Enjoying the show is one thing, but sometimes it's more fun to know the stories happening behind the curtain. One of the things I enjoy most about the entertainment industry is the sheer unpredictability of it. Maybe it’s because my previous career was in the corporate world where some of those years felt like a grind. Same work details, same schedule, day after day. I much prefer variety with a little surprise thrown in, which is why I eventually migrated over to sales. Some days, you just never knew what was going to be thrown at you. And what you could lob right back at ‘em. Every morning, I look forward to opening my email to see if I scored a booking, a callback, or even an interesting audition. Yup, I’m an optimist, always anticipating something positive waiting for me. And occasionally it happens. Sometimes all at once. This business is often described as feast or famine. Long stretches without any bookings with nary an “atta girl” or “well, you were one of our top three choices” in the bunch. You rarely get feedback outside of a callback or the booking itself. There’s not an actor out there who hasn’t experienced it. I sure have. While I had a few nice projects last year, 2022 was pretty much a bit of a yawner for me. I was a little worried that it would continue into 2023, too. Well, just to show that you can never tell what’s coming around the bend, January was such a blur of activity that the month was over before it even seemed to begin. I didn’t even have a chance to write and publish more than the first week’s blog. Definitely one in the feast category. I was on set in four different projects, working almost every day for a solid three weeks. And that doesn’t count the voiceover work that came in, too. It was exhausting, but it was exhilarating and I loved how each project was so different. If you’re not in the entertainment industry, you probably don’t know how varied each production could be. Hence this blog post, to give a sneak behind-the-scenes peek at each one. A creative career is never dull. Challenging, frustrating, unpredictable. But never dull. Real Time, Real Place, Real Training Video The first project was a corporate training video for the employees of a big box store. It was also the quickest to do – I was in and out in about 45 minutes, which is pretty unreal. I was booked for a half day, but as it turned out, the drive to and from the location took longer than the time to record a few takes. Including the time sitting around while the crew set up their shots. It was also the easiest of the four projects to prepare, for two excellent reasons. One, this was for a repeat client who asked for me directly, so there was no audition involved. Just the inquiry from my agent asking if I was free that day and if I accepted the job. Gotta love opportunities like this that fall in the lap! Second, there was no memorization involved, as the client had a teleprompter all set up. I saw the script ahead of time, which I studied to verify brand name pronunciations (there were a few tricky ones) and to get a feel for what they wanted me to do, but that was about it. Easy peasy! Honestly, teleprompter jobs are a perfect fit for any actor like me who does both voice over and on camera work. Sweet! And the client was thrilled that I could give them several clean takes right off the bat. Thanks, voiceover training! This shoot was a little different than the previous one I’d done for them a few months back. Before, we were on a sound stage against a green screen. A nice controlled environment. This one was shot inside a busy store in one of their product aisles, complete with piped-in music and curious shoppers wandering past, wondering what all the fuss was about. The biggest challenge was for the crew who had a little difficulty getting store management to shut down the piped-in music for a few minutes here and there. Evidently, the store manager liked his Big 80s station and thought it would make great background music. But it all worked out, was great fun, and I even learned quite a bit about lawn care equipment. Always useful, with spring not that far away. Crazy Commercial The day after the big box shoot, I was in my car driving up to Chattanooga for a couple of days on a commercial shoot. This booking required an audition and a callback, both conducted remotely, which may remain the new normal. Pre-pandemic, commercial auditions were almost always held in person at the casting office’s location. Callbacks, too. But like everything that still filmed during the pandemic, submissions became self-taped and callbacks were held via Zoom. Most actors and agents figured that we’d be going back to being in the room again, at least for commercials, but … no. For the time being, and maybe it’ll stay this way, commercial casting is being handled remotely, just like nearly all film/TV auditions. Convenient on one hand and sad on the other, as we miss seeing real people and being able to “read the room” to gauge whether we hit the mark or not. And often the clients don’t even appear on the Zoom screen during the callback, so it’s hard to get a sense of them, too. So, as with any voiceover audition, we live in our heads when it’s time to audition or attend the callback. It could actually be rather helpful when the material is “out there” and we just do our thing without regard to the audience’s … er, client’s … reaction. Like with this project, which called for a really wacky, funny mom character. Which I TOTALLY appreciated. In real life, my kids prefer that I not embrace my silly side, especially in front of their friends, but in this scenario, I was told that there was no such thing as “too big.” All right! I let loose, pulled out all the stops, and was thrilled to play totally obnoxious, strange, and even a little deranged. Definitely would have scored an eyeroll from my daughter. What made this booking a favorite was that this commercial was for a product that my family actually uses and buys often. It wasn’t hard to be authentically enthusiastic! The only challenge was a physical one, as I had to spring upright from behind a couch from a low lunging position, over and over again for about an hour to get in all types of shots while my Gen Z scene partners sprawled on the couch. I’m in great shape, but man, that was a workout. Especially since it was only on one side. I walked around a little lopsided for about a day afterwards. I was also able to use my improv training, as they wanted my character to come up with different lines and expressions every time she literally sprung into view. It got a little wild, and once in a while, some of what I said was actually funny. Mostly though, they kept throwing me different lines to spout and I had to keep them all straight while I did my lunging and springing. I knew I was getting tired when I’d mess up here and there, but I remembered what my acting teachers would say: keep it fresh and spontaneous with every take, that’s what they’re paying good money for. Even if I had to do it a hundred or more times. Which I think I did! The teleprompter is a perfect fit for any actor like me who does both voice over and on camera work. Love Games … Hot and Cold I’m actually allowed to name this project before it airs, so there it is. Aptly named, it’s a love story, a sweet dramedy (drama with plenty of comic moments), and a cast of loveable characters. I think it’s destined for Hallmark and it’s a feel-good, boy meets girl, girl kicks boy out of her life, girl sees error of her ways, boy’s still there waiting for her kind of story. I played the sassy but supportive hippy-dippy mom and confidante of the female lead. A fun role with some great lines and plenty of opportunities to deliver those “mom looks” that need no words to be clearly understood. I was on set nine days during three weeks of filming and jumped into it within hours of completing the commercial shoot. The only hitch was that filming took place in north Georgia during the coldest part of our winter, which this year, was actually rather cold, down to the 30s and 40s. Now that may not seem like much to you hardy northern types, but the storyline was set in Florida, in mid-summer, along the water. So we were filming in gauzy summer clothes outside, on a lake or two, while the temps weren’t much above freezing and the wind reminded us that it was indeed mid-January, no matter what the script said. As another acting coach once said, if you can make it look like you’re sweating in hot humid weather while you’re actually freezing your bejeebers off … THEN you’re an actor. I earned my stripes. And the cold I came down with the following week. Despite the weather, it was a fantastic experience with a wonderful cast and crew. I also learned something about myself. In a story with three strong female roles, I know where I fit, especially as “a woman of a certain age.” Not the loveable lead. Not the glamorous best friend. Nah, I’m the short funny one. Which is A-OK by me, as I often got the best lines! Wham Bam, Thank You Ma’am (but not that kind) The fourth project was a spur-of-the-moment, hey-Laura-can-you-fit-us-in-on-your-day-off kind of thing. Gotta love when that happens! Asked for by name, no audition or callback necessary. Just a request to fill in a small role for another film project. Why, of course! And thanks for asking! I’m not even sure what that film is about, or where and when it’s going to be released. Guess I can figure that out later. This was a last minute request that I received while driving home one night from the Love Games shoot. As it worked out perfectly in my schedule, I said “yes” and headed off to set a couple of days later. This shoot took place only about 30 minutes from my home, so it was quite convenient. Plus, it was filmed INDOORS, which meant that I could finally warm up some. I played a mom (yes, somehow, I get that a lot, go figure) with some pretty basic lines I could memorize on my way to set. Again, nice and simple. It was a crazy busy set, too, with dozens of actors and crew running around everywhere. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long for my scene to come up and the director went about his business setting it up and arranging background actors where they needed to be. Nothing too unusual about it, except for one older woman who hadn’t realized that she had been hired to be background rather than a more central character. In fact, she had spent quite a bit of time in the restroom primping and adjusting her hair and makeup and almost missed her call to set. I know, because I was in the long line of people waiting and waiting for her to emerge from the one designated restroom. As it turned out, she had thought she had been hired for MY role and when the 2nd AD (Assistant Director) clarified it for her, she stared daggers at me the entire shoot. Well, she didn’t actually stay for the entire shoot. After being shifted from one spot to another in the background over a few scenes, she realized that she wasn’t going to be very visible after all and stormed off the set, loudly proclaiming that she “didn’t do background.” In case anyone’s wondering, that’s rather unprofessional, especially in the middle of production. It required some reshooting just to ensure the continuity of the background and cost production extra time and money. The moral of the story there is: if you’re going to be an actor, know what your role is BEFORE you accept it. And honor your commitment once it’s made. It’s hard to undo the damage to your reputation afterwards. Laura's Quick Tips Love to expect the unexpected? Be an actor! Every production, every type of project is different. Enjoy it! Don’t be a diva. It’s a good way to get blacklisted. Do you do something that drives your kids or partner bonkers? Learn to make money off it! There’s adventure in the everyday. Recognize and appreciate it! It can make for some great stories later. You gotta love what you do. Like they say, when you do, it doesn’t feel like work. And acting is truly play. Sometimes you get to go off the rails and be a wild and crazy guy (or girl). Other times, you have to grin and bear an uncomfortable situation and power through it. And every time, you need to be professional and easy to work with. And when you DO have an issue with something, state it right up front. No one’s safety should be threatened on set. No one should feel required to do something they hold strong opinions or values against. Be professional and make your concerns known from the start. I’ve rarely had to deal with such a situation myself. Anyone who knows me knows without a doubt that I’m not the silent, long-suffering sort. Unfortunately, others – especially the very young or those new to the business – can be afraid to speak up for themselves. This is where agents, managers, and older actors like myself can help by keeping an eye – and occasionally a hand - out for them. But I want to wrap this post up on a positive note. Because acting IS fun! If you want to find out for yourself, take an improv class. No preparation, no homework, and no one to tell you you’re doing it wrong. (That’s against improv rules, especially the “yes, and …” rule.) See what I’m talking about 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

Start the new year with a resolution to pursue your dream! It's never too late to start something new, something you've always want to do. We’ll be talking about these kinds of dreams and how to pursue them, including looking out for some common pitfalls to avoid, and practical and psychological strategies for success. Wednesday, January 11th 2pm - 4pm EST via webinar Email programs@silverspringvillage.org to register 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

Loneliness, loss of a sense of purpose, feeling old ... OR ... (insert head spin here) more FREEDOM Ouch! That sounds rather unmotherly and selfish, doesn't it? So some may think, but I say, "YAHOO!!" Empty nest syndrome. Wikipedia, the closest thing we have to the wisely practical but unfortunately fictional Encyclopedia Galactica, defines empty nest syndrome as "a feeling of grief and loneliness parents may feel when their children move out of the family home, such as to live on their own or to attend a college or university . It is not a clinical condition." Ya think? No one has ever perished from it, though I know quite a few parents (mostly moms) who suffer from it. Not coincidentally, these are often the same moms who used to hang out at their children's preschool long after they'd dropped off their kids, many of whom were pretty eager to do something on their own that didn't involve mom. The same moms who teared up when their children began elementary school, went off to summer camp, or took off for the evening with their friends in the family car. OK, I'm with them on that last one. That's why the powers that be invented electronic trackers, Life360, and nose and glasses disguises. Heh heh heh. Like anything, seeing your kids off to a new, more independent stage in life takes some parental adjustment. The empty nest - a major change in family dynamics. Do you welcome or mourn it? "Heave ho, out you go" I'm a pretty independent sort. I come from a very independent, individualistic, and loudly opinionated crowd. I usually keep my mouth closed, except when I have something profoundly wise and insightful to share (which I think is more often the case than those around me - namely, my kids - do). I've raised my kids to be independent, free-thinking adults, capable of making their own decisions and accepting the results. Or consequences of their actions (most of which, I claim, came about because they refused to listen to the wisdom of their mother...). So when they each turned 18, they were treated as the young adults they'd become. Still with a lot to learn - hey, the pre-frontal cortex that governs rationale thinking and intelligent decision-making doesn't fully mature until age 25 - but newly capable of living independently from mom and dad. That whole "heave ho, out you go" thing? Hey, relax, just being funny. We don't go that far. Tragically, there are way too many awful stories of parents who do, throwing their kids and their belongings out on the street when they hit the magic 18. Rather my husband and I believe in preparing our kids for each stage of independence, giving them more responsibility as they grow and demonstrate their abilities to handle them. Though often not as fast as they'd like. Patience, young grasshopper . It impacts the entire family when the kids start leaving the nest. Even if they do return occasionally for holidays, school vacations, and laundry services. The family dynamic changed when our first child went off to college; it'll definitely be altered when our last one takes off in a few weeks. The burden on the heart and - let's be honest - the wallet This change in the family dynamic hits hardest emotionally. I began my journey as a mom 25 years ago when our son was born. Really, though, it I should say it started about a year earlier, because pregnancy itself changed everything, and not just physically: Changing the way we thought of ourselves, from a couple to a family Moving the health and welfare of the baby to our #1 priority Rethinking my career, which required long hours and travel. Twenty-five years is a good chunk of time in which the needs of the kids moved front and center. School, sports, activities, and all the wonderful and frustrating moments that go along with raising them. No matter how much independence they enjoyed while they were still at home, there's an emptiness left behind when they truly fly the nest. You emotionally never go back from being a family to just a couple. Twenty-five years of photos - and college tuition, room and board, etc. - serve as a constant reminder. Ah, yes, they may be gone, but their expenses are still with us. The blessing, also known as the happy dance of freedom The flip side, the one I choose to embrace, is two-fold: Reconnecting with my husband as a couple primarily focused just on each other REALLY being able to spend more time on my acting, voice over, and speaking career Either way you look at it, it's tacit permission (after 25 years) to go back to my rather self-centered ways. Kinda sorta. The nice thing about being an empty-nester is the chance to spend quiet 1:1 time with your spouse, travel during the school year when crowds and prices are both down, and have more time doing fun and interesting things vs. the humdrum menial household chores that support actively raising a family. In my experience, that's been a lot of cooking, cleaning, laundry, and driving the mom taxi. It's also the time to focus on what YOU really enjoy doing. Or to concentrate more fully on your career or other responsibilities. Personally, I'm really looking forward to investing more time and energy to this business I love. More uninterrupted time to work for my voice over clients, to travel farther afield for film and TV bookings, and to expand my public speaking engagements. It's also more time to reconnect with old friends, cultivate new ones, and become more fully involved within my community. I enjoy meeting people, and it's easier to network at business breakfast meetings when you don't have to devote your mornings to corralling your kids, feeding them, and seeing them off to school. Your experience as an empty-nester will be affected by WHEN it happens in your life, too. Timing and attitude are everything Your experience as an empty-nester will be affected by WHEN it happens in your life, too. Are you in the heyday of your career? Or are you and/or your partner nearing or in retirement? This change in family dynamics can ease your responsibilities and give you greater freedom to pursue your interests. It can also double-down on a sense of endings, loss of identity, and lack of purpose. Your temperament and outlook on life - as an optimist, pessimist, or realist - will also influence your reactions. Do you welcome or mourn the change? Maybe a little of both? And how easily do you move on to the next stage of your life, however you choose to define it? And if you're caring for elderly parents, well, then it may not feel like much has changed, except for the generation receiving the care. We're in a mix of all of the above. While my husband is retired, I'm still full steam ahead in what I'm doing and have no intention of slowing down. And while his parents are long gone, mine are getting up there in age and will eventually need more time and attention. I'm looking forward to the empty nest for all the reasons I gave earlier, but my husband is a bit more conflicted. Truthfully, we're both a little wistful and I find myself looking at my kids' baby pictures more often. Laura's Quick Tips Expect to experience both the sweet and sour when your last child leaves home for college or independent living Your kids will always be with you in your heart, even if they do try to stick you with their dirty laundry Enjoy the opportunity to focus more on yourself for a change: interests, hobbies, your work ... your freedom! Your feelings about the empty nest can't help but be influenced by the time in your life you experience it. Use them to propel you into the next stage of your life. I like to think that nothing's over until we're permanently horizontal. Every stage in life holds the seeds for the next one. Even if you're the parent of an itty-bitty, there'll come the day when your child will be ready to strike out on his own. What are your plans for yourself then? One of my presentations is all about reinventing yourself later in life. And how to do it successfully. Too many people hit retirement or watch their kids move out on their own and feel lost, useless, or rejected. Not if you choose otherwise! Here's a little on the subject . 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

Pick up the phone! Listen to your inner voice. Chances are it's trying to tell you where your true work lies. Unless, of course, your inner voice is just cracking jokes. In that case, have a good laugh if they're at all funny and steal the best ones. Who knows, maybe your true calling is as a comedian. Or social media star. For most of us, though, that inner voice clues us in as to what really drives us in life. What makes us tick and gives us joy. What truly gives our lives meaning. I'm not talking career paths, like knowing that you're a born artist or accountant. That would be rather nice, and quite possibly save you time, money, and the angst of trying to figure what to do with yourself. I'm not talking vague grandiosities, either, like wanting to save the world, whatever that means to you. "Saving the world" is a lovely ideal, but a bit too undefined to be useful. No, I'm referring to a deeper, underlying sense of purpose. A knowing that you belong. It's a skill set that you love to use, a type of work that makes your heart sing, a niche that just feels right. Operators are standing by. Are you listening? Operator: "Is this the party to whom I am speaking?" You discover your core essence, your calling, as you go through life, experiencing this, experimenting with that. Sometimes people realize it early, seeming to be born to a certain type of work. I applaud those who know from the start what they want to do. They're the doctors and nurses, teachers, engineers, etc. who seem to be on a mission to help people and make the world a better place. I never thought anything quite so altruistic when I was very young. Originally, I wanted to be an actress and a writer, because, well ... it was fun. But I went into business. That's where I knew I had some strong, literally bankable skills. And quite frankly, where my parents steered me, well AWAY from a less likely viable career on stage somewhere. Not a bad thing at all. I loved business and working for some leading edge tech companies, Fortune 50 and startups alike. Every day was interesting, as I was calling upon many different industries and learning a great deal in the process. And in the business world, I began to discover my key strengths and inner purpose. Let the call come through and pick up the line When you're just starting your training or your career, you haven't had much time and experience to really test yourself out in the field. You may think you know what you're good at and the value you bring to an organization, but often it takes a few years under the belt for hidden strengths to emerge and be recognized. And sometimes you'll shift focus and change careers or industries. Like me, who studied finance, computer science, and decision theory in college, only to find that I was more of a people person and more sales and marketing-oriented than I had ever imagined. And then again MUCH later in life into creative work in the entertainment field. Looking back from an older vantage point, you can also better see themes of core abilities that run throughout your life, both at home and in your work. You may change the kind of work you do, but the core skills remain and are just used in slightly different ways. In my case, I've discovered that I'm essentially a bridge builder. My main tools are my communications and organizational skills, which I've used in different ways at different times of my life: writing, speaking, performing, teaching, informing, persuading, motivating, and of course in sales, marketing, negotiations, and mediation. In my corporate career, artistic endeavors, and personal life, I seem to build bridges between disparate groups of people and/or industries: by listening to them, breaking down the complex to simpler steps, and then sharing those ideas and perspectives with others to build on common ground. Those core skills are used consistently , When you see these core skills running consistently through your life like a theme song, then you know that they're a key to an important part of who you are and how others see you. You discover your core essence, your calling, as you go through life. Guess what? It's a party line! We all play various sorts of roles in life. You may be an engineer, a father, a son, a tennis buddy, a crime fiction fan, and the friendly fellow others love hanging out with around the water cooler (do they still do that anymore?), even if you tell somewhat lame jokes at times. You're all that and more, but perhaps your theme is that of a pretty smart guy who's the "answer man," because you never let a problem go without figuring it out. That's probably what makes you a great handyman and fixer-upper at home, a highly reliable engineer, and a thinker on the tennis court. Me, I'm a voice actor, an on-camera actress, a writer, and a public speaker. Also a former sales gal, a devoted mom to my kids, a wife and daughter, and much more. I'm a well-organized communicator who builds bridges for myself and others. I bring people together, facilitate communications and understanding, share stories, and occasionally have been known to proverbially bang a few heads together to get consensus when needed. Maybe that's why I like being a generalist. I'm interested in all sorts of different things and gathering unique perspectives, seeing the big picture that brings it all together. It's a bit of a party full of interesting guests, some of whom need an introduction - or explanation! - to others. We have a connection (and deposit one dime, please) Here's out it all worked out for me: When I was in IT sales, I bridged the technical world and the end-users, explaining complex, tech-heavy terminology in everyday language to lay people, our customers and those we hoped to turn into customers. In turn, they kept our feet to the fire ton make sure that the corporation selling (or hoping to sell them) multi-million dollar equipment "solutions" (a favorite industry buzzword at the time) understood what they wanted and needed. It was part of my job to make sure that their specific requirements to our executive teams were clearly and realistically communicated, so that we could better serve those customers. Sometimes those requirements were a little too vague and unrealistic, which also served to separate out the serious, "qualified" buyer from the tire-kicker and constant (and non-buying) complainer. I'm in a totally different career today. Artistic and creative, but oddly still similar. In a large sense, I'm still bridging buyers and sellers, except now as a voice actor, it's a bigger picture in which I'm bridging the worlds of business and entertainment. Connecting with stories and corporate messages and expressing them in ways that resonate with viewers and listeners. Bringing to life training materials to engage learners and help them retain the information. "Edu-taining" my audience with humor and good, valuable content. Instead of one-to-one communications or small group interactions, today's bridging is to a much larger audience. Or to put into old-fashioned, early telecommunications language: a party line, in which anyone with a physical connection to the telephone line can listen in. Laura's Quick Tips Find some quiet time to really listen to your inner voice - it's trying to guide you. Some things take time to unfold, like discovering your true inner strengths and sense of purpose. Step back and look at the big picture of your life. Or listen to others who may have a more objective view. Enjoy all your roles in life - they contribute to making you an interesting, well-rounded person. If and when you discover your purpose, focus, calling - whatever you may call it - you'll see how you've followed it in many, if not all, aspects of your life. History is fascinating. So are old sitcoms and variety shows. Really reflective of the time! There, you knew there had to be a reason I was throwing in Ernestine from "Laugh-In," tethered land line phones, references to pay phones and collect calls, and party lines. Unless you're of a certain generation, you may not be familiar with any of these. Trivia: AT&T used to be a monopoly, until the government broke it up into "Baby Bells." And Lily Tomlin's Ernestine as a power-mad AT&T switchboard operator was hilarious. Oh, and look up switchboard, too. It used to be a thing. Want more deep, philosophical stuff? Good, 'cause you really won't find it here. Instead, take a gander at this . 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

Different genres, common ground. Like a performance Venn diagram for actors. Remember those overlapping circles you learned about in school? Venn diagrams graphically show relationships among different things, specifically how some objects belonging to one group can also belong to another. Or in mother-speak: sharing. As in: "Susie has her toys. Mikey has his. Both of you can play with the boardgames we have stored in the family way, which by the way, take at least two people to play. Now, no fighting or I'll have to go over there and then no one will be playing with anything." That's called "disjointed sets" in mathematics. And in mother-speak: time out. If I were to draw a Venn diagram for actors, I'd make the different genres (on-camera, voice over, theater) my sets and the many skills within each genre would be my objects. There'd be a lot of overlap, because after all, they all require acting, but there'd be some exclusionary skills, too. Voice actors don't use dance in their work and theater actors aren't concerned with how they're framed on camera. Voice actors generally don't have to get all gussied up with hair, makeup, and wardrobe, while those things play an important part in on-camera and theatrical work. You get the idea. I get a big kick whenever I hear a client or casting director ask for something that's less prevalent in their world, but a mainstay in another. This is where it pays off for an actor to be skilled in more than one media. Hello, crossover! Convergence! Collision! Or intersection amongst sets for you mathematically-inclined types. Active in more than one field? Cultivate common skills for a stronger foundation. Crossover skills I've run into on-camera jobs and auditions lately that draw neatly from the voice over world. That's when I do my happy dance. Not that non-voice actors couldn't handle these things, but I love it when I have the extra experience to draw on. My last couple of jobs, plus a recent audition, had me using a teleprompter . Oh happy day! Tap, tap, shimmy, shimmy. I love the teleprompter. Mainly because it means that no memorization is needed. The actor's dream! The nightmare? Getting up on stage to perform and suddenly, totally forgetting all your lines. Thank goodness that's not an issue when there's a teleprompter to, well, prompt you. I don't like to depend totally on the 'prompter, though. If anything can go wrong, it usually does, and I don't want to be caught looking less than fully professional. I actually prefer to memorize, or at least greatly familiarize myself with the script, and use the teleprompter more as a backup. Perhaps It's the old stage actor deep inside of me that's just more comfortable knowing exactly what to say when the lights go up. Or in this case, when the cameras start rolling and the director is calling, "Action!" (Yes, they really do that. It's very helpful knowing when to to start talking when you have the first line.) I can focus more intently on the message and any physical actions that I need to take. The added confidence of really knowing the script makes it easier to have more fun with the material, too. And strangely enough, it opens the door to a little improvisation when the director is up for it, 'cause you can always go back to the script when it's right there in front of you in big block letters. Familiar, comfortable territory Another reason I love reading off the teleprompter is because ... well, it's pretty much what we voice actors do every day. Teleprompter work is essentially voice over! There is that matter of a camera recording your every move, not that it should concern us much if we just focus on the material. After all, as voice actors, we bring our whole selves to our work, including hand, body, and facial gestures that translate as natural performances on camera, too. Teleprompter work is familiar territory. Just with a few extra lights, a camera, and some guy (or gal) calling "Action!" - thought we may get something like that in client-directed voiceover sessions, too. Throw in a little additional fuss about your hair, makeup, and wardrobe, but that's about it. The essential work is the same: Connect with the message within the script. Though knowing something about how to play to the camera is a definite plus. On-camera actors with voiceover experience have another advantage: we're used to performing alone, without a scene partner. Sometimes, the teleprompter work finds us in character, talking to the camera as part of a scene with other actors speaking their lines off camera. On other occasions, we're delivering long monologues to the camera, either as a character or as a spokesperson. Most on-camera actors are used to working with other actors in their scenes, and some are visibly uncomfortable without other people to play off of. Usually these are the less experienced actors, but occasionally even a seasoned pro may feel a bit adrift in these circumstances. Give yourself plenty of opportunities to do your happy dance. The more skills you acquire, the easier it is to navigate new or unexpected challenges. Conversational, not presentational Don't you love knowing how to fill in the gaps in one genre with your experience in another? That happened to me when a different type of crossover skill presented itself a few weeks ago. I had just arrived for an in-person audition as an on-camera spokesperson. I have to say that I was thrilled to have an in-person audition - there've been relatively few in the past several years, thanks to Covid. This audition was more than just a little unusual. There was literally no preparation; the casting director wanted to the talent to come in cold to see how we could handle his material and work with a teleprompter, without the benefit of seeing the script beforehand or even knowing much about it. Fine, I like thinking on my feet and I love improv! And hey, the teleprompter is my friend. The real question was figuring out the right tone and character for a role that you know virtually nothing about and are walking in cold on. Not that it was terribly challenging, as most spokespersons fall into the friendly and personable camp. Though an exceptionally ornery or eccentric character could be rather fun to watch. Fortunately, the casting assistant took a few minutes to explain what they were looking for as we walked down the hallway. Ha! Yes, they wanted a casual, friendly demeanor on camera. This was to be for a series of training films, internal use only. OK, I thought: eLearning. Teacher mode. Caring, instructive, helpful, that sort of thing. The casting assistant elaborated. They didn't want anything too presentational, formal, or businesslike. More like ... like ... what's the word? "Conversational?" I suggested. "Yes, exactly!" he heartily agreed. "That's what we're after. Like you're talking to a friend." I smiled on the inside. Every voice actor reading this is knows what I'm talking about. "No problem," said I. "Conversational is the most requested delivery style in voiceover work today." And there it was: Conversational eLearning style. The voice actor stepped up to the plate, disguised as an on-camera talent, and began to teach. Boom! I love it when performance worlds converge. Thank you, voice over. Laura's Quick Tips What works for you in one skill area ... can work well for you in another. In a new situation? Relate it to an experience where you're a pro. A degree of familiarity will help you do your best. Your expertise in an adjacent skill set can be of immense value to your client, giving them a greater clarity of vision on their own project. And possibly more opportunity for you, too. One trick ponies are so yesterday. It's fun to do a happy dance. Stress-relieving and good exercise, all in one. Now you finally have a use for at least one thing you learned in math so long ago. The Venn diagram is a pretty helpful graphical tool for illustrating relationships between things. It's doubly useful when you choose to work it from the outside in (such as discovering common skills or attributes between two types of work) or from the inside out (seeing where else your skills are needed and valued). It's similar to what my college freshman daughter is doing right now to figure out her course study. Oftentimes, two majors or concentrations offered within the same college are adjacent enough to draw on the same core classes (in addition to the basic university requirements, of course). So it's easy to double major when it's just a few more classes to add to the four year schedule. The result? A stronger, more competitive you. And quite possibly a happy result the next time you walk in cold to a live audition. Want to know more about developing and using crossover skills? Read on, my friend, read on.... > 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

Games do more than entertain and help us pass the time. They give us time to think, create, and reflect. And hone our skills. Yeah, I confess. I like playing Solitaire on my computer from time to time. It’s not like I don’t have a social life. Well, I do. Sort of. Not as exciting as it used to be, but hey, we’ve been married for over 25 years. ‘Nuff said. I’m not a procrastinator either. In fact, I like to multitask. Now some people (read “guys”) think that the human brain isn’t wired to truly do more than one thing at a time. Well, they’re not women. All those millennia when the assorted male types were off stalking the elusive beast for dinner, we women were out gathering herbs, berries, wild veggies, guarding against predators, and watching and nursing our babies so that some predator wouldn’t grab them for its dinner. We’ve evolved to multitask. And multitask we do. When you know how to do something pretty well, like laundry or cleaning, it doesn’t take a whole lot of thought to manage. I find that basic repetitive activity sets up a type of white noise that helps the rest of my mind think creatively and solve problems. For example, walking or exercising via Zoom are the perfect times to get that physical exercise while I memorize scripts for upcoming film, TV, or commercial auditions, all of which give very short (1-2 days) turnaround times. And think up new ideas for videos and blog posts, like this one. Solitaire on the computer provides a similar kind of white noise for the brain. When I’m sitting at my desk and feeling frustrated or creatively stuck, I turn to playing Solitaire for a few minutes. It shifts my brain away from the previous patterns where I became stuck. The repetitive, familiar moves of the game grant me the freedom to mentally roam. There’s even a little subconscious encouragement that boosts my confidence as I’m building those card piles. Frustration is replaced with a feeling of progress. A quick game is often all I need to get over my creative hump and see the way forward to the next step. Given to being philosophical at times, I can’t but help see parallels to what goes into playing a good hand in Solitaire and what often works in life and business. Games are testing grounds to discover what works ... and what doesn't Let’s see if you agree with me. Here are some life lessons learned from playing those quick games of Solitaire: 1. Know your goal If you want to succeed at anything, you first have to define your goal and know the rules you have to play by. There are various versions of Solitaire, but the goal and rules are fairly the same. I’m not going to go into the details, but essentially (and for definition purposes for this post), you have three things to work with: The stack of cards to draw from, usually three at a time, using the third card. Seven tableau piles to work from, building from the highest shown on a pile down to the lowest. Largest pile that you could have would be a King down to a 2. The card in a tableau pile must be alternated by color (usually black or red). Four foundation suit piles to build. The four suits are aces, spades, hearts, and diamonds and are built from the Aces up to the Kings, Your goal is to complete all four foundation suite piles correctly. When you do, you win. If you’re playing an electronic version, you’ll often see some sort of digital celebration, with cards flying or joyous proclamations that you won. In life and business, it’s safe to say that most of us have goals or objectives we’re working to meet. Without those, there’s no use planning, unless your goal is to wander aimlessly through life. Not the best way to run a successful business, 2. Move your business forward It may be fun building the tableau stacks, but if you’re not moving them to the foundation suit stacks above (Aces up to Kings), you’re just engaged in busy work. There’s busy work in every business, too, so make sure it’s productive and leads to your desired goal. Otherwise, you’re not going to accomplish anything. You want more customers? You have to do the tedious busy work of marketing and following through on your leads. If you’re sidelined by just scrolling around on your LinkedIn or Instagram feeds and not engaging with others, creating content or programs of interest to your targeted audience, or emailing or calling them directly, or anything else that reaches out to your targeted audience … you’re just playing around. 3. If something’s not working, go on to the next opportunity You can tell when a Solitaire hand is just not going places. If you’re like me, you may play it to its natural conclusion because you don’t want to quit prematurely if there’s a possibility of succeeding, but when you’re done – you’re done. There’s no point fretting or spending too much time worrying over it. Cut your losses, see that it’s just one opportunity, and go on to the next hand. In your business, if one lead’s not panning out, go on to the next one. It’s truly a numbers game. Sales people know this. So do actors. We hear “no” far too often, whether it’s delivered via email, phone, or in person – or, in most cases, with silence. Don’t take it personally, do your best, and if it doesn’t work out, move on. Next! 4. Life’s a crapshoot There, I said it. We can’t control everything. You’re dealt the hand you’re dealt with in life. Maybe you got lucky and were born with every advantage in life. Maybe you got the short end of the stick. Whatever it is, play your cards the best way you can. You can only control what you can control and make the best decisions available to you. Some of the people I respect most are those who daily make the most of what they CAN do, rather than bemoan the unfairness of life and thus never even try. Sometimes the disadvantages are obvious, sometimes they’re hidden. As in Solitaire, most of us can’t tell at first when we’ve been dealt a winning or a losing hand. We have to play it for a while. The whole point is to enjoy the game, the good people and things in life, the entrepreneurial adventure. Even if all the cards don’t end up on their winning piles, we can at least enjoy a satisfying game well played. 5. Teamwork, diversity and inclusion – it’s all in the cards It’s in the rules. You can’t even begin to play Solitaire without including cards of every suit. You have to work with each type of color card (usually black and red) and both the number and picture cards. It’s also in the human DNA. We’re communal creatures. Yes, we’re often most comfortable with others like ourselves (our suit cards), but we have a much richer and deeper experience when we work with the others. And that’s how we build community. If nothing else, this lesson is about teamwork. Working together towards a common goal, knowing the rules of the game, and building strong foundations that support everyone. 6. Look for patterns If you do anything long enough, your mind and eye become trained to recognize the patterns of the game. You’ll build your memory as to what cards are showing on your tableau piles and save time as you cycle through your stack, looking to see if the displayed card can be added onto either a pile or directly to a foundation stack. It’s the same thing with your business. You’ll recognize patterns in talking with leads, solving problems, knowing what steps to take in each situation. The more familiar you are with your business and customer expectations, the quicker and easier you’ll be able to deliver. 7. Take a break We can focus on one task for only so long. Maybe for you it’s two hours, maybe for me it’s only twenty minutes. Know when your productivity begins to wane and factor in breaks accordingly. Take a short walk outside or work on some other task that requires a totally different type of focus. Like I wrote in the introduction, a needed break can jolt you out of feeling stuck. A temporary distraction helps you regain a “fresh eye” on your work. Just don’t spend so much time on your distraction that it takes over your work time. We call that procrastination. 8. There are often multiple paths to your goal - trust your gut Sometimes you’re presented with more than one possible option and it’s hard to tell which will lead to the better result. For example, you have two red 5s in your tableau pile to move on to a black 6 in another. Which is the better card to play? Who knows, maybe one will reveal an Ace hiding underneath or a card that’s ready to move up to one of the four foundation suit piles. And sometimes it doesn’t matter which one you play – you’ll see the same result in the end. When faced with a crossroads, use logic and facts to help you decide, but if you don’t have any other information, use your gut. It’s more often right than not. Try it out in Solitaire when this scenario crops up. You’ll be surprised how right you are! 9. Take one step back to go two forward You’ve got a problem. Something’s not working and you can’t continue until you back up to an earlier stage in your work and make a correction. Or maybe, you need to take an alternative course. Depending on your version of the Solitaire game, the rules may allow you to “unmove” some recent choices. You may choose instead to NOT play a card, which allows other cards to appear that can lead to a successful game. It may look to others that you’ve missed an opportunity, but in reality this little “sacrifice” serves the greater good. In other words, if one path is a dead end, try another. 10. Everything you need to succeed is already there This does not mean that you WILL succeed every time. It just means that all the elements are available, even if they are hidden. Unless you’re not playing with a full deck (literally and metaphorically), every card in a 52 card deck is present and there’s always a probability that the hand can be played to its successful completion. In our own work, many of the elements for success are at our disposal, if we choose to find and use them. Especially in a digital world, we can learn how to do something fairly easily, even if it takes time to master a new skill. Things like marketing, invoicing, providing better customer service, and so on. And there are experts, trainers, books, and online classes available to fill in the gaps. Sometimes the deck is stacked against you and you’re just not going to win, no matter how well you play. That happens in most Solitaire games and in most businesses. 20% of new businesses fail within their first year. Nearly 50% fail within their first five years. Most business owners know this, but proceed anyways because they believe in their products, services, and themselves. As in Solitaire, it’s up to you if you want to play the game. If so, you’ll be like many other entrepreneurs before you and keep trying different things until you succeed. Or quit to do something completely different. So what’s the point of this post? Laura's Quick Tips It’s the little things in life that can teach us the most. Enjoy what you’re doing. It’s truly the journey that matters. Know where you’re going. And what success means to you. Keep a positive outlook and realistic expectations. Do the best you can and celebrate your accomplishments. Mourn your disappointments. Then look for new opportunities. Trust your experience, decision-making, and your gut. Games are more than just playtime diversions. They can be training and testing grounds, motivational assistants, and inner cheerleaders guiding you to be your best and do your best work. And they’re fun to play, either alone or with others. So what’s your favorite game? And how does it help you the most? Yup, practice makes perfect. Or at least as close as we can reasonably get. Want to make a stronger impression next time you're on camera for that video project, webinar, or interview? Check out my series of super-short videos on how to be more comfortable and effective on camera: On Camera Tips for Busy Execs. Right here on YouTube! 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

Video appearances can be "easy peasy" with a few On Camera Confidence tips These days, just about everyone is using video to promote their products and services online. So wouldn't knowing a few tips, tricks, and techniques from the actor’s handbook go a long way to make the camera work for you? Join me as I talk with Gillian Whitney about how to put your best face forward (as well as the rest of you!) the next time YOU appear on camera in a video. Live on LinkedIn (info below) or replayable later on YouTube (just click the button). Tuesday, November 1, 2022 1 - 1:30 pm EST LinkedIn Live 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

Missed opportunities, obstacles, and disappointments. Sometimes bad news becomes a blessing that we don’t recognize until a later time. Recently, I had two on-camera bookings scheduled that I was rather excited about. A political commercial and a training video, both of which would pay fairly well and allow me to work with people whom I greatly respected. Both were cancelled the day before their scheduled shoots for different reasons. One was an indefinite postponement and the other was a last-minute change in the script that completely eliminated my character. It happens. Quite disappointing, as you can imagine, but the cancellations turned out to be … A Blessing in Disguise I had cleared my calendar on those dates to accommodate the bookings, because on-camera work can take anywhere from a few short hours to 12+ hours on set. You want to give the client and their project your full attention. It’s a bad idea to try to squeeze something else in on the off chance that the shoot day could end early. Murphy (see an earlier post!) ensures that it’s rarely going to work in your favor. Then the call came in. A family emergency out of town that required me to leave immediately for an indefinite length of time. Within seconds, disappointment over the lost bookings transformed into major sighs of relief. Otherwise, I would have to deal with the stress of either: Telling my agent and the client that I had to cancel my involvement last minute, which could have damaged my reputation with each. Generally, it’s acceptable (though not happily received) to cancel the actor last minute. NOT the other way around. Though to be fair, I’m sure they’d understand the circumstances of an emergency. But neither would forget that this particular talent caused the client delay and extra work or expense to find a replacement. Doing the job and then flying out immediately afterwards to deal with the emergency. This would not have gone over well with family members, some of whom do not take artistic pursuits seriously or understand that bailing out on bookings in the 11th hour is a major problem. The corporate world is more forgiving. I know, I spent years working in it and the usual response to a family emergency was “Go! Do what you need to do.” And in a family emergency, it’s rather challenging to focus on the job at hand when you’re in emotional turmoil. What would I have done? Family comes first. It has to, regardless of personal cost. Though if push came to shove, I would see if another close family member could attend the emergency until I could get there, unless it was so serious that I HAD to be there myself ASAP. But still … thank goodness the choice was taken out of my hands. No Man (or Woman) is an Island I’m a private person. I don’t air personal difficulties or grievances publicly. Usually. I do what has to be done and deal with the emotional fallout later afterwards. I’d make a pretty good soldier in that respect. But as human beings, there are times when we need other people for help and support. In my case, that’s other family members. It’s good to know that they have my back and that I can call on them when needed. I don’t like to burden friends and acquaintances – good people, all of them, willing to supply emotional support – if at all possible. From a humorous perspective, it would just be too exhausting to keep everyone up-to-date as the situation progressed. And I’m not about to post anything online about it. What DID help sustain me was the fun and camaraderie I had enjoyed at two recent networking events the week prior. You Don’t Know What You Need Until You Do The first event was put on by my local business community, the Buckhead Business Association. They host an annual foodie event called Taste of Atlanta, which truthfully was equal parts Swig of Atlanta (my name for it), since it seemed to lean so heavily into sampling adult beverages. Great for some, but I’m petite and make for a cheap date. A little sip goes along way. Most of the food offered was desserts. Hey, I like sugar as much as the next chocoholic, but again, a little goes a long way. Too bad I didn’t know to eat dinner at home first. Or at least plenty of salads and veggies to assuage the guilt of gorging on too many empty calories. (Yes, there was some other food, but most of it was meat-based and I’m a vegetarian.) It was an upbeat event and I met some great, interesting people and totally enjoyed networking in person once again. The second event was a weekend-long barbeque hosted by audio engineer extraordinaire “Uncle Roy” Yokelson of Antland Productions, who helped me create and equip my broadcast-qualilty home voiceover studio. This was his 17th annual VO BBQ social event, attended by approximately 150 voice actors and industry professionals throughout the country – and beyond. I saw a few familiar faces, now sprung from their little Zoom boxes into full 3D physical form, and made many, many new friends. Voice over is a wonderful community, full of generous people who treat each other as colleagues, not competition. I went home happy and charged up to take on the day. And then the bottom fell through. Keep your batteries charged. You never know when you’ll need to draw upon them. Remembering the Energizer Bunny It’s not easy dealing with crisis. It drains you physically, emotionally, mentally, and perhaps even a bit spiritually. Caregivers need to take care of themselves, or they are of no use to anyone else. It’s so important to keep our personal batteries charged. Thank goodness I was able to store up several days worth of fun, laughter, community, and friendship. I had no idea I would need to draw upon it so quickly. To keep going and going and going when It’s essential to do so, you have to know the priorities in your life. When crisis strikes, and it will at some point, it’s much easier to handle things when you know what is most important. Then you can more quickly and easily identify what’s crucial to attend to and what can wait. Or be cancelled. Equally important is to have the strength and inner resolve to accept – or at least deal with - whatever blowback that accompanies your choice. Nobody said that life is easy. Do yourself a favor. Enjoy the good times when they come and keep your batteries charged. You never know when you’ll need to draw upon them. And have fun! Laughter is truly so good for the soul. Laura's Quick Tips There are such things as silver linings, though they may look like storm clouds at first glance. Have one or two people - family or friends - that you can turn to in need. And vice versa. Enjoy the good times for what they are and relish the experience. Remember all the good in your life when dealing with the difficult or purely awful. It'll help give you perspective and confidence knowing that nothing lasts forever, that you WILL get through the tough times, and that the sun will shine once again upon you, Laugh, even at a stupid joke or two. It's an instant mood lifter and a temporary reprieve from dwelling on the matter at hand. People care. They can help you keep your battery charged and buoy your spirits. A cancelled booking can become a good thing when you have to deal with something much more pressing. And in the overall scheme of things, what's a booking or two? There'll be more down the road. And you've already built up goodwill with the people who had originally booked you. They liked you, thought you were a great fit for their project, and may even feel badly that the job was cancelled last minute and want to make up for it with a different or better job down the road. And sometimes, in the moment, other things are just that much more important. Yeah, sh*t happens. It’s all in how we deal with it. For a more humorous look at some of the things I’ve had to deal with in recent years – where you’re just, simply put, screwed and there’s nothing you can do about it – read this story. 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

Voiceover accountability extends beyond wins and losses. Are we running our businesses professionally and ethically? Are you familiar with Yom Kippur ? In voiceover parlance, it’s the Jewish holiday of accountability. Specifically, for a deep dive into ourselves to reflect and atone for our mistakes, poor judgments, and deliberate misdeeds. A time to make amends and resolve to become better people in the coming year. A 25-hour fast to pray and seek redemption, purification, and reconciliation. There is nothing in Jewish prayer that refers to voice overs. Unless you consider references to the voice of G-d throughout the Old Testament and our prayer books. Hope the Big Guy doesn't hold it against me that I'm referring to His booming presence as a type of voice over, albeit the one, original, and most holy of all voice overs past, present, and future. I'd better stop before I get blasted with a bolt of lightening, but it did get me to thinking that there are voiceover sins that we voice actors are collectively likely to have committed. And now is as good time as any to acknowledge them and decide to do better. So, without meaning to be sacrilegious, and because Yom Kippur was just last week and thus fresh in my mind, here are the sins of voiceover for which I atone, on behalf of myself and all others in the past year who've slipped behind a microphone and called themselves professional voice actors. We have sinned, we have led astray, we have been led astray.... We have harmed our fellow voice actors (clients, agents, managers, loved ones, etc.) by committing: Sins of the Audition Auditioning before we're truly ready to do so. Professional training must come first. Failing to properly warm up before a session. Or warm up at all. Waiting to drink those 2 liters of water until just before your session. Not reading the audition specs carefully. Or again, at all. Not caring if we match the specs, because once they hear OUR audition, they'll change their minds about what they think they want once they hear our mind-blowing submission. Treating casting sites as places to practice, so therefore "it doesn't matter" if our sound or performance are any good, much less if we even remotely match the specs. Not following the file-naming specifications EXACTLY. Hey, we're artists, right? And that's what agents are there to fix. Overacting. You’re not playing to the back of the theater, fella. Underacting (as in, are you alive in there?). Submitting auditions with such poor sound quality that it reflects badly on the calibre of VOs in general. Failing to learn how to properly edit our auditions. Funny, but most clients really don’t like those loud mouth clicks and heavy breaths. Go figure. Thinking we’re different. As in: we don’t need coaching. Or training. Or help with our audio quality. And it shows in our auditions. Sins of the Booth Not investing in a professional, high-quality recording space. Claiming to have broadcast-quality sound when we know that we really don’t. Claiming to have paid Source Connect Standard when we really just have the free version. And thinking we can get away with it. Failing to consult with Uncle Roy Yokelson, George Whittam, or any of the other top-notch, trusted gurus of sound to certify that our booths are up to snuff. Or if our recording spaces fall short, enlisting their help to get us there so that we live up to our claims as pros with high quality sound. Not learning how to properly operate our equipment. And asking for help when needed. Not having sufficient back-up equipment or a plan in case your equipment, internet, or power go out. Which one or more WILL do at some point during a client-directed session. Sins of the Terribly Misplaced Attitude Failing to uphold decent rates (hello, GVAA rate guide!) to support the VO community. Cheerfully bidding $5 to record that voice over on a certain casting site that shall remain nameless, but we all know what it is anyways. Deliberately undercutting VOs everywhere – living, dead, and unborn – with notoriously low rates. There's a lot of making amends with this one; it'll take a full year to properly atone. Telling friends “you can do this! All you need is a (insert supercheap mic here).” Telling ourselves over and over again that we’re not good enough, will never be good enough, “I suck” mentality, etc. Comparing ourselves to voice actors with much more experience and judging ourselves accordingly, i.e. harshly. Failing to appreciate the teachers, coaches, managers, and agents who do their best on our behalf. Not caring if casting site clients don't want to listen to our poorly performed audition, complete with raunchy audio quality, because - hey! it's only a casting site and we want to get our money's worth out of our subscription. (This is the twin sin of one under Sins of the Audition.) Failing to appreciate other voice talent who’ve helped us along the way, even if with a word or two of encouragement. Refusing to help other voice talent who look up to us for advice. Not talking about giving away free coaching or gobs of time. Just a little kind payback for help that other more experienced people gave you once upon a time. Thinking "I don't need no accountability group" before even trying one. Deriding other talent who support one another with accountability and workout groups. Sins of Unprofessionalism Agreeing to do that commercial “in perpetuity and throughout the known universe.” Professionals avoid known conflicts and unacceptable terms of usage. Bad-mouthing other voice actors, casting directors, agents, clients, VO conferences, or casting sites that truly respect voice actors. (Sleazy casting sites are fair game in my book.) Bugging our agent or managers incessantly to get more work. Expecting our agents to correct our mistakes in labeling auditions. Begging our agents to let us send our auditions in after the deadlines have passed. Boasting about our accomplishments, especially to newer talent trying to find their footing. There’s a nice way to promote recent work and celebrate the clients who've hired us or the agents/managers that have brought us on board. Pure, unadulterated boasting is not it. Sins of Marketing Not doing any. Thinking that “they’ll find me.” Posting virulent social media content with heavy political, religious, or otherwise inappropriate content. Or at least don’t do it under our real or stage names. Having a poorly designed or non-functional website with faulty links to demos. Not keeping our materials up-to-date: website, demos, testimonials, social media profiles. Sending long-winded emails that fail to get to the point. Sending introductory emails without verifying that recipients are actually in our target group. Thinking that sending "hire me" emails to other voice actors will work because "everyone knows someone, so what the heck do I have to lose?" Representing ourselves as other than who we are or saying we have skills that we clearly don’t possess. Or can prove in a recording session. Or can replicate in a session the skills showcased in our demo. For all these sins, Lord, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement. Laura's Quick Tips Accountabililty is more than a list of wins and losses. It's also an assessment of how we conduct our businesses and how we can improve. We are a community. How one voice actor runs his/her business DOES affect us all. We can always improve, whether it's through performance, equipment, or in our marketing. Attitude is everything. A positive outlook will be reflected in your auditions and dealings with potential clients. And therefore, in your bottom line. Professionalism is expected from your clients, agents, managers, fellow voice actors. But the good news is that we have all year to do better. And truthfully, most voice actors reading past all the doom and gloom to get to this point are probably not the ones needing the most drastic course correction. I'm guessing that most professional voice actors are struggling with self-doubt, discouragement, and a drought of bookings. It happens to just about all of us in this intensely competitive field. Soldier on and know that your fellow voice actors are on your side. Because we're that kind of a caring, supportive community. May this next year bring your happiness and prosperity, plus contentment and gratitude for all you do achieve. And for Pete’s sake, whenever you're feeling a little down, take a lesson from a wise guru and say after me: “I’m good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” - Stuart Smalley Even when we do try to do everything right, sh*t happens. Right? Here's a story or two of my near voiceover disasters. 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

Look at the bright side. We wouldn't have blooper reels if it weren't for ol' Murphy and his perverse, previously unreleased laws of voiceover. OK, let's take a count. Who here DOESN'T know our old friend Murphy? Didn't think so. Yeah, he’s a real people pleaser. Always there for us. In a perverse, unwanted way. For those of you scratching your heads, here’s the refresher course on Murphy’s 3 Laws: 1. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. 2. Nothing is as easy as it looks. 3. Everything takes longer than you think it will. Sounds like a typical day in voiceover-land, where usually one of those three laws will sneak up and conk you on the head. So in the spirit of well, if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen ... I present Murphy’s 10 Laws of Voice Over. Admittedly, they’re taken from Murphy’s subsequent Laws of Technology. But hey, I used to work in IT, so I think in all good faith I can mangle, er, borrow, them a bit. And I’ve thrown in a few more that no voice actor will ever dispute. So here we go: 1. Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence Take that, Mr. Spock! Yes, you may *think* that’s what the client wants, but just because they say so explicitly in the specs, doesn’t mean that’s truly what they’re looking for. Proven by that commercial or twelve that we’d auditioned for, only to hear it voiced completely different from what they had said they wanted. Lesson here: do your best “you” and send in a second take that’s your unique spin on their story. The client may like it so well that they decide to go in that other direction that you just showed them. After all, most commercial messages appeal to the emotions, not the intellect. Highly illogical as it may seem. 2. Whenever a system becomes completely defined, some fool discovers something which either abolishes the system or expands it beyond recognition Hello, casting sites? We’re talking about you. Just because it’s “new and improved” doesn’t mean it’s better. This law also applies to those times when a client books you for a project and then completely changes its scope. Like expanding a 5 minute narration to 10 minutes without expecting to pay more. Or changing usage from “internal use only” to include paid advertising or deciding that it’ll be used “without restriction in perpetuity.” Clients, we love you and we know you’re no fools … but neither are we and we have to talk. 3. All great discoveries are made by mistake Harkening back to Law #1, sometimes the client doesn’t really know what they want until you show them! It can inspire them to take their campaign in a totally different direction. Likewise, as artists, sometimes we don’t realize what we’re capable of until we try something new. So don’t be afraid to work with that new coach in a different genre. You may end up discovering your inner genius. (Wouldn’t that be nice?!) 4. A failure will not appear till a unit has passed final inspection Ouch. How many of us have completed a project and turned it in to the client, only to discover that an important name was mispronounced? Many failures can be avoided up front. That’s why it’s smart to check with the client BEFORE you begin to record to verify pronunciations, including things like numbers and currencies that could be voiced more than one way. You really don’t want the embarrassment of having your client point out your mistakes. Sometimes the “failure” is the client changing their minds after the agreed-upon recording has been delivered. That’s why it’s so important to state your revision policy up front, so that everyone’s on board with client-initiated changes after the fact. It's the professional way to conduct business. 5. To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer Hey, did AI enter anyone else’s mind? 😆 Yes, it’s here. Yes, it will improve. But will it ever truly replace the nuance and power of the living human voice? I think not. AI will be a fair substitute for some low budget projects or in areas that have always seemed a bit robotic, like telephony or basic eLearning scripts ("click here to go to the next slide.") But I truly believe that you get what you pay for. And quality shines through. We’ll see over time if businesses are helped or hurt by AI voices by how well their customers respond to them. 6. All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door That and cramming 90 seconds of copy into a 60 second spot. Not that it’ll stop some clients from trying. Hey, I’m a fast-talker, but some of these expectations are a bit ridiculous. Unless you want to rev up the speed to Chipmunk Chat. 7. When all else fails, read the instructions This earns a big, fat “duh!” It boggles the mind how many auditions get trashed by the client because the talent did not follow instructions. Not following naming conventions. Or by submitting for jobs that they in no way, shape, or form are a fit, especially when the client clearly specifies that they only want a particular gender, age range, ethnicity, skill, etc. applying. That’s disrespectful, people. A time waster. And it reflects badly on YOU. Now for my voiceover-specific favorites: 8. The job or hot audition comes in as soon as you head out on vacation Raise your hand if this HASN’T happened to you. My favorite was a rush request that came in while I was sitting on a plane, just as the overhead announcement told everyone to turn off all electronic devices. Quick! How fast can you respond before you get caught by an alert flight attendant?! It’s a whole new entertainment. 9. Neighbor fires up their lawn mower, leaf blower, or chainsaw just as you're about to start recording Grrr. Yeah, it happens. It's worst when you have a directed session involved. Most clients are understanding, but it’s frustrating. Ah, the joys of a home studio. That’s why I keep my favorite local voiceover academy/professional studio on speed dial. And pray for an open appointment slot if the client can’t reschedule. 10. Internet goes down and stays down for hours. Just when your overseas directed session begins Double grrr. This happened to me in my very first directed session ever. With my first overseas client. Who had a roomful of people in attendance. Embarrassing doesn’t begin to describe it. No appointments available for last-minute studio booking, either. Fortunately, my desperate prayers worked (or the ISP had a really fast-responding, skilled ground crew on hand), because that hours-long estimate turned into only 30 minutes. And my colorist was able to dye all those sudden gray hairs back into a nice brown on my next visit. One more! A bonus Murphy’s Law on Voice Over, just because it’s my all-time favorite and appeals to my love for science fiction: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic I mean, how cool is that we’re able to do this work at all? And from our homes? And for the most part, on our own time? My late uncle worked in the pioneering days of radio and television. He loved the equipment and collected some great vintage pieces. How incredible that we’re able to harness the power of major studios and funnel it all into a small laptop, some other small pieces of helpful equipment, and operate it worldwide from a closet in a spare room? Or wherever you’re working from. To someone from an earlier time, what we’re doing IS kinda magical. So whatever old Murphy throws my way … OK, it’s just part and parcel of being able to do this wonderful work for which I’m very grateful. Though it would be nice if he’d pick on someone else once in a while. But not you. You read through to the end of my post, so you're safe. For now. Maybe. Can't tell. I left my crystal ball back in my studio. Hey, we all have our share of disasters. I've touched on this before. Like when my VoiceOver studio was threatening to literally cave in and flatten everything down on the floor below. Fun times. You can read 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

"So you do voice overs? Like 'what's his face' does?" Yeah, sure do. "What's his face" gets around enough that people know his voice, even though his name escapes them. He (or she) is the voice that sounds strangely familiar, but you just .... can't ... place it, though you know you've heard it somewhere plenty of times before. Rather similar to the guy (or gal) who shows up regularly in movies or TV shows as a supporting character, but whose name eludes you. Though you recognize them when you see them. As Harry Chapin sings, we're "the bright good-morning voice who's heard but never seen." It's true! Most of our work calls for an upbeat, if not cheerful voice, at whatever time of day we're working. We're usually not seen, unless the client wants a directed session with video. And our faces certainly don't accompany the finished spots; otherwise, they wouldn't be called voice overs at all, but on-camera commercials. And we'd probably be paid a bit more. We voice actors pretty much also labor in obscurity. Well, most of us do; there's always a few well-known superstars. But unlike Harry's woebegone DJ at W.O.L.D., many of us are quite happy in our work, which we perform from our home studios, with family just beyond our not-quite-soundproofed booths. Working when we wish to as freelancers. It's a great career. A lot of people aren't too familiar with what exactly a voice over IS, though. Sure, once they get the idea (the voice heard over a TV commercial or on a radio commercial, narrating a documentary or short video), it makes sense. Then they think of memorable, and familiar voices like those of James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman who voice a lot of things. Terrific actors, both of them. Others "of a certain age" have additional touchpoints when it comes to voice over: Don Pardo, the ubiquitous announcer for "The Price is Right" and "Jeopardy!" Gary Owens of Laugh-In fame. Casey Kasem, the American Top 40 countdown DJ and the voice of Shaggy from "Scooby Doo." Mel Blanc, man of a thousand iconic cartoon voices. Once people get the idea of what a voice over is and that yes, they hear it all the time, they start thinking of all the famous animated commercial characters in pop culture: the Geico Gekko. the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Tony the Tiger. Charlie the Tuna. Smokey Bear. Mr. Peanut. Even the talking M&Ms. People tend also to think in stereotypes, like the derogatory old saw that an actor who does voice overs has "a face for radio." Or that men voice commercials for "manly" products like beer, cigarettes, and fast cars, while women primarily do spots for retail, fashion, and beauty. Or that VO artists are anti-social or extremely shy; after all, they shut themselves away in a small insulated space, usually without windows, all day. Maybe they're agoraphobic, too? Well, surprise surprise, a professional voice actor may be nearer than you think. News flash: "What's his face" may in fact be your next door neighbor. Everyday people doing voice overs Yes, people from all walks of life are making their way into voice over. True, not all of them should be doing it, but technology significantly lowered the bar to entry and it's up to agents or the clients themselves to sort it all out. In the past, most work came through agents who vetted the talent on their rosters, and recordings took place at their clients' preferred studio locations. Today, many voice actors find work on their own or through online casting sites, auditioning and recording jobs in home studios. And very few casting sites vet their talent. As a result, not everyone who calls themselves a voice talent is a well-trained professional who has invested a considerable amount of time and money into their voiceover career. So, if you're a client vetting freelancer credentials, be sure to do your due diligence: check out their voiceover websites and demos and ask them to record a sample from your script. You'll want to make sure that the quality you'll receive matches or exceeds your expectations. That includes the ability to delivery broadcast-quality audio files to your specs within a short turnaround time. There are, however, several big advantages to the opening up of the industry. You, the client, have much more choice than ever before. Many different types of voices, representing just about every ethnicity, age, or gender possibility on the planet. You'll also find voice actors with experience relevant to your line of work. Many have come from (or are still working in) professions like IT, education, finance, and medical or legal services, or have years of military experience. This means that your project can have a true voice of experience that understands and knows how to best relate your message. You also have the removal of middle men for many jobs. While agents are still best equipped to provide auditions from top-tiered talent for large, national commercial campaigns and other high profile work, you can manage your costs by contracting directly with the talent themselves. This may be done through the talents' websites, social media, the talents' own outreach, industry referrals, and casting sites (OK, that's a small middle man). You'll find that talent is available at more affordable price points. There IS an industry standard (see the GVAA rate guide for standard non-union rates in the US), but there are many more non-union jobs than ever before. (SAG/AFTRA is the union and has its own pre-negotiated rates for each type of job.) Just remember that you often get what you pay for. A fair rate will bring you auditions from many excellent voice actors. Offering bargain-basement payment will draw the newer, less trained and less experienced people, and you may not be satisfied with the final quality. Celebrities have jumped with both feet into the fray If you have the deep pockets, you can also get a bona fide A-lister celebrity to narrate your commercial or video. They can help sell your product, film, or cartoon by the power of their names alone. That and the powerful imagery they bring to the table is why you'll hear so many as the voice of a commercial brand or as a memorable character in an animated film. If you like the imagery that these celebrity voices evoke, but lack the budget to afford them, you can hire a celebrity soundalike. Similar to stage or screen actors who can impersonate a popular or well-known figure, there are those who can sound very much like them. More often than not, though, I've found that clients prefer to use celebrities as a reference for the qualities that they want to evoke in a voice over. For example, voice actors are hired that bring the authority and confidence of Allison Janney or Robin Wright to a script. Or Morgan Freeman's wisdom. Or any number of other signature voices that represent the type of person that the client audiences would be drawn to. It's all about the credibility of the voice and how the actor connects to the message, so that it resonates with the audience. "Just remember that you often get what you pay for. A fair rate will bring you auditions from many excellent voice actors. Offering bargain-basement payment will draw the newer, less trained and less experienced people, and you may not be satisfied with the final quality." Good-bye, stereotypes. Don't let the door hit you on your way out. Gone are the days when men voiced men's products and women only pitched those for other women. Women entered previously male-dominated domains because - hey, it was effective! The guys listening to these commercials preferred hearing a woman's voice over another man's. Especially if it had a compelling, sultry quality to it. Or an approachable, friendly tone. Gone, too, are the stereotypes of the announcer or DJ voice pitching products. Why? Generational change. Millennials and Gen Zers especially balk at being told and sold to, preferring "real" conversational voices that share experiences without the authoritarian overtones. And buh-bye to the notion that all working American voice actors live in LA or New York. Not at all! Plenty of talent work in small or regional markets, doing quite well, thank you very much. And with home studios and connectivity software like Source Connect and ipDTL (and Zoom and Microsoft Teams and FaceTime, etc.), voice artists can live and work just about anywhere they have an internet connection. What technology began, Covid hastened, and now it's hard to find a professional voice actor worth his or her salt who does NOT have a broadcast-quality home studio. Laura's Quick Tips Technology has given us a more even playing field: more and better available talent, more opportunities to book VO work You can find talent at every price point, from A-lister celebrities to professionals in your industry who are also accomplished voice actors Most audiences prefer to listen to the voice of a friend or caring professional sharing experience vs. the voice of authority telling them what to do Oh, one more thing... Remember when I said that the familiar, but can't-put-a-finger-on-who-that-is voice you hear in a commercial could be your next door neighbor? They - or should I say we - are somewhat easy to spot. We're the ones looking on in dismay when you decide to mow your grass or cut down a tree while we're in or about to start a recording session. We probably won't say anything, but the forlorn look will give us away. Hey, our recording booths may be good, but it's very hard if not impossible to block out high-powered noises. On the other hand, you'll know who to call the next time your neighborhood or club is putting on a live auction and is looking for a a dynamic pro to give your event some sizzle and fun. 😏 Now that you're past the stereotypes, would you like to know how to get a voice actor to spin around on his or her head? It's quite entertaining. Hint: jam 90 seconds worth of copy into a 60 second spot. It's not a pretty sight. Read all 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

Interested in expanding from voice over into on camera work? This webinar is for you! You already have many of the skills from your voiceover work. But ... the camera is a very different medium, just like the stage, and there are specific adjustments you need to make, as well as new skills to pick up. I'll go over them all and show you how to get started navigating the on camera world. Oh, and contrary to popular thinking, there IS a lot of work for we mature actors. Hint: there's less competition as we age, er, season! I'll spill the secrets with Rhonda in this 90 minute webinar, so be sure to join in. Replays are available with paid registration. Only $20 for tons of useful info. Tuesday, September 20th 9pm - 10:30 pm EST 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