VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Travis · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: So Long 2009!

Wishing everybody a 2010 better than 2009.

Leading up to 2009 was a bit tough, when we were suddenly told by the government that we were in a recession, and had been for most of 2008. Election candidates were telling us that the "Economy was basically sound" up until August... I had lost two clients, either through bankrupcy or they simply disappeared, owing me money-- Not a good sign. I should have known "something was up" when two large narration jobs I was ready to start suddenly went away.

Then 2009 started. My agent Marian Berzon, suddenly got sick and passed away.

Then, I got some sort of laryngitis... It got progressively worse and I decided to go to the HMO... After three months of going from doctor-to-doctor, I finally got a correct diagnosis. I had something called "Vocal Process Granuloma"... Not a particularly serious condition, except for someone who depends on their voice for their income.

Vocal Process Granuloma is a condition rare in the general population, but fairly common in people who use their voice professionally. The Family Practice doctors at my HMO know very little about this condition, which is why it took so long to get to the specialist who could diagnose my condition. And, my HMO specialist wanted me to have an operation for it... I checked online and found that surgery is considered a "treatment of last resort" for this condition... I got expensive second and third opinions, outside of the HMO which confirmed this. That meant I had to get treatment outside of the HMO at my own expense, (About $4000.00, total) or go with risky, and often, not effective surgery.

This is a condition everyone who works with their voice professionally should know about. I have put up a website on Vocal Process Granuloma at: vpg.VOTalent.com which describes my experience.

For about 4 months this year, I was sounding like Sterling Holoway, the original voice of Disney's Winnie the Pooh. Before I received my diagnosis, I told my doctors to let me know if my voice was going to stay that way, and I would just cut new demos, though it would take a few years to get the Disney folks to listen to me. I did get some work with my condition... there was a spot running in LA for the roadshow tour of Spamalot, which sounded like it was voiced by Winnie the Pooh... Yep, that was me.... the spot actualy worked, that way.

I'm in the process of recovering. I'm sounding pretty much like my "old self" again, but I still have a few more months before I'm completely recovered.

Here in Southern California, it seems that everybody else has a similar story... It has just been an awful year for everybody... I guess it's true, "Misery loves company", but I think we all would rather have a bit less misery, at the possible expense of less company.

SO HERE'S TO A BETTER 2010!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all VO-BBers !!!.
_________________
Travis
www.VOTalent.com

bobsouer · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

Travis,

What an incredible ordeal you have endured this year. May your 2010 be filled with nothing but good!
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Travis - no wonder we haven't heard much from you this year! Stay on the mend.
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Deirdre · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

Travis, I am really quite touched that you checked in here.
Thanks as always for your company.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Lizden · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

Wow...that's about all I can say.
Keep on the path to recovery, Travis!
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Bruce · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:17 am Post subject:

Many thanks Travis for detailing your experiences. Post nasal drip from above and reflux from below can certainly be the banes of our profession. Dang... once again a "sign" that healthful eating and living are a better way to go.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Donna · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:01 am Post subject:

Travis, I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to have that journey this year, but extremely grateful that you've shared your hard-won wisdom with us. It will be a Happy New Decade all around!

Travis · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:10 am Post subject:

Thanks, everyone.

Since I didn't know what was happening with my voice, I was keeping a low profile, here and everywhere else.

They say that it's best not to refer to tough times as "bad", but instead as "challenging".

So yeah, 2009 has been "challenging".

The strangest part of this year was in September, when I was sounding my worst. Though I desperately needed work, I was actually grateful when things got really slow.

Since I'm sounding better now, and continuing to improve, I'm ready for a deluge of work in 2010. -I'm pretty sure we all are.
_________________
Travis
www.VOTalent.com

JBarrett · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:50 am Post subject:

Here's to a much healthier 2010, Travis. Thanks for sharing so much about your experience.
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

May you be splendiferously vociferous in 2010!
_________________
Elaine
The Youthful Mature Voice (Emeritus)
Senectitude is not for the faint of heart.

melissa eX · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject:

What an ordeal Travis! Glad you're back in shape and here's to a fabulous 2010! Thanks for writing about this - it points out the importance of having an ENT that specializes in people who use their voices for a living. The best advice I ever got was to wait 3 hours after eating before going to bed. Not surprising the HMO wouldn't cover it - there are tons of things that affect us that don't hit the general radar - lots of medications affect the voice along with foods - there's a list online somewhere. Another thing to watch out for, I've read , is intubation if one is having surgery - it's important to make sure your anesthesiologist understands your voice is your living before he puts that tube down your throat - and if he's not sure why that's important - you need to find another one.

Here's to a deluge! Glad you're back.

Moe Egan · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:10 am Post subject:

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:12 am Post subject:

"Do or do not. There is no 'try'." Wink

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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:13 pm Post subject:

Happy to hear you're doing better Travis. You sound great to me (either way)!
The best to you in 2010!!!!
_________________
John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com