely difficult to stay positive, try your best to stay away from this growing trap of negativity. I admit that I have been guilty of complaining about my Minnesota sports teams many times, but I assure you that I am taking medication for that! (lol) Besides, can you blame me? So you see, I too need help with this problem. 

The purpose of this blog is not for me to point fingers just at everyone else, because I am also guilty of doing the same thing. Whenever I write or type things out, I am able to have an accurate perspective of my own thoughts and actions. Isn’t that why people use journals and diaries in the first place? These tools help them to improve in many different aspects of their lives.  

Share the Space & Avoid Suspicious Postings

Make sure that you are not hogging the room on Facebook. For example, when you go to a party, you definitely do not want to hear from the same dude all night long, right? Of course not! You want to be able to engage and communicate with the other guests at the party as well. Social media works the same exact way. Multiple posts in the same day from the same person can literally drive a person insane, especially within the Facebook group pages. There are times when there may be several people posting on these pages every single hour. Everybody else that may want to post a link or start a topic shy away from doing so because of the excessive number of posts being published by those same people. Back in kindergarten, we all learned the importance of “sharing with the other kids”. That same principle can easily be applied in social networking as well. 

If you notice an unusual picture, video or any other kind of attachment, NEVER open it. Facebook has been susceptible to viruses, spam and phishing lately. When these posts pop up on your page, hide or delete the postings immediately and alert the member whose page those links were found on. More times than not, they had nothing to do with that posting and probably aren’t even aware that it is on their page in the first place. If this happens to you, immediately changing your password will often resolve the issue. 

In conclusion, please remember that social network marketing can be a fun and enjoyable process as long as we use these tools in the way that they were intended to be used.  

Dream Train

When I was a child, I always enjoyed biking up to the edge of the railroad tracks close by where we lived to watch the trains pass by. I would imagine myself running alongside the tracks and then jumping on one of the trains like they do in the movies. No matter which movie you have watched with a train scene in it, I’m sure you will agree that it looks adventurous & daring. 

Even as time moved on and I grew older, those childhood dreams and visions were never erased; they are engraved in my mind. It’s truly amazing but reassuring at the same time. Those visions have been a source of rejuvenating encouragement for me whenever my life compass is facing a direction that I am not happy with.  

I distinctly remember dreaming about this one particular train. It was the train of dreams and opportunity, a vibrant breathtaking machine filled with life, hope and smiling faces. I strongly desired to come aboard that beautiful train but I was always too uncertain and afraid, never feeling as if I was ready to make that kind of a leap. At times, comfort can definitely be a good thing to be able to experience. However, I had to learn the hard way that comfort can also hold you back. 

I thought that my life was actually comfortable. I was too comfortable working at a job that I never liked in the first place. Here I was, working part time at a radio station and also working at a sports bar as a DJ.  While I am truly grateful for meeting so many good people during that time in my life, I honestly did not feel as if I was heading in the right direction. I felt trapped, as if I were stuck in a barrel with no hope of ever being able to break free. 

When I decided to go back to radio full-time as an account executive, I believed that everything had finally changed for the better. The job held me over for about a year, but I still kept standing there by the tracks of opportunity watching my dream train pass me by again and again…and again. I constantly would ask myself, when am I going to jump on it?  When I’m 65?

I used my tenure as an account executive to try and master the art of selling. I learned a lot of great information and tips about marketing and networking. While I was learning a lot that would help me overall in life and in my future endeavors, I did have some great times and feel that the time I spent working there was worthwhile. A position like that works for a lot of people, but it was clearly not working out for me. My heart was just not in it.  My passion and desire was to work from home doing voiceovers.  However, the question was, How in the heck am I going to make that work?

I had an agent that was working to get me work. Unfortunately, the work that did come in was not regular enough for me to be able to make a decent living. However, I knew that there were talents out there that were able to do this from home so I knew that it was possible for me to do the same. At that time, the industry had already transitioned to the digital age of technology, so more and more clients were depending on the Internet to help them discover voice talents. There was not a doubt in my mind that I could more than likely find success in the industry if I put my mind to it. Nevertheless, that would require me to step out of my comfort zone. Could I make that sort of sacrifice? Could I quit my job and finally make a leap for that train?  

The thought of venturing off into the unknown frightened me tremendously, but I could not stop thinking about it. I finally came to the conclusion that I am not comfortable being comfortable. I am the happiest man alive when I am taking chances and throwing myself into challenging situations. 

It was apparently clear to me that I was not getting any happier doing what I was doing and I was definitely not getting any younger. Therefore, at this crossroad in my life, the dream train was looking more and more inviting to me. Was this the time to finally jump on? I had only about $5,000 to my name at the time so I knew that if I was going to go through with this, I would need to make money fairly quickly.

I took a deep breath, put all uncertainties and doubt behind me and finally hopped onto the dream train. I have not taken a look back since I made that monumental leap. Please believe me when I say that it was not like I jumped into this and came out as clean as a whistle immediately. It was truly scary for me at times.  There were plenty of days when I had to ask myself, “Was this the right decision?” Pain and discomfort led to a lot of stress and headaches. Even through all of that, I never lost my passion and determination. At that point in my life, selling my plasma sounded more inviting than going back to the office environment. The urgency of me having to make this work or not be able to pay my mortgage was an empowering motivational tool for me.   

Starting out, I had to spend hours and hours making a lot of cold calls, send a lot of emails and continuously study what other talents of the industry were doing to be successful. It was hard work and long hours, but it all started paying off simply because I believed in myself. When I started getting regular work, it was mostly for training projects and eLearning scripts. Through these opportunities, I quickly came to the realization that my niche was playing the role of an expert or instructor. 

How do I feel now about my decision to jump aboard my dream train on the tracks of opportunity? I have never been happier. This journey has allowed me to meet and learn from so many great people that have not only inspired me but also encouraged me to keep going. 

Each and every person has their own dream train that continues to travel on the tracks laid out in your mind.  You have seen it coming down the tracks numerous times. What are you going to do? Will you just stand there and watch it pass? Or, are you going to take that colossal leap of faith and jump on board? Only you can answer that question; only you can choose whether to stand by the tracks or ride on top of them. You never know how many times you will hear that whistle blow again. The choice is yours to make so…make it!

Kiss My Budget!

Wait, WHAT?  Budget is not a curse word!  It’s a term that we should all become comfortable with using frequently.  All clients have budgets to work with and we should get used to getting them to talk about it.  Remember, this is not a hobby that we are doing for free – this is our business!  Since money is a necessity that all people in business have to deal with on a daily basis, it should not be an uncomfortable topic that we try to avoid when speaking with our clients. Based on responses that have been gathered from conversations held with other voice talents, we all get a little reluctant sometimes when it comes to asking a client about their budget and even more so when it comes time to discuss our rates with them!  How can this hurdle on the track towards closing a deal be effectively overcome?

First, when it comes to a project, you never want to over sell or under sell your client. The only way that this can be accomplished is if they have informed you of their budget beforehand.  This is why it is imperative that you always want to get them to the point of discussing their budget with you. Otherwise, you more than likely will not get the results that you are looking for. For example, if your client sends you a 10-page script and you immediately give them a rate off the top of your head,  you are taking a huge risk that could only be of benefit to the client.  How so?  They would either be joyful because you have made their selection process a lot easier by removing yourself from their list or because you just gave them the deal of a lifetime that would end up costing you more than what you’ll make from doing the job!

Just the other day, a client sent me a 3-page script for a narration.  Since I wanted to ensure that I gave her a fair and friendly rate, I politely asked her about the budget set for the voiceover.  To my surprise, it turned out that her budget was about $500 MORE than I was originally going to quote her. Of course, you don’t want to come back and say, “Sure that sounds about right!” However, you can certainly come close.

Unfortunately, it does not always work out this way.  Sometimes, the client’s budget is far lower than what you were going to quote them.  At that point, it is up to you whether or not you want to work within that budget.  Many blogs have been created (including some of my own) that have been focused on lowball rates. If you haven’t done so already, it is recommended for you to read over those articles and educate yourself on this so that you can be further prepared whenever these types of situations arise.   

We all need to work, but it is also important for us to try to set and maintain the standards for fair and reasonable rates in this industry. Therefore, please be careful when agreeing to do a 5-page script for only $50. 

“Budget” is not a dirty word. Get used to the word and implement it into your daily vocabulary! Our clients are comfortable with talking about money for their business, so we need to be just as comfortable (if not more) with talking about money for our own. 

Go!

Is business a little slow right now?  Spending too much time on "Words with Friends?"  First quarter can be very slow, no matter what business you are in. The good news is there are steps you can take to make it easier to slide into the fast lane.  So, before you push the panic button and start looking on CareerBuilder.com for jobs you don't really want, here are five steps that I put into action when business is a little slow.

1.  Pour a glass of Scotch and sulk.  I'm kidding!  Sign up for as many meetup groups as you can possibly handle and go to the events.  You will learn a ton, meet great people and you'll get new business!  There is usually one for every kind of business person and they are free.  There is only a fee, when you register for one of the events.  Definitely go to the events and bring lots of business cards!
www.meetup.com

2. Build a Facebook business page for your business.  This works as a secondary website and will not only help build traffic to your website, it's an outstanding way to network with others in your industry.

3. Join your local Chamber of Commerce!  These are all business owners you will be meeting with and some may hire you for a job or two.  It's an excellent way to network and also a tax deduction.  Search for your local chamber of commerce to locate a website and contact information.

4. Send out postcards!  Yes, this may sound like the "old school" way of marketing but snail mail is still effective.  This gives the client something tangible they can keep on file or put on their refrigerator.  E-mail marketing can be effective as well but sometimes e-mail gets lost in the shuffle or ends up in spam folders.  Plus, snail mail is a little less intrusive.  My last mail-out consisted of a post card and a refrigerator magnet business card!

5. Be active on Twitter!  Don't tweet stuff like, "Spring sale going on right now.  Everything is 40% off!"  Instead, tweet about how cool the stuff is that you're selling or how cool it is to have this product and what it can do for you. Engage in other people's conversations as well.  Don't just yap about your own stuff.  Twitter is one big party.  When you go to a party, you don't want to listen to the same person talk about themselves all night.  Chances are favorable that you will get annoyed and leave the party.  Instead, share what you have going on but also ask questions about their business!  Re-tweeting posts is also very effective because you are showing that you care and are willing to help.

There are times when you should embrace the slow lane because you'll have more time to work on marketing and other things going on in your life.  Sure, money can be tight but life is too short to hover in a corner in a state of stress, wondering where the next gig is going to come from.  The gas pedal is still within reach.  Get into the fast lane and step on it!  

2012: No More Excuses

We all procrastinate.  It’s a part of life but there is always something we can do about it.  I have enjoyed a fruitful voiceover career.  I am looking forward to doing it for the rest of my life but ever since I spoke at Voice 2010 in Los Angeles, I have wanted to pursue public speaking on the side.  2012 is the year where I plan on being more aggressive with that dream.  No more excuses.  No more, “I’m just too busy to do it this year.”  You are NEVER too busy to start something you are passionate about. 

I get calls and emails from people all the time who are looking to get into voiceovers.  I love these inquiries because I learn something different from each person.  It’s exciting to learn what drives them or what made them pick up the phone or write the email in the first place.  It’s that first step that takes a lot of courage.  The ones who are determined and have a plan are the ones I love working with. 

We all need to work together to conquer our fears and start taking action.  This isn’t just a blog for voiceover artists.  It’s a message for those who have wanted to try photography, music, marketing or whatever!  Put your finger on the pulse of what makes you happy and go for it.  We’re not getting any younger!  A couple of fine clichés there but it’s true!  Phrases like, “maybe next year or maybe when I have a little more free time” are killers!  When thoughts like this enter your mind, tell whoever is sitting or standing next to you to smack you.  Lol! 

The fact of the matter is that you will never begin as long as you allow circumstances to dictate your starting point.  You must begin at once. Take action and change your life.  You cannot succeed if you never start.  Learn what steps you need to take to make it happen.  You don’t need to launch at light speed.  Put together a plan of attack to reach your goals and begin the journey.

“Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door!”  Did I really just quote the Winter Warlock from “Santa Claus in Coming to Town?”  You bet I did!    

Success Stories From The 10-Week VO Holiday Challenge

Approximately ten weeks ago,  I created a promotion that centered around giving back to the community. The 10-Day VO Holiday Challenge. I challenged voice talents by giving them ten weeks to contact a charity of their choice, donate their service and then write about it on our official facebook page.  The mission was to use our voices to make a difference in our communities.  Here are a few of the success stories;

Lisa Biggs and seven other voice talents are in the process of recording “Patches and Friends”.  This is a video to help children how to understand and express their feelings when they are in need of help.  It’s a 5 month campaign supporting Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention.

http://www.indiegogo.com/PatchesTheBear

Penny Abshire recorded some projects for Shriners Hospital!  This is especially close to Penny’s heart since it's the Shriners who have taken such wonderful care of her granddaughter, Danara. She was born with a birth defect and was in need of a prosthetic leg.  Now, she receives a new leg from Shriners Hospital whenever she needs it - completely free of charge - until she's 18.  It's an amazing organization!

http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/

Andrew Coffman recently signed up to volunteer for Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) A great organization doing some very incredible things.

http://www.learningally.org/

Jennifer Knight contributed her voice (a song) to this awesome project.

http://holidaymagiccd.com/

Ralph Hass recorded the voice of an angel for Willow Park Church.  This was part of the 20th Annual Living Nativity.
https://www.facebook.com/wpckelowna

Wendy Edwards, Justin Barrett and Les Sinclair contributed their voices to the Lennon Project. 

http://lennonproject.org/

Timo DeRumm donated a voiceover- to benefit those suffering from neurological injuries.  The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.

http://www.neurological.org.nz/

Derek Chappel provided a voiceover addressing youth and alcohol issues.

http://thevoiceofyourbusiness.com/blog/2011/10/25/proud-to-provide-voiceover-addressing-youth-alcohol-issues/

Dan Harder recorded five scripts for the American Lung Association. 

http://www.lungusa.org/

EJ Holly is voicing some complimentary spots for Melanie's "Pink" campaign, National Kidney Foundation for Missy, and for Tammy's non profit.

http://www.kidney.org/  

Dave Courvoisier read a chapter from Reader's Digest for AIRS/LA and raised money for the foster children of Clark County in this season.
http://www.airsla.org/

Ken Knuckles did a live announcer gig for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.  Over the years, he has lent his voice to other BBBS fund raising efforts.

Karen Commins rewrote two scripts and recorded the narrations for the orientation videos used by the Dive Immersion Program at the Georgia Aquarium.

http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/ 

Nancy Raciti was able to record a holiday greeting for Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) to distribute to its members, volunteers, partners and friends.

Melanie Haynes was honored and happy to volunteer her services by narrating the United Way, Carthage Mo. 2011 campaign.

http://www.carthagepress.com/video/x438808021/United-Way-campaign

Stephanie Robinson was able to record 4 PSAs for the National Eating Disorders Association for their upcoming Awareness Week campaign February 26th - March 3rd 2012, "Everybody Knows Somebody." This charity is very close to her heart.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Darren Marlar recorded and sent some "Power Charge Promos" free of charge to a not-for-profit radio station in the Dallas area.

Cat Smith recorded two PSA’s.  One is for the Butterfly Fund, a charity that raises money for families of children with a catastrophic illness or event. The other is for Face to Face, the Sonoma County Aids Network.

As for me?  I am in the process of working with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation on a couple of different projects.  Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily.

http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/

I can’t thank these voice talents enough for taking time out of their busy holiday schedules to contribute to such a wonderful promotion.  We will do it again next year.  Happy New Year to you and your families.

'Tis The Season To Take Care Of Your Voice

The holidays are a time of celebration and cheer, filled with laughter and joy and goodwill to all.  Of course, no season of celebration is complete without an endless array of parties with tasty delights of food and an ample selection of beverages to toast friends and family.  One cannot help but partake of at least of few of these moments amid the chaotic scramble of balancing workload to meet deadlines and auditioning for future work.

This is also a fantastic time of the year to trash your voice!   I know ... I sound like the Grinch, but unlike the Grinch, I do have heart and I want you to succeed.  As a voiceover talent, teacher, coach or public speaker, you need to be aware of how to care for your voice and still partake in the celebrations of the season and throughout the year.

Here are some tips to help keep your voice in tip top shape:

1. Drink lots of water to keep hydrated and to keep your vocal chords moist as winter weather tends to be very dry.

2. Enjoying sugary sweets, greasy appetizers, dairy and caffeine is fine in moderation, but keep in mind what they do to your voice. Whenever possible, balance your plate with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates.

3. Having a few alcoholic beverages at a party may also be fine; however, resist the urge to overindulge, especially if you will be recording in the morning, as alcohol will dry out your vocal chords and the sugar in it will produce excess mucus.  

4. Carbonated beverages also have a drying effect.  Drinking extra water when consuming alcohol or any carbonated beverages will help keep you hydrated, and adding fresh lemon will help to cut mucus.

5. Cover your neck with a scarf when you go outside and, when it's super cold, try to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth.  It may sound crazy but it helps to protect your voice.

6. Remember this is cold and flu season too.  People come from far and near to meet family and friends for the holidays, and each brings a different set of germs, so remember to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.

7. Finally, social gatherings tend to be loud making it very easy to strain your voice to be heard in conversations.  The only way to repair excess strain is to get plenty of sleep and rest your voice.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season ... Cheers!