Finding My Voice(s)

Quarterly Review

2010-04-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I mentioned that I'd revisit the goals I'd set forth for myself at the start of the year. Here's my first quarter review:

1) 365 Auditions in 365 Days - B
I borrowed a page from Julie Powell, of "Julie & Julia" fame for this goal. The idea behind it is to instill discipline into my practice of voiceover. Instead of cooking recipies from Julia Child's cookbook, I'm auditioning as much as I can, whether it's freelance work on voices.com or opportunities sent to my by my agency or casting contacts.

As of this writing it is day 118 out of 365. My audition count is 98, which is 20 fewer than I'd planned on by this time.   Time has always been a premium in my life, and I've found it challenging to carve out enough time daily. I've experimented with doing more on weekends, when I have more time to play in my home studio, but find that I allow myself to slack off during the week (for having been soooo productive on Saturday and Sunday). Morning person I am not, and to help give me time for this, I'm working on waking up earlier so that I can fit in at least one opportunity daily from now on.

As a corollary to this goal, I wanted to book at least as much work in 2010 as I had in 2009. I am happy to report that by the end of the first quarter of 2010, I surpassed my bookings in all of 2009. It's not about the money, but about the experience. To date I have been...

...two badass video game characters
...a Filipino mother worrying over the health of her children
...a narrarator
...a storyteller
...a tag line

And recently, I booked my biggest role to date! No details just yet, but I am very excited about the role and so grateful for the opportunity.

As I filter through opportunities, I continue to realize that voiceover is both a business and an art. The business is one of marketing, hustling for audition opportunities, and staying top of mind with your agent and casting network.

But once you've gotten the audition, there's actual work to do...which really, is play. In the hustle and bustle of, well, hustling, sometimes I forget to play. As a child, you're encouraged to play and explore, and as we grow up, we are encouraged to tamp down on that playfulness. So as I continue on this journey, I continually remind myself that it's okay to play.

2) Take one class per quarter - A+
I'm actually a little ahead of the game. I started the year by taking a Level 3 workshop at WCT. It's probably the 2nd time I've taken this class, and though I've already graduated from the WCT's program, I like to revisit these classes from time to time to
- learn something new
- improvise with new players
- improve my own understanding of various techniques

In addition, I've been refining my voiceover chops in a 6 week animation workshop and attending workout groups to keep my commercial and promo skills warm.

3) Perform - A
Team X recently celebrated its first birthday! And we continue our regular performances on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at our home theater. Our audiences have been so great and receptive to us - and I'm super grateful they're willing to stay up late with us on a Monday night. We've played to some amazing crowds!

In addition, Team X traveled to Seattle in February, to participate in the 2010 Seattle Festival of Improv Theater.   Team X performed 3 shows at the Market Theater near the famed Pike's Place Market, and had a blast!   We loved sharing our energetic style of performance with the improv community of Seattle, and meeting fellow improvisers from Seattle, Austin and Chicago. To my friends who came to these shows: thank you!

After our great experience in Seattle, Team X was inspired to keep pushing the boundaries of improv. We're experimenting with forms, and recently debuted a new style of improv. And we are grateful and fortunate to be invited to perform in Honolulu, Hawaii this fall at the 2010 Improvaganza!

Looking ahead, I'll continue my journey with Team X, as well as look for opportunitites to explore theater, musical improv and music performance.

A few thoughts & a look ahead
Looking back at the first quarter of 2010, I'm happy with the progress I'm making towards my goals. I've become more focused and disciplined about my approach to performance and my artistic life, though I still have ways to go.   With the encouragement and support of my friends and family, I'm grateful to be able to do what I do. And I need to rebalance a few activities in order to optimize my time and energy.   In the months ahead, I'll be taking more classes, auditioning as much as possible, and working on demos and marketing to help expand my voiceover opportunities.

I look forward to sharing my journey with you, and hope you'll chime in your own stories. How has 2010 been to you so far? What are you working towards? What do you need to do in order to accomplish your goals?

The Balancing Act

2010-03-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend of mine asked how I balanced my demanding day job and my desire to become a voiceover actor.   Many of my friends wonder how I'm able to accomplish as much as I do. In all honesty, it's hard work, and there are some days I don't feel that I'm accomplishing much. Every day is a balancing act. In this post, I'll share what I've learned so far. Everyone has their own process, this one's mine. If you have questions or thoughts, please weigh in! Here we go:

1) Set Goals - Know what you want to accomplish, and give yourself a deadline to help you stick to your goals. This might take some soul searching, or you might already have something in mind. Whatever it is, WRITE IT DOWN. And put it somewhere where you'll see it every day - that way, whenever you see it, you're reminded about what you're working towards. If you're a visual person, then cut out pictures of what your goals are, make a collage and post it. It feels silly, but it works.   Back when Y2K was the end of the world, I was a consultant traveling across country on a weekly basis. On one flight home, around the New Year, I wrote down my goals for the next 5 years and made two copies: one posted next to my bed at home and another I kept in my suitcase. Four years later, after I had finished graduate school and moved to Minneapolis for my first post-MBA job, I found one of the copies while I was unpacking and re-read what I had written. That was when I realized I'd already accomplished everything on that list - one year ahead of schedule!

2) Work Towards Your Goals Daily - Some days, I wake up early to practice or submit auditions before going to work. I'll leave work and rush straight to class, rehearsal or I'll lock myself in my home studio to practice and audition some more. I'll submit auditions on the weekend, or attend a workshop to further my actor's skillset.

Because I try to leave work around the same time each day so I can do this, my work days have become very focused. I take only necessary meetings (not having them at all would be ideal, but doesn't quite work for my world). I try to block off time to focus on projects I'm working on. I work through lunch. I try to limit my time internet surfing and sending e-mail. And I've read a lot about lifehacking and productivity to help me get there. A few resources I've found inspiring/invaluable: Tim Ferriss's Four Hour Workweek, Pam Slim's Escape from Cubicle Nation and Keith Ferazzi's Never Eat Alone and Who's Got Your Back, as well as blogs like The Art of Non-Conformity and Zen Habits and Lifehacker for inspiration and productivity ideas. I haven't perfected my system yet, but I'm getting there, a little bit at a time.

3) Don't Forget to Breathe - chances are if you're doing this, you feel like you're burning the candle at both ends. You may be sacrificing sleep, or exercise (or both). Give yourself a day off once in a while. Spend time with loved ones (see item 4 below). Do things that renew your sense of self, purpose and spirit. It could be exercise, or journaling, or reading for pleasure. Whatever it is, make this a regular part of your week to help restore balance when you're feeling burned out.

4) Have a Support System - if you have a spouse or significant other, or a family, or any kind of relationship that you want to maintain in a healthy way, make sure they are on board and supportive of what you want to do.   Find mentors to help guide you through the process and coach you when you're feeling stuck. When you're making the transition from day job to dream job there will be even more demands on your time than you already have now. And the people who love you tend to want to spend quality time with you (and vice versa). Make time to be present with them, and make sure you're checking in with them along the journey to make sure you're both still on the same page.

5) Check In - Check in on yourself at least quarterly to review your accomplishments and see how you're progressing towards your goals. Are you on track? Ahead/behind where you thought you'd be? What do you need to do or learn to get yourself one step closer to your goals? Back in January, I shared my goals for the year with you. In a future post, I'll share my progress with you.

6) Rebalance - Your priorities might shift or change. Demands at home or the office might require you to shift focus for a prolonged period of time, or maybe your dream endeavor is taking off! Every day, month, year you're working towards your new goals means that at some point, once you've done the hard work and checked your progress, you'll have to rebalance everything to make sure you're still going where you want to go. There are going to be awesome days and crappy ones. It's a process, and it's fluid. Be flexible with it and yourself.

As I said before, every day is a balancing act. These are just a few things I've learned so far on this journey. There are more lessons to come, I'm sure. What are your tips and tricks, thoughts or questions?

Happy New Year! A look at the year ahead

2010-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

It's 2010, and we're a few days into the new year. I hope your holidays were merry and bright, and those of you in cold climes kept cozy and warm. As we kickstart the first work week of the new year, it's time to review 2009 and take a look ahead.

As a voiceover actor and improviser, 2009 set the stage (as it were) for the year ahead.   After a year of networking and searching, I signed with TGMD Talent Agency. Between my freelance VO and the agency, I even booked several jobs! While I won't quit my day job just yet, those bookings and every audition strengthen the base on which I am building my talent. I joined an improv troupe (Team X), that has enjoyed great reviews and success in its first 8 months together. This February, Team X heads to Seattle, where we will perform two shows at the Seattle Festival of Improv Theater!

While I'm not much for New Year's Resolutions (they are usually big promises we find hard to keep), I am a huge fan of writing down your goals. Each year, I revisit that list and make sure that those goals still make sense for me, that I'm on track, and that I'm continuing to take steps that will allow me to achieve my dreams. So as we head into 2010, I have focused my energies on the following:

1) 365 auditions in 365 days. This works out to at least an audition a day, and as a voiceover artist, is totally achievable. The idea behind this goal is to provide added focus to my voiceover career and find as many opportunities as possible to work in VO.

2) At least 1 class per quarter.   From classes to workout groups, ensure that every quarter of the year I have engaged in a class, workshop or workout group that allows me to flex and strengthen my acting muscles. When we stop learning, we stop progressing. I never want to stop progressing.

3) Keep performing. This is a somewhat open ended goal. The idea here is to always keep practicing my craft in VO and improv, in whatever form it takes. Team X has provided me a great way to continually improve my skills as an improviser and actor, but I haven't always been that comfortable on stage. Every time you get in front of a crowd - from a work presentation to a staged play, it's an opportunity to practice the art of performing. I have good and bad days, and I hope the more I practice, the more consistently the good days happen.

On a more personal front, I'm working to strengthen the foundations I established last year - by shoring up my financial sector, reintroducing a regular exercise regimen (after a year of injury, I'll have to go slow) and maintaining the relationships that sustain me.   We don't live in isolation, and it's especially important to make sure that you have a support system in place as you make transitions and choices that are not necessarily the norm. As I continue to balance and merge my corporate and creative lives, it's especially important to me to have that support. I am so grateful for it, and for the people in my life who bring me joy and inspiration.

What are your goals as we head into a new year & decade? How will you measure success? I encourage you to discuss them here, or drop me a line and let me know. We'll keep each other on track! Happy New Year, and may the new year and decade bring you amazing new experiences and discoveries!

Notes from the Booth: Toothly.com

2009-12-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

In October, the website Toothly.com selected me to be the voice of their online demo. Below is a screenshot of the demo, narrarated by me. To listen, click here: Toothly.com.

Autumn Updates: Agency News & Updates to Ratana.net

2009-09-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

The start of autumn always reminds me of new beginnings: back to school, the smell of new pencils, a few new outfits (or uniforms) to replace the ones I outgrew over the summer. Even as an adult, those back to school reminders trigger the feeling that a new cycle of learning and growing has begun.

This year is no different, with many things happening over the past few weeks.

First, and foremost, I now have an agent! Earlier this month, I signed with TGMD to represent me for all things voiceover. I'm excited about this partnership, and working with an agency who seems committed to their clients and building their brands & their business together. The process of getting an agent is different for everyone (and could be a much longer, more in depth post), but the timing for me was serendipitous. I truly believe that luck = preparation + timing. Because at the end of the day, sometimes that's what it boils down to.

Second, if you surf on over to my website you might notice a few new things. Such as an Improv page, pulling in videos from past performances of my improv group, Team X. I love performing with that crew, and am thrilled to be able to show them off in this venue. We have been performing every first & third Monday since summer began, and will continue to do so through the fall. For more info on performances, keep an eye on my News page, or visit our home theater, M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater website.

Finally, I've added a page for images on my website - headshots as well as pictures from a photoshoot I did over the summer, a fashion take on the movie Kill Bill. The Kill Bill pictures and some of my headshots are courtesy of my friend and uber talented photographer Jack Manning. (More on that experience in a future post.) Head on over to http://www.ratana.net/, and let me know what you think!

Summer flew by in a flurry of marketing, modeling, improvising, rehearsing, studying VO and networking. The fall promises more of the same and then some. I'm looking forward to re-balancing my workloads to meet the challenges of being an artist and marketer, and what the future brings. But first...a trip to Staples for some new pencils!

Feeling Stuck? Freeze!

2009-07-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my improv team, Team X, has a show. Last week, we got together for our weekly rehearsal. One of the exercises from our rehearsal involved playing a form of Freeze. Two of us got up to play a scene, but first our teammates posed our bodies into whatever form & configuration they wanted - heads, arms, legs, faces. In a regular game of Freeze, the players justify the pose. But this game of Freeze had a twist: rather than justify the pose, become the character who would stand in this manner. The idea was to get us out of our heads, and into the heads & bodies of these characters.

How liberating! As a VO actor, I use my face and hands to give energy to my words, but my feet stay planted. I am a talking head. There's a technical reason for this: the mics in a professional studio are so sensitive it will even pick up the slightest extra sounds - paper shuffling, clothing rustling. Because of this, I sometimes forget on stage that I am free to "move about the cabin" - so to speak. And I have to remind myself not to be a "talking head" - just standing on stage with nothing to do but yammer on. The game allowed me to be a completely different character, one I had never given voice to before. It's a bolder, scarier, more liberating thing to embody a different character with both voice and physicality - there is fear, trust, discovery, commitment, freedom, play. And I loved it.

I think the idea here is to walk a mile not only in someone else's shoes, but in their whole person. In the corporate world (especially Marketing) we have an activity something like this: job rotation, a regular pattern of changing brands over the course of one's career. In my relatively short corporate life, I have switched careers once (from consulting to marketing) and managed over a dozen different brands across several companies.

Because the days of 30+year tenure followed by gold Rolex retirements is long gone, we don't expect to stay in the same job or function for our entire careers. We expect to do this throughout our lives - job rotation, internships, cross-training with other functions, and plain old career switching. There's a reason for this: switching gears into a new brand, or a new function gets you out of your head, and opens up new ways of thinking.

While the process of both creating characters and changing jobs can be scary or the learning curve daunting, it's also a great opportunity for renewal and rediscovery: You are able to create something new that adds to your professional character. You are able to connect new ideas to old ways, or to question the status quo and create new solutions that benefit the entire enterprise. It keeps you from thinking that "it is what it is" and that you can't change the process or the system. It puts you into a new frame of reference. And it becomes a part of you, something you can file away and pull out for future reference. I suppose, that if you feel stuck in what you're doing, maybe it's time to play a game of Freeze.

it's a matter of choice

2009-07-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

In the world of acting - there is a thing called "choices". It's the way we approach a line, or the attitude we give to a character. It's our intention, emotion, action. And we commit to those choices to (hopefully) create a memorable experience for those listening to or watching us. While we may have a director or a booth engineer offering us guidance for where to take our performance, ultimately the decision rests with the actor. Her choice will either get her the job, or it won't. There is no one to blame or to hide behind. It's up to you, as the actor, to perform balls out - leaving nothing out. Whatever you decide, it will be out there for all the world to see or hear.

There are choices in corporate america too, but usually it is the choice to defer the decision. Or, in the words of Cinderella in Sondheim's Into the Woods: "I know what my decision is, which is not to decide..." It's a curious paradox of leadership -that in order to make a decision, we must validate (or deny) what our gut tells us in favor of group concensus. Sure, it may be good team building, but in some ways, I think it reduces the trust we have in ourselves - to make good, strong choices and follow them with conviction. Instead, we put our faith in the whims of many, anonymizing the decision and therefore the responsibility.

When a choice made in error by a committee fails, who shoulders the blame? How many cooks do we really need in the kitchen?

While I believe in the value of group consensus, I also believe that strong leadership is more important. If we are always checking in with others, we ultimately learn to question our own judgement in deference to the group. Self doubt increases our unwillingness to commit, and our fear of reprisal when we do take a stand. And so we revert to the coward's way of making a choice: Choosing not to decide.

That's no way to live a life, whether it's on a stage or in a cubicle.

From this moment forward, make a choice. Choose something. Argue passionately. Lead with conviction. Don't take a backseat. Don't be passive. Don't wake up 10 years from now filled with regret, because you let others dictate your path. Choose.

A Tiny Crack in the Glacier

2009-06-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

I've noticed something interesting lately at work: signs of life. For many months, since the economic downturn last fall, we've had a major hiring freeze. My colleagues in corporate America also felt the chill, as they searched for new jobs after being downsized or yearned for new experiences within their own companies but were stuck.

But recently, I've begun to feel a thaw in the glacier. People moving around the company not because they must take on extra work due to workforce reductions, but actual movement in the pursuit of career advancement. HR, calling to ask about friends I've referred to the company, with open slots to fill with talented managers. On my own little team, many of my teammates are preparing to move on to new assignments as brand managers outside of our division. As a marketer, job rotation is seen as part of the culture: a rite of passage as you move from brand to brand on the road to promotion. Outside of the office, a network of dormant corporate recruiters are beginning to awaken with new and bright opportunities, and they are reaching out to me and my colleagues. After so much bleak news about the economy and joblessness, these are positive signs.

I'm hopeful this thaw will translate to the world of voiceover soon: marketers fund advertising, and advertising uses talent (both on camera and off). What would that mean? Agents who are more open to signing new talent, because there is more work to go around. Actors who audition more often as a result of these new opportunities. Because actors are auditioning more, they're booking more too. And a brighter more hopeful tomorrow after so many gray and hopeless days.

Yes, I know, the recession's not over yet and my happy scenario is wildly oversimplified. There's still a huge glacier blocking the flow of energy, funding and work for everyone. But these little signs are like tiny cracks in the ice. A few more of these and pretty soon... smooth sailing. It's a wonderful feeling, Hope.

Project Notes: The Hazards of Freelancing

2009-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Until I have agency representation and union affiliation, I'm a freelance voiceover actor. Which means I am responsible for the entire process from start to finish:
- marketing my talents on my own and various websites
- finding, auditioning for and booking gigs
- negotiating rates with clients
- recording the gig & sending the files to the client
- invoicing and collections

Since I'm essentially a company of one, I have only myself to blame for what happened on a recent gig, in which I booked and recorded four characters but only sent three to my client: I should have checked the file. I would call it a "rookie mistake," but there's no excuse, and I feel stupid for having done it.

Now that file is lost on the recording studio's server, and I am spending an extra hour or two chasing it down, causing delays for my client. I sincerely hope that my talent and responsiveness is enough to keep me in the running for future work, but I wouldn't be surprised if I don't hear from these guys again. I don't really blame them.

Lesson learned: always check your files before you leave the recording studio. Kids, don't do this at home. Trust me, I will never let this happen again.

Backstage @: Team X Improv Show - what's past is past

2009-06-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

As of Monday night, Team X has doubled the number of shows under its belt. That is to say: two whole shows. And I'm pretty excited about that.

The lesson of the evening: to be in the moment and let go of everything else. We tend to be creatures of the past - your evaluation at work looks at the last year of performance, we play Monday morning quarterback to the previous weekend's game, and we critique ourselves for what might have been but wasn't. It's human nature, and it's hard to let go of what was or wasn't and look ahead. So before we went on, our coach gave us some great advice. He said to forget the last show, it's done & gone. As we stood in our warm up circle, he suggested that we look in the middle of that circle - whatever our show will be would be in there, in us.

It was good advice for what turned out to be a pretty good show. We'll still look back on it and critique ourselves for what we could have or shouldn't have done but in the context of learning and not berating ourselves. In the corporate world, my past bosses have called this "development areas." In the theater world it's not called criticism, it's called "giving notes." Either way, what's past is past. It's time to enjoy the moment and look ahead to the next rehearsal, the next show.

Words of Inspiration

2009-06-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

There are days (like this past week) when I feel overwhelmed & overprogrammed - running from work, to family obligations, to VO practice/auditions, to rehearsals, to errands... and back again. Not to mention dealing with the aftermath of a hit & run car accident (thank goodness for responsive police officers and insurance agents). There aren't enough hours in the day, and there is no clear indication of which end is up. Those are the days when I laugh (inside) when people ask me how I manage to balance everything I do. I don't.

I re-balance, constantly. In my quest to become a world class voiceover artist, I make choices and sacrifice. Some things fall off the calendar, some things get squeezed in. Inevitably, I lose sleep trying to cram 26 hours of life into a 24 hour day. It's very easy to drain the batteries on such a demanding schedule.

When I start to have these, "Calgon take me away" moments, I take a quiet moment to reflect in my journal or with a trusted loved one, look to books and quotations for inspiration, and remember to keep breathing. As author L.Frank Baum ("Wizard of Oz") put it, "Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again."

Now's the time to take a breather: to inhale deeply, take a step back and re-balance the priorities so the most important ones rise back to the top. To remember the life lessons I've gathered in years past and apply them to today's situations. And to "Insist upon yourself. Be original" (thanks, Ralph Waldo Emerson).

I've been collecting quotations from various sources for over 10 years... I find truth, solace & inspiration in the wisdom of others. And their words have helped me to frame my own, and to find my voice(s) in a world filled with distractions.

Life in the cubicle demands that every project, every meeting, every e-mail is A++ priority...but is it, really? So I'm at that crossroads: in order to have everything I've dreamed of, I need to make some choices. Some of them will be easy (like delegating a meeting or some e-mail), some of them will not (like wrapping up complicated projects or figuring out how to make a process move more efficiently), but at the end of the day, I know where I'm headed, and it has sound proofing & fancy microphones, not corner offices with fancy nameplates and endless teambuilding meetings. Because, according to baseball legend Yogi Berra, "when you come to a fork in the road, take it," and "creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." (Erich Fromm, German-American psychologist).

So it's time to rebalance. And just to remind myself, I'll share my major priorities with you:
1) Relationships first (family, significant other, close friends) - they are my support network and lifeline
2) Voiceover & Performance (classes, practice, privates & improv) - making inroads towards my dream job
3) Optimizing work life (making the most of limited work hours, reducing the amount of work I take home/lose sleep over, creating a plan for financial stability) - making the most of my day job
4) Building alternative sources of income to help support priorities 1) and 2) - to help me be my best (independent) self

When insecurity gets the best of me, or when I'm mentally or emotionally exhausted by my quest, I just keep reminding myself that there is a goal, and an end game in sight. And look to these words of inspiration to remind me why I do what I do:

"To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?" - Katherine Graham, late editor of the Washington Post

"My recipe for life is not being afraid of myself, afraid of what I think, or of my opinions." - Eartha Kitt, actress/singer

What inspires you? Where do you look when you're feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, or just need a push in the right direction?

Surprisingly Chipper

2009-06-02T11:13:00.001-07:00

I stayed out way too late last night, especially since it was a Monday "school night." After only a few hours of sleep and a very large coffee, I threw myself into the day, starting with a very early 7 a.m. conference call. I should be groggy and cranky and very sleepy (and very well might be by the end of today), but for now, as my colleague says, I am feeling "surprisingly chipper."

Well, not surprisingly, to my mind: Last night my improv team (called, generically or mysteriously, "Team X") had it's first show at the newly remodeled and renamed M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater. There was nothing generic or mysterious about our show. It was pure fun, and the audience laughed with every step of the way. We had a blast.

I loved playing on this stage with my teammates - everyone was prepared and ready to go. We shared the stage equally without resorting to crazy antics or one-upsmanship. We trusted each other and committed to each moment with energy & vigor. We were real, and truthful, keeping every scene grounded in relationships and emotions. As a peformer, this is the good stuff: Everything I've learned as an improviser and an actor, and everything our team has rehearsed together culminated in a debut show that felt energetic, fun and electric. And we can't wait to get our there again!

I began this stage of my journey as a voiceover student hoping to learn a few improv tricks to build up my VO chops. I ended up falling in love with the discipline as another form of performance art. And I'm so glad to be a part of both worlds, and grateful that I am able to practice this craft with such a talented group. After a debut like last night's, can you blame me for being "surprisingly chipper?"

the clark kent of cubicle life

2009-05-26T11:45:00.001-07:00

If you've been keeping up with the headlines, you'll know we've been in a recession for quite some time now. Corporate America has been downsizing and cost cutting to the point where pennies have little left for pinching. And the workforce that remains in the office, dutifully migrating to their airless cubicles, must do more with less, put up with more and get paid less. I am a very competent worker bee. I appreciate my day job, which allows me to live a decent life and sustains my VO pursuits. But as an artist and a professional, I do not appreciate hearing subjective (typically negative) feedback without some additional (positive) direction. For lack of better terms, it feels crappy.

Which is why the last couple of weeks have been tough on my corporate life. I feel like Superman - by day, I'm the Clark Kent of cubicle life, attacking projects, presentations & emails with nerdy gusto. By evening, Super(wo)man - flying from work to improv to VO to practice to auditions....And directionless feedback is my Kryptonite. It took the wind out of my sails (cape?). Other than get defensive (unproductive) or mad (same), what do you do with that?

Thank goodness for the long weekend. I took those days to read, reflect, write and just be. And what I realized is this:
1) pull the practical information out, if you can, and start taking action. there might be a nugget of truth in that feedback, so if there is use it.
2) discard the rest. it's garbage, put it in the trash.
3) remember you have goals that exist beyond the corporate world, and to stay focused on them. it's easy to get distracted by the naysayers. let your passion for your work/vocation and your ideals push you beyond that.
4) this too shall pass. so take a deep breath and exhale.

The net result (so far): The transformation of negative energy into positive results - I now have two clean closets, a new home studio set up, a journal full of ideas and a clearer, more focused frame of mind.

It's about Time

2009-05-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of my first teachers in voiceover used to say, "If you show up for an audition on time, you're late." Since then, I've heard some variation of this many times in my training. As a voiceover actor, you're expected to show up 10-15 minutes early to check in & get your script, and to give you time to prepare before you get into the booth.

Interestingly enough, in my day job, if you show up on time for a meeting, you're early. And while a few minutes here & there are no big deal, starting 10-15 minutes late when the meeting starts at 7 a.m. is painful, throwing off the rest of your day. And not showing up at all with no notice? Unprofessional. If I have to get up early to be prepared for a meeting that starts before the crack of dawn, I expect the rest of the meeting attendees to do so as well. So I'm just a teensy bit annoyed that this morning I showed up for a 7 a.m. conference call...and other than my boss, no one else showed.

Part of being a professional is respect - respecting your colleagues for their intellect and experience...and the value of their time. Showing up prepared and on time (whether that means 15 minutes before the meeting/audition is supposed to begin, or showing up as soon as the appointed time comes) is a demonstration of that respect. Our time is precious & valuable. By showing up late (or not showing at all, without telling anyone), you're sending the message that you are selfish, that your time is more valuable than others, and that you don't respect the other parties attending the meeting or audition.

Please folks, regardless of your chosen profession: Show a little respect. Be prepared, be on time, and be present.

Growing Pains

2009-04-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last night, I took a very interesting voiceover class, helmed by three well known veterans of the industry. The instructors left diplomacy at the door and encouraged each of us to attack our copy with ferocity and an ear for the truth. It was uncomfortable. It was difficult. It was amazing.

In my day life, subtlety and tact are the grease in the wheels of getting things done. You can't drop four letter words and say controversial things in a conference room filled with mid to high level executives. It will get you fired.

In the booth, with a room filled with voiceover hopefuls, these three guys minced no words in getting strong reads from their students - pushing, shoving, tearing at their boundaries. You must be direct and truthful in your peformance. It will get you hired.

There is a reason why the phrase "growing pains" exists: because in order to evolve yourself, and by extension your work, to the next level, you have to stretch and reach - and it won't always be pleasant or painless. But it's that constant push for growth that allows us grow our skillset and by extension, become better versions of ourselves.

Backstage @: Second City Musical Improv Level 1 Show

2009-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

I started taking Improv to help build my VO skills, but I kept taking classes because I fell in love with the art form. Yesterday, I performed with my classmates from the Musical Improv Level 1 class at Second City. What a fearless, fun, and talented group of performers to play with! We performed for about 30 minutes, from group songs to solos, with some fun games in between. I had a blast, and if the audience reaction was any indication, they did too. Thanks, Second City!

UPDATE: With thanks to improviser/photographer Bill Kelly, here are a few photos from the afternoon: http://tinyurl.com/c6w6no

Project Notes: Zula Patrol ADR

2009-04-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was invited to help a friend with a project: to provide characters for an existing clip of animation from a TV show caled Zula Patrol. It's a CGI cartoon series featuring creatures that kind of look like walking insects. ADR is Automatic Dialogue Replacement - it's what you do when the picture already exists and you have to fix or replace audio that didn't quite come through in the initial recording. So that's what I did for this project, and what fun! My friend & VO colleague Kurt Kelly provided the male character's voices and I provided the rest. In the end, we gave voice to a handful of charcters using a mixture of existing script and a little improvisation. We had such fun, and I hope you enjoy the results.

Here's a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI0Rj63fqQw

Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!

Hop To It!

2009-04-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

With Easter right around the corner, you'd think I was talking about the Easter bunny, marshmallow peeps and egg hunting shenanigans. Not quite.

Just call me "hopalong." That's right, in my eagerness to take advantage of the warm spring day that was last Sunday, I went for a run. Or tried to anyway. My foot had another idea: on its way down the stairs to the beach path I love to jog, it "decided" to twist into itself, with a few sounds that only cereal should make. Snap, crackle, pop! YOWZA!!

Luckily a nice little old lady saw me & was kind enough to make sure I was okay and got back up the stairs that caused my downfall (literally). After I limped myself the few blocks back to my car, I drove to an urgent care clinic. The nice doctors took an x-ray and promptly declared my ankle sprained, not broken and prescribed, among other things: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation & lots of it), Advil (and lots of it), a nifty thing called an air cast and a pair of crutches.

My roommate was nice enough to take me to the local pharmacy/medical supply store to purchase my new accessories and then I spent the rest of the day learning how to maneuver around on my crutches - two metal sticks guided only by my hands. I believe man evolved into upright beings for a reason: walking around on your hands can be a painful undertaking! My arm muscles are sore from the strain. (However, I've been told by those who've experienced the joy of crutches, that my arms will be as buff as Madonna's by the end of it. Joy!)

And my significant other was nice enough to come over after work and bring me dinner while I sat on the couch, ankle propped up by several pillows and surrounded by a cushion of ice.

I admit, I'm a little (ok, a LOT) bummed that my mobility has been temporarily curtailed by my attempt at running; I am a pretty independent, active person. I missed a lot of classes & activities this week, and will for a couple more while I heal. And forget about the salsa dancing I love so much. I guess to move faster, at some point, you just have to slow down and take help where it's offered. (I didn't expect to slow down quite this much, or need help quite this much.) I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the kindness of strangers & loved ones as I work, drive, blog, twitter, etc., my way through this injury. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a nice long weekend off, with RICE, my new spring accessories (ha!), a few loved ones nearby and maybe even an Easter basket filled with a chocolate bunny and a few marshmallow peeps. I'll hop right back to it, but next week. See you then!!

And Happy Easter/Passover! (is that "Eastover"?)

"We are Spartans!"

2009-04-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today's blog title is a little riff from Gerard Butler's rallying cry from the movie 300, but I like it.

So, I'm not the biggest of sports fans, but I do occassionaly pay attention - mainly to MSU basketball (hard for me to find in Pac 10 country) and hockey. Tonight, the MSU Spartans will play the UNC Tar Heels for the NCAA title and bragging rights. And we're supposed to be "underdogs." But after reading all the coverage in my local hometown papers, watching the broadcast on TV, and the slew of texts I exchanged with my sister during Saturday's game, I kind of think we already won. Because win or lose, my home state of Michigan has something it hasn't had in a while: hope.

There aren't too many times when people are excited to visit Detroit, or proud of something going on - it's been a rush of bad news, day after day. There are corrupt mayors, lost jobs, foreclosed homes & a major industry in the danger zone. So I love to hear all the good stories: the Spartan pride rallies, the air of excitement outside Ford Field, the Spartan green everywhere (including the Freep home page today)! I love every excited text and twitter and facebook posting too.

There are always Cinderella stories that come out of the Big Dance, and I think this year, everyone thought that was Villanova, because they beat a titan in Duke. But I disagree. I think it's these Spartans, who carry the hope and expectations of the entire state of Michigan as they jog onto the floor tonight. It's a welcome distraction from the daily grind. And I'm excited and proud to cheer on the Green and White of my alma mater tonight - Go Spartans!

March Madness and the Manicure

2009-03-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

During most of the year, I am your average, mild mannered professional. But during the month of March, when NCAA basketball takes over CBS sports coverage, I tune in. It's one of the few times I can find Big 10 coverage on the left coast without paying an arm and a leg to my cable company. And this year, as my alma mater Michigan State makes the drive to the Final Four, I've been tuning in with baited breath, watching each uncomfortably close game as it unfolds on my TV/computer/crackberry screen. I'll be sad for the tournament to end, but I'll be glad to have another year grow my nails back. Go Spartans!

The Struggle for Mediocrity

2009-03-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago I had improv class. In this particular school, after three hours of class, all the classes meet to share what they've learned by performing for each other. It's a safe space to play & experiment and a fun venue to show off what you're learning. Mine is a musical improv class, and our last act was to close out the evening by singing a song as a group. The job of the first person in the line was to set the tone for the song, and being among actors, I thought for sure everyone would fight for the first spot.

So when our instructors called us to the stage for this final song, I was surprised to see everyone run for the middle like salmon struggling upstream. They wriggled and shoved and squirmed and pushed...all not to be first. What the heck was going on? To put an end to the ridiculous scrum, I moved to the first spot in the line, so that everyone else could be "not first". We sang our song, and while it started out okay, it didn't go well. Predictably, the leader (me, since I was in slot #1) shouldered the blame.

I don't mind taking the hit for my mistakes; I'll learn from it and move on. But I was annoyed and somewhat disgusted by this show of behavior by my classmates. We are actors & students - this is a safe space to play; no one will fire you for sucking. Why, I wondered, would you strive for the middle? Is mediocrity the goal? We pay money for this class. We invest time and energy. It seems to me a waste to avoid learning because we are afraid to fail. If that's the case, why bother?

Throughout my life, my parents told me that the one thing they could give me was my education. That was their legacy for me, and I took that to heart. I studied hard, learned as much as I could, and never took the privilege for granted. And even after grade school, high school, college & even grad school, I haven't stopped learning. Or embracing the mistakes as opportunities to learn. I refuse to be mediocre. If that means taking the first slot in line, so be it.

It's about Time

2009-03-25T08:45:00.001-07:00

I've been running myself ragged these days - moving between day job and voiceover can be demanding, both physically, mentally & emotionally. I love what I do (both my day gig and my future day gig), so sometimes it's hard to balance both, especially when both are starting to enter busy, hectic periods.

Time management is much on my mind these days. There are so many books, blogs, and resources out there, all devoted to managing your time more efficiently. I have found some of them to be helpful and others not so much. Real Simple once dedicated an entire issue to the subject, so I'm not alone in my musings.

There are e-mails to be answered, websites to be maintained, blogs to be written. There are projects to be completed, auditions to be submitted, classes to be attended. Oh yes, and there are relationships, health and day-to-day living too. The "To Do" list never ends. How do you "do it all" (or at least a good chuck of "all") and still maintain balance?

Send me your thoughts, friends. In a future posting, I'll summarize and send you mine in return.

So What's the Good News?

2009-02-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

On the art of the audition and marketing oneself, a VO instructor once counseled her students that the game was about “Selection, not Rejection.” And in this brave new world filled with economic uncertainty, reduced advertising budgets, and an entertainment industry still woozy from the writer’s strike, those words were never more true. In the time since my last entry, we’ve entered a new year (happy belated 2009!), the world markets are all in a race to see which one will hit bottom first, we got a new President (welcome, President Obama, and Good Luck, Sir), and uncertainty about just about everything is at an all time high. The news each day is beyond depressing.

We are faced with more trade offs and sacrifices than ever before. A co-worker at my day job remarked that he’d rather take a slight pay cut than see another colleague (or himself) get laid off. Agencies are getting ever pickier in the face of fewer buyers for their talent and the need to sign only the most productive of talent, and can draw from a pool of talent thousands of members deep (from all over the world). And here I am, diligently making my way into this world. Welcome to Voiceover!

And despite (and maybe because of) the odds, I remain ever determined to succeed. Grateful to be living in Los Angeles, where I can learn from and train among the best, and to have achieved all that I have in just a year and a few short months of study. Humbled by the warm words of support, the generous advice and the camaraderie of my fellow VO actors and those professionals who’ve taken the time to mentor me. And hopeful that I will soon come into my own.

So, what's the good news in all of this? In the face of such economic and professional uncertainty, this is not the time to hide – this is the time to shine brighter than your competition! I think this applies not only in the creative world but also in the corporate world. And in today's world, I think the best kind of economic stimulus is the kind you create for yourself - by being entrepreneurial and creative, and showcasing your talents in the best light possible. And the upside is this: Selection, not Rejection.

A Very Merry Recessionary Christmas

2008-12-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

After so many years of avoiding the malls between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, I decided to go last weekend. In a time when pink slips have replaced holiday bonuses in many households, and the news is filled hourly with tales of economic hardship, it's hard to pull out the wallet and bring home armloads of presents to pile under the tree. But I found myself needing a few trinkets to round out my highly edited shopping list, so off I went to my local mall.

Unlike previous seasons, I was surprised (but shouldn't have been) to find that I didn't have to fight for parking, and the mall wasn't crowded with anxious shoppers. It was a little depressing to wander into empty shops, only to be accosted by the overly eager sales assistant, pointing out that everything is 30% off. All around me, signs of the times: "Sale!" and "Going out of Business - Everything Must Go!" And even though there were great deals to be had, I just wasn't in the mood to shop.

I am in the mood to be grateful for what I have, more so than any other year in recent memory. And rather than fill my house with more stuff, I'd rather fill my heart with memories - hosting good friends for an Indian themed holiday dinner, having a game night, watching hours of old Christmas specials on TV, singing Christmas carols, wrapping gifts for a local charity to hand out, going ice skating (in Los Angeles! Outside!). And as we wind down 2008 and look forward into 2009, I'm grateful for the past year: completing my demos, auditioning, booking gigs and learning constantly... and the love and support of friends, family & you. Thanks for reading, and for your constant support and encouragement.

I wish you and yours a Very Merry Recessionary Christmas (Hannukah, Kwaanza, Yule...) and a safe and fantastic New Year!

Working Girl

2008-11-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

In the corporate world, doing your job means showing up to work every day you are scheduled (and then some), and putting in the time & energy (and then some) to complete your projects. In the acting world, doing your job is auditioning, frequently, which is the corporate equivalent of interviewing a lot. So what do you call the work when you finally get hired?

The answer: play.

Over the weekend, I booked & recorded a pilot for an animated children's series, as one of its main characters, an 8 year old child. But just like interviewing is nothing like the actual job you may end up taking, recording a script is nothing like an audition. I recorded my audition at home in a few minutes, holed up in my closet/studio; for the actual record, we spent an afternoon gathered as an ensemble cast. It was such fun to interact with this talented crew, from actors, to writer, to crew. Yes, I booked a job (yay!) but it certainly didn't feel like work. It felt like play. And I loved every second of it (and then some).

Making Choices

2008-11-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

The art of VO is all about making strong choices. As an actor behind the mic, your job is to commit to your character and make bold choices that help define who that person/animal/inanimate object is and what they will become. It is this magic that makes VO so much fun.

And today is also about making choices. Regardless of which side you're on - blue or red, donkey or elephant, or something in between - today is a day to make strong choices. If you haven't already - get out there & vote! Your choice will help define what this nation is today and what it will become. And no matter what the outcome - today is a day when we all have the opportunity to be a part of history. That's pretty magical too.

Happy Election Day!

Putting it Together

2008-10-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

The amazing Steven Sondheim once wrote a song about "the art of making art" - about all the tiny little details that go into creating art...not just the creative piece, but the networking, the fundraising, the collaboration and numerous intangibles that artists go through to become "successful." The song is called "Putting it Together" and right now, I feel like that song is an accurate description of my life.

Building a career in any industry takes time & energy: the education and practice to prepare you for the work, the network of friends and supporters to introduce you into your chosen industry and act as your advocates & cheerleaders and the luck, tenacity, and sheer force of will to make things happen.

Once again, I find myself mustering up all the energy and support I can in order to create something new and different....bit by bit, piece by piece, part by part....the idea is that all these tiny things I'm doing every day will eventually build itself into something bigger.

Each step I take in the world of voiceover takes me a step closer to realizing my goals. Sometimes they are tiny, sometimes not. Taking classes & attending workshops to improve my skills. Producing my demos and website. Building my network, making friends & contacts within voiceover. Shopping my demos around to agencies, auditioning wherever & whenever I possibly can...it's all the tiny, mundane but important (or huge, not so mundane and super important) details that allow me to practice my chosen craft. Sometimes it takes more time (and energy) than I have (thank goodness for coffee), and I am grateful for the support & encouragement of my friends, family & mentors....their energy is more powerful than a case of Red Bull.

..."the Art of Making Art...is Putting it Together"

That's what counts.

The Business of the Business

2008-09-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is really really nerdy, but lately I have been fascinated with what's happening in the financial markets and its ripple - no, tidal wave - effects on our $13 trillion (that's trillion with a T) economy. Trillion. That is 12 zeros following that $13. I can't even fathom that many zeros after a number.

But I digress. See, a mere year ago, our economy produced $13 trillion - our GDP (so says the World Factbook). In a very oversimpified explanation, that's the value of all the goods and services our hard work provides. The proceeds from the sale of these products funnels back into the economy as businesses produce even more products that require advertising so consumers will purchase. And that advertising requires writers and directors and producers and editors and actors...and that includes voice over actors.

It's called show business for a reason. What happens to our business, when other businesses who feed ours are failing and faltering? Well, for some of us, nothing. Those who have solvent clients are still viable and hiring us to work and helping us all to be productive members of the economy. But what if you're the voice or face of AIG (who just pulled all of their advertising, since their very recent and massive federal bailout)? Nothing happens in a vacuum, and this stuff trickles down....fast.

All of a sudden, you're no longer the voice or face of anything, and back to pounding the pavement in search of a new client. And when the clients that are available have reined in their advertising budgets "just in case" the markets hit even choppier waters, well...there's less business to be had. Artists in show business are used to pounding the pavement, but now...it will take more energy, more effort, more time, more cold calls, more auditions... just to land that next gig.

It sounds crappy, and yeah, it is. But this is the kind of situation that begets creativity. Lots and lots of it. It's a time to retrench, take stock and open up our eyes, ears and imaginations to invent what we might have once thought impossible. And turn this tidal wave of events from something that could temporarily drown us into something we can surf safely to shore.

So to my friends (in all industries) who are feeling a bit queasy from this strange state of economic affairs, let's all pray for a calming of the tides very soon. And in the meantime, keep breathing, keep dreaming and pass the Dramamine.

Good Listeners

2008-09-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Much of the VO industry has moved towards the home studio. Instead of driving to your agent's or a casting agency to record your auditions, you do so from the comfort of your own home.

I have to say, it's nice to have this option; I've always wanted to have a job where I could go to work in my pajamas. But as much as I audition, there is always the challenge of self direction. Because when you go to work in your pajamas, there is no sound engineer or booth director to help guide you to your best performance. It's up to you to decide: Which take is your best one?

For those who have been in the industry for years, or who have the VO equivalent to perfect pitch, this is an innate skill, born either from years of practice or because it is ingrained in you. As a singer, I have great relative pitch; but I don't have perfect pitch. And while I'm a great listener (of other people's work), I'm still learning to pick out the nuances in my own performance that make one read better than the next.

So if you ask me if I'm a good listener - in life? Absolutely. In VO? I'm getting there.

A Thank You to My Mentors

2008-09-10T13:12:00.001-07:00

This week, I was fortunate enough to be a small, invisible part of the memorial service celebrating the life & legacy of a VO legend who passed away earlier this month. As the intimate local theatre filled with his family, friends & fans, it amazed me to see how many people turned out to celebrate this amazing man's life and work. The memorial was truly a celebration, filled with music and love and tributes. And as the tributes came, one after the other in long succession, what struck me the most about this highly successful man was not merely his talent, but his generosity & mentorship: that he would sit down with other VO actors and offer advice and give generously of his time, talent and resources to support various causes that were near and dear to his heart.

And I was reminded of two things:

1) How amazing and supportive people in the VO industry are. Everyone I have met - whether it's a well established talent/producer/director/engineer or a nearly new student of the discipline - has been helpful and collegial - full of kind words, thoughtful advice and generous spirit. I have been buoyed by that support in my own VO education & process.

2) The importance of mentorship and "paying it forward" - regardless of your chosen profession. We can't do what we do alone, in a vacuum. All that I've been able to accomplish thus far in my life is due in part to a mentor's influence: whether it's teaching me the ropes (political & practical) in my newest office gig, showing me a cool new tool or resource, opening my ears to a different method of performing, or serving as a professional or personal reference - without them, I couldn't be here, doing what I love most.

Said another way, it's up to us to train & develop the next generation, regardless of our chosen discipline. Regardless of whether or not our mentee will one day succeed us in our current role. It doesn't matter whether we lead by example or take the time to coach one on one. That mentorship is one small way to ensure that we have left our company (or industry, community, world!) a better place in a lasting and meaningful way. And after listening to countless stories from friends, family & VO colleagues pay tribute to one of their own this week, I was reminded of this: that his advice, help, generosity, etc. helped them in some way to become better people and professionals, just as my own mentors have helped me to do the same.

And that's why today I'm also paying tribute to my mentors, near and far, past, present & future: Thank you for helping me to become the person, professional & artist that I am, and the one that I am becoming. And thanks, DLF, for your inspiring example.

Back to School

2008-09-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

It's September, which always reminds me of going back to school: freshly sharpened #2 pencils zipped into a brand new pencil case, tucked into a canvas backpack with my name inked on the inside. Notebooks with plenty of crisp, empty pages just waiting to be filled with notes, doodles and random thoughts.

And as children all over the country return to school this week, I guess it's only fitting that I return to school too. Improv school, to be exact. Instead of bringing in a book bag filled with new school supplies, the only thing I brought tonight was myself and an open mind. I've always loved and admired improv - ever since I caught episodes of "Whose Line is it Anyway" (both the British & American versions) on TV as a kid and the Second City came to Detroit. The best improvisers make the difficult look so easy. I've been taking improv classes to make me a better actor and performer, but as I sat in our first class of the new session today, I realized that the lessons reach even farther.

Improv is a great skill to have - for actors of all kinds, and for life in corporate America or wherever you live & work. It's about listening, staying in the moment, leading when you need to lead, following when you need to follow and most of all, being there for your team. It's about thinking on your feet and being open to the possible (and the impossible). Most of all, it's about trust. Trusting your scene partners or group to be there for you and give you great things to react to, and trusting yourself enough to stop (over) thinking, and letting yourself feel more.

So even though I didn't have a case filled with sharp #2 pencils or any brand new notebooks to fill with tonight's lessons, be assured: I was definitely taking notes.

Happy September!

Crazy Busy

2008-08-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

I've been exchanging e-mails with a good friend of mine. As both of us work very hard at our jobs in corporate America, in addition to the myriad other pursuits and passions we have, we steal a few moments in the day to catch up over quick snippets of text. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "How r u?" (note that I was too busy to spell out "are" and "you")
Her: "Good. Crazy with work. Got home from vacation and immediately was sent across the country for work. How are you?" (she was busy too, but had time to spell "are" and "you")
Me: "Crazy busy, but good too."

When did it become acceptable to be "crazy busy?" It's not the economy, though in these tough times those of us who are employed strive to look and be busy enough to stay that way. We were "crazy busy" when internet stocks were all the rage, the housing market was hot and the Dow Jones was breaking 12,000.

The folks at a mattress company recently acknowledged that we don't get the 8 hours of sleep we're supposed to be getting every night. Instead their genius marketers suggested: buy OUR mattress and "get a better 6 hours." They know we sometimes (okay, often) cheat ourselves of sleep in order to buy time to feed our "crazy busy"-ness.

Last month's Real Simple and this month's O Magazine both include lengthy feature articles about how to get more time back in your life, suggesting (among other things) to
1. Make a wish list of things that are important to you
2. Create a time journal and document what you do with every minute of your day for several days in a row
3. Put your to do list on an index card (as if putting all your to do's on a smaller piece of paper will somehow make them go by faster)
All great suggestions, some I might even use (one day). But with apologies to these two venerated publications - when would we have time to read about time management? The articles' intended audience is too busy to do more than read the headline on the cover and sigh wistfully as they continue to place groceries on the checklane conveyor belt.

We're overprogrammed. And we're tired. So with Labor Day and a long weekend close at hand, I decided to take a few extra days off to do what really needs to be done:

1) Recharge
2) Relax
3) Refocus

Don't get me wrong, I like to stay active. I love waking up to the challenge of balancing corporate life with creative - it's part of what gets me going each and every day. I love knowing that there is a deadline to be met, a character to create, a goal to achieve.

But sometimes, we get so caught up in the business of being busy that we lose sight of what we're being busy for. We get so tired or so stuck on the details, we miss important things or forget there's a bigger picture. I'm looking forward to these precious few days of rest and renewal. Because sometimes it's okay to slow down, to remember that you are a part of this moment and this world and just be. And not be crazy busy just to be crazy busy.

Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

Let the (Waiting) Games Begin!

2008-08-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

For the past 10 days, 10,000-plus athletes have been waiting their turn to do what they've spent years of their lives preparing for: competing in the Olympic Games in Beijing. (And I admit it, I have a mild case of Olympic fever, which only exacerbates my addiction to TV and my DVR.) The athletes on my TV have played a game of hurry up & wait to perform the task they have been training for.

And for the past 10 days, this artist has been waiting her turn to do what I've spent the past year (and arguably, years in my case, if you count all the inadvertent ways I have trained myself to become a voiceover artist) preparing for: getting an agent so I can begin auditioning in earnest.

The website is up and running (and thank you to those of you who've checked it out & sent me your feedback!). The demos have been sent. And I've been auditioning and performing as much as I can and wherever I can in order to keep my skills sharp. And after all that hurrying up, it's time to wait.

But while I'm waiting, I think I'll watch a little more of the Olympics.

Ratana.net is now live!

2008-08-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

Well friends, after much trial and error, a little help from Apple iWeb, some input from Audacity and the advice of others who are far more computer savvy than I, it's finally here: my official voiceover website, www.ratana.net!

Take a look around, and comment here with your thoughts.

Happy surfing!

User Error

2008-08-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

As I type this, I'm laughing at myself. Because for the past few days, I've been working on my future website, www.ratana.net. And after much trial and error, many calls back and forth to my sister (who runs her own website most admirably and has been a font of great advice), countless google searches and queries to the so-called "help" desk of my hosting service, I finally figured out what I needed to do to post a simple "Coming Soon" message to my website. It's not much, but it's a start. And after much frustration at my web-ignorance and inability to make my page say anything other than "Error 404," I count the publication of my very first web page to be quite the (little) victory. If any of you readers are at all web or design saavy, I welcome your constructive comments & suggestions. But in the meantime, stay tuned. Or should I say 'Stay Tooned'?

Revisting Marketing 101

2008-07-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm a demo-toting VO artist seeking representation (like so many of my talented colleagues out there), it's time to revisit the old lessons of Marketing 101 and apply them to myself. I've spent the balance of my career marketing other people's products, which is both a privilege and a huge responsibility. I perform this work to the best of my abilities and with great pride. But now it's time to market a new product, one that's very near and dear: Me.

No pressure.

In Marketing 101, students are taught the 4 P's: Product, Place, Price & Promotion. In class, we identify these P's in relation to items like Automobiles and Pancake Mix. It's all very academic. As a VO artist, the rules of classical marketing still apply: you are the Product, your voice appears in the Places that are appropriate to your range & talent, your Price varies depending on your union status & star power and you must always, always be Promoting yourself, whether it's on your website, through newsletters and blogs, through your network, or just walking around town wearing a sandwich board. The exercise becomes less academic, and more practical.

And fun!

I admit it: regardless of how long this process takes or where it takes me, I'm looking forward to the journey. Looking forward to applying 4 P's to Brand Me. And the next chapter in my career. It's a job I'll do to the best of my abilities and with great pride. Even while wearing a sandwich board.

A Slap in the ...Forehead?

2008-07-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had one of those moments where you slap your forehead for having done something really stupid.

I've been taking classes and workshops to help improve my skills and keep me current. In many of these classes, the instructor or engineer will record your work & their feedback so that you can listen to it later and further absorb the lessons they impart. One class I'm taking requires you to provide a cassette (no, you did not misread that - some of my instructors prefer the old-school methods) for such recordings. And every week, you bring that cassette, cued up to the appropriate spot, for the capture of your work & feedback.

I had such a class on Monday, and remembered to bring my tape, cued up to just the right spot about halfway through Side B (as Side A was already full of work from a previous animation class and several sessions of this workshop). We had a very full agenda in class that night, and I was very happy to get lots of practice time in the booth. But when I got my tape back, I realized it was set to Side A. Uh oh.

Sure enough, the recording engineer, not knowing that Side A was full, had flipped the tape over to continue recording the session when Side B had filled up. It was my fault for not bringing a backup cassette or telling the engineer that Side A was full, and when I got home to listen, I realized that the animation workshop & previous weeks' work had been replaced by that evening's session. This is the equivalent of writing your college thesis or creating a major work presentation, forgetting to hit the "Save" button and then having your computer crash.

I was proud of all that previous work, and hadn't yet transferred it to digital so I could reference those characters for future practice. And unlike losing a document on Word or PowerPoint, there is no "AutoRecover" function, so all that work is lost. I was pretty bummed about it.

I think I still have a red mark on my forehead. Note to self: Always back up your work, and always pack an extra cassette!

Getting Animated - observations on demos

2008-07-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

It's July, and I can't believe the summer is nearly halfway over. I've been enjoying as much as the season has to offer ... longer days, dancing out on the Promenade (and enjoying a bit of Spanish Harlem Orchestra on the SM Pier last week), catching up with friends and celebrating a new milestone: the delivery of my completed animation demo!

I had so much fun preparing for and recording the demo that I couldn't wait for my producers to call me and tell me the demo was done. I waited and waited and waited. (OK, it was only 2 weeks but it felt like 2 weeks in dog years.) And when I finally got the finished product, I was so excited to listen to it and share it.

I'm very happy with what I did in the booth, and with how the demo came out...but I admit it, there was some trepidation too. It's a little nerve wracking to think that after nearly a year of workshops and countless hours of practice and research (a.k.a. watching cartoons), my skills and talent are distilled into a potpurri of characters on an mp3 less than 2 minutes long. I have cassettes and CDs and audio files full of classwork, notebooks full of feedback & tips for being a better voiceover artist.... but at the end of the day, what my future agents & clients will hear is this teeny tiny little track full of characters I have created.

In the corporate world, this is the aural equivalent of a 1 page resume. Everything I've ever done condensed onto one sheet of 8.5" x 11" paper. And thinking back, I'm sure I felt just as nervous committing my life's experience onto one teeny tiny page for the very first time, with the purpose of impressing a future employer enough to offer me a job.

Of course, this is the voiceover world, and this is Hollywood. So it's not enough to have just one resume....you need one for each discipline you want to pursue. So, I've got my animation demo done and my commercial demo is nearly complete. And then...

... who knows?

Defying Gravity....

2008-06-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

....which is what I feel like I've been doing for the past few weeks: working (crazy, crazy hours), taking classes (and sitting in tons of lovely traffic to get there) and accomplishing one of my key goals for this year: recording my demos!

Starting a new job is stressful enough, but starting one (my demanding day job) while also trying to launch another (VO) is madness. I'm not sure how much I've slept in the last couple of months. I work. I drive. I practice. Sometimes... I even eat. And sleep. Forget about extracurriculars....dancing, surfing, flying on the trapeze....these activities must wait.

Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself... first, a moment to celebrate these past couple of months....
.... starting a new job - and learning where the bathrooms and the coffee are located (and not mixing them up - very important)
.... taking some seriously awesome classes - and meeting some great performers, and adding new ideas and characters to my little box of voiceover tricks.
.... performing with my Improv Level 2 class - serious props to all the fun folks from my class for making improv even more fun than it already is. It's amazing how helpful improv has been to both voiceover and day job.
.... and recording my demos!!!

Recording my demos. What a great feeling to have these in the can. I spent a fun Friday afternoon putting together my animation demo, and then two days later, I spent a super Sunday recording my commercial demo. I love being in the booth, and to spend a couple of hours with all the characters I've created....for me, it's a major milestone in realizing a dream that, until a year ago, I didn't know existed. To find something creative, but also cerebral, fun and doesn't require staring at a laptop and sending emails for 14 hours a day... pretty phenomenal. And each time, after I left the studio, I seriously felt like I was flying.

I know that I'll have to return to earth (and the 187+ emails waiting for me) soon, but for now, I just want to enjoy the moment.

Balancing Act

2008-05-22T10:06:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends!

It's been a while since my last post, and for that I must apologize. The last two months have been a whirlwind of activity. I switched day jobs, and in doing so, turned my schedule upside down. The new gig is still in my current line of work, but in a completely new industry.... so in addition to learning the names of my new team, I must also learn an entirely new vocabulary and way of doing business. And while I enjoy the learning process, it takes a high level of mental and physical energy to balance learning a new job with establishing a voice over career.

So what happened? A month into the new job, working very full days and then going to classes and workshops at night and trying to be 100% present for both.... I got sick.

I had a superstar VO weekend planned... three days of pure play. But instead of spending last weekend in the booth, taking a VO workshop I'd waited months for, I hunkered under a pile of blankets and slept. Instead of working with my producers to record demos, I turned my bathroom into a mini-pharmacy. And instead of spending time working on my dream "job", I dreamed of not feeling achy, miserable and congested.

It happens. Work-life balance is something I've blogged about before, and it's a constant topic of conversation for me and my day job colleagues. Learning a new job takes time and energy, learning a demanding new job also takes patience. Add to that a creative pursuit that also requires time, patience and energy.... plus all the other stuff that makes us tick (like hanging out with your friends or being with your partner/spouse/significant other).... well, we can't all be Oprah. (And she has a whole staff to help her!)

I have my priorities, but so does my body. And last weekend was my body's way of saying, "Hey Stupid, time to take a step back and reprioritize." So even though I'm bummed I wasn't able to have my whirlwind weekend of VO, it's okay (really!).... I'll have that day another time. Today is for chicken soup, nyquil and lots of rest. Tomorrow is for conquering the world.

Until next time.... thanks for reading!

Lessons from a Trapeze

2008-03-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

Several months ago, I joined a group of girlfriends to celebrate one of their birthdays. The honoree's activity of choice was not typical: rather than a spa day or a girl's night out, she chose for us to take a flying trapeze class at a local circus school.

Sounds crazy, and I'm sure we all took a deep breath before we willingly signed ourselves up for the 3 hour class on a sunny fall Saturday morning. Still, we all got up, trooped over to the acrobatics facility, signed our waivers and made our way to the back lot of the school, which housed the flying trapeze. We stood in the a.m. sun, looking up at the trapeze, watching a few very experienced acrobats warming up on the three-story (24 feet!) apparatus. They flew and flipped and spun fearlessly through the air before falling gracefully down into the net. I had absolutely no expectation that I'd leave my first lesson looking as graceful and lovely as they were.

Eight students lined up like little soldiers and waited our turn to climb the skinny little ladder into the sky and take our turn on the trapeze. And when it was my turn, I had to take a deep breath and power through that climb, as I'm not fond of heights.

Rung by rung, foot by foot, until I hoisted myself up onto the platform. One instructor stood up there with me, helping to make sure my saftey harnesses were all in place and giving me advice on form as I grabbed onto the bar with my right hand, and then my left. Leaning 45 degrees into space with only my toes hanging onto that platform and "solid" ground, I took another deep breath while I waited for my cue to push off. One, two, three... "HUP!" (Apparently the universal cue for "OK, TIME TO DO A CRAZY TRICK!")

.... and off I went, flying through the air with the greatest of....ease? Well, exhiliration for sure. It was an amazing experience. After a few swings as a human pendulum, I was coached back to earth and encouraged to line up for a subsequent turn, each time up on the platform learning a new technique or trick to add to the basic free fall, whether it was hanging upside down by your knees, a backflip or even a catch! It was amazing!

That day our instructors kept reminding us: Look Out & Up. If you look down, you'll fall. Each time I climbed to the platform, I repeated that mantra and took a moment to take in my surroundings before ascending to the takeoff area of that small bit of solidity, 24 feet in the air. It made each flight that much better for being open to my surroundings - the encouragement of my friends below, the sky and trees at my height, the fresh air and exhilaration of learning something new and out of the ordinary.

Reflecting back, I realized Looking Out & Up isn't just great advice for mastering the trapeze; it is great advice for living and working and pretty much accomplishing any goal you set for yourself. On the trapeze, looking down means giving into your fears. It means falling, failing. So instead of giving up, look up, take in your surroundings and draw strength from that which inspires you and keeps you motivated, whatever that is. Look out and up, and stay open to the possibilities.

Work/Life Balance

2008-02-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

There's this term in corporate America called "Work/Life Balance." It basically refers to how a company's policies and culture allows its people to do their jobs and then go home and be good productive members of the community and their family.

When I worked as a consultant, the term "work/life balance" was kind of a misnomer. I was on the road 4-5 days out of the week working 80+ hours, living out of a suitcase and getting familiar with all the major airports in the continental US. When I was home, I was too busy catching up on laundry, mail, errands, miscellaneous bill paying, etc. to be bothered with a "life" - which for a single girl fresh out of college meant hanging out with my friends and dating. Instead of work/life balance, we worked hard and played harder.

In my current day job, I travel very little, but I just returned from a working weekend in San Francisco (part of that "very little travel") to an inbox bursting with e-mail and a calendar full of meetings. I'll go home tonight, after working quite late, to spend quality time with my laptop, Garage Band and my microphone, practicing. If I still have energy after that, I'll go through all the snail mail that's accumulated and maybe even eat a late dinner before calling it a night.

And so even though I'm usually home most nights, the challenge to balance "work" with "life" still persists. There is work (my day job) and work (laying the groundwork for my creative pursuits) and life (everything else - like making dinner, doing laundry, paying the bills and hanging out with friends and loved ones). For those of us who are daytime desk jockeys/evening entrepreneurs (or who balance work with parenting or work with night classes or work with all of the above), is there such a thing as "work/life" balance? Or maybe it's "work/work/life" balance."

Creativity is my passion - and I happily devote my time and energy to the activities that make me a better and more competitive VO artist, but no matter how many times I check the clock, there are still only 24 hours in a day. But the day job work and the creative work quickly takes up more and more of that time, especially now that all you need is a laptop and a quick connection to the internet do accomplish most anything.

So now, as I take a quick break from the (literally) hundreds of e-mails that await me, I am pondering the following question (and would love your thoughts & comments): Work. Life.: Where is the Balance?

Hi! I'm Caroline.

2008-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I'm Caroline Ratana. (My last name is pronounced RHET-nah, kind of like the part of the eye, the Retina.) This blog is meant to be a journal and a bulletin board - a chronicle of my journey as a voice over artist, and a place for me to post updates about when and where you might hear me next.

Who am I, how did I get here, and why should you keep reading? Stick with me, and I'll share the answers.

I'm a midwestern girl who spent her formative years in Michigan, attending parochial school and perennially parked in front of the TV almost every day after school. In between homework and family and extracurricular activities, I was watching to find out who was trying to pull a fast one on Mystery, Inc., what Pinky & the Brain were going to do tomorrow night, singing along to Jem and the Holograms (yes, I admit it!) or enjoying a Disney Afternoon of Gummi Bears, Duck Tales and Tale Spin. I loved cartoons - still do, in fact. And as I grew up, I was the teenager who noticed the ads in magazines and on TV almost before she realized there was an article to be read or a program to watch. I tivo the SuperBowl not for the football, but for the advertising and all those great (and awful) commercials.

Along the way, someone (I can't remember who) tipped me off that in order to have a great cartoon character you need someone to create the "voice." That cartoon watching, ad-loving midwestern girl grew up and went to college to study advertising and marketing, where she learned that agencies write commercials and need something called a "VO" to describe how fabulous their product is. VO, I learned, means "voiceover" - a person who speaks off camera or on the radio and represents the essence of the product being advertised.

Fast forward several years - finished with college, finished with grad school, moved all over the country (Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis) and landed back in sunny Los Angeles. Working hard at a marketing job at a top-tier company and spending my evenings and weekends dancing with friends (I love to salsa dance), when a friend of mine casually mentions that he's studying to be a voice over artist. Fascinated, I peppered him with questions - how do you do that? where do you learn? how does the business work? We talked so much about it that he finally encouraged me to take a class and see for myself what VO is like. And thanks to him, I started taking voice over classes, meeting some amazing people and having a blast along the way.

And so here I am, practicing my craft, learning the art of voice over and auditioning for work... and sharing my adventures with you. Stay a while, share your thoughts (or ask questions) and stay tooned.

My name is Caroline Ratana, and I'm Finding My Voice(s)....it's a pleasure to meet you.