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The best part of making a video is that you can always fix your mistakes afterwards. Here's something to take out the stress of appearing in a video - or at least greatly reduce it. Unlike live presentations, you have the option of a do-over, which is called a second take. Or a third. I wouldn't go too many more, because the problem could very well be something other than your verbal mistakes. No, it's possible that you're just not familiar enough with your topic. Better to review your material until you're sufficiently comfortable to speak "off the cuff" about it. If you keep forcing a performance that you think is technically perfect, you'll only come across as stiff and unsure of yourself, which will not go over well with your audience. The do-over, done properly, will allow you to back up to the idea or thought you had before you made your flub, and let you have another try. If you're great at editing, then you can make it look seamless. If you're not and you're making a video totally on your own ... don't worry. I got you covered. Just take a few minutes and watch this video. "Just about everyone messes up at least once in a while, so you're in good company!" Subscribe on YouTube for new videos! Laura's Quick Tips Too err is human ... which you will find out well enough when you try to execute a perfect 5 minute video from start to finish. Ha! Know that time is on your side. It's not a live presentation!f You may not want to edit out every single little flub. Perfection is boring and people WILL relate to little stumbles now and then. Let your humanity come through. And don't worry. Chances are you're NOT a train wreck waiting to happen. Very little professional content has ever been created perfectly the first time. As anyone who has worked in the film industry would say, the magic is in the editing AFTER everything has been shot. A great editor can work wonders with even the most mediocre material ... not that what you or I ever film is merely mediocre, of course. The best thing you can do is to deliver your message as honestly and personally to the camera as you can. You'll be surprised at how well your heart-felt message comes through. Especially when you're free of the fear, worry, and possible judgment that you're "not doing it right." Let go of the harsh self-criticism and focus on what you came to say. We the audience will get it ... and love you all the more for your integrity. Ever get caught up in the quandary of choosing perfect vs. good enough? And what to do about it? Got you covered in this video . I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Actor Troy Baker talked about his past mistakes at the One Voice USA 2023 conference How nice to be invited to speak at a conference of your peers! I was thrilled to be a presenter at the One Voice USA 2023 conference in Dallas. Voiceover conferences are warm, intimate affairs – even when hundreds of people are attending. Maybe it’s because everyone is so happy to break free from the confines of small recording spaces where we spend most of our working hours alone. It probably has a lot to do with that. But mostly, it’s because the acting industry is full of caring, kind people who genuinely enjoy meeting and supporting one another through the ups and downs of an artistic career. My topic was “From Mic to Lens: Expanding from Voice Over to On Camera Work.” In other words, how voice actors can take their skills and apply them to film, TV, and commercial roles on screen. I love sharing what I’ve learned with others and the talk was very well-received, but that’s not what I want to dedicate this blog to. Instead, I’d like to share the acting advice of our keynote speaker, Troy Baker of “The Last of Us” video game and a voice actor and musician himself. His advice is solid for any group of performers. Here’s what he had to say. Be professional! Show respect and consideration for others in everything you do. And treat the entertainment business as a business . Never be the one they’re waiting on Troy learned the hard way the value of time and what it means to other people. He was often late to set and was eventually fired for it. It’s a tough way to realize that all of us are cogs in the machine and that one little piece gone awry or missing can gum up the works. Learn every name on the call sheet Well, at least a few. And use them. It endears you to the crew, especially the hard-working production assistants (PAs) and shows respect for all they do for you. Just make sure that you get their names right. Troy thought he was doing a bang-up job remembering one gaffer’s name, only to be told near the end of the shoot that he’d misheard it and had been calling the guy by the wrong name for weeks. Note to self: check the call sheet if you’re unsure! Don’t just memorize your lines, but focus on the pattern of the scene We’re not human tape recorders. Knowing the words alone does not convey meaning, especially if lines are over-rehearsed and seem stale or disconnected when you say them. We’re always responding to the other people in the scene and to the environment, and there are nuances we need to pick up on that require us to be immersed in that reality. Troy referenced Mickey Rourke, who told him, “Dialogue is the last thing I worry about. If I’m in character, it should just fall out of my lips.” Mickey didn’t believe in memorization, though, in truth, Troy said that Mickey later admitted: “Cue cards help.” The key is to ask yourself what’s really important. Know the meaning of the scene and attach dialogue to the truth. When you learn the scene, you’ll learn your lines. The lesson is to be prepared, not over-rehearsed. Casting can detect fear or desperation better than any bloodhound. . Stop thinking that you’re “auditioning” when you walk into an audition Instead, regard it as going to a “meeting,” where you and the casting director (and whoever else is in there) can see if there’s a fit between you and the role. Don’t prove that you’re trying to act when you walk in the room. Casting can detect fear or desperation better than any bloodhound. What they DO want to see is that their character walks in the door, solving their casting problem. If that’s you, congrats! If not … well, do the best you can, make a great impression, and chances are that they’ll remember you for future projects in which you ARE a great fit. Acting: Don’t be afraid of a “no” on either side – whether they say it or you do “No” means “not right for this project” or “not right now.” It’s not a summation of your personal worth as a human being … or even of your acting talent. OK, sometimes your talent or training may be in question if you’re just starting out, but it’s not going to doom you forever. What can slow down your career? Being rude, certainly. Unprepared? Possibly. Falsely claiming a special ability that a role calls for? Yeah, not a good move at all. Overall, though, casting doesn’t remember that any given actor gave less than a stellar audition. They’re mostly focused on finding GREAT ones, and specifically, those that make their characters real and memorable. Sometimes the relationship is worth more than the money. Sometimes the other way around. Occasionally, the opportunity to work with a particular director or to support a special cause is worth more than demanding your usual, standard rate. Do what makes sense for YOU. Don’t undervalue yourself, but occasionally money is not the gold standard. The reverse holds true, too. If an individual or relationship would be toxic to the good of a project or to your own health and well-being … the job is just not worth it. You’d be happier walking away. And sometimes you just need the money to pay the bills. Think of it as a job, and then resolve to work professionally with the individual as best you can. Laura's Quick Tips Be on time ... for every meeting, every phone call Take the time to learn the names of your co-workers, even if it's only for a one day booking Understand the greater story and your role in it You'll do better if you don't burden yourself with thinking that "everything rides on getting this job" Sometimes, a closed door redirects you to bigger, better opportunities elsewhere Money is important, but keep your values front and center Actors are storytellers. We reflect society back on itself, posit and answer philosophical questions, entertain and educate, and inspire future generations. From the earliest human history, we are all storytellers. Cave art. Traveling minstrels. Tales told around campfires. Books, film, TV, cartoons, video games, internet videos … oh my! It’s a privilege today to have so many means of expression, and actors are front and center in that regard. Let’s all enjoy it and remember why we chose the entertainment industry for our livelihoods in the first place. A huge thanks to J. Michael Collins and Hugh Edwards of One Voice for the opportunity to speak at this conference! If you'd like to learn more about a career in film and TV, drop me a line. I'd love to talk with you! And for more information about how to get started - and avoid many common pitfalls - check out this recent blog post . I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Writer's strike? Use the time to develop your own projects. The film/TV industry is slow. S.L.O.W. Pretty much a standstill. At least in the union world, it is. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is striking for some very good reasons. Streaming services are at the center of the dispute. The guild says that even as series budgets have increased, writers' share of that money has consistently shrunk. Writers are not being paid commensurate with their experience, and many are looking at their full-time employment being replaced with a freelancer "gig" model. WGA members are fighting for better pay, streaming residuals, mandatory staffing, employment duration, and AI technology safeguards . The result? Every project that employs professional writers is coming to a screeching halt. And it looks like it'll remain so for some time, as negotiations don't seem to be progressing too rapidly. As a result, many in the industry, like the actors who get most of their work from these projects, are turning to their side "safety" jobs (often in the service industry) to pay their bills until the strike is resolved. Those of us who are non-union or Fi-Core have it a bit easier. Non-union projects are not as affected by the strike. Nor are most voice over jobs. For those of us who work both on camera and behind the mic, that gives us more time to pursue voice over opportunities in the non-union world, like non-broadcast corporate narration, explainers, and eLearning. But this time is also ideal for keeping our on camera skills sharp with classes and our own projects. Film actors are always encouraged to write, direct, produce, and even star in their own productions to broaden their experience and garner greater notice. And often these short and feature-length films do well in film festivals, bringing accolades and media attention to the actors and filmmakers. I've decided to take this film-making on a different route, especially since as a voice actor, I'm acutely aware of the advantages of marketing through social media. Extra points when the marketing vehicle offers entertainment or educational value. Translation: YouTube videos and, in particular, YouTube shorts. Short videos are, well, SHORT and simple enough for just one person to do on her own (which, truthfully, are about all I can handle!). Plus, they're fun to make, which - hopefully! - means that they're also enjoyable to watch. Long before the strike, I made a series of YouTube videos, each several minutes long, called "On Camera Tips for Busy Execs." The idea: use both my corporate sales experience and acting training to help business professionals and entrepreneurs become more comfortable and charismatic on camera themselves. After all, video IS king when it comes to content marketing. Maybe you've noticed that videos seem to be EVERYWHERE. Business folks are finding that they're appearing more on camera than ever before, in corporate videos, Zoom calls and presentations, panel discussions, and one-on-one interviews. Working on the series got my creative juices flowing and sparked ideas for several other short video series that I'm now pursuing. Then, when Google announced that it was going to include YouTube shorts in their general search criteria, it made sense to give these new series a shorts format: each under a minute long and shot vertically (in portrait mode on my iPhone) to ease viewing on mobile devices. Take ownership of your creativity. When work dries up, make your own! And use it to showcase your talent and skills. On Camera Confidence After creating the "On Camera Tips" video series, I saw an opportunity to repurpose much of the same information, but in a shorter, more easily accessible format. Voila! Instead of one 2-5 minute video on a topic with multiple points, such as how to get over your fear of being on camera in the first place (a biggie for most people!), I began creating shorts of 60 seconds or less that deal with different aspects of that fear and how to handle each one. The advantages? Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, and quick sound bites are easier for people to watch and absorb. Plus, the vertical format makes it easier to watch on mobile devices. Each video is captioned, too, just like in the original series, but with larger and more dynamic captioning that reminds viewers of Instagram or TikTok videos. These are not clips from the original video, but brand new videos. It's a different way of repurposing existing content, rather than just presenting re-runs that subscribers may recognize and therefore bypass. MOMisms This series is all about having fun. I have a wry, dry, and occasional dark sense of humor, which has been acutely developed since becoming a mom. A coincidence? I think not. For two years, I've been collecting all the funny witticisms I've come across in gift shops while on vacation. Quips that are printed on cocktail napkins, towels, notecards, postcards, and wall signs. I've long thought about putting them in teeny, tiny short videos ... and now's the time. I call the series MOMisms, and it's made up of all the things that moms think, say, or do when they believe their kids aren't paying attention. Or are too fried to care. Each is only one or two sentences. They're quips, observations, and downright funny sayings that ring true and may even be things you actually heard your mom say out loud. And I act them out, with appropriate background scenery, to give them context as very short stories. How short? Under 15 seconds long. Just enough to give people a little laugh as they go through their day. So what should be the subject of your own projects? Draw on your experience, interests, and passions. Actors Over 50 Being an, ahem, older actor has its challenges ... and its advantages. Especially in the on camera world where, unlike in voice over, how we look largely determines the roles that we play. Our appearance is as much of our brand or type as our personality and acting style. You'd be surprised to learn how many people take up acting careers later in life. I'm not talking about the occasional participation in the local community theater or appearing as a background character (an "extra") on screen. I'm referring to serious training that leads to professional representation and speaking roles in film, TV, commercials, industrials, and print. I've met attorneys, professors, medical professionals, and business people like myself who are pursuing acting full-time, as a side career, or in retirement. Not surprisingly, there are questions and concerns that we older actors have that our younger colleagues may not share, such as: Is there much casting for older roles? And if so, are we limited to mom and dad roles? Should I or should I not try to look younger? What about using hair dye, Botox, or fillers? Why in the world would they want me, at this age, to do a nude scene?! Advice for your own projects So what should be the subject of your own projects? Draw on your experience, interests, and passions. There are millions of people out there who are interested in all sorts of things. And many of them are surfing YouTube looking for ideas, examples of expertise, and tips to help them improve their own skills. Ask yourself: do I have something to offer that others could find useful, supportive, or just downright entertaining? The answer is probably yes. And hopefully, it's something legal that won't get you into trouble. Assuming that you and your subject matter are on the up and up ... go for it! Bring your own personality and quirks into the mix. Share your unique perspective on life, work, or play. Post consistently, whatever that means to you. Consistency is important when it comes to getting noticed and growing a following. My schedule is one video in each series per week, for a total of three videos weekly. It may sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, especially since each video is so short and to the point. Once a week is a pretty good rule of thumb. Batch the making of your videos, when you can. When I have a block of time, I jot down my ideas, consider how I want to present them, and then tape several at one time. I usually edit them later, again as a batch, and then schedule them to be published on YouTube and posted on social media accordingly. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment once you have the raw material recorded, again after they've been edited, and finally after they've been scheduled. Bonus good vibes when they begin to receive likes, subscribes, ad positive comments. Keep it simple! One idea per short is usually enough. Remember that short videos are not meant to be fancy. People actually prefer authenticity and a "real person" vibe over an obviously-tried-too-hard or snazzy professional production. (Longer form videos are another subject entirely.) Keep the editing minimal, too. Clip the video so that the speaker or action begins immediately upon play and ends right after your message is done; don't leave any "dead" space when nothing is happening or you may lose your following. In this day and age, attention spans are extremely brief and if viewers aren't being engaged or entertained ... they're gone. Laura's Quick Tips Not enough work out there to float your boat? Make your own waves by create something yourself. Producing your own content will keep your skills sharp and your creativity flowing. The more you do, the easier it becomes. (Just like anything.) If you're making short videos, don't overthink it. No fancy production necessary, just good content. Have fun! Or what's the point?! So, whaddya think? Want to try making your own content? If you'd rather just watch others' instead ... well, hop on over to my YouTube channel and take a look around. Of course, I'd love to have you as a new subscriber. It's kinda mandatory these days to say that, and people are tired of being told to "like and subscribe!" but it does encourage the creator to keep on creating. Instead, I'll say: I have fun making these YouTube shorts and I hope you enjoy them, too. Let me know what you think. Seriously! Feedback is cherished. And, of course, if there's any particular topic or question you'd like to see addressed, let me know that, too. Happy watching! Are you new to YouTube or just curious what a channel with multiple playlists looks like? Here's my channel as an example . And if you'd like to subscribe to be notified of each new video, you can do so here >. See? I couldn't help myself. I think the YouTube creator experience rewires your brain so you have to say that.... I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

A voice actor's worst nightmare! Congestion, hoarseness, and relentless coughing. Oh my! AAARRGH!! I was finally struck down after three years of successfully evading colds, flus - and yes, even Covid. And like the Energizer Bunny, when my battery runs down, I go down. Hard. Toppling over right where I'm standing. Not a pretty sight. Now, three weeks after contracting a nasty cold and spending a few days in bed ... I'm still coughing. So much so that my back muscles feel permanently twisted into a network of Gordian Knots from all that hacking. Painful, annoying, and more than a little detrimental to a voiceover career. Meaning that I've been barely able to literally squeak my way through a script without doubling over. Like I said, aargh! It's a fun little bugger that likes to hang on for weeks. It's been quite a winter for respiratory illnesses for a lot of people. Cold, flu, RSV, Covid ... take your pick. Hopefully, you've escaped the worst of it. Or at least had very minor cases of the bug du jour. It sure doesn't seem to take much before you're left literally speechless or croaking like a dessicated frog. Again, not a pretty sight. And universally problematic if you need healthy vocal cords to get you through meetings, presentations, and phone conversations. Or even just to yell at your kids when you think they need it most. If you're a voice actor like me, it puts the kabash on just about all voiceover auditions and bookings. Ouch. No voice, no work. Fortunately, there are a few things we CAN do to keep our pipes in good - well, at least decent - order to manage and power through these challenges. Losing your voice is not the end of the world. It just feels like it! What you CAN do to beat those respiratory bugs... Apply as many of these suggestions as you can: Hydrate – with lots of water. Add lemon and honey to help keep those vocal cords smooth and slippery. Hot or cold, water is just what your body needs. Soothe the throat – with lozenges, tea, and throat spray containing slippery elm, a natural throat lubricant. Licorice and marshmallow are also good for reducing inflammation. I find Traditional Medicinals' "Throat Coat" tea especially helpful, though I also love Aveda's mint tea blend wonderfully soothing. Hard swallow – frequent coughing causes swelling of your vocal chords and a good way to “lose your voice.” Instead of coughing, try tucking your chin to your chest and swallowing as hard as you can. Rest your voice – or use a soft, gentle tone instead. Forget whispering, which actually can strain your voice by forcing a greater airflow than normal through the vocal chords. Humidifier – Mama is right. More humidity in the air means less dryness in your throat. Standing in a hot shower inhaling the steam is beneficial, too, and soooo relaxing. What NOT to do... Watch out for these things, which can only make your symptoms worse: Don't clear your throat too often, which causes irritation and swelling. Try swallowing hard or sipping water instead. Avoid medications that are drying, like antihistamines and decongestions. Don’t smoke (inflammatory) or drink alcohol (irritating and drying) or caffeine (dehydrating). That last one can be hard, but try to limit or better yet, avoid altogether. Avoid hanging around obviously sick people. This may seem a DUH! And sometimes it can't be avoided if you're living with family or roommates. But ... we can wash our hands regularly and be careful what we touch in public spaces, especially mid-fall through late-winter when these bugs are most prevalent. Don't ignore early symptoms. Feel a cold coming on? I like to chew on some Zicam, drink more water than normal, get more sleep, and avoid overly stressful daily schedule. And finally ... be careful of the advice people give you. Perhaps including mine! Though it's not as strange as the folk medicine that Mark Twain described receiving when he was under the weather: (This elderly woman from the western plains) "mixed a decoction composed of molasses, aquafortis, turpentine, and various other drugs, and instructed me to take a wine-glass full of it every fifteen minutes. I never took but one dose; that was enough; it robbed me of all moral principle, and awoke every unworthy impulse of my nature." - Mark Twain Moral of the story: experiment at your own risk! Things I do on a daily basis to keep colds, etc. at bay... I'm usually pretty healthy and I attribute a large part of it to some good, longterm habits: Vitamin C daily, 1000 mg, builds up the immune system. I strongly suspect that I would have had many more colds, flus, etc. without it. Exercise, at least a few times a week, to keep the body and immune system fit. Personally, that includes stretching exercises every morning, and at least one short but brisk walk outdoors, weather permitting. I also like to mix in some cardio, Pilates, and low resistance weight work. Maybe your thing is running, tennis or pickle ball, or just running after your preschool kids. Whatever works! Just move. Sleep. It's the first thing most of us cut back on when we just. have. too. much. to. do. I'm a night owl, always have been, and my sleep was the first thing reduced when I had to get everything done AND get kids up, fed, and off to school (mom taxi here) or weekend activities just about every morning. I'm finally an empty-nester and now back to my old late night habits, though honestly I think I'd get more done if I shifted my schedule back an hour or two. More sleep during the night correlates pretty well to better moods during the day and a stronger immunity to illness. Keeping well-hydrated with water throughout the day. The old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Homemade, vegetable-heavy meals ... in other words, good, healthy food. Limited junk food, sodas, sugary snacks, and fast-food runs. Easier for some, not so much for dedicated carnivores or those with hectic schedules. Or those like me with an incurable sweet tooth. But it's a worthy goal. Laura's Quick Tips Listen to your mama and what she used to tell you about managing a cold or virus. Yeah, that stuff helps. Don't ignore early symptoms. Treat them as best you can when they first appear and you may be able to ward off or shorten your downtime. Good, healthy daily habits may ward off more attacks on your immune system than you'd realize. When I am laid low, my favorite go-to is hot tea with mint, slippery elm, and honey. Just makes me feel so much better and it pairs well with sitting by the fireplace, too. Wrapping up in a cozy afghan or blanket is also so nice. Hey, you do what you can! What are some of your faves for dealing with the blahs? Sometimes sh*t happens and we just have to cancel a booking ("nooooo!!") or put auditions, speaking engagements, and the like on a temporary hold. But sometimes, there can be a silver lining there, too. Read more about it here > I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

What’s inside The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever? Ideas that take you from traditional marketing to the metaverse ... and beyond. Strategy fundamentals, social media, marketing standards, and the newest technologies and business practices... Harness the power of collaborative marketing, featuring 36 expert authors What happens when futurist Mark Schaefer assembles 35 of his smartest marketing friends from around the world (with more than 750 accumulated years of experience!) and asks for their best marketing ideas? Well, it’s something amazing. In fact, it’s the most amazing marketing book ever! “I challenged my community friends to create insights, not just re-hash information you can find in a blog post somewhere. They delivered. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a small business owner trying to establish your first marketing strategy, get out your highlight marker!” Mark Schaefer Marketing Strategist and best-selling author of 9 marketing books What’s inside? Ideas that take you from traditional marketing to the metaverse ... and beyond. You'll find 34 chapters on strategy fundamentals, content strategy, social media, marketing standards, and the newest technologies and business practices. The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever - I'm in it! I write about leveraging your videos (and YouTube itself)... I give a bit of a different perspective, as I stand with one foot in the business world and the other squarely in the entertainment industry. My spiel is plain and simple: Stop scrollers in their tracks with videos that grab their attention! You have the great content; now add a little razzle-dazzle to keep their eyes on you. Make sure that your creative content is properly tagged and loaded with strong keywords so that it can be more easily found. My YouTube series, “On Camera Tips for Busy Execs,” is a perfect companion piece if you want to know how to make better and more dynamic videos yourself. - Watch HERE Find it on Amazon “The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever” is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle forms, and as an audiobook on Audible. Bonus: Author interviews Hear what the authors have to say about their chapters. We hosted a 24 hour marathon of author interviews, which is available here upon replay. Check out the schedule and choose the interview you'd like to see: I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Save Time and Money on Your Next Project Congrats! You have your project all mapped out. The script for the video is written to perfection. You have selected the perfect voice to narrate it. And now you’re ready to schedule the recording session and direct a spot-on performance, just like you’ve imagined it should sound. OK, maybe it’s not a directed session. This could be an eLearning course or an explainer video, in which case the voice over may be recorded (and perhaps edited) remotely from the talent’s home studio on his or her own time. But with the right script and the right voice, you’re golden, right? Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s best not to leave anything to chance, especially if you have something specific in mind. The last thing you want to end up with is a recording, while technically what you’ve asked for, that misses the mark and needs to be partially or even completely redone. And if you’ve never worked with a voice actor before, you may be unsure of how to even proceed once you’ve selected the talent you want. In any situation, it’s smart to avoid unnecessary waste of time and money. The goal is to get it right the first time, and that’s done with diligent upfront planning and clear communications. In no particular order, here are my Top Ten Tips for getting the most out of your voice actor: 1. Use a broadcast-quality studio It doesn’t matter if it’s an outside professional recording studio or a home studio – just make sure that the voice actor can deliver audio with a sufficiently low noise floor (-60 db or lower) without extraneous noise ruining the quality. Without a proper recording environment, your audio engineers will find it very difficult to turn the audio files into something useable. Your voice actor may have recorded his or her audition from the studio that would be used for the job. Great! You know what you’ll be receiving. Otherwise, you may want to ask for a very short voice sample before the job begins or have the talent connect with your audio engineer to test the dynamics first. 2. Clarify the scope of the job Oftentimes, these details are communicated to voice actors BEFORE they audition for your job, especially if you had posted the job on a casting site, sent it out to agents, or asked certain talent directly to audition. Otherwise, make sure that the talent understands exactly what the voice over will be used for: genre (ex. commercial, corporate narration, video game, etc.) length : number of words in the script OR the approximate length of time of the finished recording (ex. 90 seconds for a narration or 15 minutes per eLearning module) OR any time restrictions (ex. 30 seconds for a commercial) character (if applicable) for a video game, animation, or certain eLearning scenarios audience: who is it for? Are they to be informed, persuaded, or entertained? 3. Describe the tone of the project Again, the vocal tone is often described prior to auditioning, but make sure that the voice actor knows what you’re looking for. Do you want a friendly, casual read that purely conversational? A brassy, sassy type of voice, perhaps like that of a well-known celebrity? Or a serious and authoritative read? Be specific and provide several descriptive words like these to let the talent know where you’re coming from. Experienced voice actors will often provide two different reads, especially if the description allows for multiple interpretations. For example, asking for a read that’s conversational, like your best friend who’s talking frankly with you, may provide you with auditions that sound friendly and helpful, or serious and a bit sarcastic, or even motherly and protective. The voice actor may even give you one read that is as close to your specifications as possible and another “wild card” read that he or she thinks would work, too. 4. Spell out the job’s usage, payment details, and revision/retake requirements Usage – is it for broadcast (radio, TV, streaming, etc.), non-broadcast (internal usage)? If it’s broadcast, how long will the voice over spot run and in which size markets? Payment – how much does the job pay? Is it one in a series, for which the voice actor will be paid the same amount per job? Revision/Retake requirements – the voice actor will probably have their own revision/retake policy, but state your expectations or requirements upfront. 5. If the recording will take place in a directed session, list the connectivity tool(s) you expect the talent to have available Options include Source Connect , ipDTL , Zoom , Skype , or any other connectivity tools that your audio engineers use. ISDN , once the industry standard, has been eclipsed by these other software-based options that do not require a significant hardware investment, though it is occasionally still used. 6. Specify what you need to receive from the talent after recording has taken place There are several options here: Nothing ! - In a directed session, especially if the voice over is recorded by your audio engineer through Source Connect (as an example), the talent may not need to do anything but voice the script. Most voice actors, however, also record the session on their end as a backup. If the original recorded by your engineers becomes corrupted, misplaced, or is interrupted (an unexpected break in an internet connection), then the backup avoids needing to schedule another recording session. The backup would be sent as a raw (.wav) audio file. Raw (.wav) audio file –If you are connecting for a directed session via Zoom, for example, then you’ll probably want the voice actor to record at his or her end and send the raw file (.wav) to you afterwards. A .wav file is high quality, uncompressed audio and provides the best sounds quality. It’s also the format that is needed to be incorporated in the project’s final mixdown. Processed (.mp3) audio file – Auditions are sent in as .mp3 audio files, and you may prefer to receive a processed and compressed .mp3 audio file from your voice actor if it will posted “as is” without further mixing. File Splits – If your project has many components to be voiced, such as with multiple modules within a single eLearning course, be sure to tell your voice actor how you want the file split and labeled. Sample rate and bit rate – Most voice actors default to recording with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz and a bit rate of 16 or 24. Tell them ahead of time if you want anything different. 7. Send the script ahead of the session Help the voice actor prepare by sending the script ahead of a directed recording session, so that any questions can be addressed before the appointed time. Even when the voice actor is self-directing and recording alone, offer to answer any questions regarding pronunciation of names, places, or even numbers. For example, is the number 100 to be voiced as “one-zero-zero” or “one hundred” or “one-oh-oh?” And for words like “either,” provide notes with the script if you wish it to be pronounced “I-ther” or “E-ther.” The same goes for tomato (“toe-may-toe” vs. “tah-mah-toe”), potato, and other regionalisms. It’s also helpful to have descriptions of emotions or changes in tone or pace in the script where you think they’re essential. Most voice actors will intuit what’s needed, take the clues from the punctuation, and incorporate them without direction, but if you want a particular emphasis somewhere, note it either before the script begins or imbedded in parenthesis within it. Just don’t overdo the performance notes; it’s counterproductive to try to direct the voice actor sentence by sentence. All too often, the actor’s attention becomes more focused on honoring your direction, rather than on interpreting your script and effectively communicating its message. A little direction is good, too much can interrupt the natural flow of the performance and cause it to come across as stilted. 8. Ask for a short sample read Especially for long-form projects like eLearning, it can be helpful for the voice actor to send you a short 30-60 recording to ensure that the pacing, tone, and quality of the recording is on track with what you are expecting. This way, you can redirect or correct the talent early in the project, which will make everyone much happier than if the correction came after farther into the process. 9. Share other components of the project, if possible Are you using a music bed? Visuals to highlight the narration? Either of these things can provide clues to the voice actor as to what the finished project will look and sound like, and help him or her adjust the performance to match the music or visuals. 10. Don’t rewrite the script after the voice files are submitted Save yourself time, money, and aggravation by providing the voice actor with the final version of your script. Yes, small changes like a phrase here and there may be necessary or an extra sentence may need to be added, but professional, experienced voice actors will not re-record an entire long script without additional session fees. This ties back to my fourth point above; spell out in advance your expectations and understand what the voice actor’s retake/revision policy is . Most actors will not charge for very small changes, especially if they’re due to mispronunciations. Whether they do or not really depends on the scope of the requested changes relative to the length of the finished product. But you’ll save money – and certainly time – by presenting your voice actor with a script in its final form. I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

The Next Best Thing to Being There In Person Thanks to the pandemic, home voiceover studios are “in.” In-person recording sessions at outside studios are largely “out.” True, the industry trend had been slowly moving in that direction anyways, prior to Covid-19 paralyzing the world business community. But no one can dispute that the movement has been vastly accelerated within the past year. Nor that it’s unlikely to completely reverse itself once the pandemic is over. Professional home studios are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future, for so many reasons: convenience for the voice actor, cost savings for the production company, a greater availability of talent without the restrictions of physical geography, to name just a few. With the home studio comes the ability to remotely record and direct voice actors in live sessions, thanks to so many available – and affordable! - options. Here are a dozen of those terrific options available to voice actors and their clients. I’ve divided them into three categories: Professional high quality remote audio recording, video conferencing, and audio conferencing. Professional remote audio recording These high quality, or professional, remote audio recording options rival those available in professional outside recording studios. In no particular order, they are: 1. ISDN or Integrated Services Digital Network ISDN was the unchallenged communications standard for many years. It works over the telephone network to transmit top quality audio between recording studios. The voice actor from a home studio and the director at a recording studio each have an ISDN box that “talks” to the other. They can hear each other in real-time, with the director listening and directing the voice actor during a live session. It’s an expensive option requiring extra hardware that today’s newer digital solutions don’t need. It’s mostly fallen by the wayside, though a few older studios that haven’t upgraded to one of the digital options below may still regularly use it. 2. Source Connect Source Connect has recently become the industry-standard standard replacing ISDN. Instead of channeling audio through telephone lines, Source Connect uses the Internet to connect studios remotely. No hardware is required, though each studio needs the software installed and configured on their computers. The technology is solid and secure, with excellent sound quality. Source Connect offers monthly subscription services or a one-time purchase option, with several tiers of capability. Voice actors will find the Standard version perfectly suitable for their needs, while production company studios will invest in the Pro or Pro X solutions. (Talent, please note that the free Source Connect Now version is no longer accepted by many production studios.) 3. ipDTL ipDTL , so named for “IP down the line” (IP being Internet Protocol), remotely connects studios. Like Source Connect, it’s a software platform that works through the Internet with no hardware acting as the middleman, and it provides excellent audio quality. Sessions are initiated and managed through the company’s website, which also features a recording capability. ipDTL is available via a software subscription, though day passes can also be purchased. 4. BodalgoCall Offered through the voice casting site Bodalgo, BodalgoCall is an ultra-high quality audio chat for groups of up to five people. BodalgoCall resides on the user’s browser, it’s free, and does not require a subscription to Bodalgo. As they say, “such a deal!” 5. SessionLinkPro SessionLinkPro is a Chrome browser-based solution that provides yet another alternative to ISDN. It’s used more in Europe than in the United States, and has remote recording, video, and conferencing capabilities. Audio recording and video, however, require two browser tabs to be opened for them to work together. SessionLinkPro is a subscription-based service. 6. ConnectionOpen ConnectionOpen is a non-browser based standalone application that provides high quality audio between multiple users. It works through an easy to set up computer-based app that features a built-in digital recorder. Usage is via subscription or day pass. Video Conferencing Only If the voice actor will be recording the directed session within his or her home studio, then several other free options may work just fine. In this case, the talent will be responsible for recording, managing, and delivering the raw audio file to you afterwards. I highly suggest a “dry run” check a day or two before the scheduled session to ensure that the recording levels and quality meet your expectations. Ask for a sample recording from the “dry run” to be emailed to you so that you can hear the quality for yourself, and then make any adjustments before the live session takes place. 7. Zoom The current standard for video conferencing, Zoom works well for the director and voice actor to see and talk with one another. The talent can even screenshare the DAW recording, if the audio engineer wants to see the setting and levels for him/herself. 8. Skype An alternative to Zoom, Skype is another way for the director and voice actor to see and talk with one another. Although Skype offers recording ability for Skype to Skype calls, the talent should be recording the session with his/her own DAW (the recording/editing software) for highest quality. 9. Google Meet Google users may opt for Google Meet , which (as the name implies) provides virtual real-time meetings. 10. Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams offers unlimited chats, audio and video calls, and is another option for clients or directors wishing to see and hear the voice actor record the live session. The voice actor will have to be made a part of the “team” to be able to participate, so companies with closed, secured employee team networks may want to choose another option for the recording session . 11. FaceTime Available on Apple platform products, FaceTime offers group calls and yet another way for clients and directors to lead the recording session. Audio Conferencing Only Sometimes the simplest option is all you need: 12. Phone The old phone patch has evolved to needing no other equipment than – wait for it – a phone on each end of the recording session. The drawbacks? No video. And the client or director will have a devil of a time hearing the recording played back at a proper quality level (translation: they can’t). They CAN, however, listen and direct the voice actor as needed. On the voice actor’s end, the phone can either be on speaker mode or, most likely, he or she will just wear either a one-ear headset or a single earbud. This way, the talent can listen to the client while listening to the playback on his/her computer’s DAW. But not at the same time. While we have two ears, we only have one brain, and processing two people talking at the same time rarely works out well. But, hey! This method is free and if the client or director has worked with the voice actor before and trusts that he/she’ll deliver a top quality recording, then this method should work out just fine. So who determines which connectivity option to use? That would be you, the client or the director. Most production companies state the technology requirements up-front to the voice actor or agent. Many auditions coming through my agents ask the talent to identify their home studio capability in the name of the audition itself, usually requesting Source Connect or ipDTL. Others that come through casting sites are non-specific or simply don’t need to engage the talent in a directed session. Whichever the case, decide what you want or need, communicate that to the talents before they audition, and then verify the technological capabilities before hiring a voice actor. After all, he (or she) who offers the job makes the rules. I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Do Yourself a Favor - Save Time and Money in Your Search You have a project that needs narration or perhaps an interesting character voice. You’re looking for a voice actor. A good one who is also professional and experienced – and available at a reasonable rate. So how do you go about finding one? If you’ve never hired voice talent before, chances are that you’ll turn to your friendly search tool on your browser. And that friendly search tool will most likely bring up page after page of overly friendly and eager options – mostly ads for casting sites and other companies that will help you find talent … for a price. You’ll have to dig pretty deep before you get past all them to see results that actually represent individual voice actors themselves. Now this is one way to find talent. And it might be your default method, especially if you like to find and work with them directly. But there are a few others we can talk about, so let’s just review them all: Direct Search Certainly one of the least expensive, but more time-consuming, ways to find talent. You’ll want to develop search criteria to hone in on the types of talent that best fit your project. For example, are you creating a branding video for your website or looking to create a company overview? You’ll want to search for “corporate narration” and perhaps specify a male or female voice. No doubt you’ll still see some ads, but you’ll begin to see individual names whose websites have been optimized for the search engines. These are just the top of the iceberg, so narrowing your search with additional criteria may help you find many more good options. If you know that you want to work with local voice over talent, only middle-aged female voices, and those with home studios equipped with Source Connect so that you can conduct a remote recorded and directed session…well, now you’ll have a smaller pool of candidates. Once you have a good handful of options, narrow your list again by listening to each person’s demos. What type of voice best matches what you have in mind? Is there a voice that sparks your interest and therefore should catch the ears of your intended audience? This is all subjective. Whatever sounds good to you is worth exploring. Finish up by contacting each person on this short list and ask for an audition sample – a few lines to a paragraph of copy – and a quote. You certainly want to make sure that the person today sounds the same as the voice on the demo! And that the talent can easily replicate the quality of his or her demo. Be careful of hiring someone with too little training or experience. An excellent quality demo track may have taken one or fifty reads from the talent to get it “right.” It may have been cobbled together from multiple reads and enhanced with effects to make it sound better than what the talent is currently capable of providing. Do your due diligence by asking for an audition! Most talents will ask you about your project, too: the length of the intended recording, usage, etc. before they can quote you a rate. The more information you provide, the more accurate the quote. Be sure to define what you want from the voiceover service, such as deadlines, a retake policy, etc. The more detail you provide, the easier it will be to find the right talent who understands your requirements, as well as the business side of voice over. The right professional is also the one who values your business and delivers great customer service. Casting Sites Casting sites are pretty easy to find. Hey, they’re the ones usually paying for the ads that you saw from your Google search for talent. They can be a quick way to receive hundreds of auditions for your project, but they can also cost you a lot of time sifting through them to find the professional, well-trained voice actors, especially if you are looking for a “deal” and offering lower than a standard rate for your project. Casting sites are not all the same. Some operate like boutique agencies that vet their talent and accept only those with professional demos and broadcast-quality studio capabilities. In turn, they expect listed projects to offer professional pay. Others focus on quantity over quality of talent and jobs, making their commissions on a high volume of bookings. As a client, you may want to save money by offering a low rate, but just realize that the job will not likely attract strong, professional talent. As with anything, you’ll you’ll probably get what you pay for. Within the industry, Casting sites are referred to as “pay to play,” so-called because they make their money from voice actors who pay to receive auditions for jobs like yours. As the client, there’s usually no cost to you; the casting site or P2P profits from their member subscriptions and, depending on the P2P, sometimes a commission from off the talent’s pay from a booked job. Some of them may help you price jobs. If you want to familiarize yourself with the standard rates that most professional voice actors reference, look at the rate guides provided by the Global Voice Acting Academy at www.globalvoiceactingacademy.com or (direct link ) https://globalvoiceacademy.com/gvaa-rate-guide-2/ . Gravy For The Brain at www.gravyforthebrain.com has a smaller, less comprehensive, but very useful rate guide at: https://rates.gravyforthebrain.com/?view=1&country=en_US . So who are some of these casting sites? There are literally dozens in the U.S. and overseas, but here are some of the better known ones: VOplanet and Bodalgo focus on quality of jobs and voice actors (talents’ demos have to be vetted before joining their rosters). Voice123 has talent and jobs at all levels, with an extensive list of membership tiers and subscription costs to the actors. Fiverr, VoiceBunny, and others promote inexpensive voiceover services. Voices.com was one of the very first casting sites and has undergone many changes since then. They’re known to the voice actor community for taking extremely high commissions off the projects that their members book. There are many others, too; check them out carefully to see which best fits your needs, should you decide to look for talent through casting sites. Agents and Casting Directors Agents are the gold standard for finding top talent, especially for commercials, promos, animation, and video games, but also in other areas. You can’t go wrong with an agent, if you’re looking for strong voice actors. You will pay an industry standard rate to the talent, as well as a commission to the booking agent, which is a percentage based on the pay of the job itself. If you contract with an outside casting director, that individual will work with you to detail the job specifications, manage the agency submissions, and present you with a curated list of who he or she considers the top contenders. An additional and separate fee will be payable to the casting director. Referrals Just as it’s easier to keep clients then to have to go out and replace them with new ones, it’s often much much easier to work with talents with whom you’ve worked before. It’s also easier to meet new voice actors that come highly recommended by those same proven, reliable talents. The voice acting community is well networked, with people who genuinely like to help others. If you’re looking for a specific skill set that your regular talents don’t have, ask them for referrals. Oftentimes, they’ll know someone who has the particular accent you need, a skill that’s hard to find, or a personal background that matches your client’s specifications. Or even another voice actor who’s immediately available for a last minute, rush call. Direct Marketing from other Voice Talent Do you receive emails from voice actors introducing themselves and their services? Don’t just trash them. There may be some real gems in there. Take a quick moment to listen to their demos and if you hear something you like and think there’s a possibility of using them in the future, keep their information handy in a file folder or flash drive. You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you keep your own list of available voice actors that you can pull out at a moment’s notice. Keep a simple database or spreadsheet of their names, contact information, and skills, so that when you need auditions to share with your client, you already have a short list of reliable and responsive voice actors to call on. You’re in a stronger position with your clients when you can respond quickly with samples of good, qualified voices for their projects. It’s a great feeling to search for something specific … and find it. It’s even better when it comes looking for you! I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Want to learn the secrets behind on-camera excellence? You don't have to be a professional actor if you want to know how to use the camera or microphone to your best advantage. Knowing something about them, though, can help you relax and feel more confident when you are asked to participate in a video. Perhaps you'll be... Webinar or Podcast Guest Presenter Company Spokesperson Discussion Panelist Online Instructor Featured Speaker in a Zoom meeting Public Speaker Download my Top 10 Tips for Becoming More Comfortable & Effective on Camera This handy guide will help you relax while showing you how to add engaging, dynamic delivery to your videos! I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Showcase your creativity in bite-sized video shorts Looking to expand your social media network? Pack a punch in 10 seconds or less with a quick message. Bonus points if you're providing a useful tip or a bit of good-natured humor. Attention spans are SHORT ... so give 'em content to match. It's more likely that way that they'll watch all the way through, especially if the video is less than 15 seconds. Yes, 15 seconds! While short videos are defined as anything less than a minute, it has become a race to extreme brevity. Want to be remembered? Do it upfront in the first few seconds. Want more eyeballs on your content? Engage the senses ... and be entertaining. Take a tip from the comedians Comedians know how to get to the point ... and how long their audiences will stick with them until they do. They also know that the punch line is what everyone's waiting for, even if it's just a sight gag. Know precisely what you want to offer and then serve it up to your audience on a platter. Serious content or purely for fun ... deliver it upfront in unconventional or unexpected style. More bonus points if you can make it entertaining. Video takes front and center Know those image posts with wise, popular, or humorous sayings? They've been all over Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn for years. Even earlier, you've probably seen them as "quote of the day" desktop calendars. You may have even had one or two at some point. They were one of the first things that early content providers wrangled into posts to boost engagement and visibility. But everything is digital nowadays and video is king. And short videos are trending. Big-time. Furthermore, videos, especially short videos, are promoted by YouTube and searchable by Google. So ... if you have something to say – and want to be memorable – create these video shorts that are attention-getting and entertaining. And use keywords so that they can be more easily found! "I'm discovering that they (short videos) attract many, many more viewers than any other type of video I'm posting." 50 shades of mom This is what my YouTube short video series MOMisms is all about. Instead of adapting quotes of the day, I'm bringing to life those humorous, pithy quips and snarky observations that adorn countless cocktail napkins, kitchen towels, and greeting cards that you find in all sorts of gift shops. I’ve been collecting these little gems for a few years now (usually while on vacation), and in the past few months, have begun producing fun super-short videos and rolling them out on a weekly basis. Each video is only about 5-10 seconds long and showcases one of the many faces of mom: loving, wry, skeptical, concerned, annoyed … the list goes on and on, just like in real life. 50 shades of mom ... and counting. And guess what? I'm discovering that they attract many, many more viewers than any other type of video I'm posting. Here’s a sample: Want to see some more? They’re all on YouTube, along with my other long and short video series. If they put a smile on your face, consider subscribing . You'll be notified as each new one becomes available. And it'll literally only take seconds to watch! Laura's Quick Tips Create short videos (60 seconds or less) to extend your marketing reach Have fun with them! Make them entertaining ... and your audience will grow more quickly House them on YouTube and be sure to tag them with keywords for Google Search Find them all under the MOMisms playlist on my YouTube channel . Want help developing your on-camera confidence? I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Making Video Work for You I recently launched a new video series on YouTube, On Camera Tips for Busy Execs . It’s designed to share acting tips, tricks, and techniques with business people who will be speaking on camera, perhaps for the first time. Corporate websites. Training videos. Testimonials. Interviews. Video is incredibly popular and it’s exploded all over the internet, dominating social media. Even Instagram , with its origins as a photo sharing site, has segued into prioritizing video posts over photos. If businesses don’t already have at least one video on their websites, they’re probably heading in that direction. And hey! Somebody has to make them. Sometimes that takes place in-house, usually within the marketing department. Other times, the project is outsourced to a production house or advertising agency. And while these projects may use professional actors and/or voice talent like me, there are many instances in which an actual employee or corporate executive is featured on camera. If that’s you, then this video series can help you literally put your best face forward on camera. What's your video's purpose? Video is not video is not video. It takes a different form and vibe depending on what it’s used for. Is the video intended to promote the company within its industry, showing how it’s different from its competition? Or instead, to demonstrate how to use a new product? We’ve all seen tutorials on how to assemble your whatzit, whoozit, or other gadget. Maybe the video is purely educational, such as training new employees on the ins and outs of approved corporate behaviors. Totally different purposes. What's your video's form? Its form will take on several shapes, depending on what you’re creating: commercial, industrial, tutorial, or virtual tour. Let’s throw in an “other” category – there’s always exceptions to the rule. My point, though, is that form follows function, to borrow an architectural principle. A commercial, for example, is constructed and produced differently than an industrial film because the message, audience, and intention are different. The commercial embodies a sell cycle, with a problem, solution, supportive points, and a call to action - all within 15-60 seconds. Oh, and it has to be memorable, too. Humor works great in this area! Its intent is to grab the viewers’ attention, impress them with a pain point they may not even realize they’re aware of, tell them why it has to be addressed, and ta-da! present a solution that just happens to be what the commercial is promoting. In contrast, an industrial video is used within the company and intended to inform or educate the employees. It may resemble a commercial in structure - even in length - if it sits on the internal corporate website, but it more often looks like a presentation, lecture, short film or instructional video. The best-received industrials are often a bit humorous, but by and large, most industrials are straightforward, literally “getting down to business” to communicate what they need employees to understand. What's the tone of your video? Another consideration is the tone of the video. Is it intended to be serious or light-hearted? To entertain or impress? Short in length and punchy? Or much longer, perhaps in a series, leading the viewer down a path to reveal answers to the questions the video poses? I’ve been in one industrial that was created as an interactive video game, with employees choosing a character to play as that character navigates their way through a typical day at work, making mistakes along the way and sidestepping pitfalls if they’ve mastered the video’s lessons. The company even made a board game of the video, with each character a physical standup representation of the real person playing the role. I would have loved to have seen the final result! On Camera Tips for Busy Execs: Outward vs. Inward-Facing Another aspect that plays into the shape of the video is whether it’s outward-facing (customer-focused) or inward-facing (for internal use). Examples of outward or customer-focused videos include: Commercials (60 seconds or less) Infomercials (longer commercials that demonstrate the product) Explainer videos (animated, whiteboard, or live action 1-3 minute videos that are often humorous and serve as a commercial/infomercial hybrid) Training videos, also called eLearning, for the users of your products Interviews Panel discussions Examples of inward or internal use videos include: Presentations for internal meetings Kick-off videos for corporate events On-boarding welcome messages for new employees or guests to the company Training videos, also called eLearning Regularly scheduled messaging, such as “A Word From Our CEO” weekly update emailed to employees or hosted on the internal website Irregularly posted or emailed messages from Human Resources (HR) or the company administrators to announce policy changes or holiday operations Formal vs. Casual While true formality long ago took a back seat to a more casual work environment, both in dress and in presentation styles, it’s still around in spirit. Who hasn’t sat through a lecture disguised as a presentation? Especially if it’s delivered by the top brass. More casual videos use entertainment as a means to persuade, inform, and educate. A much higher probability of retention and perhaps even repeat viewing. So what is a formal approach? Content delivered directly to the viewer in a concise manner. To paraphrase Sergeant Joe Friday from the 1950s TV show Dragnet: "The facts, ma'am, just the facts..." This includes cost/benefit analyses, detailed technical or medical information, or the serious learning style of some training videos: “press the arrow key to go to the next slide.” More casual videos are designed to elicit responses from the viewers or, in the world of social media, promote engagement with comments and shares within the hosting platform. The subject matter may be treated in a light-hearted manner, even poking fun at itself or its competition. Examples of casual video styles include many commercials or infomercials introducing new products, inspiring or motivational videos advertising travel destinations, or interactive training programs designed to teach viewers by showing them the results of their choices. My experience with the industrial described earlier is one example. Boost Your Effectiveness on Camera! Understand the Video You may or may not be involved in actually creating the video from the first steps, but it helps to understand the basic process. As someone delivering the message on camera, it’s important to keep these points in mind: Purpose or message of the video Intended audience Tone and style of the piece You will want to know the answers to the above, so that you look like the embodiment of the message and in sync with your viewers. That means a video showing the amazing benefits of the latest sports shoe will feature someone who looks like someone who plays or at least REALLY enjoys that sport. If the sports shoe is geared towards a young demographic, then the spokesperson will most likely look, act, and dress like the expected audience, so that viewers identify with the person on screen and trust what they say and recommend. Sometimes, the person shown on camera is the polar opposite of what you’d expect to see. That commands interest, stirs curiosity, and can be the source of some great humor. Remember the Snickers commercials and their hook, “you’re playing like Betty White out there?” Featuring Betty White, of course! Put Your Best Face Forward On Camera Sure, you want to look good on camera, but there’s a lot more to it than just presenting a pretty face. You need to show up as your own best self: genuine, interesting, trustworthy, and likeable. If you’re appearing on behalf of your company or products, being interviewed as an expert, or even participating in a panel discussion of experts, you’ll want to know how to make the camera your friend. There are plenty of tips from the actor’s world that apply here, things that you can also use to come across as a pro on camera. Even if you’re naturally relaxed and engaging on camera, there are still a few technical know-hows that would come in handy, such as knowing where to place your eyelines and how to move so that you’re compelling on camera and not just twitchy. That’s where my series comes in. One subject a week, just a few minutes each, plus subtitles if you need to keep the sound down. Click this YouTube link to watch and let me know what you think! I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

People want a conversational, authentic approach. Not a hard sell. I was quite excited to speak with Val Low on her podcast recently.As a MAP IT Master & Brand Strategist, Val works with entrepreneurs through visual business mapping to take their dreams and business ideas out of their head and bring them to life. The result? Strategies for creating a message and brand that stand out - and that people love to talk about. What did we talk about? The importance of video in social media content marketing. A conversational and authentic approach to marketing. Outsourcing voiceover and finding the right voice actor. Tips for recording high-quality audio from home. The power of mistakes and bloopers in making you more relatable and engaging to audiences. Here's a quick 30 second preview: Want to hear the full 30 minute podcast? I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY