VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Joey Pepin · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Lakewood, WA

Hey gang,

I've moved from my island beach cabin overlooking Puget Sound to be part of America. Now I am putting the house up as a vacation rental. Being as how I will be using it as a vacation spot too, there is a Whisper Room set up for VO.
My questions are: Should I maintain the ISDN line? Leave a computer set-up? Leave a mic in the booth?
How many travelers would love to have a booth? I know I would. If you're vacationing, don't you always bring a mic and computer?
Just trying to get some data to make an informed decision.

https://www.vrbo.com/834097

todd ellis · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:37 am Post subject:

it's an interesting concept --- i'm one of those weirdos who, when i take a vacation --- i take a vacation & leave whatever work that comes through in that space of time to fall in the dirt. but, i know others do it differently. i really can't see the expenditure of leaving the isdn hooked up, though.
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paulstefano · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:46 am Post subject:

Can't help but think it would be a VERY small market that is looking to rent a place with a whisper room.

My worry would be what damage would be done to the room or the mic by the renters. Most rental places have an "owner's room" or closet that is locked from the outside with a key and the renters don't have access to it. You would probably be better off sealing off any valuable equipment while the house is being rented.
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Joey Pepin · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Lakewood, WA

The room would be separate from the rest of the rental and access would only be granted to those interested in using it.

Shiromi · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:16 pm Post subject:

I've often fantasized about taking extended vacations where I could record audiobooks while travelling. Since i'm in Seattle, it's not somewhere I would take advantage of, but I could see a market for it. Is it worth expenditure of keeping up an ISDN line? Probably not.

DenaliDave · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:51 pm Post subject:

I could see a "working vacation" in order to clear the head, inspire some moods/emotions...

However, I'm with Todd...When I vacation, I vacation. I turn off the work email and practically chuck technology into the ocean.

I find I am more focused when I return to my work after such vacations.

We can't live our lives to the fullest if we're balls of wound up stress all the time. It's healthy to have a real "vacation-vacation" every so often.

But it is an interesting idea. I know some bands will travel to recording studios in beautiful locations to help inspire, relax and aid them in music creation. The same could be said for your locale in Puget Sound! :thumbsup:
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:14 pm Post subject:

I'm 100% with Todd on this one. Whatever happened to really taking a vacation? I tell my clients I will be gone for a week, and that's that. I never worked while on vacation. Why would we do that?
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Shiromi · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:39 pm Post subject:

Oh, I'm definitely in the vacation-only camp. Spent two weeks this past March in Maui and thankfully only had to deal with one minor work-related issue. But I've also thought about renting a place in Hawaii for 2-3 months, in which case a whisper room would be pretty cool. I'll need something to block out the sound of the pounding surf outside my window.... <sigh>If only....

heyguido · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:01 pm Post subject:

I've been known to work while on vacation... Then again, I've been known to vacation smack dab in the middle of work.

It's why I work for me... So I can. It's the best part.

Think on. Inoccent

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Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:57 am Post subject:

Don, I'm there with you on the second part! It's not uncommon for me to look out the window and say "Hey I think I'm going to go for a long motorcycle ride this afternoon!" As a matter of fact, today is looking like it could be one of those days!
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Joey Pepin · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Lakewood, WA

I'd love to take a non-working vacation myself. But it never seems to happen. This place is probably catered toward the promo talents who can't leave home without a laptop and a mic.

Kristin Lennox · Flight Attendant Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 858

I always intend to not work on vacation. But if a job pops up that will pay for the entire thing, I think I can pry myself away from the beach for an hour or so and do it...

cool

<------ (that's me on the beach)
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:03 am Post subject:

For those who say vacation is for getting away from work, I completely understand the sentiment. But to me, voiceover is a "job" I don't feel any particular need to escape from. There are elements of what we do (chasing business -- or payments, paperwork, etc.) that I happily leave behind while I'm away. But the actual voicing is usually the fun part. So I almost always take my recording gear on the road with me in case a client has a pressing need, or an opportunity that's too good to miss doesn't pass me by.

I wouldn't go all the way to Arizona and skip the Grand Canyon so I could stay in my hotel room and cut another promo, but I'll gladly sacrifice a late night TV show or a few minutes of Facebook in order to pay for my rental car.

That said, I don't think I would plan my vacation around the availability of a recording facility.
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Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

This sounds perfect for me. My only wish is that it was in Hawaii. Wink

The last time I took a vacation (for only four days!) I landed and had seven scripts waiting to record. The "vacation" was for my wife.

Someone once said the goal of a successful VO is to be able to buy a house with a studio that overlooks the pool your family plays in.

Thanks for providing another pool, Joey.

MBVOXX · Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 5:18 pm Post subject:

Hey, in this business, every day is a vacation compared to the corporate world.
But I wouldn't leave any of my gear set up in a rental house. That's just asking for problems.