Debbie Grattan

Tales From the VO Talent Trenches: When Sickness Hits, Do You Push On or Go to Bed?

October 27, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

I’m one of those people who never gets sick. Well, hardly ever. So when what I assumed was the flu took me down early last week, I thought I was going to have to do my usual routine and just power through it. That’s what has always worked on those rare occasions when I feel a bug trying to get me.

It’s also the mindset that has come to permeate much of the nation, especially those in my generation who grew up with hard-working Midwestern ethics. We push through no matter what, getting the jobs done we said we’d do.

Since I work from home, pushing through is typically a bit easier for me than those who head into the office. I can still try to get a few things done and just take it easy when I start feeling tired. Even though I speak for a living, I can postpone some recording sessions, work on other things that don’t require my voice, and take frequent breaks. Or at least I usually could. Not this time.

When this sickness swelled into seven full days of not getting better, I finally asked my husband to take me to the doctor, where I was promptly diagnosed with pneumonia. This was actually a relief to me, since now I could get a prescription and have some good ol’ Western medical assistance to get me on the mend.

I learned a few things on my health journey this time:

Seven days is just too dang long! Yeah, I know. Heading to the doctor can be a drag, especially if we’re not feeling well. But I now know to act sooner than a week down the line if I’m experiencing a fever that just won’t quit.

Day five is my new benchmark for seeking medical attention. Fever or no fever, day five of an ongoing illness that shows no signs of improvement is a good time to get a professional opinion.

Cost should not deter you. If you’re concerned about the cost of the doctor visit and prescription, think instead how much you’re missing in lost wages due to illness. As it happens, the antibiotic my doctor prescribed was $2.38 (after running it through my insurance)!

Don’t be afraid to accept help. Yes, this one can be a tough one, too, especially for us hard-working, independent-minded Midwesterners. But if you get offers from friends and family to help – bring over food, take the kids out, make a grocery run, drive someone to their practice, etc. – TAKE THEM UP ON IT!

Be honest with your clients. Trying to do the work when you’re simply not up to it can end in disaster – or at least a really lousy end product. I know, many of us think we can be superheroes who can still do a stellar job when plagued by a cold, flu — or even pneumonia. But, alas, we are merely humans. When I told my clients what was going on, I was surprised that in nearly every case, they were willing to wait for me to get better to complete their job. Thank you!

Show appreciation. Whether it’s to your pals who picked up your groceries, your clients who were willing to wait for their jobs, or a loving spouse who cooked you up chicken soup at 2 a.m., remember to say thank you! This counts triple in the case of the loving spouse, who deserves some special love when it’s all over.
And last but not least: “cough it up (and spit it out)!” Sorry for the explicit grossness of that, but it’s an important step to speed up recovery. It’s also a technique we’re still working to help my young son master. And yes, it truly does help!

Stay well and warm this cold and flu season. I wish you all good health! And even though you may not need a vaccine against pneumonia, a flu shot could be a good place to start.

Use Pressure to Help Propel Your Professional Voice Over Talent Career

September 15, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

I was chatting with my young teenage daughter this weekend about the pressures life brings. Even as a kid, there’s that pressure to get good grades, be accepted by your peers, make the team, win the game/race, get cast in the high school musical, and so on.

Pressure seems to start younger these days than it did for my generation. I don’t recall being so aware of the kind of pressure that most kids appear to feel in today’s world.

Competition and the ever-increasing abilities of young people to perform at higher and higher levels in every area are raising the bar all the time.

Pressure is here to stay. It is or is going to be a part of everyone’s life, so it’s essential to understand and develop a strategy to use pressure to one’s advantage.

It Seems We’re All Feeling a Lot More Pressure These Days

Being a professional voice over talent, business-owner, wife and mother of two children under the age of 14, I feel a nearly constant pressure to perform, in my professional and personal life, and to achieve real results on a daily basis.

That pressure (in varying degrees) has been there for as long as I can remember. Even before I had children, I felt pressure to reach my goals, earn a certain level of income, and be the type of person I wanted to be.

Pressure can be a good thing. Used effectively, it can help you achieve your results faster and more efficiently.

But, being under pressure doesn’t actually feel good most of the time. In fact, pressure probably stops many people from reaching their goals for the simple reason that it feels so uncomfortable. Attempting to reach any big goal is going to involve stepping into unfamiliar territory and putting yourself in situations that create a feeling of pressure. It’s pretty unavoidable.

Making Friends With Pressure = Easier Growth, Easier Life

I tried to explain to my daughter that pressure is a good thing as long as you make friends with it.

It can be your best friend in the way that you might have a workout partner who always “encourages” you to do three more push-ups when your body’s telling you that IT is pretty sure you’re DONE doing push-ups.

Without pressure, I think I could become very lazy and unproductive.

My husband eventually got in on this conversation with my daughter and said that he prefers to exist with what he calls “Goldilocks Pressure.”

Not too much – Too much pressure can feel overwhelming and debilitating
Not too little – Too little pressure can lead to feeling unmotivated and unproductive
Just right = A moderate amount of pressure usually leads to progress and productivity

Just moving about his day and getting things done with moderate external (or internal) pressure being applied is his most productive state. He chooses to frame pressure as more of a positive “pulling” energy which helps him reach completion of tasks, thereby causing a reduction of the pressure in the moment.

In the Short Term, Too Much Pressure Can Still Be Manageable

Lately, however, he’s been feeling a lot more pressure (as general manager of my voice over business) since we are in the midst of several business upgrades with website redesign, branding, demo production and re-tooling our marketing strategies. So, now he’s working harder and for longer hours, to “clear the decks” and get back to that Goldilocks level.

Instead of back-pedaling in a retreat mode away from the pressure, he’s responding with more action and more energy.

The danger here is that if this goes on for too long, it can become a source of burnout and exhaustion. But, for shorter time frames (weeks or in this case, even months), it can be manageable.

For me, I have learned to function well under some degree of pressure most of the time.

Maybe it’s from my live theater days, or from being in the fast paced world of LA auditions, where we actors are forced daily to get out of our comfort zones and at least try to be extraordinary. It’s an exciting and exhilarating form of pressure and it really helped me grow as an actor and as a business owner.

Even though I’m not auditioning for on-camera work in LA anymore (I moved away several years ago), I continue to use what I learned from that experience in my voiceover business. Finding and maintaining that “Goldilocks” fit is my new gold standard, as each week I’m juggling a dozen different clients and projects, managing deadlines, answering urgent requests, actively participating in social media, and checking off projects as I send them out.

What is your relationship to pressure like? Do you feel a lot more pressure in your life and business now than ever before? How do you use it to your advantage? Has pressure increased or decreased for you in recent years? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts and experiences!

An Artist’s Simple Formula for Success and Balance

August 31, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

I’m always fascinated by artists… Of all kinds. This weekend, I was a spectator at Art Beat, a showcase of local artists in my community here in the Midwest.

Represented on several blocks of downtown real estate on a rainy Saturday was everything from dance, music and theatre, to culinary arts, painting, ceramics, sculpture and creative writing. My daughter even got in on the act, with her musical and writing talents being showcased at a couple of the booths.

Artists Face a Unique Set of Challenges on the Road to Success

An artist is a rare breed. A successful artist, rarer still. While we all have our individual talents, there are only a few who are able to rise up and gain recognition in a world where it keeps getting harder and harder to be noticed and have a sustainable career “doing” your art.

What allows an artist to actually make their livelihood practicing their craft? It’s a combination of a lot of things. But, on top of all the things you have to do, it is very important to keep a balance between the creative process and the all-important selling process of your artistic products and/or services.

Watching this short segment on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend, I thought about how the successful professional musician profiled here distilled a great three-point strategy for maintaining a balance between the creativity in his craft and the marketing of his art.

Musician and composer, Chad Lawson shares how he spends most of his time going back and forth between two keyboards:

– His piano keyboard; to create, “meditate and to worship,” and,
– His computer keyboard for marketing, promoting, and making contacts that will lead to gigs and greater awareness of his music.

And, to top it off, he goes for a run each day, to “sweat everything out, almost like a mental shower!”

He breaks it down to this simple formula:

Do your art, market your art, and re-charge for your mind/body/spirit on a daily basis.

Obviously, it’s easy to outline these three key points, and a completely different thing to understand and develop an actual strategy that puts them into action in your own life.

What he doesn’t say in his words, but demonstrates in his success, is that he’s used discipline in his life to achieve his goals. Knowing what to do is one thing. Taking what you know, and making a plan of action, and then following through on that plan, daily, for YEARS, is what creates success.

As veteran voiceover professionals, we get asked frequently by industry newcomers, “how do I do it?” I say: Watch this 4 minute explanation by Chad Lawson, and apply these concepts to your voiceover business goals.

There is no magic bullet. There’s no fast track to long-term success, although sometimes it can look like there is for a lucky few. It’s just learning your craft, practicing your craft, finding the market for your craft, and maintaining a balance (emotionally, physically and spiritually) as you do what is necessary.

Once you find that perfect balance, then it’s a matter of doing it day after day after day after day. Wash…Rinse…Repeat!

Video Narration for Fire Up 2100: A New Chapter

July 30, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

When I hear the word “sensuous,” I usually think of things like steamy novels, bubble baths and fleece blankets. But a documentary I narrated for the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR) did it’s very best to add another item to the sensuous list: the steam locomotive.

Entitled “Fire Up 2100: A New Chapter,” the documentary contained a quote from author William Young, who referred to the steam locomotive as:

“One of the most sensuous machines ever devised.”

Trouble viewing embedded video? Click here.

Young’s quote comes from his 1963 book “Iron Horse Rambles and the Reading T-1’s,” a story of the Reading Company’s T-1 engine that emerged from retirement to take passengers on excursions around the engines’ home state of Pennsylvania. Known as “rambles,” the excursions were designed to take modern folks back to a time when steam locomotives ruled the rails.

End of an Era (and an Engine)

But alas, the iron horse rambles eventually ended and the only four surviving T-1 engines were taken out of operation. Built in 1945, Reading’s Steam Locomotive 2100 is one of those survivors – and its story is the topic of the video.

The video narration kicks off with a sad and lonely narrative tone and music to match the sad and lonely fate of the once formidable 2100. The engine sits idle, with its bleak interior, grungy exterior and the wind howling through the open chambers that once used to be its windows.

My narration voiceover then helps take viewers on the long, winding journey the 2100 endured over the past decade or so, eventually ending up transported to Tacoma, Washington. There it again sat idle for several years until a restoration project team in Illinois was looking into a different engine to refurbish to its former glory.

The ASR stepped in with a pitch for the good ole 2100. The Illinois people bit, and the engine was soon on its way to Ohio for a total revamp to get it ready for its new destination. But the story doesn’t quite end there.

New Life for 2100

The ASR is in charge of restoring the 2100, a task estimated to take $700,000 – which is the overall point of the video. Telling the story of the engine, touching on the history and impact of steam locomotives in America, and highlighting people’s fascination with these sensuous machines all work together to stir up emotions and nostalgia.

I was asked to match my narrative tone and style with the compelling story, mood music and striking visuals that included footage from Hugh Fuller and axle17921, all of which was brilliantly produced by Lynchpin Creative.

One of the perks of my work as a female voice-over talent is learning new things on a regular basis. In this case, I learned about the background and arduous restoration process of an important piece of American history.

SOURCES:
http://www.amazon.com/Iron-horse-rambles-Reading-T-Is/dp/B0007FUC0Q
http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2015/04/22/reading-2100-in-steam-i-can-t-get-no-satisfaction.aspx
http://www.fireup2100.org/

Key Factors to Consider When Hiring Voice-Over Talent

July 20, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

Continued from Part 1: “Before You Hire Voice-Over Talent, Run Through This 10 Point Assessment”

This article is written for anyone who might hire voice-over talent, but especially for those who may have never hired voice talent in the past, or who have done so only a few times.

In today’s competitive and diverse market, a little guidance can be helpful in finding the best voice-over talent for your current project, and ongoing voice-over needs. These 10 factors can save you a lot of time and trouble, by steering you away from voice-over talent who may not be the best fit for your needs.

Please be sure to read the first five factors in Part 1 of this article!

6. Custom Audition

Another keen way to gauge a person’s vocal range and versatility is to ask for a custom voice-over audition. Ask your prospective VO actor if they wouldn’t mind recording a few sentences of the project in their home studio, and sending over – kind of like a test drive.

Professional voice-over talents will typically offer a custom voice-over audition for you to present to your client for approval beforehand. This way, you and your client get a taste of what the final product will sound like, and can offer any feedback prior to assignment of the final script.

Don’t expect them to record the whole script for you, however. Just a portion of it should be enough to get a feel for how they will sound on the final product.

The question to ask: “Can I get a complimentary custom voice-over audition?”

7. Training

The next best thing after real experience is extensive voice-over acting training from a reputable teacher. The voice-over services industry is packed with loads of fine workshops, and your voice-over actor of choice should have credits listed on their bio or voice-over resume showcasing where or with whom they studied. Voice-over coaching has become more widespread in recent years, providing another avenue for learning.

If you don’t see educational or training credits, ask about them. If your chosen talent doesn’t have a good answer, it may be a good time to move on.

Look for the most reputable names of teachers and coaches which include: Kalmenson & Kalmenson, Marc Cashman, Marice Tobias, Nancy Wolfson, Pat Fraley to name a few. You can also do a quick bit of homework on whomever the prospective voice-over talent has studied with. You should be able to find their teacher or coach online as well, so you can check them out and get an idea of whether they have legit training or not.

While more and more VO coaches and voice-over workshops are popping up, many of them are not instructed by veteran voice-over actors who really know the ropes. Just because a voice-over talent has studied with SOMEONE does not mean they actually received the level of training that you would expect them to have as a professional voice-over talent.

The question to ask: “Is this voice talent well-trained by reputable voice-over teachers or coaches?”

8. Client List

Voice talent that has been working for several years will have a lineup of quality voice-over clients. As an example, I took a head count over a two-year period and found I had more than 500 unique clients, many of which keep coming back. Ask about their current clients. Where can you hear their VO work on radio or TV? Do they have any movie, TV show, audiobook, commercials or other credits? Do they have links to websites where their voice-over work is featured in conjunction with a corporate client? What are some of their recent projects?

Quality is just as important as quantity when it comes to clients. Most voice-over pros have a mix of nationally recognized names and smaller, local businesses. If you only see local mom and pop shops, that might be a clue that the person has minimal experience as a working professional voice-over actor.

The question to ask: “Is there a client list available and does it indicate this talent has worked with many reputable clients?”

9. Recording Studio Specs

Key elements in a high-end recording studio include a high-quality microphone, pristine sound-proofed recording environment, professional-grade software and current technology computer setup. The latter should include quality soundcard, phone patch capability, ISDN (or SourceConnect, ipDTL) – the works.

If you start asking specifics about studio specs, and the person has no clue what you’re talking about, you may want to think twice before taking them on.

Serious voice-over actors often post their home recording studio equipment and specs on their website, so definitely look for it. But a room full of fancy, expensive equipment doesn’t guarantee a good recording. Everything must be set up properly and fine-tuned.

If you have any doubt about the caliber of the recording studio, ask for a sample recording done in their home studio so you can get an accurate idea of the level of quality you’re dealing with.

One listen (just like one picture) can be worth a thousand words. And keep in mind that even with the best of equipment, if that vocal talent isn’t up to snuff, then it’s another reason to move on.

The question to ask: “Does this voice talent have a good quality recording studio and can they deliver high quality audio files?”

10. Acting Ability

Voice actors and voice-over talents can sometimes be a slightly different breed. While both may sound OK on a mic when given specific directions, authentic voice actors have the ability to give you the nuance you need – often with little or no direction required.

Top-notch voice actors come armed with the training, experience and skills required to portray a character, in any given situation or relationship, not just provide so-called “lip service.” This kind of expertise is what will lift the words off the page and take your project from something bland to something engaging.

The question to ask: “Does this voice-over talent have any acting training and ability, just in case that is needed for my project?”

While these 10 questions give you a strong foundation for choosing voice-over talent, they are certainly not the end-all. You can ask about a person’s level of professionalism and confidence, however, their true levels of both will be apparent through your interactions.

You’ll want to choose someone who not only says they’re the best, but can prove it with prompt replies, strategic input, a professional manner and a great vocal performance. The full package is something that only comes from an authentic pro.

Before You Hire Voice-Over Talent, Run Through This 10 Point List

July 10, 2015 by Debbie Grattan

You liked the sound of the voice-over demo, so you hired the talent. But something happened on the way to the final video, and now your client is upset over the less-than-ideal voice-over recording that was supposed to be the perfect fit for their project.

You found out the hard way that a good-sounding demo is not the only factor you should consider when selecting voice-over talent for your project.

In the Voice-Over Market Today, It’s Buyer Beware

Because there is an influx of new voice-over talent flooding the market with minimal experience and skill, it is imperative that you as producer or business person who hires voice-over talent can tell the difference between a seasoned professional VO and someone who is going to ultimately be disappointing to work with.

Ideally, you want a voice talent who has been through the trenches for many years and has built up the skills, experience and professionalism needed to get your voice-over job done right the first time.

It’s important to dig deeper than just their voice-over demos.

In fact, demos can actually be misleading since they’re created under the best of circumstances. There’s no deadline pressure and they can be re-recorded as many times as it takes to get just the right sound – even if it takes days.

Going beyond the demo involves looking at the following 10 areas that can help you separate the legit voice-over talents from those who are probably not ready for prime time. Pay particular attention to the top three on the list:

1. Professional Voice-Over Experience

Experience reigns supreme when it comes to honing talent, skills and professionalism. A more experienced voice-over actor will most likely be able to deliver a high-quality final product, especially when compared to a voice-over talent with limited experience. While some voice-over jobs may require more finesse than others, some solid acting experience is also always a plus. A voice talent’s level of experience should be evident in their completed work showcased on their website and on their voice-over bio or resume.

If a voice-over talent has been in the business for 12+ years, this is a definite sign that they know what they are doing. You cannot fake long-term success. Nor can you fake the professionalism and ability to work efficiently with clients that only comes after years of doing so.

You have to be very good at what you do and be able to provide quality voice-over service to hundreds of clients to be successful over such a long time-frame.

The question to ask: “How much experience does this voice-over talent have and how many years have they been doing professional voice-over work?”

2. Timely, Reliable and Consistent Service

In addition to checking on what their experience level is like, you will also want to determine how good the voice-over talent is at being reliable, consistent and keeping their word when it comes to deadlines.

A prime way to check this out before hiring is to look for client testimonials and reviews on their website. See if the reviewers’ comments mention these kinds of factors as being strengths for the voice talent.

If you end up hiring a voice-over talent for repeat work, you will get a sense of their ability in these areas over time. In my experience, many of my jobs require some kind of turn-around time, commonly 24 to 48 hours. I personally work very hard at making sure I always hit those deadlines because I know how important it is to my clients. And, I know that NOT hitting a deadline is a surefire way to lose a client’s trust and future business!

The question to ask: “Are there any reviews of this talent and do they point to strengths in the areas of reliability and timeliness?”

3. Range and Versatility

Make sure the VO talent’s vocal range suits what you’re looking for and, if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, go for someone with a wide range of vocal ability in their voice-over demos and clips. High-quality VO pros will have sample recordings that showcase their full range and versatility on a wide scope of different jobs.

This is not only demonstrated in various demo offerings (commercial, narration, promo, etc.) but could also be evident on their website or YouTube or Vimeo playlists, where completed client projects are featured for prospective buyers.

The question to ask: “Does this voice-over talent demonstrate a suitable amount of range and versatility in their demos and samples?”

4. Availability

This question is especially important if you are looking to hire voice-over talent for an ongoing work project that will require them to record on many occasions over the course of a month, a year or even longer. Generally, it is much easier for a full-time voice-over talent to be on top of this area, because they are committed full-time to servicing their clients.

Part-time voice-over talents are more likely to NOT be able to consistently hit deadlines (or be available on very short-term notice) because they are doing something else for a big chunk of their day and are not in their home studio on a full-time basis.

Find a full-time voice-over actor and you’ll find someone whose total energy and focus is on meeting the needs of their voice-over clients.

The question to ask: “Is this talent working as a full-time voice-over talent or part-time, and what can I reasonably expect for availability?”

5. Rates and Pricing

Money is not always the bottom line, but rates can work as a clue to decide if the voice-over actor is the right one for you. One red flag would be rates that are unbelievably low, which could be the mark of a novice. Other talent rates may be too high for your budget, although you can always attempt to negotiate.

Competitive rates are usually the mark of a pro, as is someone who sounds knowledgeable when quoting rates.

They will have the experience to understand the market rate on any given project, taking into account the important factors like broadcast vs. non-broadcast, usage period, buyout options and other factors that can come into play. This knowledge indicates they have a good idea of the work involved on a specific project and are striving to set a rate that’s fair for their time and talent and affordable for you.

But, don’t expect voice over talent to publish their rates on their website unless they only do union work. Many non-union jobs have multiple factors involved and need to be priced on an individual basis. It is impossible to realistically quote a job without having the key details first, and therefore, usually not practical to publish voice-over rates on voice talent websites.

Always keep in mind that in voice-over, like most other businesses, you usually get what you pay for. Beware of quotes that don’t appear fair or can’t be backed up by sound reasoning. Also beware of prices that sound too good to be true.

The question to ask: “When you ask for a quote, does the voice talent provide pricing that seems reasonable for the job, and knowledge on how they arrived at their quote (i.e. usage, broadcast market, word count, etc.?”

VERSATILE

EXPERIENCED

PROFESSIONAL