VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bruce

Having recently seen some videos of British talent sitting to do their voice work, and having decades of experience here on this side of the Pond mostly standing in recording studios, I'm wondering if we'd like to talk about how we do our business?

I've stood for almost every outside job, even 2 hours plus at a time for audio book and long narration jobs, but now that I've got my comfy home studio and nice work station and comfy chair, I'm sitting most of the time. While I probably would sound just a titch better standing, I find lazy, over-confident me sitting for most gigs. Now I almost always stand for the bigger paying regional, national, ISDN type gigs....a form of financial snobbery I guess? I'm feeling just a bit of shame. Oh why did I ever bring this up? Yes, to make myself a better, more caring performer....or some codswallop like that.

Yours in good standing,

B
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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:47 pm Post subject:

i do enjoy good codswallop!

mostly i sit. i find i fall down less.
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Gp · Guest

Well Bruce if you read my review of the Salli Saddle Chair you will know that you are able to perform better whilst standing. All that extra oxygen you get while standing keeps you more alert, which makes you more creative, which makes you perform better, which makes your clients happy, which makes their clients happy. which means bigger paychecks.

Seriously it does make a huge difference. My bad back won't allow me to stand or sit for very long. When I had the Salli chair here I actually was amazed at how much difference it made for me. What I have done now though to sort of imitate(I use that term very loosely) the Salli is to sit on the front edge of the chair. I bought myself a longer pnuematic chair lift tube so my feet can fold under me. Moving my feet back reminds me to sit a little straighter which helps to open up the lungs etc.

I asked this same question years ago. Not sure if it was here or on the pre DB db......(sounds a little bit like Phineas J. Whoopee's 3D BB.)

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:42 pm Post subject:

I use a high barstool like thing I perch on. I can instantly stand if I need to.
And sometimes I do.
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

I pretty much stand for everything. I like to surf while I talk Laugh

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:21 pm Post subject:

I'm a stander-upper. Sometimes i'm also a flail-my-arms-and-knock-over-the-mic-er too!

Even for really long sessions- I stand the whole time...
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject:

Another stander, here.
I just feel I have more energy. Laugh

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Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

I'm a sitter!

In animation I've seen some who insist on standing, some who sit cross legged, etc. I'm just more comfortable sitting.

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:13 pm Post subject:

i have a drafting chair, but i don't usually sit in it. i stand, although i have low ceilings. however, i am 5' 1.5"
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tokyofan · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:23 pm Post subject: re:

In Tokyo studios, we SIT for 99% of everything unless the studio is expressly used for dubbing TV...or animation, video games.

At home, I SIT only because my booth doesn't have enough "head room".
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:18 pm Post subject:

I have a tall armless chair that I use. I do mostly audiobooks so standing for that long is not really an option.
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

I stand for spots and other short format stuff and sit for longer narrations.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject:

I'm in the same camp as Bruce. I generally stand when I'm at someone else's studio but I sit when I'm at home. In the outside world all I have to do is read the material, most likely printed sheets on some sort of copy stand. At home I have to work the controls, click the buttons, and more often than not, read the copy off a computer screen.

I'm wondering how it would sound if I got one of those Teeter Hang-Ups and did my VO work upside down.
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Moe Egan · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject:

I sit.
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COURVO · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject:

'Stand for the short stuff, and even long-format, like e-learning...but sit for the audiobooks...it makes me slow down my read for some reason. I'll motor through otherwise.

Only in the last month did I put a stool in my studio....and for editing, I've started using the stool.

This discussion reminds me of the question of whether or not to use headphones. I never even CONSIDERED going without headphones until the topic arose. Now, I find I use headphones a lot less frequently. My reads aren't necessarily any better, but my ears are appreciative.

CourVO
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