I guess I feel that way mostly because it has more vowels than Courvoisier.  Like “encyclopaedia” or “milieu”…how many vowels does it take to make the right sound?  :)  (those crazy Francophones!)

Well, in the case of a common use of onomatopoeia, you would say Zzzz to mean someone is sleeping…or oink to simulate a pig grunting, or moo to portray a cow.  But in this use of the word, Nancy Wolfson is building her 12th video VO tip around another definition of onomatopoeia:  “..the use of imitative and naturally suggestive words for rhetorical, dramatic, or poetic effect…” In other words, adding something intimately human to nudge more meaning from the utterance in a way only another human can understand.  This is part 12 of 13 video “teasers” leading up to the entire package: HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.

Wolfson’s example with the voice talent in this video vignette is so telling.  Watch:

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can also see the video here:  http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/12.html

We’re nearing the end of this set of 13 video “shorts” gleaned from Wolfson’s complete offering of 127 tips.  Honestly, I haven’t seen the whole thing in it’s entirety.  But, SHEESH!…127!!!  I mean, I think Wolfson is a genius, but I had NO idea that even she could stretch that much mileage out of her coursework.  I shoulda known better.  Even the 127-video package — as good as it is — doesn’t measure up to the time spent with Nancy in session.  I’m just sayin’.  Ask anyone who’s been there and back…Wolfson knows how to challenge you to be better in ways you didn’t even know you COULD be better.

Check out the offer she’s making (it’s a steal if you ask me!) at HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.

Next week’s final installment:  The Trick to Voice Acting on Tag Lines

CourVO

This blog is NOT about the best invoice software on the market, ’cause invoicing is kinda like choosing a mic.  Ya gotta find the one that’s best for you and the way you run your business.

Having said that, almost all the major bookkeeping and online accounting programs offer invoicing.  Ostensibly you want an invoicing set-up that:

1)  Is at least partially automated
2)  Allows for customization (including your logo)
3)  Integrates with your bookkeeping and accounting system
4)  Timely schedules itself
5)  Can be manually altered if need be
6)  Includes a follow-up or “Thank You” feature.

I’ve tried a number of invoicing approaches, which I’ll list here, but I hope you’ll tell us what you’re using if you’re happy with it.

My bookkeeping software is QuickBooks, but I’m not a fan, and will probably be switching to a FreshBooks/Batchbook combination based on the recommendation of another freelancer (outside voiceovers) who raves about it.

PayPal does a pretty good job of generating invoices.  This is especially good if you’re fond of using PayPal for buying, selling, and receiving payments for your VO business.

Zoho‘s broad suite of online cloud-based programs is pretty impressive.  I actively use Zoho mail to handle courvo@courvo.com (my main email aaccount), andI  keep adding other elements of their integrated offerings as I go along.  Amazingly, many of them are free, and the entire family of apps is very intuitive.  I’m not yet using Zoho Invoice, but it’s beguiling me.

It’s been a while since I tried Invoice.com. The site appears to be tailor-made for small and medium-sized businesses, but I seem to remember the price point was a little high.

Here’s one I haven’t tried, but their site looks pretty inviting:  Invoicera.com

The Invoice Machine touts it’s service as being designed for freelancers and businesses who want an easy way to manage, create and send their invoices (uh, that’d be pretty much everybody!).

But don’t take my word for it.  Here are the links to two great articles that have lists of invoicing software.

The first one from FreelanceSwitch.com is dated 2008, but seems to have been updated.  7 Online Invoicing Apps for Freelancers.

The other: Best Online Invoicing Tools for Freelancers from Design-Modo is more recent (2011).

Let us know what you’re using, if you’re happy with it.

CourVO

(‘Wish I had a Neumann for ever time I heard that!)

In about three weeks and three days I’ll take the stage with Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi at the Disneyland hotel during VOICE2012 to talk Social Media strategies.

Terry will present mostly on FaceBook, and Trish mostly on Twitter (although we will all chime in throughout).  That leaves me to talk about LinkedIn, Google Plus and Pinterest.

I’ve long been an advocate for LinkedIn, so I’ve got a lot to say about this social network.  In the last month, I’ve gotten job-producing connections out of nowhere on LinkedIn without even really trying, from people I’ve never met.

I get the sense (although I have no hared numbers), that there are thousands of voice talent, producers, agents, casting directors, audio engineers, studio managers and others related to the production of voice-work on LinkedIn.  They’re in the discussions, the groups, and best of all, their profiles are available for anyone to see and search.

Because of LinkedIn (and other social media)…you should never have to make a “cold call”. Information on just about any client prospect is public and free.

Resource material on LinkedIn is everywhere, but not all of it is legit, so let me save you the time.  At the bottom of this blog, I’m posting a link to a document with some of the best resources I’ve found for LinkedIn.  The .doc also includes the following list, which I’m posting here as well, along with the source.

The 7 Habits of highly effective LinkedIn Members:
(http://www.socialmediafaststart.org/)

1. They invest their time strategically by putting fresh content on Linkedin when it’s the best time to do so. Let me explain, for me weekends are times to prepare Linkedin content, but as you will notice most collaboration does not take place on weekends. So hold the great Q/A’s, the awesome discussion topics, or the great status updates until Monday and never late Friday. Think about what your audience is doing and be strategic.

2. They use their status update to post something new every 24 to 48 hours and 80% of those updates include a link that gives a call to action. Such as signing up for your next webinar, promotions to visit your blog, to visit your resume, or visiting your corporate website etc…

3. They answer target specific questions that are related to their target market. This is great exposure for your business that Linkedin Pros are doing everyday!

4. They use the “saved” search “alerts” option for both advanced searches and job searches. By doing this you can be alerted instantly when opportunies become available such as new prospects or jobs. This allows you to reach out before the masses.

5. They answer every Linkedin email/inmail. Maybe not timely, but they never waste an opportunity!

6. They post their company events on the events application provided by Linkedin and use this as a way to measure interest and involvement for such things as conferences, webinars, or seminars. The events application has only been recently used by Linkedin Elite, but many are beginning to wise up to its amazing potential.

7. These highly successful members have identified their target markets on Linkedin, their goals on Linkedin, and are executing their plan every single work day. Social Media can be measured, but most don’t understand how to begin measuring their Social Media efforts because they have never identified their goals for using the Linkedin space. Once you have identified your goals then you can build a measurable matrix to anaylize your efforts. for voice talent.

Click the following link for the list of of other LinkedIn resources I’ve compiled for you.
LinkedIn  Resources. doc

CourVO

I’ve over-conferenced myself.  If I go to FaffCon in Charlotte this fall  (I know, I know…it’s an UN-conference)…that’ll be 5 VO conferences in less than a year’s time, and that’s not counting my MasterMind meetings and other conference calls.

This will NOT happen again.

Don’t get me wrong.  Each and every one of these events is worthwhile.  I learn stuff.  I meet people.  I “network”.  But one can get conferenced out.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be at APAC/BEA, then VOICE2012.

The real key is what you do with all you learn, and who you meet AFTER you get home.

I’ve got my own thoughts about this, and they’re closely aligned with a very cogently-written article by Deborah Shane.  It’s called:
8 Steps To Converting Connections After A Conference.

I highly recommend you bookmark this link and give it a look before and after you attend ANY conference.  Well worth it!

CourVO

Can you be “kind of” a voice actor?

If you work in some other profession, but your heart, and your passion and your energy are in VO…are you a half-breed?…a hybrid?

Could someone raise the question of  legitimacy or dedication to the profession if you were not able to give-over your productivity to voice-overs full time?

Forgetting for a moment, the practical reality of why any crazy person would choose to lead a schizophrenic life like that (budget needs, spousal pressure, etc), couldn’t such a person still aspire to being characterized as a voice-actor?

WE’RE NOT ALONE

Of course I ask these questions because this is me.  And of course I ask these questions ’cause after these many years toiling away in VO-land, I know of hundreds (thousands?) of others who live and work in this quandary.

It raises the question of whether there are two or more discernible voice over worlds:
1) The person who spends all their working hours fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business as their main source of income.
2) The person who spends as many working hours as possible fully engaged in the many endeavours that result in running a successful voice over business…but it’s not their main source of income.

GETTING TO THE ROOT

The schism raises even more questions about things like career risk, personal fortitude, self-esteem and motivation.

Why would I NOT work full-time in voice-over so I COULD make it my main source of income?  No guts?  ‘Can’t handle the uncertainty?  Not ready for “the leap”?

Are there those who admit they will never be full-time VO’s?…who use it as a supplement and can’t see it being their only work?…or are the  majority convinced that eventually, it’ll be their main profession?

What about guys like Rob Sciglimpaglia and Derek Chappell — successful attorneys who are working pell-mell to achieve a full-time acting career?  I met an MD at the last NYC mixer who had similar goals.

R  U A  PRIDEFUL FULL-TIMER?

If that happens…when that happens for any of us “hybrids”… will we then feel ownership to the point of snobbery?…is that what full-time voice-actors feel?  No, I mean I wouldn’t hold it against a full-timer if they felt a certain pride in that.  YOU are the people who took the leap, who managed the risk, who balance your freelance checkbook masterfully, who wear eight creative and marketing hats successfully.

Actually, I’m thinking of writing a book about this.  Would there be interest?  A guide, of sorts, how NOT to go crazy pleasing two masters.  How to hold on to your dream, but still pay your bills.  A primer in living your passion but also accepting the mediocrity of falling short of your goals.  ‘Some lessons learned in managing two worlds and still hold on to your sanity.

Whadya think?

CourVO

Obvious?  Apparently not, ’cause we’ve all done an injustice to it.  C’mon…admit it.

Nancy Wolfson‘s 11th video tip in a straight series of 13 weeekly video ckips seen here on the old blogeroo makes it clear:  Support the end of your Sentence.

Although each of these tips stand alone and stand strong, these tips are just “teasers” for the real series of 127 total gems of advice from Wolfson called HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE.

A few of these vignettes have been involved…lasting several minutes.  Not today’s.  It’s short and sweet.  Just watch:

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can also see the video here:  http://www.braintracksaudio.com/soundreal/11.html

Ad copy is such a genre all its own.  That’s why Wolfson’s over-arching thesis is “Acting for Advertising”.  In her many roles in this business, Wolfson has gleaned a savvy and shrewd spot-on perspective of the psychology of writing, listening, watching, and delivering ad copy.  Your VO career is not complete without offering your tithes at the altar of the tribe of Wolfson.  Ask any of her former students (raises hand).  When you’re done with a Acting for Advertising session, you’re sweating, but exhilerated to have reached new heights.

HOW TO SOUND REAL AND NAIL THE SALE is as close as you’re going to come to the authentic Wolfson sessions, at a fraction of the price.

Be sure to check out her offer.  I think you’ll find it well worth the asking price.

Next week:  Improve Acting with Onomatopoeia  (woohoo…should be good!)

CourVO

For the last 3 weeks or more, we’ve been actively soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions and help.  The response was extremely encouraging.  Many offered to help.  Others sent in their thoughts.  There was a lot of back ‘n’ forth…writing and re-writing…emails and phone calls.

Just over the weekend, we arrived at a point where we think the wording is VERY close to final.  We’re still seeking final suggestions, and would welcome yours, as we want WOVO to be transparent, and a community-participation guild.

Would you consider reading these docs and telling us what you think?

You can find them on the temporary WOVO site.

The docs are also embedded here:

WOVO By-Laws:  BYLAWSWORLDVOICES051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Voice Talent:  CodeofConductVoiceTalentCPM051312.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Producers:   BestPracticesProducers051812.doc
Suggested Codes of Conduct for Coaches:    BestPracticesCoaches051812.doc

You can reach the members of the WOVO executie board at:  info@world-voices.org.

CourVO

Take Carolyn (CC) Petersen for example.  Oddly enough, here’s a voice-over professional who travels around the world (just got back from Germany), but had never been to Vegas.

What drew her and her husband Mark to the desert Southwest?  A solar eclipse. They viewed it Sunday evening from an optimal place in Southern Utah:  Zion National Park.

CC is deeply involved in science presentations, especially astronomical ones.  Sheesh, her and Mark have a mini-planetarium in their basement!  She contracts out with the Smithsonian and does celestial presentations for tourists on cruise ships as they ply the waters of…well…everywhere there are oceans.

Not a bad gig, huh?  And you thought voice-overs were limited to commercials, e-learning and radio imaging!

I thoroughly enjoyed their visit over vittles at the Peppermill in Las Vegas after my late news.  Thanks CC!

CourVO

Blessedly, I’m in a bit of a lull…a breather…and a welcome one, ’cause when June hits, it hits hard.

APAC/BEA/Audies is in a couple of weeks in NYC, then VOICE2012 in Disneyland right after that.

I just finished a webinar for Edge Studio over the weekend on the topic of Social Media…I’m preparing to redo my commercial demo with the inimitable Dave DeAndrea.  John Florian just published an article I wrote (you first saw here) on hitting your wall.  I’m also working closely with Trish Basanyi and Terry Daniel, these days, to finish-up our Social Media seminar in June at VOICE.

During all of this, I’ve put a number of my own personal but critical VO business moves on suspension.  It’s been a particularly busy Spring season in my OTHER job as a TV news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas.  I continue to audition, but I’m almost relieved at not having any major voicing projects on deadline right now.  This is one of the few upsides of having a second sustaining job…I can take a VO pause, and it’s been a good one for me.

Plowing ahead and being active as a freelancer keeps us in business…but this quiet and short suspension of full-bore immersion in voicing is giving me a wonderful pause to see some things more clearly.

I touched on this technique in that “Wall” article.  Have you paused lately?  I know, I know…it’s tough… so many things are weighing heavily on you…responsibilities, urgencies pulling you this way and that.

But really…if you DIDN’T do all that TODAY…what would happen?…seriously.  Would the pause be better?…or make it worse.  Have you tried it lately?

First, most people honor, respect, and are even envious when you tell them you are taking “some time” for a critical re-evaluation.
Second, your  spouse (and kids, if that applies) will LOVE you for it.
Third, (what is that saying?)  “…an unexamined life is not worth living…”

Like it or not, we Americans are Driven (notice the capital “D”)…but driving without a clear destination is just spinning your wheels…and here comes that storm up ahead.

CourVO

But back then it wasn’t cool to speak anything else but English.  The elegant French pronunciation of my last name — Americanized — was:  Kor-vuh-seer’.  My father almost NEVER spoke French around the house.  He wanted to be an “American”…and that meant speaking English.

That sentiment is apparently gone, now.

Having said that…and getting back to reality…there seems to be no turning back. And besides, the arrogant attitude in America of the 60′s. 70′s and 80′s where the education system only gave lip service to learning foreign languages has hurt us all on the world stage.

So now, it seems cool to be able to hang out your voice-over shingle with the words: “BILINGUAL” or “Spanish AND English VO”.  I’d be jealous, but I’m having enough trouble enough accomplishing English.  So is it likely in my late-50′s that I’d be able to master a 2nd or 3rd language?  I’ve always been great with pronunciations (you might be surprised how many broadcasters are NOT), but believably delivering copy in two languages seems daunting.  There are so many Spanish dialects…French lilts…British acccents…American twangs.  Where would I start?

IF you’re a bi-lingual voice actor, I’m interested to know how you market yourself…whether it doubles your exposure, your opportunity, your income.  Is it twice the headache?  Do you have two rate-cards?

Please participate in my brief survey posted in the Voice-Over Friends FaceBook Group.

Or…feel free to react to THIS blog article in the comment section below.  I’d like to know your thoughts.

CourVO