When you’re in a live directed session with a client, try not to get carried away with personal things *before* you begin.
Obviously, keep it pleasant and be nice with the engineer (because they’re the real superheroes here), but don’t say anything out loud to them that you wouldn’t want repeated elsewhere.
Sounds pretty straightforward and common sense, but you would be surprised…
On a personal basis with them? That’s cool, too! I’ve got clients and work with engineers at studios who are also friends. But keep in mind that *their* client could join the call at any moment, so be a pal and be a pro.
At the end of the day, you’re the super talent that you know you are and they hired you to be.
Then once the call is over, go back to your usual shenanigans and silliness. The world needs all the laughter it can take right now 🙂
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!
Keep it professional! 🎙️
When you’re in a live directed session with a client, try not to get carried away with personal things *before* you begin.
Obviously, keep it pleasant and be nice with the engineer (because they’re the real superheroes here), but don’t say anything out loud to them that you wouldn’t want repeated elsewhere.
Sounds pretty straightforward and common sense, but you would be surprised…
On a personal basis with them? That’s cool, too! I’ve got clients and work with engineers at studios who are also friends. But keep in mind that *their* client could join the call at any moment, so be a pal and be a pro.
At the end of the day, you’re the super talent that you know you are and they hired you to be.
Then once the call is over, go back to your usual shenanigans and silliness. The world needs all the laughter it can take right now 🙂
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!