VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jen Gosnell

Hello, esteemed VO persons! Smile

I just wanted to introduce myself to the group. I have been doing research over the last year with an eye toward transitioning to working in VO. I joined this board some time ago, but only recently have felt the time was right to jump in, as I'm now starting to transform all my theories into practice.

I've read with interest a great number of your archived posts and want to express appreciation for what I've learned here so far. I'm sure there will be lots more to come, as there is quite the wealth of experience 'round these parts which I will be keeping my eyes and ears open to! Smile

A little about me - I am new to VO itself, though I did work in radio for a time in the past. I'm a trained classical/opera singer and also studied acting and directing back in school. Now I am studying VO specifically in order to focus on building that business up. I'm in Seattle, have a 21-month old daughter, and will have another in Feburary... so, yep, being Mom is also a big focus right now. I'll fit the two together as seems appropriate: having recently left my FT job, I now have more flexibility in how I can schedule such things. No time like the present to start to figure out how it might work.

Anyway - I'll be reading, and hopefully find things to contribute as well. Thanks for having me!

Cheers and Happy Holidays to all of you! Smile

Jen
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jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:06 am Post subject:

Welcome Jen!

We're glad to have you here. Did you bring chocolate? 70% Lindt will do Smile

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:11 am Post subject:

Oooo Melissa, I already like you. 70% IS the minimum acceptable chocolate content, in my considered opinion! Wink

This one is my favorite, though:

Thanks for the welcome, and nice to meet you! Smile

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jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:41 am Post subject:

Jen, welcome!

And congrats on your impending second child. Good for you and better you than me! Wink

Mine are now 17 & 19 and I don't care that I can't remember what a loaded diaper smells like anymore!

Generally speaking you'll probably want to be aware of any potential bad habits you may have picked up in radio. Broadcast announcers tend to "announce" and not speak in a normal conversational way. It drives me nuts the way TV anchors put unnatural and weird emphasis on syllables and words nowdays; like an affected presentation style. I don't understand it. But all of us former radio geeks (myself included) had to de-radiofy how we spoke when voicing scripts and narrations.

I'd highly, HIGHLY recommend any kind of acting training you can get. Check out local theatre groups for classes - ESPECIALLY Improv classes - and get involved any way you can. Check local colleges and community colleges for any continuing ed classes that deal with acting. After all, we are called voice ACTORS.

Best of luck, and keep us posted on the baby!~
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

whalewtchr · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:27 am Post subject:

Hello from Savannah and welcome.
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jonahcummings

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

Hi, Jen,

Welcome. As you've found, there's just a ton of great information here — you'll find yourself learning things you didn't even know you didn't know. There's truly a wealth of knowledge buried in the archives.

But the best part of VO-BB is that the people are some of the nicest, kindest, most helpful people you'll find anywhere.

And, uh, yeah: Dark chocolate = good. REAL good. Wink

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Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:35 am Post subject:

Jen,

Welcome to the VO-BB!
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:27 am Post subject:

You have a musical background, specifically opera, so we know your voice, sense of timing, tone and acting ability are spot on. Should a Voiceoverist give you advice and they are less than an arms length from you - One swift punch.

The BIG stuff you need to know you already know, the minor details you'll pick up as you go along.

Welcome to the VO-BB and good luck.

Bailey · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject:

Wecome Jen... Hope you enjoy the place and strike gold in the archives.
... and always remember to tip the valet.

You mentioned opera. Have you heard of Lenore Silby?
Wink

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a.k.a. Jim Sutton
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject:

A warm welcome to the VO-BB, Jen! You'll feel at home in no time.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:12 pm Post subject:

Maybe these anchor guys are spending too much time watching Marc Summers on Unwrapped on the Food Network.
Listening to him makes my head want to explode.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
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imaginator · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject:

welcome indeed, jen

as mentioned earlier, your musical ability will prove most valuable in terms of interpretation, breathing, and vocal control. too many budding voice talent don't even know how to listen to themselves. the acting experience you've had will be very valuable as well.

sounds like the main challenges you'll have (with two little ones) are going to be finding time to work...and sound-proofing!

keep us posted!
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rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks, everyone, for your kind welcomes. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all. Philip, you already have me grinning!

Yep, Rowell, I'm pretty sure you hit the nail on the head! Smile

We'll see how well I can coordinate nap times with strategic grandparental involvement, evenings and/or mornings. This is the current thought, anyway, though if I am learning anything lately it's that a great majority of toddler-parenting decisions are a complete game-time call! (Witness: the recent cutting of eyeteeth - good lord, what a Jekyll-and-Hyde few days it's been!)

Bailey, I have heard of Lenore Silby but am not familiar with any of her work. There are so many good singers out there that are relatively unknown. I feel lucky to be in Seattle where we have an excellent regional opera that I can regularly attend. The one time I got to perform with them was such great fun - soloists were phenomenal, and I learned that many of my colleagues in the comparatively lowly chorus totally rocked.

At the moment, I am getting ready to go sing in a couple of acappella concerts this weekend: http://theesoterics.org/Concerts/SYBILLA.aspx I've sung with this choir for 10 years now, and it's a darn good one if I do say so myself. Wink

Jen
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jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448

Bailey · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject:

JBarrett · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject:

Welcome aboard, Jen! I love your taste in chocolate, and am envious of your locale. I grew up in Port Angeles, and miss the mountains and ocean more with each year that I live in Texas. Give them both a wave from me, would you? Smile

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Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/