For anyone interested in voice acting, you’ll need to pay extra attention to your daily vocal care routine. You want to be prepared for when your voice gets strained and take note of any symptoms. And when that happens, you’ll need an important tool to help ease the strain on your voice. But what if you could do that and add that extra ‘oomph’ to your vocal warmups?
Now you might be wondering, “What is a singing straw and how does it work?”
I first heard about them when I bought a competitor’s product in early 2021… and then lost it on my move back to Los Angeles. Sigh.
Enter the Singing/Straw. I believe it was a targeted ad on social media that got me. It looked pretty comparable to what I got last time, so I thought I’d give it a try. I had a big recording session in Washington, DC and brought it with me. Unloaded my stuff after arrival in the hotel room, came back, and it was gone. Pretty sure it was stolen. And it was still in the packaging. Double sigh.
I got an email from the folks at Singing/Straw asking me how I enjoyed my purchase and I told them I wish I could’ve given a testimonial but it was gone, and I would buy another. You know what they did? They sent me another one for free. Out of the kindness of their hearts. How amazing, right?
You know what they say, the third time’s the charm, right?
So I got my new one and oh WOW, what a difference it makes! I do a lot of vocally taxing work and even after long sessions, my voice is less tired when I use the Singing Straw versus when I don’t.
When they asked if I wanted to be an affiliate, I jumped at the chance.
So all that is great but what exactly is a singing straw? A singing straw is just that – it’s an eco-friendly singing straw that helps you warm your vocals up. Not just for voice acting, but also for speaking and for singing as well. It can also build flexibility and stamina, reinforce a healthy resonance, reduce unnecessary strain and tension, and heal your voice for when you’re tired or sick. The best part about it is that it was designed based on the latest in voice science.
I personally use this tool every day, since my voice is my biggest asset and I want to help take care of it as much as I can. And in true VO Superhero style, I think it also gives my vocal range a good powerup whenever I need it.
Want to get your own Singing Straw? Just use the code VOSuperhero at checkout to take 15% off of your next purchase!
Happy singing!
Here’s a picture of me… well, my left hand, in my home studio with my Singing Straw!
https://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/3fbe3b922fb1a0f55f1354323c239893.jpeg1000750Bonniehttps://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.pngBonnie2022-02-03 20:40:042022-02-03 20:40:05What do you keep in your utility belt?
Let’s talk about free time. How much free time do you have? Or should I say, how much free time do you allow yourself? Is free time a myth?
(In the words of my girl Buffy Summers, “Well, you were myth-taken.”)
I’m an anxious-perfectionist-workaholic who loves their job but constantly feels *behind* on everything there is to do, and sometimes I have a hard time taking a day off without feeling guilty. Yes, I’m working on it…
Someone recently asked me what my hobbies were and I thought, “Ummm… I hang out with my dog, I like to work out, I drink too much coffee, and I love cooking and baking?” but kind of drew a blank thinking of anything else.
So here’s to more self-care and non-work hobbies in 2022! And please drop some ideas and/or suggestions in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
I saw a negative review for a project I worked on.
Not only did they critique my performance, but also went after my voice, calling it the most annoying sound they’ve ever heard.
The. Most. Annoying. Sound. They’ve. Ever. Heard.
My voice.
The thing I use to make a living.
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting a little.
As much as we can pretend to not care when something someone says hurts us, that’s exactly it… we’re just pretending.
We’re still human. We still want to be liked by others. We still feel.
I’ve been an actor for a long time. I know the ins and outs of rejection and not being the right “fit” for a project. I’m no stranger to reading reviews and feedback from directors and critics alike. There’s absolutely something to be said for constructive criticism and learning where we could improve, especially when it comes to our craft. As an actor, you’ve got to be directable.
Generally speaking, I think we should strive to be better and grow where we can.
But sometimes, we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. And that’s okay.
Because I’m a coffee drinker. But seriously.
Don’t let the world dim your shine because of a bad day or a bad review.
Because the people who DO love you for who you are, the clients who DO love your voice and your work, and the world… well, they need you to be your authentic self. To give what you’ve got and keep showing up.
https://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.png00Bonniehttps://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.pngBonnie2021-11-23 13:01:432021-11-23 13:02:08the most annoying sound in the world
Laughter is a gift, and how lucky are we to receive it in the form of comedy! I had a great time with Anne Ganguzza and the VIPeeps teaching a class all about Finding the Funny in your scripts. We dove into character archetypes, elements of comedy, why the truth is funny, how people process pain, and how to bring your own life experiences to comedy. Who knew being funny was such serious business?
“If my life wasn’t funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.” – Carrie Fisher
With these wonderfully wacky performers at our Find the Funny class!
We even got a sweet testimonial from voice actor Debra Elaine! She said, “Way to go, Bonnie! That (Find the Funny) was SO much fun! I LOVE doing partner reads! I don’t see that option out in VO-Land very often and I didn’t realize we were going to have the opportunity do them tonight, so it was a really nice surprise. Let’s make this a regular offering. I KNOW it would be popular!!”
Big thanks to Anne Ganguzza and the VO Peeps for having me, I’d love to teach this class again in the future!
If you want to explore finding the funny one-on-one with me, get in touch and we’ll talk!
https://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.png00Bonniehttps://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.pngBonnie2021-09-27 14:51:482021-09-27 14:51:49how to find the funny in your script and life!
I don’t talk about him a lot, mainly because I don’t like the idea of making people feel bad for me, and I don’t thrive on the sympathy. Another reason is that others have tried to use it as a weapon against me; saying I’m “less than” for losing a parent at a young-ish age, it’s a “weakness”, I’m somehow “damaged”, or have “daddy issues”… when they have never experienced a loss like this.
But a good friend reminded me (you know who you are ❤) that people trust people who have been through real things. So maybe it’s time to share a bit more here on my platform.
I think a terrible disservice we can do to someone’s memory is make their loss about us. I think another is forgetting what they taught us and not sharing those lessons, which helps to keep their memory alive.
Experiencing a loss like this isn’t a weakness. Coming out on the other side is strength, and I think we should use that pain to help others who are going through it. Be a light in the darkness of grief.
Loss is hard. Pain is hard. But it can be helpful when shared.
This was our last picture taken together in 2013 before he passed away.
He’s the strongest person I’ve ever known. He was faced with insurmountable odds and faced them with more bravery than I’ve ever seen.
He was a great dad. I think I took that for granted. As I’ve gotten older, I understand him a lot more.
I’m grateful for everything he taught me – from comic book knowledge, our debates about Team Batman versus Team Superman (where we would always butt heads – we did that a LOT), for teaching me how to defend myself, how to kick ass and take names, and for giving me strong role models to look up to. From our nights of watching Buffy together to staying up late to make sure I made it home safely every night until I moved out… he was always there.
He taught me that girls and women could be strong and be superheroes, too… and do it better than the boys.
He was the biggest inspiration for my voiceover business when I rebranded as The Voiceover Superhero in January of 2018, when I moved from theatre/on-camera to doing VO full time and created my LLC. He was always supportive of my acting career, wanted me to succeed, and encouraged me on the days where it was REALLY hard.
What a gift.
Today would have been his 63rd birthday; and I’m honoring him by remembering the lessons he taught me, sharing this story, and hoping that this story can be helpful to someone else out there, too.
https://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.png00Bonniehttps://vosuperhero.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-File.pngBonnie2021-08-15 16:21:072021-08-15 16:21:08who was your first superhero?
What do you keep in your utility belt?
For anyone interested in voice acting, you’ll need to pay extra attention to your daily vocal care routine. You want to be prepared for when your voice gets strained and take note of any symptoms. And when that happens, you’ll need an important tool to help ease the strain on your voice. But what if you could do that and add that extra ‘oomph’ to your vocal warmups?
This is where a Singing/Straw comes in handy.
Now you might be wondering, “What is a singing straw and how does it work?”
I first heard about them when I bought a competitor’s product in early 2021… and then lost it on my move back to Los Angeles. Sigh.
Enter the Singing/Straw. I believe it was a targeted ad on social media that got me. It looked pretty comparable to what I got last time, so I thought I’d give it a try. I had a big recording session in Washington, DC and brought it with me. Unloaded my stuff after arrival in the hotel room, came back, and it was gone. Pretty sure it was stolen. And it was still in the packaging. Double sigh.
I got an email from the folks at Singing/Straw asking me how I enjoyed my purchase and I told them I wish I could’ve given a testimonial but it was gone, and I would buy another. You know what they did? They sent me another one for free. Out of the kindness of their hearts. How amazing, right?
You know what they say, the third time’s the charm, right?
So I got my new one and oh WOW, what a difference it makes! I do a lot of vocally taxing work and even after long sessions, my voice is less tired when I use the Singing Straw versus when I don’t.
When they asked if I wanted to be an affiliate, I jumped at the chance.
So all that is great but what exactly is a singing straw? A singing straw is just that – it’s an eco-friendly singing straw that helps you warm your vocals up. Not just for voice acting, but also for speaking and for singing as well. It can also build flexibility and stamina, reinforce a healthy resonance, reduce unnecessary strain and tension, and heal your voice for when you’re tired or sick. The best part about it is that it was designed based on the latest in voice science.
I personally use this tool every day, since my voice is my biggest asset and I want to help take care of it as much as I can. And in true VO Superhero style, I think it also gives my vocal range a good powerup whenever I need it.
Want to get your own Singing Straw? Just use the code VOSuperhero at checkout to take 15% off of your next purchase!
Happy singing!
What are hobbies again?
Let’s talk about free time. How much free time do you have? Or should I say, how much free time do you allow yourself? Is free time a myth?
(In the words of my girl Buffy Summers, “Well, you were myth-taken.”)
I’m an anxious-perfectionist-workaholic who loves their job but constantly feels *behind* on everything there is to do, and sometimes I have a hard time taking a day off without feeling guilty. Yes, I’m working on it…
Someone recently asked me what my hobbies were and I thought, “Ummm… I hang out with my dog, I like to work out, I drink too much coffee, and I love cooking and baking?” but kind of drew a blank thinking of anything else.
So here’s to more self-care and non-work hobbies in 2022! And please drop some ideas and/or suggestions in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
the most annoying sound in the world
I saw a negative review for a project I worked on.
Not only did they critique my performance, but also went after my voice, calling it the most annoying sound they’ve ever heard.
The. Most. Annoying. Sound. They’ve. Ever. Heard.
My voice.
The thing I use to make a living.
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting a little.
As much as we can pretend to not care when something someone says hurts us, that’s exactly it… we’re just pretending.
We’re still human. We still want to be liked by others. We still feel.
I’ve been an actor for a long time. I know the ins and outs of rejection and not being the right “fit” for a project. I’m no stranger to reading reviews and feedback from directors and critics alike.
There’s absolutely something to be said for constructive criticism and learning where we could improve, especially when it comes to our craft. As an actor, you’ve got to be directable.
Generally speaking, I think we should strive to be better and grow where we can.
But sometimes, we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
And that’s okay.
Because I’m a coffee drinker.
But seriously.
Don’t let the world dim your shine because of a bad day or a bad review.
Because the people who DO love you for who you are, the clients who DO love your voice and your work, and the world… well, they need you to be your authentic self. To give what you’ve got and keep showing up.
Shine on, my friends 💜
how to find the funny in your script and life!
Laughter is a gift, and how lucky are we to receive it in the form of comedy! I had a great time with Anne Ganguzza and the VIPeeps teaching a class all about Finding the Funny in your scripts. We dove into character archetypes, elements of comedy, why the truth is funny, how people process pain, and how to bring your own life experiences to comedy. Who knew being funny was such serious business?
“If my life wasn’t funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.” – Carrie Fisher
We even got a sweet testimonial from voice actor Debra Elaine! She said, “Way to go, Bonnie! That (Find the Funny) was SO much fun! I LOVE doing partner reads! I don’t see that option out in VO-Land very often and I didn’t realize we were going to have the opportunity do them tonight, so it was a really nice surprise. Let’s make this a regular offering. I KNOW it would be popular!!”
Big thanks to Anne Ganguzza and the VO Peeps for having me, I’d love to teach this class again in the future!
If you want to explore finding the funny one-on-one with me, get in touch and we’ll talk!
who was your first superhero?
Who was your first superhero?
Mine was my dad.
I don’t talk about him a lot, mainly because I don’t like the idea of making people feel bad for me, and I don’t thrive on the sympathy.
Another reason is that others have tried to use it as a weapon against me; saying I’m “less than” for losing a parent at a young-ish age, it’s a “weakness”, I’m somehow “damaged”, or have “daddy issues”… when they have never experienced a loss like this.
But a good friend reminded me (you know who you are ❤) that people trust people who have been through real things. So maybe it’s time to share a bit more here on my platform.
I think a terrible disservice we can do to someone’s memory is make their loss about us. I think another is forgetting what they taught us and not sharing those lessons, which helps to keep their memory alive.
Experiencing a loss like this isn’t a weakness. Coming out on the other side is strength, and I think we should use that pain to help others who are going through it. Be a light in the darkness of grief.
Loss is hard. Pain is hard. But it can be helpful when shared.
This was our last picture taken together in 2013 before he passed away.
He’s the strongest person I’ve ever known. He was faced with insurmountable odds and faced them with more bravery than I’ve ever seen.
He was a great dad. I think I took that for granted. As I’ve gotten older, I understand him a lot more.
I’m grateful for everything he taught me – from comic book knowledge, our debates about Team Batman versus Team Superman (where we would always butt heads – we did that a LOT), for teaching me how to defend myself, how to kick ass and take names, and for giving me strong role models to look up to. From our nights of watching Buffy together to staying up late to make sure I made it home safely every night until I moved out… he was always there.
He taught me that girls and women could be strong and be superheroes, too… and do it better than the boys.
He was the biggest inspiration for my voiceover business when I rebranded as The Voiceover Superhero in January of 2018, when I moved from theatre/on-camera to doing VO full time and created my LLC. He was always supportive of my acting career, wanted me to succeed, and encouraged me on the days where it was REALLY hard.
What a gift.
Today would have been his 63rd birthday; and I’m honoring him by remembering the lessons he taught me, sharing this story, and hoping that this story can be helpful to someone else out there, too.