Debbie Grattan

I began writing this post while sitting in the Cancun airport waiting to board my flight back to Chicago, en route home to Michigan. My husband and I were (sadly) coming to the end of our six day getaway, having enjoyed tons of sun, delicious cuisine, and the chance to have pretty much zero responsibilities.

While we were away, we did have our laptop so we could keep up with emails. I found it curious that there were a couple of blog posts and group comments during that time about voice talent taking working voiceover vacations, and exploring questions like:

– Do you to take your recording equipment with you on vacation?
– Do you ever take a real vacation away from your voiceover work?
– Can you really call it a vacation if you’re WORKING??

Since we’re heading into summer and typical vacation time, it stirred my mind on what was good and not so good about working while on vacation.

This time, like the last time we went on a vacation, I didn’t plan on doing any voiceover work while on my trip. And I must confess that I loved the freedom to just delete all the P2P audition notices without any hint of guilt or remorse.

On previous trips, I never brought my recording equipment along, but I did have a couple of regular clients for whom I could record outbound phone messaging jobs. Typically I could record the messages right from the phone in my room without much trouble.

When you’re the sole proprietor of your own voiceover business, it can feel like a double whammy in cost when vacationing since you’re spending extra money on your trip, in addition to not making anything while you’re gone. That extra vacation work was always kind of nice since I could pocket several hundred dollars while away. It helped pay for some of the costs and obviously also kept my clients happy.

Also, My husband used to be fairly active in stock market trading, and he liked to check in on how the market was doing every day and make trading decisions, which would pull him away from the beach/pool for an hour or more every afternoon. Not fun.

Having now vacationed both ways (with and without work involved), I have been pondering the pros and cons of doing voiceover work while on vacation:

Pros of Being a Vacationing Voiceover Talent

– Primarily, I get to make a little extra money on my trip and help offset some of the costs. It makes it feel like I’m getting a big discount on the travel bill.

– I can keep some of my regular voiceover clients, who are used to having immediate access and service, happy. The caveat is that there are limitations to what I can provide since I don’t typically travel with sound equipment.

– It feels good not to be missing out on new work. I can check my email and still be in touch with any new job inquiries or offers if only to tell them I’ll be available again in a few days.

Cons of the Working Voiceover Vacation

– My mind never fully disengages from my business. Having a “working mindset” while on vacation takes up mental space, time and energy. It is counter-productive to getting away and relaxing, which is the primary purpose of the vacation.

– I have to factor the work time into my daily schedule, which can limit some of my plans for fun excursions or just uninterrupted relaxation time.

– If I was bringing equipment down with me, there is the added stress of safely transporting everything, protecting it at my destination, figuring out a good recording setup that will work, and troubleshooting things to ensure the quality is up to snuff.

Why Letting Go Completely is So Important

During the last couple of vacations (both to Cancun), we’ve gravitated away from doing any work while on vacation, except for checking email at least once per day. The phone recording work client changed their system a while back, requiring wav files instead of direct phone recording, so that was no longer something I could do remotely unless I brought equipment. And my husband also changed his investment strategy and no longer did any stock trading regularly.

We both have noticed a huge difference in the quality of our time while on vacation since we stopped trying to be so gosh darn productive. Even though on paper, the time we used to spend handling the work chores was not more than an hour or so per day, the mental “pull” of always having to be aware of those things really detracted from our chance to fully relax and let go.

Perhaps, not coincidentally, before leaving on my trip, I was looking for a good book to take along and a close friend handed me “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. (I only got through “Eat” and “Pray” on the trip, and am finishing the “Love” part now at home.)

In the early part of the book, (“EAT”) the heroine is living in Italy, and observes how the Italian people are very good at “doing nothing” for part of the day, or even a few days at a time, or more. She contrasts that way of being with how it is in America, where “being busy” is the normal, even expected way to be.

It seems that we Americans are not very comfortable “doing nothing” or even “thinking about doing nothing.” And even when we are not working, we have invented many ways to entertain ourselves and occupy our minds with other distractions, never fully allowing ourselves to just detach and relax. Is this something you observe as well?

But, I find that if my mind is always occupied, especially with things that are comfortable and familiar to me (like work stuff), then I never get a chance to move “outside the box” of my own thinking. That is where the freedom, new ideas and inspirations come from, as well as just the chance to let my brain completely uncoil itself from all of the typical thoughts and responsibilities.

My conclusion is that I find it necessary for the health of the mind and the soul to actually mandate some sort of real break from work (both career work and family/child-related work)…even if only for a short time. And if I’m not on an actual vacation, then maybe it’s just a walk around the neighborhood, or an impromtu shopping excursion. Getting away for a few minutes/hours/days is enough to gain a new perspective on things, hit the re-set button, and start fresh. All work and no play not only makes for a very dull VO talent, but also ceases the creative energy and life flow we need, as artists, to sustain us in our work.

So, we arrived home safely late Tuesday night, and hit the ground running on Wednesday. It’s always a little jarring to go from vacation mode right into catch-up work mode. It almost seems like the vacation never even happened (sigh). However, my mind does feel more refreshed, like a comfortable spring breeze has just cleared out the mental clutter. My vacation is just a memory, but its effects will linger for many weeks to come.

What has been your experience with work and vacations? Can they be successfully mixed? Please share your thoughts!

Debbie Grattan has been a working voiceover talent for 20+ years, collaborating on thousands of projects and partnering with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voiceover Talent Demos and request a Custom Voice Audition for your upcoming project.

There’s no Ph.d at the end of my name, so what I will assert here just comes from my personal experience, and is in no way meant to be the only set of solutions for this daily voiceover audition process. But, when I dissect how I am able to keep chugging along day after day and feeling positive and good about what I’m doing despite the competition and rejection involved, this is what comes to mind.

Keys to Positive Results in Your Next Voiceover Audition

1. Be picky

Try to only audition for projects for which you really feel you are a good fit. As actors, we have a tendency to think our vocal range is broader than it actually is. Know what you can do… Especially what you can do well, and what IS and ISN’T in your wheelhouse. If you labor over a voiceover audition for too long without getting in the groove, just let it go. Voiceover auditions are such a longshot anyway that spinning your wheels for too long is just a royal waste of time, and only serves to deplete your energy and faith in your talent. An important note: It may take some time (even years) to know what you are really good at in voiceover. You’ll probably have some early insights that you can run with, while you develop your talent and skills more deeply as you progress along your path. Participating in a reputable voiceover workshop is a great way to discover and develop your strengths as a voiceover actor.

2. Be succinct and simple

Often I will find that, after many takes of the same copy, the first one was actually the best. It was spontaneous and real, and didn’t seem overly thought out or rehearsed. I know some voiceover audition coaches might disagree with this approach, wanting the actor to really flush out all the choices. But the bottom line is, if you have the intuitive connection with the copy, and come to the mic with the basic acting knowledge as a given (no substitute for having an acting background in the voiceover profession) you’ll either be the voice they want, or you won’t. That part of the equation is completely beyond your control. So give it your best shot, and then let it go!

3. Become a good voiceover audition director

Unless you’re going into your agent’s or a casting office for your voiceover audition, you’re probably self-directing. This can be tough. It is where the experienced voiceover professionals will have a real edge over the newbies. If you’re less seasoned in the profession, (or if you just need a tune up) seek some active coaching from a reputable source. I’ve most recently worked with Marc Cashman in LA, who is very reasonably priced, and has the ear and expertise to help you discover what you’re missing. Voiceover coaching can give you a more competitive edge in the voiceover audition process.

Ever heard of the 10,000 hours to mastery? Anders Ericsson, the Florida State University psychologist whose research on expertise spawned the 10,000 hour rule-of-thumb, says, “You don’t get benefits from mechanical repetition, but by adjusting your execution over and over to get closer to your goal.” A voiceover audition coach can help you see where you need to adjust. And 10,000 hours… Well there is simply no substitute for putting in the time and practice if you wish to become a skilled master.

4. “Fuh-get about it!”

Once you’ve submitted your voiceover audition and given it your best shot, move on to whatever is next. Pining over when or whether you’ll get notice of a booking doesn’t serve you. Each voiceover audition you record is another chance to perform and hone your skill. Look at it as another opportunity to practice any new techniques you’re playing with and strut your stuff. If you DO book the job, see it as the icing on the cake.

This is really about shifting from being “results-focused” to being more “process-focused” in how you approach your profession. In our society, people tend to be fixated on results. Results are important for sure. But in an artistic type of business, if you’re too focused on just results, you may miss important adjustments you can make in your process. The real joy and excitement of creation comes during the act of creation.

5.  Be non-attached

I’ve already kind of alluded to this idea, but it’s worth mentioning again. The more attached you are to getting any specific job, the harder it may be to get it. This might sound counter-intuitive, but when you want something too much (too strong of a desire coming from a place of not having it = lack) you can actually wind up blocking yourself off from getting it. You may inadvertently be focusing on the fact that you don’t already have it and this creates internal discord and contradiction in your thoughts and emotions.

I have found that a good way around this dynamic is to hold desires for more general things such as, “my goal is to keep improving and expanding my talent and ability as a voice over actor” rather than, “my goal is to get this Sony national commercial!” You can focus on the specific job and put it out there to God and the Universe as a clear request, but then you have to let it go and not focus on it too much. Let the chips fall where they’re going to fall as you keep moving forward toward your bigger picture dream.

Live Into Your Big Goals and Allow Great Things to Unfold

My goal when I first started acting was to simply be a working actor and I’ve never wavered from that being my primary goal. I didn’t aspire to win an Academy Award or be on Broadway, although those things could have been part of my path and I certainly wouldn’t have minded them showing up. I also didn’t set out to be a voiceover actor. Surprise!!! That result was just the way my goal got fulfilled. And, here I am, thirty years after setting that goal, still living my dream as a working actor!

Moral of the story: Enjoy the journey even more than you enjoy the destination. Realize that most of your time here on earth is spent on the journey, and that the destinations are usually few and far between. So make a conscious point of enjoying the journey and you’ll find that you will pass through many wonderful destinations along the way!

Debbie Grattan has been in the voiceover acting profession for over 20 years, collaborating on thousands of projects and partnering with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voiceover Demos and request a Custom Voiceover Audition for your upcoming project.

The other day, as I was just submitting my last voice over audition for the week, I got an email from an actor friend of mine. He’s someone who I’ve had the pleasure of working with on stage in recent years. He has honed his talents and acting craft over a long time and he’s a very skilled actor.

Of all the folks who’ve asked me about getting into voice over acting, he is one of the few to actually take it from the “just curious” stage to a more serious committed level. He attended some live voice over workshops, researched and bought equipment, set up a good quality studio and conscientiously embarked on the voice over audition road through Pay to Play (P2P) sites and whatever local connections he could establish.

Oh, by the way, he’s married with a teenage daughter, a mortgage and a full-time sales job, so it really takes some drive to set all of this up. He has been steadfastly focused on the dream of eventually switching to a full-time career in voice over acting so that he can finally get paid for doing what he really loves to do.

His email to me the other day included a half-dozen voice over audition samples that he’d recorded. He wanted my feedback. He was wondering about what he might be doing wrong and what he could improve on to land more jobs.

While there were a few things I could suggest, overall I felt his auditions were pretty solid. I think that my answer was more disappointing to him than me giving him all of the “reasons” why any particular voice over audition hadn’t been chosen.

Waiting for bookings from P2P sites can be a long, hard wait. It is frustrating to not get the job even though you feel you’ve delivered exactly what was asked of you in the voice over audition. This points to an aspect of voice over acting that can create a lot of mental or emotional pain and suffering for people who may not fully realize the challenges of succeeding in the voice over business.

… It Might Not Really Matter

I recently caught an interview with Jason Bateman on the local NPR station, and there was one particular quote that relates to this topic that stood out:

On why Bateman wouldn’t let his kids act – I wouldn’t only because it is a profession that you can’t really help yourself in. In most professions, if you stay at the office an extra four hours every day, you’re gonna impress the boss, you’re gonna get that promotion, you’re gonna get that raise, you’re gonna at least have some job security. But with acting, if you’re really ambitious and you have a good work ethic, and are really good at your job, it might not really matter.

Wow, good thing I didn’t hear that when I was young and naive and starting out my acting career! Actually, it probably wouldn’t have deterred me back then because I would have thought “But I’m different! That advice doesn’t apply to me!”

Even though Voice Over Acting isn’t quite the same as trying to make it on Broadway or in television or the movies, it IS the same on the level at which Jason Bateman is pointing. And I think that is an extremely challenging idea for most people to come to grips with.

Ideal Scenario = No Voice Over Audition Required

My philosophy on working a successful career in professional voice over is to amass and continue to build my roster of satisfied and ongoing, loyal clients. These are clients who have regular VO work for me which they send to me directly. That means no audition required. This kind of situation usually only comes with time and a lot of hard work and persistence. It also helps to be able to consistently and reliably deliver a high quality product. Building a loyal voice over client base is the ideal and it is 100% worth the effort involved.

Ten years ago, 95% of my voice over work came through this channel. I rarely auditioned for anything (hard to believe I know) yet I was earning a very comfortable full-time income. People would just contact me and hire me to record their script. Alas, those days seem to be long gone now, thanks to the rise of P2P sites and thousands of new voice talent competing for jobs. But I always work to cultivate those kinds of relationships as much as possible.

I still audition A LOT because voice over auditions are 1) a good way to potentially book a little more work each week and 2) a great way to meet new clients who will need my voice over services in the future and hopefully turn into the loyal, long-term clients who hire me without needing me to audition ever again!

Nowadays, with so many casting sites, agencies, and independent casting directors, it’s pretty hard to avoid the audition process, even for seasoned pros. But for me, auditions are a supplement to a lot of other work that comes by way of longer term clients.

Given the fact that auditions are necessary, how does a voice over professional stay in a good place psychologically, with this day-to-day process of constant auditioning, and (let’s face it) seemingly constant rejection?

In Part 2 of this article, I share my 5 Keys to Positive Voice Over Audition Outcomes. Read it now at Voice Over Psychology – Part 2.

Debbie Grattan has been in the voice over acting profession for over 20 years, having collaborated on thousands of projects and partnered with hundreds of production companies, marketing and advertising firms, commercial voice-over recording studios and corporate/business clients around the United States and throughout the world. Check out her Voice Over Demos and request a Custom Voice Over Audition for your upcoming project.