VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Jeff McNeal]

Glad to help, Marko.

With regard to hand gestures, I took some one on one VO workshops with Don Morrow a couple of years ago. For those who may not recognize the name, you would most certainly recognize his voice. Don was the Shell Answer Man (for those old enough to remember that campaign) and worked as a staff announcer for Walter Chronkite in the early '60's. In fact, he goes as far back as the Jackie Gleason Show. He even hosted his own game show for awhile. Don continues to have an incredible career well into his late 70's. More recently, he voiced the theatrical trailers for a few small films you may have heard of. TITANIC, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, GLADIATOR and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. He's currently heard on TV spots for Nanny McPhee.

One of the first things he told me when he watched me read was "Take your hands out of your pockets. Use them while you read."

Having come info the VO world from radio, I had trained myself to be expressive without the use of my hands, because I needed them for pushing buttons, adjusting faders, answering phones and loading sound effect cartridges while I was talking. So it was tough for me to incorporate the hand gestures into my reads for awhile, which may sound ridiculous considering I'm half Italian!

It may seem counter-productive to some, but in VO, I've come to learn that using gestures is a good thing.

[Dan-O]

This is also the reason you don't see Don using a pay phone. (baddabump)

Thank you. Good night. Don't forget to try the veal...

[e-9]

[Diane Maggipinto]

I stand while recording...but sit when editing and doing computer work. So, understanding there are no lame questions, only lame questioners, does anyone have a chair they highly recommend? I know posture is most of it, but man! I need a new chair. Thx.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[LaurenLee]

Hey Bettie -- have you looked into those weird knee chairs? The ones where your knees support your weight and your butt just kind of rests on a support. They're kind of hard to swing into in a skirt, but do provide great comfort and posture once you get used to them.

I stand while recording, with scripts hung on the angled wall well behind the mic, but sit while editing. My solution to the numbum problem is to take breaks and change chairs if I'm at it for more than a few hours. Got two in the work area.
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Blue skies -- Lauren Lee
www.voiceover.ca

[Diane Maggipinto]

Would you believe I got one of those ergo seats out of a junk pile? Salt Lake City affords residents a neighborhood cleanup each year, and man! the sheeott that appears on the curb. So yeah, I use one of those, plus an adjustable chair, and I, too, go between one and the other. And I might get another one on Frank's suggestion. Lotsa chairs--I call it "dampening"!
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[Gp]

OK here's a nice solution for you. A bit pricey maybe but it will accomadate your every position and remain supportive. http://www.anglechair.com/ about 1500.00...it's on my wish list!

[Don G.]

When I was engineering full time, we always had the mic set up for talent to be standing, unless the session was for a long format recording. In that case, we'd ask what the talent preferred and always has a high stool or director's chair in the booth. Occasionally, I'd have to remind the talent to "decide now, because once we start, you have to stay that way."

Because a large portion of my work is still long format, I find I prefer a high chair or stool. For spot work in outside studios, I always stand. At home, because of my setup, I sit and I hold the script quietly. I tend to use one hand to gesture anyway. Sometimes, just one finger.

[bobsouer]

[Bruce]

[DaveChristi]

[bobsouer]