VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

annaclaire · Guest

First post here. Hi everybody! I've been reading this bb off and on for a year or so, so I feel almost like I know some of you. (I hope that's not creepy.) javascript:emoticon(' Inoccent

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Fair warning: This is a kinda long introduction with a heartfelt plea for any guidance you might want to share.

I've been doing voice overs and working locally since 1991. Yet, I feel like I'm totally starting out. I've finally decided to treat this like a business and quit letting my agent "handle it." Seems a whole market grew up around my ears while I wasn't looking. To remedy that, I started reading this bb and a few blogs. Now I'm even more intimidated and overwhelmed than when I started.

So, I know I need some gear. And you guys have definitely discussed every piece of gear on the planet.
And I know I need to put together a website. And I have seen some seriously brilliant ones by following links from folks who post here a lot.
And I know I need a marketing plan. Again, I've seen some great ideas here.
But, first, maybe I need to redo the ancient demo I've been coasting along with for too long now.

Here's what I'm capable of doing from home:
Are you ready?
It's a very big deal to me....[drum roll]....
I can now record an audition that my agent emails to me and email it back to her as an mp3.
That's it. That's as much as I can do on my own so far.

I use a pc + Audacity (thank you lovely people of vobb for turning me on to that gem!) + an old, cheap mic.

I'm ready to take responsibility for marketing myself, act like a big girl, and make a real living at this. I realize that means investing in more than an elderly pc, some (albeit excellent) freeware, and a mic I found in the bottom of a box of extra computer cables.

Good news is Audacity was a breeze to figure out for my current limited use of it.
Potentially good news is I just acquired a mac (non-intel) G5 with a decent amount of memory.

Bad news is I can't seem to get any of three old, cheap mics to even work on the G5.
Potentially very bad news is I get woozy even looking at the Digidesign website and I'm just plain overwhelmed at the plethora of options for each aspect of this business.

Can you tell I have questions?
I've got demos on my agent's web site. Is it okay to post their link to see if I could get feedback here?
I obviously need a real mic. Should I even be thinking about that yet? I've got some decent credits. Should I start with a simple website w/ demos and client list?
Did I mention being overwhelmed?

Madly trying to prioritize,
Claire

louzucaro · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

Hi Claire and welcome Smile

I'll let others more qualified than I answer some of your questions but just wanted to say 'hello' and that you're in good company.
_________________
Lou Zucaro
http://www.voicehero.com

"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Claire,

Since I'm in your neck of the woods (probably just outside your backyard) in Austin, let me hop off the welcome wagon first.

Just to touch on a few points: it's probably a good idea to make sure your recording setup is reliable and that it delivers quality sound, before worrying about the clients. If the former isn't up to snuff, the latter won't do much hiring.

If by "Digidesign" you're referring to using ProTools, then that's a leap that you probably don't need to make from Audacity. Adobe Audition, just as an example, is a solid step up from the freeware, but it doesn't use all the bells and whistles of PT. AA isn't free but it's a worthwhile investment.

I'll let others weigh in, but I'm happy for now to say howdy, neighbor. Smile

_________________
Great Voice. Great Choice. For Voice Talking and stuff.
http://davidhoustonvoice.com
Do That Voice! - The DHV Blog

dagoldenknight86 · Guest

I second the Adobe Audition / Cool edit. Been using it in radio since I've started - and love it! Great software.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

My chime in here. There is no reason to use Pro Tools.

oh yeah, and welcome!
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

imaginator · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

welcome, dear lady

i may have missed it, but did you mention anywhere how you're attempting to hook the mic up to the mac? is there a pre-amp in the chain somewhere? a decent sound card in the computer? (i know nothing about mac's.) i'm not even sure whether you can use adobe audition on a mac platform, but realize that is currently the least of your troubles.

stick around the vo-bb! sounds like you've more than done your homework, and i have no doubt you'll have most of your questions cleared up within a few days...if that.
_________________
rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog

dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

Claire,

I probably misread the last part of your post. You've got clients and are just wondering about the website. Sorry, that's what I get for multitasking. (and for being an old guy with tired eyes today. Wink

)

(BTW: You can post a link to your demos in the Critique section. As you probably know from lurking, it's a great place to get feedback.)

A web presence is pretty much essential, but there's no shame in taking as much time as you need to get your various pieces of your VO biz in place. If you've got a agent and demos that are getting you gigs, then you can probably afford to put the website a little further down the priority list. (IMHO...)
_________________
Great Voice. Great Choice. For Voice Talking and stuff.
http://davidhoustonvoice.com
Do That Voice! - The DHV Blog

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Chrissy · Guest

Hi Claire, Welcome. I'm not the one to comment on equipment as most here can attest to. But there are some very savvy borad members who can. I've found the people here to be amazingly generous in offering their help.

Best of Luck.

Chrissy

melissa eX · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

Welcome Claire!

Like you, I lurked for a year or so before coming out of my cave. I echo Chrissy. I've also found everyone here to be incredibly helpful.

voicy1stef · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

From me too, best wishes! I've found these BB guys to be so helpful and kind. You're in good company! Rolls Eyes

_________________
Intuit and do it!

British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!

http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc.

annaclaire · Guest

You guys ROCK!
Okay, I'm gonna post the link to my agent's site in the critique section. Yay!

Also, you don't know how relieved I am to hear that I can avoid Pro-Tools. Yay!

There seem to be two sides to this business from where I'm looking: 1.) the side I'm good at where I answer a call from my agent, show up promptly to the job, and give clients what they want while taking up very little studio time and 2.) the side I avoid where I would actually find jobs for myself, remind clients they said they'd hire me again, remind engineers to email me a copy of the job when it's edited, update demos--you know, run an actual business. That second side is what I'm thinking might help me achieve my very modest financial goal for 2008.

Just got my 1099 from my agent. This year I'd like to break $10,000 for voice work. I think I've only done that a couple of times ever!
I've been back-burner-ing the stuff I should do (the web site/fresh demos/reliable home recording set-u Hobo Happy

for such a loooong time.
These things must be related, right? Now that I've decided to do something, I want to do everything. Y'all are right, though: one step at a time. I just gotta figure out which step.

David, I moved here from Houston in 1995. When I got to Austin, the thing that bowled me over was how consistently helpful and supportive people are here. People in Houston are nice, but it feels like people here really have a stake in everybody doing well. Really, I think I've only met one cranky person in Austin.

As far as the Mac-mic-thing: the sound card is whatever came with the computer [adding "better Mac sound card" to my list of equipment to research]. Right now the Mac can pick up speech commands, but only with the mic plugged into a usb port using an adapter. Even though sound preferences lets me calibrate the mic and all seems to be fine, Audacity can't seem to "hear" me on the Mac. It can with the same set-up on the pc, though. Maybe Audacity can sense I'm ready to try another sound editing program and it's pouting.

Did I already say this? You guys ROCK!

dhouston67 · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject:

Audiogal · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject:

Howdy, Claire, from a bb'er next door in LA.
_________________
Mary