Keep Your Head Up... (How My Crazy Sister Saved My Career)

Not long ago I was visiting my crazy sister…. She is a marathon runner. Okay that in and of itself does not make her crazy. Running  3, 4 or more marathons a year might lead one to believe she might be a little “touched”, but throw in a couple of Ironman Marathons and all the training involved might make one wonder. Then consider in her spare time (when she isn’t working or taking her two “Pooches” for their morning 5k run) she has started to teach others to run Marathons which means she runs even more. Dedicated?  Maybe.  Inspired?  Possibly.  Crazy?  Probably……

On my visit, I had agreed to go to one of her training sessions. This night they were building the runners strength and stamina by running hills.

Well never having been a fast runner I quickly moved the back of the pack and started to climb the LONG hill ahead. I put my head down and started to pound up that hill.

A short time later it was clear that I was struggling. So up bounded my Crazy Sister to offer some advice.  “Keep your head up” she said, “it’ll make things a LOT easier”.  I tried it. I focused on looking forward and keeping my head up. My breathing started to become less labored, my shoulders stopped hurting and I began to feel like I might be able to finish the run.

We talked about it later. When you look down you curl your chest over. Then your breathing passage ways are constricted and it is harder to breath. Plus if you are focused on the ground and pounding your legs up and down, you are not moving forward effectively.

I began to think about this. I normally focus on what I am doing and where I am at any given moment… hmmmm I guess ‘I’m looking at the ground’… This constricts my breathing, keeps my focus in the same place and I don’t move forward effectively, making me somewhat stagnated and on occasion discouraged.

In fact it reminded me of my first six months in Hollywood, I had never seen the Hollywood sign!?  Then a friend came to visit me and said “what are you talking about, it’s right there!!”  All I had to do is look up and there it was, it had been right in front of me all the time!

The bottom line is by keeping our heads down we don’t breathe as well, there is not as much oxygen in our blood and we don’t have as much energy.  This has all sorts of consequences, we are not as confident, not willing to try new things, not as willing to let our true voice come out and be open to what our inner Artist can create.

Also if we are focused on the ground we get mired in the day to day grind, not see the possibilities that are right in front of us and stop moving forward effectively. This can lead to stagnation, frustration and discouragement.

In these uncertain times, it is up to each one of us to “Keep Our Heads Up”, be proud, confident and have a forward positive outlook. When you walk into an audition or session, hold your head up, take a deep breath  and say to yourself “I am an Artist, a positive energy, and a problem solver”, You will feel more confident, have more energy and be more in touch with the Artist inside you, which is YOU!

Looking to 2010 with Heads Held High!! ~xod

Group Rates Available

Did you know that Voice Spot WCS offers group rates for most of the workshops? If you know four or more talented folks interested in pursuing voice-over then be sure to take advantage of these rates!

More information...

Is Your Demo Out There?

For the voice-over talent actively pursuing work you have given your demo to the studios in town (hopefully!). When you gave your demo to the studio did you have personal contact with the voice casting person (usually the engineer in these parts)? Did you request a follow-up meeting to discuss the merits of your demo? Did you at least send a follow-up email to keep yourself front of mind at the studios?

There are so many people that are interested in pursuing a career in voice-over and even go so far as to get a demo produced but that is often the final step for many of these performers.

Some will go so far as to deliver their demo to the various studios in town and again that is sometimes the final step.

Then you get the more pro-active talent that will produce an excellent demo, deliver that demo in person (sometimes including something else that will help them stand out in the crowd) and if possible a follow-up meeting will occur to discuss the pros & cons of their demo. Always thank the studio for their feedback and DO NOT be offended if there is some negative feedback. They are only telling you how they see it from their experience and perspective. What might considered a weakness at one studio may actually be the shining light for another studio.

A follow-up meeting after delivering your demo should NOT be your final step. Sometimes it will take months for a spot to come up where your voice would be perfect and where the budget and time constraints lend themselves to try out new talent.

Be sure to call the studios every 2 or 3 weeks to let them know that you are still out there and available to work. When we say available to work we also mean prepared to work and all practiced up in performance for microphone. There is nothing more devastating to your future work prospects than showing up at a studio for a gig and not being prepared and confident at the microphone.

Remember the quote "out of sight out of mind" and that applies to voice-over talent for the studios. They have a group of talent that they regularly call upon because they know that those people are available and will be prepared to work. If that person is you be sure to keep yourself "front of mind" at the studio.

See TIPS for more information of interest...

If you found this information of interest please click to email and let us know...

  "On the Air" & Demos

Check out the following voice-over gigs performed by alumni.

Find the most recent spot...

CLICK to hear demos from Voice Spot WCS grads...

Each of these audio samples was produced at different recording studios in Calgary, Alberta (Canada).