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Hot off the Presses…
Respite Care
This' been a tough month news-wise. Every one needs a break from the rat-race right? Well....I think I've found my break. CourVO
read moreJust Before that…
New WoVO Rates Roundtable: Rates for Demos and Coaching
Instead of discussing the rates voice actors should charge for their work, we’re examining what we should EXPECT to reasonably be charged for coaching and demo production.
Do You Have THIS With Your Client?
Short ‘n’ sweet video that asks a basic question about your VoiceOver business. Born from my experience one week ago. Take a minute to watch?
Feedback for Your VO Colleague’s Demo: 5 Suggestions
Are you qualified to evaluate the demo of a VO peer? Yes and no. Here are five suggestions for seeing your way through that thicket.
Turning the Corner…To Survive
Attention spans — and patience — are in short supply these days. Either to remain sane, or as a slave to our habits, we all just have to move along.
Only Because So Many Have Asked…
People want to help. When you do, it helps you too. Here’s how:
The Day After
A coupla words about the last 24 hours. Grueling and draining.
Voice Over Education
VO Email Marketing
Your email signature bookends your salutation. Both are perfunctory, and yet pertinent.As overlooked as the signature can be...don't you always notice when it's missing?...or minimal...or overdone?The email signature for a voice-actor is part marketing, part...
3 Warnings About Blog Titles With Numbers in Them
Why? Because it’s a manipulative device to get you to read it! That’s the #1 reason. You don’t want to be manipulated do you? Virtually every last blog about and for bloggers mentions this magic formula. I’m sure there’s some psychological reason behind it…so let...
Gold in the VoiceOver Frontier
Philosophical differences are the toughest ones. Just ask the Democrats and Republicans. Both sides are forgetting that the people across the aisle are proud Americans...who see a possible future that's different from the opposing viewpoint. That doesn't make them...
Break the Mold
It's late...or early...whichever.  The clock says 3:32am as I write this.We're creatures of habit, tending to keep the same schedules.  Mine is a late one. Yes, I do sleep. My sleep hours are just not YOUR sleep hours. Personally, I believe the hours from midnight...
What AGE is Your Voice?
Does a voice HAVE an age? Well, I mean, of course it has the age associated with the cords' owner but can you tell a person's age by their voice? Or vice-versa...does a certain timbre/quality of voice HAVE an age?I go back to the analogy surrounding race. The...
Does Voice Acting Have a “Slow” Season?
Time and again I see online posts asking if anyone else is experiencing downtime.  It's almost as if people are trying to reassure themselves that their own reduced workload mirrors the experience of others (the old "misery loves company" thing).There are all sorts of...
The Ultimate Authority
Just when I think I've got a bead on the people who make up this voice over community, I find out I really know nothing.I mean, I've been to umpteen VO conferences, I write a widely-read VO blog, I administer some social media VO forums, I'm the president of...
Are You “Studio Approved”?
World-Voices wrestled with this issue from day one.WoVO is not in the business of making subjective decisions about whether you are a good talent, can give a compelling promotional read, or can kill it on a commercial read.But, there are some objective and measurable...
Studio On Wheels
Most voice actors seem obsessed with obtaining, and having at-the-ready, a mobile recording solution.I get it. I'm a geek too, and I've got several iterations of an "away" recording configuration.But let's face it, you can have a U-87 in your hotel room, and your...
Cracking the “Newbie” Nut
Every day a new voice is born. When they get older people tell them "you should be in radio" (not knowing that radio these days hardly has any live humans to speak of anymore). When that happens often enough, the person with the golden pipes starts to believe they...
World Voices #WoVochat
The Tide’s Coming In
Just over 135 World-Voices Organization members will meet in Las Vegas this week. What that means to voice actors everywhere.
Rates Roundtable: Interactive Strike
Voiceover industry experts discuss the ongoing SAG-AFTRA Interactive Strike, the underlying issues, and the progress being made towards resolution.
Rates Roundtable is Back!
Video Game voice-actors and SAG-AFTRA negotiators discuss the Interactive Strike. A Gold-Ribbon panel of experts talk about progress being made in SAG’s longest-ever strike.
…Just Days
Not to beat a dead horse... but to beat the deadline and attend one of the best VO conferences of the year, you're down to a matter of days and hours. WoVOCon IV in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada happens the last week of June, and we need to know...
13 Days…and Counting
OK, I admit it, I'm totally biased about WoVO. Â Of course I am. Â I'm a founder and the current president. With over 800 members, World-Voices Organization is now more than just a cozy little group of like-minded souls. Â It's a movement. Â A movement about to celebrate...
The New NAB
National Association of Broadcasters. Â One of the biggest conventions on the calendar of a city that has more/bigger/better conferences than any other place on the planet. But why? Â I mean, I get CES (Consumer Electronics Show)...THE highest attendance at any Vegas...
Long Live Atlanta…
...until 2018. Now what? Â There's a lot of 2017 left! Gerald Griffith pulled off a masterful and edifying voice over conference again. Â 500+ newcomers and seasoned pros made the scene, and made memories. Â I'm still smiling. But you know what?...thousands of voice...
Just one more… Please enjoy this pic from one week ago in Atlanta.
'Traveling today.  Up at 5am... a time of day that doesn't exist in my world. Please enjoy this pic from one week ago in Atlanta.
A Few Last Pics From VOA
I'll have some thoughts about the conference tomorrow, but 'thought you might enjoy a few more shots from the event. Recognize anyone? The Spanish-Speaking attendees broke out in song on the final night. Closing Ceremonies, VO Atlanta 2017 from Dave Courvoisier on...
Why I Love VO Conferences
Voice Over Atlanta launches Thursday. It's turned into one of the more encompassing of the many VO conventions that have sprouted-up over the years. The last I heard, upwards of 500 will be attending in one capacity or another. That's awesome, and shows the growing...
VO Business & Compensation
WoVO Rates Roundtable: What Should You Expect to Pay for VO Coaching or Demo Production
A Blue-Ribbon Panel examines the ins and outs of demo production and VO coaching…offering a spectrum of what you should reasonably expect to pay.
New WoVO Rates Roundtable: Rates for Demos and Coaching
Instead of discussing the rates voice actors should charge for their work, we’re examining what we should EXPECT to reasonably be charged for coaching and demo production.
Pray for Las Vegas…and all humanity, really
Voice Over Education
Go With What You Know
Ask me what got me into being a voice-actor, and I'd tell you "AudioBooks". It seemed like a perfect fit for me. I was interested in it, and pursued it whole-heartedly for about 5 years. I ended up narrating some 40 titles, attended APAC twice, was a beta tester for...
Too Many Coaches, Not Enough Mentors
The estimate that only 5% of voice actors are truly supporting themselves and their families with strictly voiceover work is probably correct. (remember, 47.93% of all numbers quoted online are made-up).Whatever the number (almost impossible to discern), it's...
A Defense of the “First Take”
The main point of this blog is not going to sit well with many...least of all the accomplished voice coaches I've worked with. So, consider this point of view more as an idea I'm floating out there as an alternative. It's a counter-argument to the other end of the...
Don’t Buy New Recording Equipment. Do This Instead.
Dan Lenard made me a believer.He makes a strong case that very few audio engineers are equipped to adequately give technical advice for today's home-based freelance voice-actors.The proliferation and the challenges of today's individualized recording booths are a...
Cipriano Career Consulting
Ha!..and you thought he was only a pretty face!OK, so maybe you thought he was just one of those uber-successful and ubiquitous network promo voices.You'd be right on both counts, but you also know there's a depth and a generosity to Joe Cipriano that harkens back to...
The Case For Face
Everything you do online for your VO business:Â Demos, Blogs, Twitter posts, FaceBook updates, profiles, newsletters...even email signatures should have a picture.I used to sit on the fence on this debate...you know...the debate over whether a...
The Voice-Actor’s Law of Diminishing Returns
Franklin wanted to better his chances at getting documentary voiceover jobs, and sought out a top producer to help with a killer demo. He was taken aback by the quote he got. Would it be worth it?Barbara just knew she'd improve the sound of her VO auditions if she...
Don’t Dread Drymouth
Tonight, I'll climb into my studio, and once again face the spectre of dry-mouth.Dry mouth equals mouth clicks, and mouth clicks equals a noisy recording, and a noisy recording means longer editing time.  Yes, I drink gallons of distilled water every day (I get...
Incoming!
Two Things:#1Anytime Pat Fraley shows up in Las Vegas, it's a good thing.Everybody's favorite VO Coach is making his appearance in So NV in early October for an AudioBook Narration Master Session. 'Not sure how Pat does it, but no matter how many times you've...
VO Rates Roundtable
Don't fault me or WoVO for focusing so much on voiceover compensation rates lately.  We're only trying to keep up with the crazy pace of this industry.  No one topic garners more interest among freelance voice actors than this issue. World-Voices Organization members...
Voice Over Hardware & Software tools
Fool Me Once…
Some CEO’s should really not attempt their own PR…especially if they’ve already been burned once. Nonetheless, here’s the painful video evidence.
Thank You Gabby!
A simple website with a plain and powerful message. Not everyone will agree with it, but I do, and maybe you should too?
CourVO’s Zoho Memo
An online suite of applications with complimentary mobile apps, and all at a kickin’ price. Zoho’s new offering might just be what you’re looking for.
Outspoken Spot On
Online casting sites might be here to stay, but that doesn’t mean we should participate in the abuse certain P2P’s bring on our business.
Google Primer – Free Lessons for Small Businesses
Google’s “Primer” app is handy because it’s on your phone, and worth considering because it’s…well…it’s Google.
Here Fido!
All manner of online identity theft is possible and happening with greater frequency. Even 2-factor-authentication — while good — is fallible. That’s why you may want to invest in a USB gizmo that ups the security.
Do This Instead of Buying a New Mic
Today’s freelance voice actor working in a home studio needs to understand their unique recording environment, and match a good mic to it (not the other way around). There’s help, and here’s how.
Microphone Hygiene
Your microphone is not just a hunk of metal and wires. It’s delicate, and requires care. Here are a few simple suggestions.
CRM = Can’t Really Manage?
Everybody THINKS they should be using a CRM – a customer relationship manager. Trouble is, which one? Here’s a great list.
Refresh After Fail
Yesterday’s blog “Refresh, Reboot, Refurbish, Renew” needed a little refreshing itself. Here’s why.
Voice Over Events
Rates Roundtable is Back!
Video Game voice-actors and SAG-AFTRA negotiators discuss the Interactive Strike. A Gold-Ribbon panel of experts talk about progress being made in SAG’s longest-ever strike.
…Just Days
Not to beat a dead horse... but to beat the deadline and attend one of the best VO conferences of the year, you're down to a matter of days and hours. WoVOCon IV in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada happens the last week of June, and we need to know...
13 Days…and Counting
OK, I admit it, I'm totally biased about WoVO. Â Of course I am. Â I'm a founder and the current president. With over 800 members, World-Voices Organization is now more than just a cozy little group of like-minded souls. Â It's a movement. Â A movement about to celebrate...
The New NAB
National Association of Broadcasters. Â One of the biggest conventions on the calendar of a city that has more/bigger/better conferences than any other place on the planet. But why? Â I mean, I get CES (Consumer Electronics Show)...THE highest attendance at any Vegas...
Long Live Atlanta…
...until 2018. Now what? Â There's a lot of 2017 left! Gerald Griffith pulled off a masterful and edifying voice over conference again. Â 500+ newcomers and seasoned pros made the scene, and made memories. Â I'm still smiling. But you know what?...thousands of voice...
Just one more… Please enjoy this pic from one week ago in Atlanta.
'Traveling today.  Up at 5am... a time of day that doesn't exist in my world. Please enjoy this pic from one week ago in Atlanta.
A Few Last Pics From VOA
I'll have some thoughts about the conference tomorrow, but 'thought you might enjoy a few more shots from the event. Recognize anyone? The Spanish-Speaking attendees broke out in song on the final night. Closing Ceremonies, VO Atlanta 2017 from Dave Courvoisier on...
Why I Love VO Conferences
Voice Over Atlanta launches Thursday. It's turned into one of the more encompassing of the many VO conventions that have sprouted-up over the years. The last I heard, upwards of 500 will be attending in one capacity or another. That's awesome, and shows the growing...
Ethics in Voice Acting
Ethics? Really? I just need VO jobs! OK, I hear ya, but believe it or not it's all tied in together, and it's also best described in the context of community. Next week at VoiceOver Atlanta, J Michael Collins is moderating a panel on this very topic. As an intro to...
Latest Rates Roundtable – Feb 2017
This one's a gem, folks. I know I probably say something close to that for everyone RR that's come down the pike, but the information shared on this particular panel seems to be more needed than ever. The discussion went way beyond the scary realities of...
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Voice Over Hardware & Software tools
Do You Know Craig?
Is Craigslist a viable means to find voice-over jobs?…or to post your services to get jobs? Not just any jobs…GOOD-PAYING VO jobs. Seeking your responses to my query.
read moreMp3, Like ISDN, Far From Gone
The German foundation that owns the rights to the mp3 audio file format announced it’s ending licensing. Does that mean this ubiquitous format is dead?
read moreTools, Toys, & Time
A video admonition to not overload yourself with the myriad of tools and digital toys available right now. Tips on how to find the right ones and make them work for you.
read morePhotoShop for Voice
Has PhotoShop been good for photography? Don't answer that. Either way, does it follow that an analogous device or program would be good for voice-acting? That's the basic question, I guess. The only reason I can think of as to why someone...
read moreTranscribe Your Audio on Video
Hmmm, not sure what happened there, but Tuesday's blog ended up being deleted. Â I'll chalk it up to new website blues. Â Regardless, I'm posting it again for those who missed it. Video Transcribing App from Dave Courvoisier on Vimeo. The app is by Apple itself (so...
read morePrepare for PreAmps
Next to the all-important microphone, voice-actors wring their hands over their choice of pre-amp almost as much. I confess to not being worthy of expert advice in these matters. I can tell you I've tried a bunch of 'em, and currently use the Universal Audio Apollo...
read moreSource-Elements at NAB
Robert Marshall is a genius with a Beatles haircut. Â It works for him...the haircut...AND the brains. Â I sought out his humble booth at NAB, because I know he's always improving the Source-Elements prodigious product line...and would have news to share. Â I wasn't...
read more
ipDTL at NAB
The folks at in:Quality did it up right for the big NAB show. Â Kevin Leach bought a nice big booth in the North Hall with excellent visibility and steady foot traffic. Upon arriving, I was happy to see any number of Vegas-based voice talent manning the booth, handing...
read more
Did You See What I Did There?
I miss a day of blogging, and ****BOOM**** alla sudden I got a new website! Do me a favor? Kick the tires, and let me know if you see any mistakes?...any gitches....anything that doesn't look right? My developer Brett Bumeter of Softduit Media is the man behind all...
read moreMXL DX-2 Mic Review
People read my blog who I don't even know.  Usually it's a good thing. Take David G Beneke for instance; an audiobook narrator, and a geek like me when it comes to audio hardware (only his expertise vastly supersedes mine). Beneke sent me an email a few days ago...
read moreAugust Rates Roundtable by WoVO® Examines VoiceBank Buyout
A Blue-Ribbon Panel of experts discusses the aftermath of VDC’s purchase of VoiceBank in this latest version of Rates Roundtable.
Find One More
Putting on Voiceover conferences is a lot of effort! Finally emerging from the surplus of work waiting for me after a busy weekend… this message for WoVO members and non-members.
First Official Day of WoVOCon IV (Sat)
The first official day of WoVOCon IV began Saturday morning. Wow, what day! Incredible information-sharing. See some pics here.