VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio #516 – Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself…
Voice Coaches Radio. Everything voiceover. Welcome to a brand new, I can't even finish that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to Josh for even attempting that. Uh, but my name is Marissa. Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. I will tell you, I am flying solo. Uh, for those who maybe do not know, Josh has ventured off into the dark side.
He is now working for the glorious. State of New York and enjoying himself over there. Uh, I don't even know if those words belong in the same sentence, enjoying and working for the state of New York, but he has a pension now. So he's pleased. Uh, but I will say this while I'm alone here in the studio, I'm not really alone because first of all, you're listening.
Thank you for that. Uh, but also Josh has been texting me. In fact, I got a little text with a gif of Woody from Toy Story that says, you'll be fine partner. Uh, you know, and so I feel like. You know, he's he's like my little cheerleader from afar. I just can't see him again bearded wonder missing here from the studio It just it feels a little weird like there's not enough facial hair over here anymore but uh personally kind of glad about that because I feel like then I need to get some You know laser hair removal or something, but that's that's another story for another day Uh, but listen, like I thought this might be a good idea or a good opportunity to reintroduce myself a little bit because uh, you know, i've been here For almost a year, and there might be some people who aren't fully familiarized with my background and everything that I've been diving into over the course of the last couple years because, I mean, let's face it, it's been a weird time for a lot of us to exist, so that's no different for me over here, you know, just kind of bouncing around and really pivoting with what is necessary.
I mean, I will admit there was a moment there where I kind of thought, uh, maybe I should do something different. And then the universe was like, oh, no, no, no, Marissa, you're right where you belong. So, uh, I'm glad that that's the case because this is, you know, an industry that I've absolutely loved, uh, for a very long time, almost 20 years.
So, um, to get into how I, I got here, I mean, well, it all started, it all started back in the day. Uh, you know, I remember being like 12 years old and really loving entertaining people, you know, but I was incredibly shy. I will freely admit that to anybody like people that I went to school with people that I grew up with, you know, if they haven't seen me in a while and now I tell them what I do, they're like, I'm sorry, you do what?
And you know, it's the reality. I mean, I think a lot of people that end up in an industry like this. You know, we were kind of like those shy outsiders there for a while. And, uh, eventually we got to blossom and bloom and feel comfortable with ourselves down the line. And we just kind of threw our hands up in the air when it came to people judging us.
I don't care anymore. Go ahead. Judge me all you want. Uh, but that being said, when I was 12 years old, I do remember saying to my mom that I wanted to do radio. Like, I want to do that. And I pointed to the boom box on the kitchen table and she laughed and she laughed and I don't blame her. But at 12, it was a little discouraging because I'm over here like, well, mom, aren't you supposed to be like telling me?
Yeah, you can do it. You can be whatever you want to be, honey. Uh, instead. Instead, you know, there was laughter, and I get it because again, I was incredibly shy, and that was really me straight through probably college. You know, sometimes people have a hard time breaking out of that shell, uh, you know, because it does come back to that fear of being judged and, you know, let's face it, high school?
I mean, that's... It's just a four year process of being judged. So yeah, it was a little hard for me to break out of that. But when I was in college, I decided, you know, I went and I did my backup plan, which was going to school for fine arts and I just got real sick of it, but I still had to make myself full time.
So I started taking some classes that I thought would help me break the shyness, but also be focused on some things that I really enjoyed, which ended up being. I took acting. I took acting one and two. I took television production. Um, you know, I, I was auditioning for some plays here and there. I didn't get anything, but, uh, you know, it was allowing me to, to really start venturing outside my comfort zone a little bit.
While I was doing all that, I did hear about a radio school that was here in my hometown. And I was like, you know what? I think I need to try this out. Because this is something I always said that I wanted to do. So, I ended up going to this school. I, I auditioned. I got in. And you know what, I was there for like a month and I got my first job, you know, I'm not saying that that's typical, like that doesn't normally happen, but you know, when you put a lot of effort into something, you start taking nice giant steps in your growth.
And people were seeing that. And you know, my teacher actually had shared some audio of me to one of the local stations and you know, they picked me up basically right away. And that was where I just. I started to like absorb all the knowledge that I needed. And now you got me 17 years later and here I am still going strong, even after.
What seemed like a very solid end point in this pandemic because you know I did work really hard and I got myself to a very um, you know, fun area a big major market in radio Which is boston, massachusetts. I was there for a couple years. I was doing my thing having a lot of fun. Um, you know, my contract came to an end with one place and another place picked me up on two stations part time.
They actually also had hired me full time in Hartford, Connecticut. And I'll tell you right now, that job, that full time opportunity was offered to me March 3rd of 2020. And I bet you, you're, you're like, heart just sunk into your stomach too, didn't it? Because honestly, like 10 days later, everything shut down.
And you know, the biggest thing I can tell anybody about The radio industry is that it relies heavily on advertising. So like the moment that the world began to struggle, I mean, the radio industry, it was like imploding on itself. So there was a time in 2020 where I thought, you know what, maybe I need to find something different.
Maybe, maybe now the universe is guiding me in this direction to, to get on out of this and do what Josh is doing and get a pension and stuff. And then all of a sudden my phone rang and it was actually voice coaches. And I feel like that was the universe's way of saying, no, no, no, not just yet. You're, you're right where you're supposed to be.
And, um, you know, I started here at the beginning of 2021 and really utilizing all of these skills that I've built over the course of my career and, uh, watching some of our students really just prosper because of that, but, you know, along the way. And even though I thought, you know, in the back of my head, I don't know if I'm ever going to get back on the radio again.
One by one, it's like things just started falling into place. So I went from no stations to by the end of 2021, I'm on four stations in four states. I'm doing it all from my basement right here in upstate New York. In fact, I'm on in Boston. I'm on in Lexington. I'm from Lexington, Kentucky, Syracuse, New York.
I'm on in Burlington, Vermont. So, these are things that I never ever expected to have happen. And because I am the person that I am, like, I just kept deciding, well, if radio's not going to be it right now, let me try to do some other things. So, like, I'm actually doing commercials for a radio station here locally.
Anytime they need them, they hit me up. Um, you know, I started dabbling in audiobooks, which was interesting. Because I gotta tell you, I've never done that side of things before until last year. And... it allowed me to go back to my college roots of the acting classes. Like all of a sudden, I just found myself so, so into this book that I was doing without even realizing it until all of a sudden there was a tear that rolled down my cheek and I was like, that's what my acting teacher meant back in 2002.
Uh, you know, here it is finally, 20 years later, all those acting classes are paying off. Um, but you know, it's. It's been a wild ride, and I think, you know, because I've got my hands in so many different aspects now of the industry, I think that's the blessing of the pandemic, if we can find that silver lining, you know?
So hopefully you've been finding some silver lining throughout this time as well. Maybe you kind of... uh, adjusted your perspective as to what's most important to you. Maybe that's what brought you brought you here today. Maybe that's why you're listening right now. You know, trying to start diving into some stuff that you're interested in and you want to start putting, you know, your favorites and, and the things that you love first, because Hey, we got one life to live.
We might as well enjoy it as much as we can. So, uh, you know, that being said, that's me in a nutshell. Uh, so I hope that you've enjoyed this. little reintroduction. Listen, if you have any questions ever about voice, because we are going to be diving into a bunch of different topics over the next few months, um, especially, you know, as I'm, you know, getting different questions, either from your, you or, or some of our students that are rolling on through for classes here at voice coaches.
Um, you know, you can always reach out. You just have to hit us up at info at voice coaches. com, but another episode is going to be coming at you next week. So keep being safe. And we'll talk to you soon. Visit voicecoaches. com for more voiceover news and information.
He is now working for the glorious. State of New York and enjoying himself over there. Uh, I don't even know if those words belong in the same sentence, enjoying and working for the state of New York, but he has a pension now. So he's pleased. Uh, but I will say this while I'm alone here in the studio, I'm not really alone because first of all, you're listening.
Thank you for that. Uh, but also Josh has been texting me. In fact, I got a little text with a gif of Woody from Toy Story that says, you'll be fine partner. Uh, you know, and so I feel like. You know, he's he's like my little cheerleader from afar. I just can't see him again bearded wonder missing here from the studio It just it feels a little weird like there's not enough facial hair over here anymore but uh personally kind of glad about that because I feel like then I need to get some You know laser hair removal or something, but that's that's another story for another day Uh, but listen, like I thought this might be a good idea or a good opportunity to reintroduce myself a little bit because uh, you know, i've been here For almost a year, and there might be some people who aren't fully familiarized with my background and everything that I've been diving into over the course of the last couple years because, I mean, let's face it, it's been a weird time for a lot of us to exist, so that's no different for me over here, you know, just kind of bouncing around and really pivoting with what is necessary.
I mean, I will admit there was a moment there where I kind of thought, uh, maybe I should do something different. And then the universe was like, oh, no, no, no, Marissa, you're right where you belong. So, uh, I'm glad that that's the case because this is, you know, an industry that I've absolutely loved, uh, for a very long time, almost 20 years.
So, um, to get into how I, I got here, I mean, well, it all started, it all started back in the day. Uh, you know, I remember being like 12 years old and really loving entertaining people, you know, but I was incredibly shy. I will freely admit that to anybody like people that I went to school with people that I grew up with, you know, if they haven't seen me in a while and now I tell them what I do, they're like, I'm sorry, you do what?
And you know, it's the reality. I mean, I think a lot of people that end up in an industry like this. You know, we were kind of like those shy outsiders there for a while. And, uh, eventually we got to blossom and bloom and feel comfortable with ourselves down the line. And we just kind of threw our hands up in the air when it came to people judging us.
I don't care anymore. Go ahead. Judge me all you want. Uh, but that being said, when I was 12 years old, I do remember saying to my mom that I wanted to do radio. Like, I want to do that. And I pointed to the boom box on the kitchen table and she laughed and she laughed and I don't blame her. But at 12, it was a little discouraging because I'm over here like, well, mom, aren't you supposed to be like telling me?
Yeah, you can do it. You can be whatever you want to be, honey. Uh, instead. Instead, you know, there was laughter, and I get it because again, I was incredibly shy, and that was really me straight through probably college. You know, sometimes people have a hard time breaking out of that shell, uh, you know, because it does come back to that fear of being judged and, you know, let's face it, high school?
I mean, that's... It's just a four year process of being judged. So yeah, it was a little hard for me to break out of that. But when I was in college, I decided, you know, I went and I did my backup plan, which was going to school for fine arts and I just got real sick of it, but I still had to make myself full time.
So I started taking some classes that I thought would help me break the shyness, but also be focused on some things that I really enjoyed, which ended up being. I took acting. I took acting one and two. I took television production. Um, you know, I, I was auditioning for some plays here and there. I didn't get anything, but, uh, you know, it was allowing me to, to really start venturing outside my comfort zone a little bit.
While I was doing all that, I did hear about a radio school that was here in my hometown. And I was like, you know what? I think I need to try this out. Because this is something I always said that I wanted to do. So, I ended up going to this school. I, I auditioned. I got in. And you know what, I was there for like a month and I got my first job, you know, I'm not saying that that's typical, like that doesn't normally happen, but you know, when you put a lot of effort into something, you start taking nice giant steps in your growth.
And people were seeing that. And you know, my teacher actually had shared some audio of me to one of the local stations and you know, they picked me up basically right away. And that was where I just. I started to like absorb all the knowledge that I needed. And now you got me 17 years later and here I am still going strong, even after.
What seemed like a very solid end point in this pandemic because you know I did work really hard and I got myself to a very um, you know, fun area a big major market in radio Which is boston, massachusetts. I was there for a couple years. I was doing my thing having a lot of fun. Um, you know, my contract came to an end with one place and another place picked me up on two stations part time.
They actually also had hired me full time in Hartford, Connecticut. And I'll tell you right now, that job, that full time opportunity was offered to me March 3rd of 2020. And I bet you, you're, you're like, heart just sunk into your stomach too, didn't it? Because honestly, like 10 days later, everything shut down.
And you know, the biggest thing I can tell anybody about The radio industry is that it relies heavily on advertising. So like the moment that the world began to struggle, I mean, the radio industry, it was like imploding on itself. So there was a time in 2020 where I thought, you know what, maybe I need to find something different.
Maybe, maybe now the universe is guiding me in this direction to, to get on out of this and do what Josh is doing and get a pension and stuff. And then all of a sudden my phone rang and it was actually voice coaches. And I feel like that was the universe's way of saying, no, no, no, not just yet. You're, you're right where you're supposed to be.
And, um, you know, I started here at the beginning of 2021 and really utilizing all of these skills that I've built over the course of my career and, uh, watching some of our students really just prosper because of that, but, you know, along the way. And even though I thought, you know, in the back of my head, I don't know if I'm ever going to get back on the radio again.
One by one, it's like things just started falling into place. So I went from no stations to by the end of 2021, I'm on four stations in four states. I'm doing it all from my basement right here in upstate New York. In fact, I'm on in Boston. I'm on in Lexington. I'm from Lexington, Kentucky, Syracuse, New York.
I'm on in Burlington, Vermont. So, these are things that I never ever expected to have happen. And because I am the person that I am, like, I just kept deciding, well, if radio's not going to be it right now, let me try to do some other things. So, like, I'm actually doing commercials for a radio station here locally.
Anytime they need them, they hit me up. Um, you know, I started dabbling in audiobooks, which was interesting. Because I gotta tell you, I've never done that side of things before until last year. And... it allowed me to go back to my college roots of the acting classes. Like all of a sudden, I just found myself so, so into this book that I was doing without even realizing it until all of a sudden there was a tear that rolled down my cheek and I was like, that's what my acting teacher meant back in 2002.
Uh, you know, here it is finally, 20 years later, all those acting classes are paying off. Um, but you know, it's. It's been a wild ride, and I think, you know, because I've got my hands in so many different aspects now of the industry, I think that's the blessing of the pandemic, if we can find that silver lining, you know?
So hopefully you've been finding some silver lining throughout this time as well. Maybe you kind of... uh, adjusted your perspective as to what's most important to you. Maybe that's what brought you brought you here today. Maybe that's why you're listening right now. You know, trying to start diving into some stuff that you're interested in and you want to start putting, you know, your favorites and, and the things that you love first, because Hey, we got one life to live.
We might as well enjoy it as much as we can. So, uh, you know, that being said, that's me in a nutshell. Uh, so I hope that you've enjoyed this. little reintroduction. Listen, if you have any questions ever about voice, because we are going to be diving into a bunch of different topics over the next few months, um, especially, you know, as I'm, you know, getting different questions, either from your, you or, or some of our students that are rolling on through for classes here at voice coaches.
Um, you know, you can always reach out. You just have to hit us up at info at voice coaches. com, but another episode is going to be coming at you next week. So keep being safe. And we'll talk to you soon. Visit voicecoaches. com for more voiceover news and information.
The studio is a bit empty, as Marissa flies solo for this edition of Voice Coaches Radio. Which makes it the perfect time to reintroduce herself and her background in the wild world that is: Voice Over.
