VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio #684 – Sarah Goes From Singing to Voice Over
[00:00:00] Voice coaches, radio, everything voiceover.
Marissa: Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. And, uh, upon us, uh, we have not just me, uh, Marissa, by the way, uh, but we are joined here by former voice coaches, students, uh, what we'll call you alum. Uh, and, and it's Sarah. So like, how are you, how are you doing?
Sarah: Hi. I'm well. How are you?
Marissa: Well, you know, just enjoying the summer. Sweating my butt off. Um, you know, do I have a good glisten? Like, am I glowing over here?
Sarah: Totally.
Marissa: I feel like I might be. Um, now you, you came in and you were raring to go, and, um, I know that you had a fantastic, like, you know, time going through the course in the, in the demo session, but I, I want people to know a little bit about you.
Like, tell, tell us, um, just a little, your backstory, like, you know, maybe stuff in the past that [00:01:00] brought you to, you know, bring this interest to the forefront and, and dive on in.
Sarah: Oh, okay. Well, it's, um, something I have thought about, like off and on, um, over the years. Certainly, um, you know, when I was a young child and through I would say high school, well even some college, I did some acting, um, and, you know, music theater.
Um, so, and I've also am a singer, um, and come from a family of musicians. So I, um, no big deal. Used my voice. In the back and, you know, I have used my voice, um, in a performance setting, shall we say, in the past, um, quite a bit. And, um, you know, I, uh, had children kind of a little bit later in life around, um, you know, 37 and.
They're twins or boy and girl twins. Um, and as they were growing up, you know, part of our nightly bedtime routine with them was to read books every night. Um, so I've, um, you know, [00:02:00] read the gamut with them and always really enjoyed that. And then I also just in general, have always just really, um, I have an ear for like, um, when I'm watching commercials or a TV show or something, when someone's doing vo.
It's an actor. I'm like, oh, that's so and so from whatever. You know, I can like people,
Marissa: you, that
Sarah: people's voices out the key here
Marissa: where you can, like, not everybody can do that. Like that's,
Sarah: that's like
Marissa: an it's
Sarah: so funny
Marissa: thing, like, yeah.
Sarah: Um, yeah. So it's just, you know, it's, it's. I just have been interested in it.
And also my husband had a cousin who was interested in doing VO at one point, and he had looked into it and it always seemed kind of like mysterious and like, it's just one of those career paths that I've always just been curious, like how does someone fall into that? You know? How do you. How do you even get your foot in the door for that?
Mm-hmm. So I think, you know, uh, that the curiosity was, you know, um, something I've had for quite a while and then, you know, I got hit with an ad on the [00:03:00] socials like we do,
Marissa: you know, it's because, you know, we're able to read your mind. Um.
Sarah: Exactly, totally. You know, we
Marissa: have a lot up our sleeves. It's not all deep, it's just the skills of voiceover.
It's, uh, you know, we got rabbits so we could pull out of a hat and everything else. Um. No. I like going back to your kids real quick. You, you, I just have to believe that you're the mom that was doing all the voices and stuff.
Sarah: I mean, kind of, yeah. I feel like I was, but I, you know, I think it was more just about just being sort of excited to read to them every night, you know?
Yeah. Um, and it was always just, um, you know, we had a very set bedtime routine and like we, it was baths, then teeth, then, you know, book and then song, you know, and I literally, and you know, they started doing all that and then at some point, reading kind of dropped off and they got a little older. But I literally have been singing to 'em every night really?
Since they were born until even just a few years ago. They would be embarrassed if, if anyone heard said, said that out [00:04:00] loud, but ew,
Marissa: like, um, no, I get it. I, I, you know, they, they'll come back around, you know, one day they're gonna be like, mom, can you just give me,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: Just an mp, three of you singing. Or whatever the type of audio might be at that point.
Sarah: Right. I mean, it is just funny because I grew up with that. You know, my, like I said, my parents were mu musicians and my grandparents would always sing to us when we would stay the night at their house. And so I just would sing the same songs to my kids that were sung to me and, um, you know, and they really, you know, it's just like a comfort.
It's, you know, yeah. To hear your. Your parent or your grandparent, like singing you to sleep is like a really nice sendoff, right?
Marissa: Yeah. Right. I mean, it's, it's nostalgic and, you know, it's, it's, it's a tradition. Um, and, uh, you know, hopefully your kids will then, you know, keep that going. So,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: For, for you, you know, having the background that, that you do, like coming into all this, it's still being maybe slightly mysterious as you were kind of, you know, getting things started.[00:05:00]
What was like something that was. Maybe there wasn't anything. But what was something that was maybe different than you expected it to be? Like? Was there any part of this that was more challenging than you expected?
Sarah: Um. Let me think about that for a second. I mean, I think all of it's challenging just because it's not something I'd done before, so it's very new.
Um, even though I have, like I said, done lots of reading or whatever, but I think, um, practicing with, um, the coaches, you know, I think was very, um, that wasn't challenging, but I mean, it was just so enlightening, I would say, um, because you. You look back at, you know, when you start at the beginning of the hour and you kind of re know like where you started at, and then by the end of the hour where you, how far the progression has gone, um, from one end to the other.
Um. I just think it's so helpful and just so interesting to see like, wow, really getting that feedback in real [00:06:00] time can really improve what you're doing. Um, and I think that, you know, when you and I were recording my demo a couple weeks ago, I mean, I think you would agree like that to me, I think the demo recording was challenging, but at the same time it was weird because it was like everything just kind of fell into place after a couple takes.
Marissa: Yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing is like, I, I think you're, you're right, like. And, and not everybody I think understands, they don't see it maybe right away, but the giant steps that you can take in the course of such a short amount of time. Right, right,
Sarah: right.
Marissa: And, and, and it can be a matter of having that one-on-one guidance, but sometimes, like, I mean like I didn't really have that guidance, you know, for me, when I was starting all this stuff, it came back to a matter of, um.
It, it, you know, like just kind of recording and listening back to myself and like critiquing myself and I was still taking those, you know, big steps forward and everything. So like, you know, it's, it's amazing [00:07:00] what can happen if you're, you know, putting all the right pieces into place, uh, you know, know.
Sarah: Yeah, I completely agree.
Marissa: Yeah, it's, it's great that you're able to see that. Um, so.
Sarah: But I do think the course was super helpful. I mean, like you were saying, I can't believe like, you know, yeah. I mean, you were just teaching yourself essentially. So it's nice to know that this resource is out there for people who wanna get into this, this world, um, and may not really know how, or, or whatever, you know, if you stumble upon this or, um, find it.
I mean, I, I just would highly recommend it because it's a lot of valuable information. Um, I think, you know, also just especially towards the end where you're talking the coursework talks about, you know, all the different ways that you can try to tap into the business and, um, you know, I just think it's really helpful.
Marissa: Yeah. And you know, I just, uh, I think, you know, it's, it's funny 'cause like for me. Thi this side of the industry was always very mysterious to me, even when I was, mm-hmm. When I was starting, just because like, you know, I was [00:08:00] doing commercial work and everything, but it was all on the radio side of things and it's like, you know, here, do this dance monkey.
Um, and so I was kind of in the midst of like, not just trading myself, but, but having people to be able to bounce things off of, you know? Yes. So it's like they may, they may not have been like teachers or. You know, it's like they, they were able to give feedback. They were professionals. But it's like all that feedback you take with a grain of salt.
You take what's good and you take what's helpful. And it might not be every single thing they said, but you know, then it's, it's, you start layering some things and you are able to make that progress. So, you know, that's where I was able to excel. Um, but, you know, you having. You know, a few of us in your back pocket and being able to kind of, you know, have that one-on-one and have that experience of, you know, know knowledgeable people who are in it, who are able to.
Kind of train the ins and outs of it and, and give you better perspective and those kind of things. It's, it's just such a useful tool. Um, [00:09:00] so, you know, leading into demo day, what were your feelings going into that day? Were, were you feeling confident? Were you a little bit concerned about yourself? Like what, what were the feelings?
Sarah: Um, I was nervous. I was really nervous. I, you couldn't see me, but like, I was definitely. Like kind of moving around a lot, you know, it was just not very, um, I don't know. I dunno. I was just nervous. I'll just, I'll just leave it at that. Um, I practiced the morning of, you know, I think I got good sleep the night before.
You know, I tried to do all the things that they recommended and brought my water with me and my pencil and, you know, a beautiful student. Spread out, learn, ready to go pick some, had everything. Yeah. Yes. I was like, completely ready. So yeah, I was, I was excited and I was just like, I've never actually. Been in a sound booth like that before.
Um, so that was really fun and interesting and having the headphones on and just like hearing the back and forth and, um, doing all the takes. It was just a new experience. [00:10:00] So it was, but yeah, it was exciting and um, and I felt really accomplished though at the end of it, I would say. Yeah, because. I really felt like we ended up hitting on some good pieces and things really came together on almost every one of 'em.
I know there, there was one piece that I had some struggles with that you helped me through.
Marissa: What did we end up going back to it?
Sarah: I think we did. Yeah, we
Marissa: absolutely did. Yeah, because I've had a couple demos actually recently that we've done that and like, you're, you're not alone. Like sometimes what happens is like you'll be in the midst of recording a piece, but, but think about it like you're, you're in a new situation, right?
Right. New situation, new environment. And if you go and you do a piece a few times. You're gonna hit a peak, um, you know, and, and then you just start going downhill. So it's like, it's much better to be like, you know what, let's just, let's leave this for a second. We're gonna, we're gonna table this and we're gonna get through the rest of them, and then we're gonna circle back and I guarantee you'll only have to do it once.
And [00:11:00] that is always what happens. Uh,
Sarah: no,
Marissa: but it
Sarah: totally worked.
Marissa: Yeah, it absolutely
Sarah: worked.
Marissa: It's because all of a sudden you've built more confidence and you're more comfortable. Right? And like you're taking all that little bit of feedback that you got the entire time and now you're implementing it without even realizing you're implementing it.
Sarah: Yeah.
Marissa: So,
Sarah: well that, and also I think you can kind of get stuck. You can get stuck. When you're on something and you just, you can get that frustration mm-hmm. Can kind of build up. And I think it's good to take ABR a breather Yeah. So to speak.
Marissa: Yeah.
Sarah: Um, and just like, go to something else and then come back to it.
And I think, you know, when I would play piano or sing or whatever, I mean, I think it's the same kind of concept. Like if you're, you're practicing on a piece and you're, you're having a struggle. It's always nice to take a step back and then come back to it later and when your frustration has kind of died down a little bit.
Oh,
Marissa: for sure,
Sarah: for sure. Um, so yeah, just, and that, that happens to the
Marissa: best of us. Like, you know, it doesn't matter if you, um, you know, are just starting or, or you're me 20 years in now, I can't tell you how many times I've been in this studio right here by [00:12:00] myself. And if these walls could talk, like they share some stories, uh, you know, but.
It's, it's, sometimes you do, you have to put it aside. You have to step away from it and come back, whether it's physically or, or just moving on to something else and then revisiting. But, you know, you did a beautiful job. Um, so thank
Sarah: you.
Marissa: What do you think was like the most fun sort of piece for you to do when you were going through that session?
Like, was it something that was a little bit more straightforward? Was it like, like the kids pee? Like, I mean, what, what do you think?
Sarah: Um, I think Kids piece was probably the funnest. Um, you know, there were some that were more sort of like, I don't know, for lack of a better term, documentary, like more of a documentary sort of style.
Um, I feel like I'm pretty strong at that too. Um, but yeah, I think that, you know, the, the kids pieces are always fun 'cause you can kind of, you know, make up your voices as you go and Right. You know, kind of play around with that. And, um, yeah. People
Marissa: can find that to be [00:13:00] really challenging, but the, the moment I think that you, mm-hmm.
Stop overthinking it and just let yourself, let loose and enjoy it. Then like the more fun that you have, I think the more expressive everything can be and, and just, you know, yeah. And vibrant in, in general, and it really works. Um, and I think you were able to kind of accomplish that for yourself, uh, which was, you know, great to, great to experience.
Sarah: Yeah. I think the trick will be to, to tackle a, a larger, um. More, uh, you know, expository piece if you will, that you know, you have to like remember,
Marissa: right?
Sarah: Oh, it's this character's voice and not that one, and not mix them up. Yeah. As you're like, kind of reading off the cuff,
Marissa: I, I'll tell you when, when you're really busy, like, because as I was kind of starting to pile more work on for myself, like I was in the midst of doing like a four book series and it wasn't, it wasn't like little kid related, it was more young adult, but like.
I wasn't really going back and listening to what I had already done in the previous book to know if I was keeping consistent. And [00:14:00] then when I did have time and I did listen, I was like. Holy crap. I actually did do okay. No wonder she was so happy and so impressed. She was like, you're really an actor. I'm like, you, you don't say Okay.
No, you're right. Actually, uh, I have that feeling a, a good, like, you know, almost at that point, it was like almost 20 years in. I was like, all right, go bruss a little dirt off my shoulder. Okay, thank you. Um,
Sarah: yeah,
Marissa: but, uh, so, so now that. Okay. We're a couple weeks past demo, like you've had the dust kind of settle a little bit.
I know you're probably still waiting for the final piece, but, um,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: How are you feeling? Like, what, what do you, what do you want to be like the, the next step for you or, or have you started taking any steps?
Sarah: Um, I haven't, 'cause I've got a lot going on at the moment and I've been very, um, overwhelmed this summer with things going on in my life.
But, um, no, believe me, and school's starting next week too, so that's like, you know, in the near term. Um, I do want to get moving [00:15:00] forward and, you know, I think, um. That's a good question for you in terms of like what you think my actual strengths are, but like really audio books. I mean, I know in the materials it's like, you know, the instruction is like really whittled down to specifically what it is you think you want to do.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Sarah: Um, and I do think that I could see myself doing children's audio books or. Um, novels as well I think would be interesting and, um, VO for film, you know, or TV I think could be really interesting as well. So, um,
Marissa: yeah.
Sarah: Yeah, I mean, I think the first step is to get it back and so I can hear it and then, you know, obviously my
Marissa: ups
Sarah: and running and,
Marissa: and
Sarah: then
Marissa: personally see
Sarah: where I can take it from there.
Marissa: I do think like, you know, just kind of wrapping your head around where you'd like to be. Is, is number one. And I think that you've kind of got a good idea there, right? Yeah. And even before you get the demo back, you can kind of do a little bit of investigating of like, well, where should I start looking and how [00:16:00] should I like, kind of approach this for myself a little bit, like maybe a little plan of action, little piece by piece, you know what I mean?
Um, because that way when you do get the demo, you know, maybe you already have a couple ideas of where to start sending some stuff to, um, you know, to get you off the bat. But, um. You know, it's, it's never, never a bad idea to, you know, just, just keep kind of thinking, you know, what do I want? What steps should I take to get there?
They could be very small steps, you know, but every, every little bit that you do gets you a little bit further, you know? Right, right. Like, I realize for everybody, life is so busy and it throws us curve balls all the time. And, uh Right. You know, I, I, uh, can, can, you know, attest to that myself and, you know, sometimes it's like, it can be hard to wanna just sit down and do a little.
But this, I've said this to other students, I've said this to other people in, in interviews just like this, where it's like, let this be your escape. Let this be [00:17:00] your happy place. This is something for you. This is something that you want and have, you know, expressed that want for in the past. And it's like, it can be whatever you want it to be.
Even if you're only able to do like 30 minutes a day or so a week, that 30 minutes will always take you a little bit further each time. So
Sarah: yeah, I feel like I work better in blocks of time, so it'll, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like I've got days of the week where I'm like, okay, today this is what I'm doing today.
You know? And then I have like my top three lists where like, these are the three things that I have got to do today, or, you know, and then if I. Scratch those th three things off and manage to get a few more done, then hey, great. It's a bad day for me. Right?
Marissa: Yeah.
Sarah: You know? Um, yeah.
Marissa: I
Sarah: tend to make
Marissa: a list and then I put way too much on it, and then I hate myself when I don't accomplish everything.
So I'm one of those
Sarah: people, which
Marissa: problem,
Sarah: which is why I'm trying to, why I try to keep it. Somewhat brief and, you know, not like 10 things, three things, you know, I think it's easier to do, [00:18:00] um, for me daily than it is to like even schedule out on a weekly basis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, 'cause then it just looks overwhelming.
You're like,
Marissa: oh, it does, it
Sarah: definitely can, it just, the list never stops, you know?
Marissa: Yeah, no, I, I'm a, I'm a day by day, but I do glance at the week and I, but I try not to stay with that, that kind of load in my mind because, uh, you know, that can be, it's
Sarah: overwhelming. Yeah.
Marissa: What can I accomplish today? Um, exactly.
And then, like I said, life happens and, you know, you, you have extra stuff that, you know, maybe takes, takes the, uh, front seat, but, uh, you know, anything, anything can be, you know, like whatever your goal overall is, anything can, can lead you there. So it's just, it's a matter of figuring out what works best for you.
But, you know, you've got us in your back pocket, so I just want you to make sure that you, you kind of, you know, you reach out whenever you need because you know, it's, like I said before, it's like. Yes, you can be like I was and you. You have that ability to go ahead and kind of. Uh, you know, critique and train yourself a little bit, but it is always nice to have people to bounce off [00:19:00] of and, uh, we're always readily accessible for that.
So, you know.
Sarah: Yeah, I was really glad to hear you say that in our session, um, the recording session, you know? 'cause I do feel like. Especially for the first job I get at some point in the future, I'm going to want your feedback. Oh, for sure. So be ready for that phone call.
Marissa: Yeah, no, we're, we're, we're ready.
We're willing, we're able and, uh, you know, for the lifetime that you're a part of all this, so you just, just holler. But I'm so glad that you could spend some time, you know, today and, uh, I hope things get a little less stressful over there, but back to school does not help. Yeah. So if, uh. It, you know, anybody wants to go ahead and, uh, check out your demo.
Um, I'll be able to get, you know, your webpage and stuff that you have through us, and I'll post it up in the blog with this, uh, with this podcast. And f they can go ahead and check it out in the next couple weeks because I'm sure it'll be posted and it's gonna be great. So I'm looking forward to it. Yay.
Sarah: Awesome. Thank you so much for all your help, Marissa. I really
Marissa: always
Sarah: enjoyed working with you, and everybody that I've, that I've talked to has just been super helpful [00:20:00] and really, really wonderful, so I really appreciate it.
Marissa: Hey, we're, we're always here and we're glad to hear it. We're glad to be a part of the experience of the adventure, but uh, yay.
We're a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio coming next week, so enjoy the weekend, everybody, and stay safe.
Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
Marissa: Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. And, uh, upon us, uh, we have not just me, uh, Marissa, by the way, uh, but we are joined here by former voice coaches, students, uh, what we'll call you alum. Uh, and, and it's Sarah. So like, how are you, how are you doing?
Sarah: Hi. I'm well. How are you?
Marissa: Well, you know, just enjoying the summer. Sweating my butt off. Um, you know, do I have a good glisten? Like, am I glowing over here?
Sarah: Totally.
Marissa: I feel like I might be. Um, now you, you came in and you were raring to go, and, um, I know that you had a fantastic, like, you know, time going through the course in the, in the demo session, but I, I want people to know a little bit about you.
Like, tell, tell us, um, just a little, your backstory, like, you know, maybe stuff in the past that [00:01:00] brought you to, you know, bring this interest to the forefront and, and dive on in.
Sarah: Oh, okay. Well, it's, um, something I have thought about, like off and on, um, over the years. Certainly, um, you know, when I was a young child and through I would say high school, well even some college, I did some acting, um, and, you know, music theater.
Um, so, and I've also am a singer, um, and come from a family of musicians. So I, um, no big deal. Used my voice. In the back and, you know, I have used my voice, um, in a performance setting, shall we say, in the past, um, quite a bit. And, um, you know, I, uh, had children kind of a little bit later in life around, um, you know, 37 and.
They're twins or boy and girl twins. Um, and as they were growing up, you know, part of our nightly bedtime routine with them was to read books every night. Um, so I've, um, you know, [00:02:00] read the gamut with them and always really enjoyed that. And then I also just in general, have always just really, um, I have an ear for like, um, when I'm watching commercials or a TV show or something, when someone's doing vo.
It's an actor. I'm like, oh, that's so and so from whatever. You know, I can like people,
Marissa: you, that
Sarah: people's voices out the key here
Marissa: where you can, like, not everybody can do that. Like that's,
Sarah: that's like
Marissa: an it's
Sarah: so funny
Marissa: thing, like, yeah.
Sarah: Um, yeah. So it's just, you know, it's, it's. I just have been interested in it.
And also my husband had a cousin who was interested in doing VO at one point, and he had looked into it and it always seemed kind of like mysterious and like, it's just one of those career paths that I've always just been curious, like how does someone fall into that? You know? How do you. How do you even get your foot in the door for that?
Mm-hmm. So I think, you know, uh, that the curiosity was, you know, um, something I've had for quite a while and then, you know, I got hit with an ad on the [00:03:00] socials like we do,
Marissa: you know, it's because, you know, we're able to read your mind. Um.
Sarah: Exactly, totally. You know, we
Marissa: have a lot up our sleeves. It's not all deep, it's just the skills of voiceover.
It's, uh, you know, we got rabbits so we could pull out of a hat and everything else. Um. No. I like going back to your kids real quick. You, you, I just have to believe that you're the mom that was doing all the voices and stuff.
Sarah: I mean, kind of, yeah. I feel like I was, but I, you know, I think it was more just about just being sort of excited to read to them every night, you know?
Yeah. Um, and it was always just, um, you know, we had a very set bedtime routine and like we, it was baths, then teeth, then, you know, book and then song, you know, and I literally, and you know, they started doing all that and then at some point, reading kind of dropped off and they got a little older. But I literally have been singing to 'em every night really?
Since they were born until even just a few years ago. They would be embarrassed if, if anyone heard said, said that out [00:04:00] loud, but ew,
Marissa: like, um, no, I get it. I, I, you know, they, they'll come back around, you know, one day they're gonna be like, mom, can you just give me,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: Just an mp, three of you singing. Or whatever the type of audio might be at that point.
Sarah: Right. I mean, it is just funny because I grew up with that. You know, my, like I said, my parents were mu musicians and my grandparents would always sing to us when we would stay the night at their house. And so I just would sing the same songs to my kids that were sung to me and, um, you know, and they really, you know, it's just like a comfort.
It's, you know, yeah. To hear your. Your parent or your grandparent, like singing you to sleep is like a really nice sendoff, right?
Marissa: Yeah. Right. I mean, it's, it's nostalgic and, you know, it's, it's, it's a tradition. Um, and, uh, you know, hopefully your kids will then, you know, keep that going. So,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: For, for you, you know, having the background that, that you do, like coming into all this, it's still being maybe slightly mysterious as you were kind of, you know, getting things started.[00:05:00]
What was like something that was. Maybe there wasn't anything. But what was something that was maybe different than you expected it to be? Like? Was there any part of this that was more challenging than you expected?
Sarah: Um. Let me think about that for a second. I mean, I think all of it's challenging just because it's not something I'd done before, so it's very new.
Um, even though I have, like I said, done lots of reading or whatever, but I think, um, practicing with, um, the coaches, you know, I think was very, um, that wasn't challenging, but I mean, it was just so enlightening, I would say, um, because you. You look back at, you know, when you start at the beginning of the hour and you kind of re know like where you started at, and then by the end of the hour where you, how far the progression has gone, um, from one end to the other.
Um. I just think it's so helpful and just so interesting to see like, wow, really getting that feedback in real [00:06:00] time can really improve what you're doing. Um, and I think that, you know, when you and I were recording my demo a couple weeks ago, I mean, I think you would agree like that to me, I think the demo recording was challenging, but at the same time it was weird because it was like everything just kind of fell into place after a couple takes.
Marissa: Yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing is like, I, I think you're, you're right, like. And, and not everybody I think understands, they don't see it maybe right away, but the giant steps that you can take in the course of such a short amount of time. Right, right,
Sarah: right.
Marissa: And, and, and it can be a matter of having that one-on-one guidance, but sometimes, like, I mean like I didn't really have that guidance, you know, for me, when I was starting all this stuff, it came back to a matter of, um.
It, it, you know, like just kind of recording and listening back to myself and like critiquing myself and I was still taking those, you know, big steps forward and everything. So like, you know, it's, it's amazing [00:07:00] what can happen if you're, you know, putting all the right pieces into place, uh, you know, know.
Sarah: Yeah, I completely agree.
Marissa: Yeah, it's, it's great that you're able to see that. Um, so.
Sarah: But I do think the course was super helpful. I mean, like you were saying, I can't believe like, you know, yeah. I mean, you were just teaching yourself essentially. So it's nice to know that this resource is out there for people who wanna get into this, this world, um, and may not really know how, or, or whatever, you know, if you stumble upon this or, um, find it.
I mean, I, I just would highly recommend it because it's a lot of valuable information. Um, I think, you know, also just especially towards the end where you're talking the coursework talks about, you know, all the different ways that you can try to tap into the business and, um, you know, I just think it's really helpful.
Marissa: Yeah. And you know, I just, uh, I think, you know, it's, it's funny 'cause like for me. Thi this side of the industry was always very mysterious to me, even when I was, mm-hmm. When I was starting, just because like, you know, I was [00:08:00] doing commercial work and everything, but it was all on the radio side of things and it's like, you know, here, do this dance monkey.
Um, and so I was kind of in the midst of like, not just trading myself, but, but having people to be able to bounce things off of, you know? Yes. So it's like they may, they may not have been like teachers or. You know, it's like they, they were able to give feedback. They were professionals. But it's like all that feedback you take with a grain of salt.
You take what's good and you take what's helpful. And it might not be every single thing they said, but you know, then it's, it's, you start layering some things and you are able to make that progress. So, you know, that's where I was able to excel. Um, but, you know, you having. You know, a few of us in your back pocket and being able to kind of, you know, have that one-on-one and have that experience of, you know, know knowledgeable people who are in it, who are able to.
Kind of train the ins and outs of it and, and give you better perspective and those kind of things. It's, it's just such a useful tool. Um, [00:09:00] so, you know, leading into demo day, what were your feelings going into that day? Were, were you feeling confident? Were you a little bit concerned about yourself? Like what, what were the feelings?
Sarah: Um, I was nervous. I was really nervous. I, you couldn't see me, but like, I was definitely. Like kind of moving around a lot, you know, it was just not very, um, I don't know. I dunno. I was just nervous. I'll just, I'll just leave it at that. Um, I practiced the morning of, you know, I think I got good sleep the night before.
You know, I tried to do all the things that they recommended and brought my water with me and my pencil and, you know, a beautiful student. Spread out, learn, ready to go pick some, had everything. Yeah. Yes. I was like, completely ready. So yeah, I was, I was excited and I was just like, I've never actually. Been in a sound booth like that before.
Um, so that was really fun and interesting and having the headphones on and just like hearing the back and forth and, um, doing all the takes. It was just a new experience. [00:10:00] So it was, but yeah, it was exciting and um, and I felt really accomplished though at the end of it, I would say. Yeah, because. I really felt like we ended up hitting on some good pieces and things really came together on almost every one of 'em.
I know there, there was one piece that I had some struggles with that you helped me through.
Marissa: What did we end up going back to it?
Sarah: I think we did. Yeah, we
Marissa: absolutely did. Yeah, because I've had a couple demos actually recently that we've done that and like, you're, you're not alone. Like sometimes what happens is like you'll be in the midst of recording a piece, but, but think about it like you're, you're in a new situation, right?
Right. New situation, new environment. And if you go and you do a piece a few times. You're gonna hit a peak, um, you know, and, and then you just start going downhill. So it's like, it's much better to be like, you know what, let's just, let's leave this for a second. We're gonna, we're gonna table this and we're gonna get through the rest of them, and then we're gonna circle back and I guarantee you'll only have to do it once.
And [00:11:00] that is always what happens. Uh,
Sarah: no,
Marissa: but it
Sarah: totally worked.
Marissa: Yeah, it absolutely
Sarah: worked.
Marissa: It's because all of a sudden you've built more confidence and you're more comfortable. Right? And like you're taking all that little bit of feedback that you got the entire time and now you're implementing it without even realizing you're implementing it.
Sarah: Yeah.
Marissa: So,
Sarah: well that, and also I think you can kind of get stuck. You can get stuck. When you're on something and you just, you can get that frustration mm-hmm. Can kind of build up. And I think it's good to take ABR a breather Yeah. So to speak.
Marissa: Yeah.
Sarah: Um, and just like, go to something else and then come back to it.
And I think, you know, when I would play piano or sing or whatever, I mean, I think it's the same kind of concept. Like if you're, you're practicing on a piece and you're, you're having a struggle. It's always nice to take a step back and then come back to it later and when your frustration has kind of died down a little bit.
Oh,
Marissa: for sure,
Sarah: for sure. Um, so yeah, just, and that, that happens to the
Marissa: best of us. Like, you know, it doesn't matter if you, um, you know, are just starting or, or you're me 20 years in now, I can't tell you how many times I've been in this studio right here by [00:12:00] myself. And if these walls could talk, like they share some stories, uh, you know, but.
It's, it's, sometimes you do, you have to put it aside. You have to step away from it and come back, whether it's physically or, or just moving on to something else and then revisiting. But, you know, you did a beautiful job. Um, so thank
Sarah: you.
Marissa: What do you think was like the most fun sort of piece for you to do when you were going through that session?
Like, was it something that was a little bit more straightforward? Was it like, like the kids pee? Like, I mean, what, what do you think?
Sarah: Um, I think Kids piece was probably the funnest. Um, you know, there were some that were more sort of like, I don't know, for lack of a better term, documentary, like more of a documentary sort of style.
Um, I feel like I'm pretty strong at that too. Um, but yeah, I think that, you know, the, the kids pieces are always fun 'cause you can kind of, you know, make up your voices as you go and Right. You know, kind of play around with that. And, um, yeah. People
Marissa: can find that to be [00:13:00] really challenging, but the, the moment I think that you, mm-hmm.
Stop overthinking it and just let yourself, let loose and enjoy it. Then like the more fun that you have, I think the more expressive everything can be and, and just, you know, yeah. And vibrant in, in general, and it really works. Um, and I think you were able to kind of accomplish that for yourself, uh, which was, you know, great to, great to experience.
Sarah: Yeah. I think the trick will be to, to tackle a, a larger, um. More, uh, you know, expository piece if you will, that you know, you have to like remember,
Marissa: right?
Sarah: Oh, it's this character's voice and not that one, and not mix them up. Yeah. As you're like, kind of reading off the cuff,
Marissa: I, I'll tell you when, when you're really busy, like, because as I was kind of starting to pile more work on for myself, like I was in the midst of doing like a four book series and it wasn't, it wasn't like little kid related, it was more young adult, but like.
I wasn't really going back and listening to what I had already done in the previous book to know if I was keeping consistent. And [00:14:00] then when I did have time and I did listen, I was like. Holy crap. I actually did do okay. No wonder she was so happy and so impressed. She was like, you're really an actor. I'm like, you, you don't say Okay.
No, you're right. Actually, uh, I have that feeling a, a good, like, you know, almost at that point, it was like almost 20 years in. I was like, all right, go bruss a little dirt off my shoulder. Okay, thank you. Um,
Sarah: yeah,
Marissa: but, uh, so, so now that. Okay. We're a couple weeks past demo, like you've had the dust kind of settle a little bit.
I know you're probably still waiting for the final piece, but, um,
Sarah: yeah.
Marissa: How are you feeling? Like, what, what do you, what do you want to be like the, the next step for you or, or have you started taking any steps?
Sarah: Um, I haven't, 'cause I've got a lot going on at the moment and I've been very, um, overwhelmed this summer with things going on in my life.
But, um, no, believe me, and school's starting next week too, so that's like, you know, in the near term. Um, I do want to get moving [00:15:00] forward and, you know, I think, um. That's a good question for you in terms of like what you think my actual strengths are, but like really audio books. I mean, I know in the materials it's like, you know, the instruction is like really whittled down to specifically what it is you think you want to do.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Sarah: Um, and I do think that I could see myself doing children's audio books or. Um, novels as well I think would be interesting and, um, VO for film, you know, or TV I think could be really interesting as well. So, um,
Marissa: yeah.
Sarah: Yeah, I mean, I think the first step is to get it back and so I can hear it and then, you know, obviously my
Marissa: ups
Sarah: and running and,
Marissa: and
Sarah: then
Marissa: personally see
Sarah: where I can take it from there.
Marissa: I do think like, you know, just kind of wrapping your head around where you'd like to be. Is, is number one. And I think that you've kind of got a good idea there, right? Yeah. And even before you get the demo back, you can kind of do a little bit of investigating of like, well, where should I start looking and how [00:16:00] should I like, kind of approach this for myself a little bit, like maybe a little plan of action, little piece by piece, you know what I mean?
Um, because that way when you do get the demo, you know, maybe you already have a couple ideas of where to start sending some stuff to, um, you know, to get you off the bat. But, um. You know, it's, it's never, never a bad idea to, you know, just, just keep kind of thinking, you know, what do I want? What steps should I take to get there?
They could be very small steps, you know, but every, every little bit that you do gets you a little bit further, you know? Right, right. Like, I realize for everybody, life is so busy and it throws us curve balls all the time. And, uh Right. You know, I, I, uh, can, can, you know, attest to that myself and, you know, sometimes it's like, it can be hard to wanna just sit down and do a little.
But this, I've said this to other students, I've said this to other people in, in interviews just like this, where it's like, let this be your escape. Let this be [00:17:00] your happy place. This is something for you. This is something that you want and have, you know, expressed that want for in the past. And it's like, it can be whatever you want it to be.
Even if you're only able to do like 30 minutes a day or so a week, that 30 minutes will always take you a little bit further each time. So
Sarah: yeah, I feel like I work better in blocks of time, so it'll, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like I've got days of the week where I'm like, okay, today this is what I'm doing today.
You know? And then I have like my top three lists where like, these are the three things that I have got to do today, or, you know, and then if I. Scratch those th three things off and manage to get a few more done, then hey, great. It's a bad day for me. Right?
Marissa: Yeah.
Sarah: You know? Um, yeah.
Marissa: I
Sarah: tend to make
Marissa: a list and then I put way too much on it, and then I hate myself when I don't accomplish everything.
So I'm one of those
Sarah: people, which
Marissa: problem,
Sarah: which is why I'm trying to, why I try to keep it. Somewhat brief and, you know, not like 10 things, three things, you know, I think it's easier to do, [00:18:00] um, for me daily than it is to like even schedule out on a weekly basis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, 'cause then it just looks overwhelming.
You're like,
Marissa: oh, it does, it
Sarah: definitely can, it just, the list never stops, you know?
Marissa: Yeah, no, I, I'm a, I'm a day by day, but I do glance at the week and I, but I try not to stay with that, that kind of load in my mind because, uh, you know, that can be, it's
Sarah: overwhelming. Yeah.
Marissa: What can I accomplish today? Um, exactly.
And then, like I said, life happens and, you know, you, you have extra stuff that, you know, maybe takes, takes the, uh, front seat, but, uh, you know, anything, anything can be, you know, like whatever your goal overall is, anything can, can lead you there. So it's just, it's a matter of figuring out what works best for you.
But, you know, you've got us in your back pocket, so I just want you to make sure that you, you kind of, you know, you reach out whenever you need because you know, it's, like I said before, it's like. Yes, you can be like I was and you. You have that ability to go ahead and kind of. Uh, you know, critique and train yourself a little bit, but it is always nice to have people to bounce off [00:19:00] of and, uh, we're always readily accessible for that.
So, you know.
Sarah: Yeah, I was really glad to hear you say that in our session, um, the recording session, you know? 'cause I do feel like. Especially for the first job I get at some point in the future, I'm going to want your feedback. Oh, for sure. So be ready for that phone call.
Marissa: Yeah, no, we're, we're, we're ready.
We're willing, we're able and, uh, you know, for the lifetime that you're a part of all this, so you just, just holler. But I'm so glad that you could spend some time, you know, today and, uh, I hope things get a little less stressful over there, but back to school does not help. Yeah. So if, uh. It, you know, anybody wants to go ahead and, uh, check out your demo.
Um, I'll be able to get, you know, your webpage and stuff that you have through us, and I'll post it up in the blog with this, uh, with this podcast. And f they can go ahead and check it out in the next couple weeks because I'm sure it'll be posted and it's gonna be great. So I'm looking forward to it. Yay.
Sarah: Awesome. Thank you so much for all your help, Marissa. I really
Marissa: always
Sarah: enjoyed working with you, and everybody that I've, that I've talked to has just been super helpful [00:20:00] and really, really wonderful, so I really appreciate it.
Marissa: Hey, we're, we're always here and we're glad to hear it. We're glad to be a part of the experience of the adventure, but uh, yay.
We're a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio coming next week, so enjoy the weekend, everybody, and stay safe.
Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
This week on Voice Coaches Radio, Marissa is joined by former student, Sarah Brooks! From a musical family and reading to her kids every night, how does this experience translate to voice over? We’ll talk about that and so much more!
