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ricevoice

When was the last time you took a work-free vacation? As in not even a laptop and portable studio for a whole week?

I've read of v-o's being so worried about losing clients that they never take any real vacation time, and as I'm now on my own for the first time (without a "day job") I'm wondering if this is something I need to worry about the next time we go to Disney World or wherever.
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TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:50 am Post subject:

I've been taking vacation time at work so I could go home and work on my VO stuff. A tight schedule for an audio book.

Vacation for the sake of vacation? What a concept.
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KaraEdwards · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

I take vacations...real vacations. In fact, I just took one recently to Costa Rica. It's just like a vacation at a regular job- you tell your clients in advance (at least a week in advance) and make sure everything is taken care of before you leave.

On my last vacation I was contacted by a new client that needed something ASAP. I explained I was on vacation and that I would understand if they needed to go elsewhere. They decided to wait, and the project was recorded when I returned.

Just make sure to set an auto vacation reply on your e-mail.

"Work to live, don't live to work."
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ccpetersen · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:50 am Post subject:

I've been self-employed since early 2001, and the concept of vacation time apart from work is kind of strange. We take vacations but we end up working during them. The last time we took a trip where we didn't even take a laptop was on a Jazz Cruise in 2003. This year we'll be taking a driving trip sometime, and probably will take along laptops, but don't anticipate getting much work done.
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

Dieter would choke to death if he couldn't paint, it's more like "breathing" than "working".

I love what I do so much I'm on "vacation" 7 days a week, it seems.

When I'm on the road, I let the gang know I'm not available. When I was in San Francisco last month, though, someone needed something one of the days I was there, so they booked a studio and I hopped a cab from downtown to do the gig.
Pretty spiffy. Mega props to Denny Delk for recommending a wicked bitchin studio. Being without internet access might be a bit of a shock, but it might be refreshing as well. I rely on email for communication, though—I don't use my cell phone much. Hmm.

What is this USB port doing in my hip?
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James Lorenz · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:09 am Post subject:

My wife and I are avid travellers and we go away a few times a year (Spain in May!) She has a highly stressful corporate career and really needs the time off. Someone has to bring home the big bucks!
I, too, give my clients advanced notice but we always take a laptop to at least reply to e-mails.

plus, we use it to listen to Sirius online! Laugh

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Lizden · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:17 am Post subject:

DB...I seem to have grown on of this USB ports as well! Wink

Frankly I haven't taken the kind of vacation you talk about sisce 2005...BUT that said....I LOVE what I do...really...I LOVE it!...and if I can go "away" from my home base with a portable set-up and do an hour or two of VO "work" while on vaca, that suits me fine!

It IS hard for the cubicle-tethered to get over the "Don't you just want to get away" syndrome....VO is my sanity break from my "real" life!....REALLY!

But that's just me.
As others have said "you milage may vary" and if you need that break, take it, you'll be more refreshed and ready to go when you get back!

Liz
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
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Yoda117 · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:

Jeez... first vacation in close to seven (yes, as in 7) years was last year.

Otherwise, my vacations consist of going to conventions to help out and hang out with my friends from various companies.

It's a sad life I lead... lol!
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todd ellis · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

i am finding that it is VERY important for me to get completely away from vo at times.

tell the regulars i am not available - don't worry about whether or not i might "miss something" if i do - i'll get over it. i feel better when i come back.
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bobbinbeamo · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

I really love what I do too, because it's creative and fun. I'm also a classic type A, and end up taking my laptop , MBOX and porta-both and mics with me every time I travel, which is usually for some aspect of business anyway.

However, it is necessary from time to time to take breaks, even small ones from the electronic leash from time to time. Last time I did this was for a cruise 2 years ago. Only 5 days, but the email option from the ship was way expensive. But it was FINE!!!! (haha- I am such the work junkie)
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

We went to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico last year called the Aventura Spa Palace. First class, every(legal) whim catered to that you could imagine. It was fabulous!

For about 2 days. By day 3, I was getting antsy....

I'm such a typical:
a)workaholic
b)male(harder time relaxing than females it is said)
c)American
d)all of the above!

voicy1stef · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

When we go on vacations, it's strictly vacation time.

But sometimes when hubby is in the shower or somewhere (and this is a big secret!!!), I listen to different v-o dialects or podcasts stored on my MP3 player or mobile; or else I make lists of v-o tasks to do when I get home.

Sh-h-h-h! Don't tell him, ok!

p.s. I do have a habit though of standing in front of radios, & hotel room tvs, with my mobile phone, recording different accents when we travel -- like I did when we went to India. ha, ha! Sticking out Tongue

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British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!

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Bruce · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:

I had a "forced" vacation here a couple of weeks ago when I came down with the most gawdawful chest flu. Amazingly the world stopped emailing and phoning me for the entire week I was down (I must have sent out the vibe) with the exception of a couple of re-editing and writing jobs with no voice, and one commercial that required a gruff, older voice (no problem!)

But yes, as the only breadwinner in the house, long vacations have become few and far between, dang it.

B
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louzucaro · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

Since I own my (other) company and am the only one here, I can't really do that. Although a couple years ago, we did manage to go to Disney World without taking a laptop...that was fantastic!
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Lou Zucaro
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Claire Dodin · Club 300 Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 392 Location: Sunny LA

I tried the vacation thing over Christmas/New Year holiday. I told everyone I'd be out of touch, took the plane and at the airport the first phone call asking for a favour happened, then the emails etc... On New years eve at 9pm I was still trying to send a voice file through the internet my mum got for Christmas.... I really need to get a life or find a way to remove the USB plug from my hip, or learn to say No. Maybe I should do that, practice in front of the mirror: No, no, no...
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