Explore every episode of the podcast The VOHeroes Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The VOHeroes Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 219
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
13227: I Feel Seen And Heard…By James Clear
15 Apr 2025
00:05:16
Hey there, hero!
So there I am, minding my own business, checking my email after submitting an on-camera audition (I didn’t even change out of my scrubs for this episode), and I see the latest edition of the author of Atomic Habits ( paperback | audiobook ), James Clear’s weekly 3-2-1 newsletter ( subscribe here ).
#3 in the third of his gems stopped me in my tracks.
He was singing my song. You know, my song of success (or at least the definition of success I’ve been singing for decades).
I can’t tell you how joyful I am that he agrees with me.
And I ask a simple question toward the end of the episode that I’d love for you to answer below in the comments (on VOHeroes.com/podcast - go there if you’re reading these show notes on YouTube or on your podcast listening app).
Does my definition of success help you? Frustrate you? Confuse you? Comfort you and support you? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/i-feel-seen-and-heard-by-james-clear/
13226: Narrating Audiobooks? Don't Forget The Acting Part
08 Apr 2025
00:08:18
Hey there, hero!
So you have an audiobook to narrate. Compared to a lot of other acting jobs, it’s a much bigger job - sometimes exponentially larger.
And it’s such a big event that it causes us to sometimes assign an outsized scope of the undertaking, and misplace what’s important for success.
Yes, you have a lot of tech and process details to deal with.
But you also have to do the acting part.
Creating characters in audiobooks (and that includes the neutral narrator) means giving them the same due as you will with the characters you get to create on camera or on stage or in commercials.
You hear it in the work of the narrators (actors) we all revere.
Have you found yourself worrying more about being technically perfect rather than an awesome actor when doing audiobooks? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/narrating-audiobooks-dont-forget-the-acting-part/
13225: Remember This One Thing About Aiming For Perfection
01 Apr 2025
00:06:15
Hey there, hero!
How many times in our lives have we been presented with the reminder that we are human?
That we are messy?
That we’re struggling?
That we are anything but perfect?
And how most of our pursuits simply can’t ever be totally perfect, no matter how much improvement we achieve, and are not life and death situations anyway, so...
Do you keep this in mind? Do you give yourself grace that you’re a work in progress and that you’re of a mind to be better, but can’t control perfection? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/remember-this-one-thing-about-aiming-for-perfection/
13224: You Are Absolutely Capable Of The Life You Imagine
25 Mar 2025
00:05:20
Hey there, hero!
There is a difference between the capability of doing something…and the actual execution/achievement of that something.
It's a subtle distinction.
Sometimes we doubt that we are capable of something.
Actually achieving whatever that something is may require some additional skills.
But…the doubt that creeps into our minds about whether or not we’re capable of doing it - if we have the capacity and ability to pursue it.
You do.
Are there any guarantees that you will get it? No. But that doesn’t mean you’re not capable.
Do you start the day with this as a given? What do you think you need other than the capability of being a performer? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/you-are-absolutely-capable-of-the-life-you-imagine/
13223: Don’t Ever Use This Creepy Descript Feature On-Camera
18 Mar 2025
00:07:05
Hey there, hero!
WARNING: This episode contains brief NSFW language.
I don’t know what software you use to edit your video stuff, but if it happens to be Descript…
…there was a post in a group I’m a member of that was…cringey:
“I'm trying to make live presentations more engaging, and I’m curious if there is a feature that makes it look like the presenter is always staring directly into the camera? I've heard there is some AI that can do this?”
There is. It’s part of the Descript AI-enhanced video editing suite.
Don’t you even consider using it.
We’ll have words if you do.
You can watch the absolute creepy s#!tshow that it is here:
Eeew. That’s a solution in search of a problem. That’s not a goal anyone should have (eye-f%@#ing the camera). Human beings don’t EVER do this to be “more engaged“. Humans unconsciously use all kinds of eye movements to search for connection, review memories, wonder about future possibilities, and more.
Immediately move this from your list of things to worry about to your list of things you don’t need to worry about.
And there’s a bonus reminder in this episode for those of you doing self-tapes and making this mistake with your eyeline.
Were you under the impression that you needed to do this? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/dont-ever-use-this-creepy-descript-feature-on-camera/
13222: How Will You Know If You Don’t Give It A Shot?
11 Mar 2025
00:04:43
Hey there, hero!
Life is filled with opportunities, but some of them are scary.
And it’s natural to try and limit the risk, especially if you need to put a lot at risk to attempt something new.
You might be tempted to take every opportunity to fail-safe the situation. To not go all in for fear of massive defeat.
Welp, you’ll never know…
…until you actually do the deed.
But wait…you have to actually do it before you can make it safer to do it? That makes no sense.
OK…let me try to clarify in this episode.
I do wonder how performers, who are already in a whack business that’s wholly unpredictable, protect themselves and mitigate risk when trying something new. How do you do that? Or do you just jump right in? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/how-will-you-know-if-you-dont-give-it-a-shot/
Some people worry and fret about what has happened in their past, especially when that past is less than bountiful.
They look at failures and past mistakes as things that are regretful, hinder their progress and just can’t be forgotten. And it can really weigh on their mental health to continually live in what was before now.
Maybe you're one of them? Occasionally?
But what about what you’re doing now to learn more, do better and experience change? How about the future, and what might be possible?
Or is the not-so-pleasant past simply unshakeable from your consciousness?
Could you imagine not wasting so much time on things that are long gone, you can’t change, and aren’t do-over-able, and instead spending your present and future getting better and better at what you do?
Do you dwell on the past, or do you concentrate on the present and the future, and on building that? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/fighting-the-old-or-building-the-new/
13220: Science Proves Me Right (And Wrong) About Failure's Value
25 Feb 2025
00:04:57
Hey there, hero!
I often encourage you to embrace failure: we learn from it, we get better because of it and we identify those things that help us do less of what doesn't work.
And that means you can achieve success through failure.
Pithy, David. But what does the actual science say?
Just like many research projects end up determining...it depends.
It depends where you are in your journey of learning and mastery. And it turns out that you learn a lot more from failure early in your journey, and less as you gain mastery.
Seems to me, it still is worth being at peace with failure.
Once you've seen or heard the episode, do you have thoughts on how you embrace (or still detest) failure? Where are you in your mastering journey? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/science-proves-me-right-and-wrong-about-failures-value/
13219: The Competition and Randomness Of Art And Money
18 Feb 2025
00:05:32
Hey there, hero!
Most of the decisions that are made in the professional world revolve around money, and they are never on schedule.
(Thanks to EM Forster for this episode's thought starter.)
Much of what happens is random, unpredictable and not based in the arts, but rather in the commerce.
And you need to be OK with that.
I hope that money isn't looked at as a bad thing, either from the funding of projects so you can get work, or from you getting paid to do those things.
Are you OK with money? How's your relationship with the commerce aspect (rather than the art aspect) of acting, VO or writing? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/the-competition-and-randomness-of-art-and-money/
How did that Deadline article land with you? Were you shocked and outraged? Or were you well aware of this casting calculus? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/casting-calculus-yep-sometimes-casting-only-needs-4-seconds/
13217: Amateur? Professional? Being Both Might Be Best.
04 Feb 2025
00:04:10
Hey there, hero!
It's a lovely day when you're recognized as a professional at what you do.
You likely get paid. You get respect from your peers. You feel accomplished.
But moving from amateur to pro can feel like you're leaving something behind.
It just might be...love.
I think I can help you bridge the gap between what you gain and what you lose when you make the leap to pro.
If you've already "gone pro," what do you miss? If you are still an amateur, what do you value about the journey and where you are? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/amateur-professional-being-both-might-be-best/
13216: Are You Still Trying Desperately To Make Sense Of It All?
28 Jan 2025
00:03:49
Hey there, hero!
Ever since we've been humans, from the very beginning of time, we've tried to make sense of the world around us.
And among the hardest things to make sense of is the creative arts...and the choice to become a creative artist. The randomness alone is mind-boggling.
If you try to make sense of it, you'll fail. Especially if you try logic.
That works for other lines of work, but not ours.
And I'd like to remind you, in this episode, that you need to give yourself grace. A non-logical hall pass.
And I'd love to know how you personally get away with making sense of it all.
How do you live with yourself pursuing this nonsensical business? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/are-you-still-trying-desperately-to-make-sense-of-it-all/
13215: Hey, You Chose This. Why Be Righteously Indignant?
21 Jan 2025
00:08:34
Hey there, hero!
A bit of a rant this episode...about the choices we make in life, and then being upset about those choices.
And creative types have enough harsh judgement being leveled at them by critics without adding to what some perceive to be a sense of entitlement.
We are privileged to work in this business. No doubt.
We're not privileged to yell about how hard this business is. We knew that going in.
We signed up for a future that required we be adaptive to the things that might happen in the course of creating something awesome. Stuff happens. Things can get messy.
For everyone on the project, not just you.
Please...I urge you to take a moment before you start raising your fists to the heavens.
Some of this chaos is exactly what you signed up for.
Any of this sound familiar? Ever feel this way? Ever wish you could take it back? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/hey-you-chose-this-why-be-righteously-indignant/
AI in general, and synthetic voice and image generators in particular have led to a lot of FUD in our industry.
FUD? It's an acronym that means Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
We fear being replaced by AI-generated models that would lead not just to the loss of jobs, but the possible deletion of the human contribution to creative work.
And yes, that's a possibility.
So when you grabbed ChatGPT and had it re-write your bio for you, or you had Perplexity answer a question you had, or you had Bard come up with some HTML to help you get something handled on your website...how did that make you feel?
(That last one happened to me, and it was a bit unsettling...just how well it worked.)
Can technology be used for both good and evil in your book? What do you make of the basement and the balcony (watch or listen to this episode to find out what the heck I'm talking about)? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/felt-any-ai-guilt-yet/
Is it possible that in addition to all of the other things you're concerned with when it comes to your performance career, that actually having a bit of success might be more daunting?
More daunting than the possibility of...failure?
Because then, the rules have to change. You have to start living by the rules of success, not failure.
And you have new responsibilities.
How can this possibly make sense? Do you ever take a moment to consider if you're fearful of actually succeeding? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/a-bigger-fear-than-that-of-failure/
Putting your creations out there for the world to see can feel like an act of bravery, and some people get ready for a bit of criticism.
And they might be looking for a way to deal with that criticism.
I say, be like Joe.
Joseph Brodsky the writer/poet, that is.
After a recent video I released was posted about creating my Narrate Your Own Book course, I got an odd response from a listener about how everything I teach...can be found, for free, on YouTube.
How I reacted (or didn't react) to that was pure Joe. And I thought maybe it would be useful to you, too.
How do you react to criticism of your work from friends, family, casting, unknown audience members, readers, editors etc? Is it painful or easy? Or something in-between? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/deal-with-criticism-just-like-joe/
Far more often than not, the projects I create and undertake tend to "stick." Rarely do I shut something down before it has run its course.
And most go on for a long, long time.
In this episode, I take a look at the decision making and the grief (yep!) around the choice to end a project I love (which I recently did).
Part of that includes how to do things gracefully and generously, both to myself and to anyone involved that might be affected by the de-commissioning.
And part of that decision is dealing with the notion of failure.
And part of that decision is how to take the time that's freed up and re-deploy it.
How easy is it for you to say goodbye to something you've put work into? What do you tell yourself in terms of the sunk cost of time, effort and maybe money? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/saying-goodbye-to-a-project-you-love/
13209: How Legendary Authors Deal With The Rejection We Never Hear About
10 Dec 2024
00:08:14
Hey there, hero!
We're all on a pursuit. A pursuit of the performance arts career we want: acting, VO, writing and more.
And we often look to those who have "made it" for guidance.
How did they get success? Great question.
But I think a better question would be about how they handled rejection. That skill can be really useful, as rejection is inevitable and is far more common than success.
So let's give a listen to how Stephen King, Maya Angelou, Jack Canfield, Harper Lee and a few other superstar writers felt about, and handled, rejection.
How to you react when you don't hear back after an audition or submission? Did anything you heard in the episode help? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/how-legendary-authors-deal-with-the-rejection-we-never-hear-about/
As we look at things we need to get done, we get an idea WHEN we need to get those things done, what we need to prepare...
...and when we aren't ready yet to do anything just yet.
And a simple shift in your activity timeline can be really effective.
Your assumption as to when to do something might be just perfect.
And it also might be an assumption that holds you back from getting things done, just because you've arranged things in an order that initially makes sense to you.
You think, "I've got to do this...before I can do that."
And that might just be...wrong. Take a moment to consider the possibility that you're more capable than you think and you don't need to wait.
And of course, you can always change and rearrange you tasks to suit your situation.
Do you give much thought to the order of things? What comes first, next and last? Could things be in better order? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/your-personal-order-of-execution/
13207: "Every Thing Is Everything." Wait, Wait...What?
26 Nov 2024
00:03:33
Hey there, hero!
Sometimes, words come together to describe things that you don't expect.
In a recent session with a coaching peer, she declared:
"Every thing is everything."
I tried to process that, and she gave me some assistance.
What she meant was that as creatives, every thing we learn as performers in ANY category of work helps to build everything we do as actors and voice talent in ALL categories.
In other words, if you get better at something in one area, it's going to help you be better at that thing in all areas.
Example: if you learn to control and influence your vocal volume on camera, you'll be better at that vocal work on stage, and in the voice booth.
Another: if you learn to give yourself permission to be less forced and more casual with your lines in a commercial (because it serves the story), you'll be able to pull off that same move in an audiobook or a video game.
(We build a whole course around this concept in VOHeroes Pro, called Mutual Muscles. It's powerful stuff.)
After you watch this episode, would you agree? Have you found this to be true? Has it helped you be a better actor? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/every-thing-is-everything-wait-waitwhat/
13206: What's The Right Size For Your [Show] Business?
19 Nov 2024
00:06:01
Hey there, hero!
Do you get the number of auditions you want? On-camera, VO, whatever.
You good?
Or do you constantly pursue more? Is growing your audition stream an endless pursuit? The highest priority?
I think everyone is different. And there's a trend in business that informs this. It's variously called "10X-ing," "adding zeroes," and "blowing things up."
Whatevs.
I don't personally want more auditions than I am getting now - I'm good with my current level. But some people would question why I'm not pushing like crazy to "10X my business."
I'm good. I feel like I'm at just the right level. I don't need more.
But that's me. What about you? Is the size of your [show] business a metric for your success? Your self-worth and self-image? With "bigger" equal to "better," and that you will never have enough opportunities?
How to do you feel about your level of opportunities? What pressure do you feel? What would ultimately make you happy? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
13205: Is It Ever Too Late To Promote Something You've Created In The Past?
12 Nov 2024
00:03:31
Hey there, hero!
We work really hard to create stuff. Really great stuff.
And after a while, we tend to forget just how valuable that stuff is.
And...in addition...how valuable our superpower, creating great stuff, actually is.
This episode is dedicated to reminding you that your output is your product. Your books, your TV shows, your podcast episodes, your films, your audiobook titles...they are all worth remembering in your plans for both holiday promotion and promotion at other times during the year.
What products have you created (or helped to create) that are worth reminding your audience about? Feel free to post links to the things you want to promote in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
Want to be a better VO talent, actor or author? Here’s how I can help you...
When you get ready to do something new, what wells up inside you emotionally?
Is there fear? Being scared?
Or is there electricity? Being excited?
And how does that affect how you approach it?
The two will likely co-exist in a sweet spot: instead of being so scared that I am immobilized, I'm...cautious.
And instead of being so excited that I ignore taking reasonable steps and precautions to maximize success...I'm jacked and happy.
And it feeds me from both directions. What about you?
How does it feel when you face tackling something new? Scary? Exciting? Treacherous? A bit embarrassed? Some combination of those? Does it depend how different it is from what you're doing now? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/scary-versus-exciting/
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
...master beautiful audiobook and podcast audio in one drag and drop move on your Mac: https://audiocupcake.com/
I'm well aware of at least one thing: I talk too much.
Believe me, it's a challenge I've faced all my life.
And I actively want to listen better. Listen actively. Not just wait for others to stop talking so I can start.
I look for non-verbal clues to remind myself to listen...rather than talk.
And to listen is to be open to hearing what the other person is saying...
...meaning one has to be silent to be able to listen.
And of all things, a kid's TV dinner from my childhood sprang to mind.
Once you hear the connection, does it all make sense? Can you use this as a reminder? Or do you not need my level of mental crutch? And are you old enough to remember the Libby's commercial?? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/listen-is-silent-spelled-sideways/
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
...master beautiful audiobook and podcast audio in one drag and drop move on your Mac: https://audiocupcake.com/
When things don't pan out for us, we want to know why. And sometimes, we simply tell ourselves stories...when we usually shouldn't.
We want to have things make sense, and so if we don't know exactly why something happens, good or bad, we might make things up.
Especially when we don't "get the gig."
As humans, we want - no, NEED - to know why (so we can fix things, or at the very least, not repeat the defeat). And so, if we don't have actual facts as to why things went south, we might instead make things up. And if we do that enough, that made up stuff starts to sound an awful lot like fact.
And it's not.
And I give you an alternative for you that short circuits the potential for what you made up in your mind becoming as believable as a fact might be.
What do you tell yourself when you don't book it? Is it supportive or constructive? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
13201: You Don't Yell At A Bud Because It Isn't A Flower...Yet
15 Oct 2024
00:02:56
Hey there, hero!
Ever get frustrated when you first start learning something and it's touch to get the hang of it? You know, you want to gain a skill and it's just not coming and you start to lose patience?
How about when you're showing someone else how to do something and they just aren't grasping the fundamentals? Do you get a little annoyed?
I see it happen in Facebook groups that "serve" our performer family, and it makes me sad.
A little patience, some grace, a bit of remembering where we all were when we first started...that might be useful.
How long is your fuse when learning and/or teaching? Do you "yell at a bud" sometimes? How do you feel when you're on the receiving end of that yelling? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/you-dont-yell-at-a-bud-because-it-isnt-a-flower-yet/
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
...master beautiful audiobook and podcast audio in one drag and drop move on your Mac: https://audiocupcake.com/
Famous quotes aren't always famous. Or quotes. There are all kinds of websites that are dedicated to the things that are attributed to famous people, but that they never actually said.
In this episode, we're going to correct one of those misquotes, and in the process, give ourselves a gift about our lives and our professions.
Once you've heard what Carl Jung actually said, does that make a difference for you? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil:
LINK TO FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://voheroes.com/what-jung-actually-said/
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
...master beautiful audiobook and podcast audio in one drag and drop move on your Mac: https://audiocupcake.com/
13199: What Do They Mean When They Say "Give Me Multiple Takes"?
01 Oct 2024
00:03:47
Hey there, hero!
Like most specialty pursuits, we performers have our own special language when it comes to auditioning and doing the work of actors and voice talent.
And sometimes, people channel The Princess Bride's Inigo Montoya when it comes to some of that jargon: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
A good example is the audition request that is phrased like this: "Give me multiple takes."
In this episode, I'll tell you what I think that means (and give you two hard and fast rules for doing multiple takes), but...does it mean the same to you? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13198: Your Career Is Born In Public. Your Talent Is Born In Private.
24 Sep 2024
00:04:01
Hey there, hero!
Isolation is a curse to some, yet can be a boon to artists.
It can be damaging not to have social contact on a regular basis, but it can be nourishing to our skill building.
I have a couple of famous people joining me to share their thoughts on how being alone can be just what the doctor ordered, and is some ways, essential to our professional growth.
Do you agree? Are you the gregarious type that needs others around you to flourish? Or are you the loner type that needs isolation to focus? Or are you somewhere in between? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13197: Thankfully, Performers Aren't Put Through This New Wringer
17 Sep 2024
00:04:31
Hey there, hero!
We know as performers that the way things are handled in our business are sometimes very different from the way they are handled in more mainstream businesses.
And that can be frustrating, especially when it comes to not getting the booking.
We're not told why. We never know why. We won't ever know why.
But that's a double edged sword, especially given this new twist to the traditional rejection letter that the Muggles get when they don't get the job.
You might be very surprised what current HR practices have led corporate culture to "offer" to candidates who don't "get the booking." Let me know what you think in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13196: Serenity: Practical Applications For Performers
10 Sep 2024
00:05:41
Hey there, hero!
It seems like almost everyone, at some point, gets the urge to become a performer.
They look at the fame, the money, the autograph seekers and just how easy it is and those are just their first four incorrect assumptions.
Maybe you made some of those. Some rules you thought were true. Some shortcuts you thought might work.
And then, they, and you, were likely introduced to actual harsh reality. Ugh.
Building a performer's practice is filled with mirrors and smoke and distortion fields, and once your assumptions are challenged, and you realize that there's a lot of hard work and some amount of luck involved in changing things up, you might need some serenity to accept that.
And maybe, that you simply can't change what can't be changed, even though you thought it could.
Have you experienced this? Anything you thought was true but wasn't? How did you handle that? With serenity? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
That moment before you launch into a pickup sets the scene for how that pickup goes.
And it needs to match the original voice work in terms of tone, energy, emotion and volume.
And if your feelings, your mouth, your face or anything else is affected by that frustration or anger, or somehow isn't keyed to the lovely and unique moment that the content occurs, that will change, sometimes drastically, how that pickup comes out.
And that can lead to even more frustration, and less accuracy on your pickups.
Just take a moment. Don't jump right in to your pickup. You've got all the time in the world, and that extra moment will save you many moments when doing your pickup work.
Do you find this happening to you? How do you deal with pickup frustration? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
The United States Federal Trade Commission requires that businesses who show their clients achieving things that require engagement, study, dedication, hard work and a fair amount of luck, and whose other customers likely have varying results...they have to disclose something.
It's along the lines of "YMMV." Your Mileage May Vary.
Sometimes you see it in phrases like "Results not typical." It's certainly applicable here: at VOHeroes, we help you create a successful, satisfying and profitable VO career. But you have to do some of the work, and like in all performance, there are no guarantees.
And the announcement Hopper Stone is going to make in this episode is not typical. In fact, in the world of VO, over 95% of talent will never be able to say what he's going to say.
But he did it. I'll just let him make his announcement. Press the play button.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13191: What Opportunity Is Wearing And Sounds Like When It Shows Up
06 Aug 2024
00:03:21
Hey there, hero!
We tend to hear the word "opportunity" and dress it up big time, expecting glitzy as opposed to basic work or work that prepares us for further opportunity.
Opportunities show up in various heights and widths and various levels of glamour.
Sometimes, they are awesome and legendary. But sometimes, they show up very calmly, ready to do some grunt work.
And that grunt work is sometimes more spectacular than the glitzy stuff.
And you get to play and benefit either way.
Thoughts on how you recognize opportunity when you see it? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13190: One Way To Lean In To The Moment Of Creation
30 Jul 2024
00:03:45
Hey there, hero!
You're at that delicious moment...a blinking cursor, or waiting for the 2nd to call the cast and crew to quiet on the set, or the first moment you've opened a new audio or video recording window...
...how do you feel? Fearful? Anxious? At sea?
Completely and utterly confident?
Or maybe, simply excited. Anticipating action. About to DO something.
How about that last one? It absolutely changes how you feel.
What do you usually feel when you are presented with that moment of opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13187: You Might Want To Listen To What Jodi Picoult Has To Say
09 Jul 2024
00:04:19
Hey there, hero!
This episode is a simple reminder that some data is visible, and some data is hidden.
You likely know who your haters are - and you might not know how many people love you.
Is this something you might be missing on a fairly regular basis? The people who love you for who you are, as opposed to those who don't? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
13184: Keeping All Your Audiobook's Voices Straight
18 Jun 2024
00:05:37
Hey there, hero!
Had a great time on the VOBB (VO Booth Besties) with Jen, Jen and Aleesha:
https://www.boothbesties.com/
...and I had the chance to answer some questions from the attending audience of VO talent.
One question that came up was "How do you keep all the voices you create for the characters in an audiobook straight? How do you avoid using the wrong voice for a character by mistake?"
Great questions, and one that has a number of different possible answers. Let's explore exactly how to do that - especially as an actor (or writer).
How do you keep everyone straight? Is this a challenge for you? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
One of the most satisfying things that can happen to us is that all goes according to plan.
That you set up a process, and you follow the path, you execute the steps, and it works out perfectly.
But ask yourself: how often does that really happen? Not very often, if at all, I would think.
It's really difficult, given all the variables in life, and especially in the performing arts, to set everything up to occur on a particular date and time. And that can be really frustrating, as there are bills to pay and obligations to meet that other people seem to put on the calendar for us.
A quick mindset shift for you in this episode: how to be at peace with not having your successes (or failures) timed out to a particular moment, and how to prepare for the ups and the downs.
Can you find joy in the random nature of the timing of your results, good or bad? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
---
Are you an actor, VO talent or author? Here’s how I can help you...
...become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start
...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you’re an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/
...narrate your own book (if you’re an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/
...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/
...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/
This episode is for you if you feel like you missed the boat. That you're too old to be the artist you want to be. So...
We tell ourselves the stories we hear from others.
It's convenient and reliable.
Sometimes.
But sometimes, the stories we tell ourselves are different from the conventional wisdom. And it's actually all a choice. It depends on how much you want it.
If you want to switch up what you're doing in life...you can. Really.
And you actually have an advantage to switch things up. I'll tell you what that is, boomer (or GenXer) in this episode - I think you might welcome the option I present.
Are you thinking it's too late for you? Or do you have the resolve to ignore that easy assumption? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
13181: That Moment When You're Just About To Hit REC
28 May 2024
00:04:25
Hey there, hero!
The little moments in life when we do what we do as performers...record an audition, narrate a chapter in an audiobook, self-tape an on-camera audition...they are juicy, aren't they?
I'm wondering what goes through your head, just as you're about to start.
To take that "blank page" and add content to it.
To change it from nothing to something.
Do you have doubts? Are you supremely confident? Something in between?
Do you even notice that moment anymore?
I wonder how that on-the-brink moment hits you these days. Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
13179: See How Easy It Is To Create A Scam Project On ACX
14 May 2024
00:04:55
Hey there, hero!
Our NarrateYourOwnBook.com training course, designed for authors who want to be the voice of their own books, has a lesson in it that shows them how to "claim their title" from Kindle and start the process of producing the audiobook version of their book on ACX.
You'd think you'd need some sort of permission to claim a title, but you'd be wrong.
In this episode we discuss how easy it is for scammers to create ACX projects from any title that has yet to be claimed, leaving us in the position of being taken advantage of.
As a narrator, you'll want to watch this, and then be extra vigilant when someone contacts you out of the blue on ACX to narrate their book. And if you're an author, you'll want to watch for your title being claimed without your permission.
Could it be any easier? Thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.
13178: Advice, Please: Switching Seats From Teacher To Student?
07 May 2024
00:03:51
Hey there, hero!
I'm just starting the process of taking a course, and I'm looking for advice from you.
Whether you formally teach others or not, we all make the move from showing others how to do something to learning how to do things ourselves.
What do you do to be as open as possible to the great things headed your way? How do you combat the assumptions you've made about something you're learning? What do you do to quiet the distractions?
What are your best practices as a learner?
I'd like to maximize my level of success in this course I'm taking, and I'd love to hear your best practices.
Let me know in the comments below.
REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil.