VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

audiblyandrea

Hiya folks! I thought I should introduce myself since I will most likely be lingering around here. Ninja

My name is Andrea and I’m an aspiring voice over artist. My background is a combination of radio, theater, and general sort of public speaking. Years ago I had a thought that voice over would my ideal career, but as a soon to be divorced mother of two young children I didn’t think moving to Chicago and auditioning for jobs was practical. Over the past couple of years I’ve observed the shift to voice over artists working from home studios and I am SO THERE. Lol. I have an office job that I appreciate, but that I would trade in for full-time voice over work in a second. So, I’ve been researching, finding resources, acquiring gear, researching, script reading, website registering, researching, researching, researching…. Gotta love this internet age. So much information at my fingertips! This weekend I hope to complete my home studio. I have been undecided, though, as to the logistics of my space. (Bedroom) I go back and forth between building a booth out of my small bedroom closet, or utilizing a porta-booth-type set up. Or maybe constructing something in the corner of the room? I have ordered 12 square feet of acoustic foam. I am, at this point, on a shoe-string budget. I did invest well in a mic and interface that are highly reviewed. If anyone would like to share their advice on an initial studio set-up as far as acoustics, soundproofing, etc… I’d love some more direction! I’m not scared of some basic construction, just not able to do anything pricey at this point.

Oh yeah… I look forward to being here a long, long time. Smile

Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:02 am Post subject:

Welcome Andrea. There is a ton of information about soundproofing, sound deadening, and studios on a budget on this site. Do a search, and you'll have hours of reading and learning.

If it's really want you want, just keep moving forward, and don't get discouraged.

This is a great group of people! They've changed my life for sure.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Andrea,

Welcome!

I started out in 2006 in a converted closet in our guest room. It was by no means ideal but I did book a decent amount of work in it. When I had enough $$$ I pulled the trigger on a Whisper Room but believe me they are not cheap.
And then there's the whole "room vs. booth" debate (kind of like Mac vs. PC)
and the "acoustic foam vs. OC 703/705" debate.

Technically, acoustic foam doesn't absorb the range of frequencies that rockwool/Owens Corning 703 does, but there are folks doing home studio VO successfully with acoustic foam on their walls, so take that for what it's worth. (I switched from acoustic foam to Owens Corning 703 panels a couple of years ago)

The bottom line is you will probably configure and re-configure your set-up several times before you get it right, and will probably end up spending
5X more than you planned, but that's the joy of entrepreneurship cool

The main thing is to get working, learning and auditioning with a decent audio quality free of extraneous noise, that clients and prospective clients find acceptable.

Bish · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:33 am Post subject:

Welcome Andrea, thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself. You seem to be on the right path with a heavy emphasis on research. I cannot stress enough the value of the archives here. My first option would be always to go for a closet rather than a porta-booth. You'll have more room to arrange mic, copystand and other bits and pieces. I don't know how big the closet is, but don't undervalue a rack of clothes as good sound treatment! Others have had great success with a porta-booth type of arrangement, but I see them as an on-the-road solution and you can usually do better in a permanent set-up where you have a little space to be imaginative. Again, others swear by them, but I'm all about using space to the maximum.

I'm sure others will jump in here... good luck and again, welcome. (Did anyone mention chocolate yet?)
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Hi Andrea.. I'm from the Chicago area and would be glad to help out if need be...

captain54@sbcglobal.net
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Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

audiblyandrea · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the hospitality! I look forward to some critique when I am properly set up and free of this horrible cold. heh heh. I do like to have a positive attitude about the cold because it means that Spring has arrived, and that's a wonderful thing. I plan on a very productive weekend! I visited my local Home Cheap-O Wink

this evening and purchased some materials for my studio. I also read about the Voice World Toronto conference and considered that I've never driven to Canada before. Hmmm...

Lee, I'd welcome your help! Thanks for the offer. Smile

heyguido · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 5:01 am Post subject:

Leave Canada to the Canadians.... Come to FaffCamp in May. Inoccent

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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Bish · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 5:42 am Post subject:

What Don said... FaffCamp is the place to be. There will be a lot of people from the VO-BB down there in Charlotte... As a committed Faffer, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

er, what is Faffcamp?

Bish · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:01 am Post subject:

Take FaffCon, drop the 100 participant cap and have it wide-open. Create a slightly different format with an agenda and schedule that will appeal to a wider range of participants, and... well, best just take a look at:

http://faffcamp.com/

It's back in Charlotte (host of the last FaffCon) and it's in a little over three weeks... take a look at the schedule and you'll see that there's a lot of value to be had... plus some really great people in attendance!
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

audiblyandrea · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:22 am Post subject:

I've determined that attending Faff Camp will leave me broke. Bills paid, mind you... but broke. So, now I wonder, should I go? I would think that the knowledge, networking opportunities, and experience gained might be worth the expenditure.

FYI: My situation is that I live paycheck to paycheck, pay my bills, boycott credit cards, choose not to live beyond my means and acquire a bunch of debt, and every year around tax time I have some "extra" to play around with. So the "extra" that I have remaining is very precious to me. One day, when I'm a grown up, (I thought it would be when I was 30 but now I'm aiming for 40), I'll have savings. Laugh

heyguido · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:30 am Post subject:

Broke is NOT worth the expenditure.

Ninja

_________________
Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

audiblyandrea · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:20 am Post subject:

You are probably right!

Maybe something will fall unexpectedly into my lap and I'll make it down....

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject:

Welcome!
Same reason I don't jet set off to every VO event around the country I'm invited to... You don't want to get caught up and start spending on the dream too quickly. I hear that's where business plans are helpful, but I've yet to write one.
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